Summery Meals Ahead

I finally sat down today and started writing out a list of summery meals. My goal is to get a list of 60 dinners to take us through Labor Day. That way, I can just pick and choose from the list as I make out my grocery lists and weekly menu plans. I've found that my cooking inspirations come in fits and starts, so it is VERY helpful for me to have a master list to fall back on.

So far, my list only contains ideas off the top of my head. I plan on spending some time this weekend going through recipes I've bookmarked online, blogs with recipes I love, and my favorite cookbooks to complete the list. I'll update when my list is complete. (I know this is exciting stuff, so try to contain yourselves.)

1. Hamburgers, Parmesan oven fries, corn on the cob
2. Barbecue chicken sandwiches, fresh corncakes, cantaloupe
3. Bratwurst, watermelon, baked beans
4. Monterrey chicken, onion straws, corn on the cob
5. Asian chicken salad with peanut-ginger dressing
6. Chicken and grape pasta salad
7. Taco salad
8. Pretzel chicken, crash hot potatoes, fresh green beans
9. BLTs, homemade potato chips, honeydew melon
10. California Club sandwiches, fruit salad
11. Roasted red pepper and portabello mushroom quesadillas, peaches
12. Fig, caramelized onion, and feta pizza, mixed greens salad
13. Homemade cheese ravioli with fresh pesto
14. Caprese bread salad, strawberries and kiwi
15. Cucumbers and tomatoes stuffed with lentil salad and couscous salad
16. Black bean burgers, sour cream and dill cucumbers, rosemary potatoes
17. Spinach and fried chickpea salad with bacon, cheese, and ranch dressing
18. Corned beef, spinach and wild rice roll-ups
19. Herb-crusted fish (whatever is on sale), almond and apricot quinoa pilaf, oven-roasted broccoli
20. Southwestern rotini salad with black beans, roasted red peppers and fresh corn
21. Fresh veggie stir-fry over brown rice, grilled pineapple
22. Chicken and potato skewers, green fruit salad with yogurt & lime dressing
23. Nacho platter, root beer floats
24. Stuffed artichokes and bruschetta
25. Beef tostados, plums
26. Coconut chicken curry
27. Falafel and pita sandwiches, strawberry and spinach salad

I've also decided that I might try shopping once a week for the next two months. Eric and I both really want our meals to be filled with fresh fruits and veggies. We'd like to buy locally grown produce as much as possible also.

Online today I found a local organic u-pick farm that has everything. You can just call on a given day and find out what is available for picking that day. The choices include bean, peas, rhubarb, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, corn, every herb imaginable,raspberries, blueberries, and lots more. I'm really excited about this. We've looked into joining a CSA but there just isn't one close enough to make it worthwhile. This farm is only about 20 minutes away. And I would LOVE for the kids to have the opportunity to experience a farm like this, and to help us actually choose and pick the vegetables and fruit. It is also only about 10 minutes away from a raw honey farm that we've wanted to go to for a while. I can't wait!