topic Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals. in Kitchen

Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 15:17:23 GMT

Do your meals change with the seasons?

I tend not to make the heavier meals like chicken n biscuits, pot roast, soups/stews, or even chile in the summer.

Last week was 90 and the thought of a heavy meal was not appealing. It was too flippen hot and humid to even think of eating something like spaghetti and meatballs.

Summer it's grilling chicken, burgers/hot dogs, salads etc. A lot of salads. I will put pork in the crock pot and use the meat for sandwiches occasionally.

I find cooking in the winter easier, more options and we have more of an appetite.

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

Kachina624 — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 15:26:45 GMT

I tend to want meals that are light and simple to prepare, like a salad, in the summer. I wouldn't be opposed to a casserole that I could just reheat for several meals.

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

Carolina925 — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 15:27:02 GMT

I don't even want to think of cooking in the summer. Give me salads and a rotisserie chicken and I'll be content. One would think I should shrink down to a nice size in the summer, huh?

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

SloopJohnB — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 15:28:06 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 Although realistically we don't have 4 seasons here......I do tend to cook lighter fare during the spring and summer months. We will have a lot more salads and light dinners, like sometimes just cold cuts with fresh rolls. Don't eat heavier, heartier stews and chilli and things like that.

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

ALRATIBA — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 15:37:18 GMT

Other than not using the oven in the summer - I generally eat the same types of foods all year.

A lot of what I make can be served hot or cold.

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

justashopper — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 15:40:48 GMT

I totally agree-- the weather makes a difference. Summer meals are lighter, but not always lighter in calories!

In the winter, I make a huge pot vegetable soup every week. In the summer, not at all. In the summer I also like a lot of fruit that is not available in the winter-- melon, peaches, plums. I also make more salads. Not just greens, but beans, potato, macaroni, & ambrosia salads that last a few days in the fridge as sides.

So yeah it is a different menu for me as my pallete is, too. Also if it's super hot, I don't want to heat up the house cooking... I keep the AC pretty cold, so I can use the oven or whatever and it's not that big of a deal. but somthing about that hot kitchen is not appealing at all.

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

mspatmac — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 15:41:13 GMT

I eat lighter in summer. Love melons, fruits and salads.

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 16:22:06 GMT

@justashopper We eat a lot more fruit in the summer. I can eat more strawberries, blueberries etc. than I can citrus or apples. DD and I love any berries. Watermelon is great. I like cantalope, she doesn't.

I like potato or mac salad, DD doesn't. Same with baked beans. She doesn't like colesalw either. It is a good thing I love DD she can be a pill when it comes to some food. lol

Your veg soup comment reminded of my Mom. She had the best veg beef soup. It is a simple thing to make but mine doesn't taste as good as hers did. A pot of her veg soup and a loaf of crusty bread is my idea of a meal.

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

aroc3435 — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 16:38:06 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 I cook the same types of meals year round, but I do take advantage of sales and seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables.

Both my significant Other and I both enjoy cooking and between us we have a well stocked kitchen in terms of appliances, utensils--just name it! He even makes pizza from scratch and is usually the dessert pie maker.

We have the Oster XL countertop convection oven, the Instant Pot, and the largest Nesco roaster so unless we have a crowd we don't need to use the big oven, except at Thanksgiving--when everything gets used.

I even roast a complete turkey dinner at least once each summer in the Nesco or Oster countertop oven. Frozen whole turkeys are usually marked down this time of year.

I always have homemade chicken stock and marinara and meat sauce in the freezer and keep a wide array of seasonings, condiments and spices on hand.

Tonight we will have the last of the lasagna we made Wednesday with a tossed garden salad and garlic bread.

We both like all kinds of cuisine so we are always trying new recipes to keep our "tried and true" recipes repetoire from becoming boring from too frequent repetition.

aroc3435

Washington, DC

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

Sooner — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 16:40:15 GMT

I'm not sure we eat a lot lighter, but we do cook and use all the fresh produce we can get. But we do that in the winter too.

So because of this discussion it occurs to me we don't eat a lot of heavy food in the winter. We often make stir frys, tacos or taco salads, veggie soups, chili, roasts, citrus, apples, beans, berries, burgers, salmon and shrimp, roasted veggies and such all year.

So I'd say we don't eat a lot of heavy, carb laden food any time. And I couldn't go all summer without chili. Ever!

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

LindaSal — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 17:32:00 GMT

Yes I think our meals change with the seasons for sure. As most stated we tend to grill a lot in the summer. I like to roast peppers on the grill with fish and stuffies, or a big fat steak and a baked potato (ok, not so light!) but we will use the leftover steak to cut up for salads the next day. DH loves salad, I make him some pretty fancy ones. Sometimes just simple burgers or hot dogs with cole slaw or potato salad, pizza or sandwiches when it gets really hot. By the fall though I am so ready for that pot of chili !!

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

justashopper — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 18:13:29 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2

DD doesn't know what she is missing!! LOL

My veggie soup is a vegetarian version. I use veggie scraps to start my own stock. I also order heirloom beans from the internet. A company called Rancho Gordo and I use some of the bean water for flavor. After it's done cooking I also add nooch, which is a vegan substitute for cheese. It's actual a mushroom that has a parmesan cheese taste. I also do a wide range of onions, garlic, spices & herbs-- whatever I have on hand.

I think these things add a lot of flavor, at least as much as a say, a beef version. I really enjoy making it. As the winter progresses it just seems to be my own little eco system of using up leftovers that creates the variety in the soup. I often share with the neighbors or I take some to my Dad. I get a lot of rave reviews. I think it's not so much the cook, as it just the method-- good ingredients in, good soup out. LOL

I know a lot of people don't like a lot of veggie or bean because of gas. Just take a pill. lol that's what i do. TMI? haha

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

haddon9 — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 18:26:24 GMT

Yes in winter I tend to go for:

pot roasts, roast chicken, stews, chili, hot chocolate

Summer I like:

grilled chicken, fish & steak, lots of salads, corn on the cob & homemade ice cream

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

PA Mom-mom — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 18:34:19 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 For sure! In the summer, we tend to buy whatever is fresh at our local farm stands. Today, we scored red leaf lettuce, asparagus and sugar snap peas from our town's farmers' market. I grow basil, tomatoes, and herbs on the patio.I also make a lettuce salad with meat and cheese every week. That way we have something cold to eat. I hate to ask DH to grill in the heat of the summer, but he will if we have the family over. He likes to grill and smoke in the fall or winter. Thanks for this post! Love reading all the responses!

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

Meowingkitty — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 19:46:41 GMT

I make the same stuff year round. I use a crockpot often or grill outside all year. I make tri tip, spaghetti, beef tips, chicken pot pie all year round. If I waited for cooler weather for those things I would have only December thru March. I rarely turn on the oven no matter what time of the year. I use a toaster oven or a Ninja grill for most things.I think the last time I used the oven was Thanksgiving.

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

jannabelle1 — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 23:35:03 GMT

Our summer meals (like most here) are lighter and/or simpler to prepare. I always take advantage of fresh veggies and fruits in the summer, so we have a lot of salads and sandwiches with fresh tomatoes, etc, especially BLTs. Grilled hot dogs, white fish or a steak work well with just a few ears of sweet corn or a salad with fresh veggies.

Now that I have (and love) a small Air Fryer, I keep some frozen items like shrimp, french fries, etc that can be cooked quickly without heating up the kitchen, plus some frozen dinners (Marie Callendar) that hubby can put in the microwave if I'm not cooking much. I'm fine with just fresh fruits and veggies, but he sometimes wants a little more than that, so a frozen meal in the microwave suits him just fine. He's not at all picky, thank goodness!

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

buckeyegirl1 — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 23:42:45 GMT

I also order beans from Ranch Gordo, care to share any of your favorite recipes with them? Thanks

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

homedecor1 — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 00:02:20 GMT

Our summer menu consists of lite eating. We spend most days by the pool or beach so I never feel like cooking or a heavy meal.

Monday - BLT

Tuesday - frittata w/ salad

Wed - tuna or chicken salad in tomatoes or with nice greens

Thursday - hotdogs italian style

Friday - crab cakes or fish

Sat - out to dinner (usually steakhouse)

Sunday - sports day : chicken wings, light side or sausage, peppers & onions w/ side of pasta salad

Then variations thru summer. I like eggplant, roasted vegs hot or cold.

Somedays he will just have eggs --

Glad spouse doesn't need meat & potatoes every night so it's easy choices ..

I make big chopped antipasto salad w/ balsamic dressing and we eat this all week for lunch.

Re: Summer Meals vs Winter Meals.

CherryHugs — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 16:14:18 GMT

I do not. I just fix what ever I feel like having lol