Recipes

Quesadillas can be made in a variety of ways with practically anything in your refrigerator. Creamy avocado and savory black beans are a perfect combination. They’re easy to make and kid-friendly for a weeknight dinner. You can prepare the black beans, peppers and onions a night or day before. Just keep them covered in the refrigerator. Prep time: 10 minsCook time: 15 minsTotal time: 25 minsServings: 4 servings Ingredients: For the avocado mash: 2 large or 3 small avocados Juice of 1/2 lime Pinch of kosher salt For the quesadillas: 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 cup red onion, sliced into 1/4-inch half moons 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano 3/4 teaspoon coriander 1/2 yellow, red, or orange bell pepper, deseeded and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces Juice of 1/2 lime 1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed 4 8-inch flour tortillas 1 cup queso fresco, crumbled or grated 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated To serve: Sour cream Pico de gallo or salsa Directions: Make the avocado mash: In a small bowl, mash the avocado with a fork, and add a dash of kosher salt and the juice of half a lime. You want it to reach a consistency that feels close to guacamole—a little chunky, but still spreadable. Set aside. Cook the veggies and beans: In a cast iron skillet or other large, heavy skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the red onion and cook, stirring every minute or so, until the onion starts to soften, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the salt, cumin, oregano, and coriander, stirring until the onions are completely coated.Add the bell pepper and stir to combine. Cook for another 3 minutes, until the peppers just begin to soften. Add the lime juice and black beans and stir the whole mix together. Cook for about 2 minutes, just to warm the black beans through. Warm the tortillas: Heat the second tablespoon of olive oil in a separate skillet or grill pan over medium high heat. Add 1 flour tortilla and let it heat up for a minute or so. Using tongs, flip the tortilla over, and repeat the process for the other side, until you see a couple of bubbles welling up in the center of the tortilla. Assemble the quesadilla: Layer the filling, then the avocado, and then the cheese—about 1/4 cup of each, but if you want more go for it! Cook the quesadilla: Fold the tortilla over to seal the quesadilla. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until it’s crispy, and the cheese has melted. Repeat the process for the other quesadillas, although if your skillet is large enough you can make two at a time in the same skillet. Serve the quesadillas: Cut the quesadillas into triangular portions and serve with sour cream, avocado, and/or the pico de gallo, if desired. Quesadillas are best served and eaten immediately. Source: Simply Recipes

Satay or sate is typically a dish with marinated meat or poultry, threaded onto skewers and charred over a grill. This recipe is the vegetarian spin, featuring tofu rather than meat. The tofu absorbs the marinade and remains tender even on the grill. It’s served along with a spicy peanut sauce made of common ingredients. If you’d like a completely vegan recipe, replace the fish sauce with soy sauce in the marinade. Prep time: 25 minsCook time: 10 minsTotal time: 35 minsServings: 5 to 7 servingsYield: 20 skewers Ingredients: 1 (14-ounce) block extra-firm tofu 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated on a microplane or minced 2 large cloves garlic, grated on a microplane or minced 1 1/2 teaspoons yellow curry powder 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar 2 teaspoons sriracha 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter 1/4 cup coconut milk Salt, to taste Vegetable oil, for the grill 2 tablespoons roughly chopped cilantro (optional) 20 (10-inch) bamboo skewers Directions: Soak the bamboo skewers: Soak the bamboo skewers in water while preparing the tofu and peanut sauce. Drain, cut, and dry the tofu: Drain the tofu from its packaging and cut into 10 slices (about ⅓-inch thick) along the shortest edge so they look like little decks of cards. Cut each slab in half to create narrow strips of tofu.Lay the tofu in a single layer between two stacks of paper towels. Press down to absorb any remaining liquid. Transfer tofu strips to an 8×8-inch baking pan. Make the marinade: In a small bowl, whisk the ginger, garlic, curry powder, turmeric, fish sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, and sriracha until smooth. Pour half the marinade into a separate medium bowl and set aside. You will use it to make the sauce. Add sesame oil to marinade and coat tofu: Add the sesame oil into the small bowl with the marinade, whisk to combine. Drizzle the marinade with the sesame oil over the tofu, making sure to flip the tofu strips over to coat all the sides. While the tofu marinates, make the peanut sauce: Add the peanut butter and coconut milk to the marinade you set aside in the medium bowl and whisk until smooth. Add an extra 1/2 teaspoon or more sriracha if you want a spicier sauce. Prepare the grill: You always want to start with a clean grill. If using a charcoal grill, get the coals going until covered in ash and then spread them out.If using gas, open the lid and light it. Set it to medium heat. Close the lid and give it 10 minutes to preheat with the lid closed, aiming for 350 to 400° F. Spear tofu onto skewers and season: While the grill heats, carefully spear the skewers through the center of the tofu strips. Season all sides of the tofu skewers with salt to taste. Brush grates with vegetable oil: Just before putting the skewers on the grill, brush the grate with vegetable oil or rub with an oil-soaked paper towel using a pair of metal tongs. Grill the tofu skewers: Lay down the skewers, cover the grill, and cook until the tofu shows distinct grill marks and lifts off the grate with relative ease, about 5 minutes.Flip skewers, with the aid of a metal spatula if needed, and grill until well-marked and easy to lift, another 4 to 5 minutes. Garnish and serve: Transfer skewers to a platter. Garnish with cilantro, if desired, and serve with the peanut sauce. Source: Simply Recipes

These ricotta berry parfaits are easy to make and don’t taste too sweet, making them the perfect casual summer dinner treat. The cream cheese with honey and lemon adds an extra bit of creaminess to the ricotta. Use any glasses you have such as tumblers, champagne glasses or any clear dessert dish. You can make these in advance and refrigerate until needed. Prep time: 15 minsTotal time: 15 minsServings: 4 servings Ingredients: 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into chunks and softened to room temperature 2 tablespoons honey 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) whole milk ricotta cheese 3 tablespoons strawberry jam 4 cups mixed fresh berries, such as blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and sliced strawberries 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios (for garnish) Mint leaves (for garnish) Directions: Make the ricotta cream: Combine the cream cheese, honey, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice and vanilla in a mixing bowl, and beat with an electric mixer for 1 to 2 minutes on medium speed, until light and fluffy. Beat in the ricotta until smooth. Glaze the berries: Use a spatula to push the jam through a fine mesh strainer into a small mixing bowl; this will remove any tiny seeds in the jam. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice to the strained jam and mix until smooth. Add the berries and stir to coat them. Assemble the parfaits: Into four dessert glasses or bowls, layer 1 to 2 tablespoon of the berries and 2 to 3 tablespoons ricotta mixture. Repeat, ending with berries on top. Sprinkle with chopped pistachios, and garnish with mint leaves.The fruit and ricotta can be layered into dishes and refrigerated for up to a day. Sprinkle with pistachios and mint until just before serving. Source: Simply Recipes

A cold and refreshing cucumber soup is great for a hot summer day. It’s super easy to prepare in just under 10 minutes! The chilled soup calls for chopped onion, buttermilk, sour cream, olive oil, dill, salt, pepper and of course cucumbers. Make it ahead of time to enjoy any day. If you don’t have a blender, an immersion blender works for this recipe. Prep time: 10 minsTotal time: 10 minsServings: 3 to 4 servings Ingredients: 2 large cucumbers (about 1 1/2 pounds total) 2 tablespoons chopped onion (white, red, or green) 1/2 cup buttermilk 1/4 cup sour cream 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt Pinch black pepper Directions: Prep the cucumbers, onion, and dill: Peel, seed, and roughly chop the cucumbers. Chop the onion and dill. Blend: Put all of the ingredients into a blender and pulse until completely smooth. Adjust seasonings to taste. Add more salt and pepper if needed.At this point you can make ahead and chill. Chill the soup: Chill in a container in the refrigerator until cold. Serve: Pour into bowls and garnish with a drizzle of olive oil and a feather of dill. Source: Simply Recipes

Take tonight’s dinner to a new level with the help of an air fryer. These Shish Kebabs are prepared with common ingredients such as onions, bell peppers, cucumbers and of course your choice of meat. Season these up with garlic salt, pepper and soy sauce for an extra kick of flavor. If you don’t have any shish kebab sticks on hand use popsicle sticks instead! Ingredients: Onion Bell Pepper Cucumbers Meat of choice Garlic Salt Pepper Olive Oil Spray 1/4 cup soy sauce Shish Kebab Sticks or Popsicle Sticks Directions: Cut an onion, bell pepper, cucumbers and meat into 1-inch squares Spray with olive oil and season with garlic salt, pepper, 1/4 cup soy sauce Stack on a short shish kebab stick or popsicle stick Spray air fryer pan with olive oil and load the tray Cook at 400°F for 10 to 15 minutes

Grenadine is a syrup made from the juice of pomegranates. It’s sweet, tart and deeply vibrant. This quick and easy syrup can be added to various cocktails or nonalcoholic beverages. While it is commonly sold in stores, grenadine is super simple to make at home with just basic ingredients like pomegranates, sugar and a flavor or two for complexity. It comes together quickly and can be stored for one to three months depending if you add vodka to it to extend its shelf life. Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 30 mins Cool time: 60 mins Total time: 95 mins Servings: 1 ⅔ to 1 ¾ cups syrup Ingredients: 2 cups pomegranate juice from 2-3 large pomegranates 1 cup granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon orange flower water 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses 1 ounce vodka, optional Directions: Simmer pomegranate juice and sugar: In a small saucepan, combine the pomegranate juice and sugar and whisk until dissolved. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, and then reduce the heat to medium-low so that you have a vigorous simmer. The liquid should have lots of little bubbles around the edges, but no big bubbles. Simmer to reduce pomegranate liquid: Continue to simmer until the mixture has reduced to about a third, there should be 1 2/3 cup of liquid remaining. This can take anywhere between 20 to 30 minutes, and the liquid should be viscous and have thickened to the consistency of honey. Let grenadine cool to room temperature: After the mixture has reduced, remove from the heat and let it come to room temperature. Stir in the orange flower water and pomegranate molasses. If using, also stir in the vodka. Store the grenadine: Pour the grenadine into an airtight container or swing top bottle. Store in the refrigerator for 1 to 3 months. Source: Simply Recipes

A Dakos Salad is a specialty Greek salad made with fresh tomatoes, feta, capers, red onions, oregano and basil. It’s a vibrant taste for summer. It can be made either like a bruschetta or deconstructed into a salad. Serve this as a part of a mezze spread, or along a barbeque. The salad is a quick and simple way to throw an easy meal together. Prep time: 15 minsTotal time: 15 minsServings: 4 servings Ingredients: 1 pound ripe tomatoes, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks 2 tablespoons finely diced red onions 1/4 cup black olives (such as kalamata), pitted and roughly chopped 1 tablespoon capers, roughly chopped Small handful of parsley leaves, chopped Small handful basil leaves, chopped 1 teaspoon dried oregano 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 4 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for drizzling 1/3 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste Black pepper, to taste 6 dakos rusks or two thick slices of sourdough cut into chunks and toasted 1/2 cup feta, crumbled Directions: Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl combine the tomatoes, red onion, olives, capers, parsley, basil, oregano, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and black pepper to taste. Crumble rusks over salad and let sit: Break the rusks into 1-inch pieces. Add to the salad then using a rubber spatula combine the ingredients. Let the salad rest for 10 minutes so the rusks can soften slightly in the tomato juices. Top with feta: Once the salad has rested for 10 minutes, add the feta over top. Finish salad and serve: Check the seasoning and add additional salt and pepper, if needed. Finish with a final drizzle of olive oil. Serve. Source: Simply Recipes

Gazpacho is a classic Iberian soup that typically relies on tomatoes, olive oil, sherry vinegar and bread. This refreshing twist brings watermelon to the forefront. The sweetness of the watermelon perfectly complements the other fruits in the gazpacho such as the tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers. It’s quick and easy to make. All you need is a blender and a few minutes of time to prepare it. Prep time: 15-20 minutesYield: Serves 4, makes 5 1/2 cups Ingredients: 1 pound seedless watermelon (about 1/2 personal watermelon), plus more for garnish 1 pound Roma or plum tomatoes (about 4) 1/2 medium English cucumber, plus more for garnish 1/2 medium red bell pepper, plus more for garnish 1/2 medium jalapeño pepper, plus more for garnish (optional) 1 clove garlic 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Directions: Prepare the fruit and vegetables. Prepare the following ingredients, adding each to a blender as you complete them: Dice 1 pound seedless watermelon (about 3 cups). Quarter 1 pound Roma or plum tomatoes, scrape out the seeds with your fingers, and coarsely chop (about 2 1/2 cups). Seed and dice 1/2 English cucumber (about 1 cup), 1/2 medium red bell pepper (about 3/4 cup), and 1/2 medium jalapeño pepper, if desired. Smash 1 clove garlic with the side of a chef’s knife. Prepare the garnishes. Finely dice the following until you have about 2 tablespoons of each: watermelon, cucumber, and red bell pepper. Arrange in piles on a plate or in a shallow bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to serve. Add the seasonings. Add 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to the blender. Purée the soup. Blend on medium-high speed to desired consistency, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Chill the soup. Refrigerate the soup in the blender until thoroughly chilled, at least 3 hours. Serve the soup. Stir or blend the soup to recombine if needed. Pour the soup into bowls and garnish with the reserved watermelon, cucumber, and bell pepper. Source: the Kitchn

Serve up an all-time favorite, corn on the cob, with record-breaking time thanks to an air fryer. Feel free to season the corn as desired. Coat with olive oil or lather in butter to ensure extra crispiness. These can be served on their own or with other BBQ dishes at your next cookout. Ingredients: Corn Olive Oil Cooking Spray Butter (optional) Pepper Garlic Salt Directions: Cut corn in half to fit into air fryer Spray with olive oil or lather in butter Season with fresh pepper and garlic salt Cook at 400°F for 10 to 15 minutes

We’re well into summer, and nothing complements the season better than a glass of ice-cold strawberry lemonade. As with most things, strawberry lemonade tastes best when made from scratch. You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make a pitcher full of the summertime treat. Serve it for your next family cookout or even add a shot of our favorite liquor for a delicious alcoholic beverage. Ingredients: 2 cups strawberries (10 to 12 ounces) 2 pounds lemons (8 to 10 medium) 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 4 cups cold water, plus more as needed Ice Directions: Prep the strawberries and squeeze the lemons. Hull and quarter 2 cups fresh strawberries. Place in a blender. Juice 2 pounds lemons until you have 1 1/2 cups juice. Add the juice to the blender. Make the strawberry mixture and strain. Add 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and blend on high speed until the strawberries are puréed and the sugar is dissolved, 20 to 25 seconds. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a 2-quart or larger pitcher. Discard the contents of the strainer. Add the water and serve over ice. Add 4 cups cold water to the pitcher and stir until thoroughly combined. Taste the strawberry lemonade; if it’s too intense, add more cold water 1/4 cup at a time as needed. Serve the strawberry lemonade over ice. Source: the Kitchn