Summer means enjoying more time outside playing, relaxing, and spending time with friends and family. It also means it's time for easy-breezy summer fare. With fresh fruits and veggies in abundance and loads of simple summer recipes, you'll have this backyard entertaining thing down pat. And we can help. We're sharing our favorite simple and sizzling summer recipes for your culinary delight. Trust us, these are gold! 

Mom’s Hamburgers

These are favorites at summer cookouts, family get-togethers, and tailgate parties.

1 lb. 93% lean ground beef
3 tablespoons ketchup
2-3 teaspoons Worchestershire sauce
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼-½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Put ground beef in a medium-size bowl. Add ketchup, Worchestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper, then mix well. Divide into four equal size balls. Press into patties – I like using a burger press because it helps the burgers cook evenly. Cook on the stovetop in a frying pan or on the grill until pink/gray. Medium heat will make them juicy. Makes 4 patties.

Summer Fruit Salad

Fresh fruits and veggies are in abundance in the summer months.

Mixed Spring Greens
Blueberries
Strawberries, sliced
Peaches, diced
Apples, diced and soaked in lemon juice

Feta Cheese
Sunflower seeds or sliced almonds or chopped walnuts

Make a bed with the lettuce. Top with fruit and sprinkle with cheese and sunflower seeds. This salad is best served with a sweet poppyseed dressing or a balsamic glaze.

Pretty Water

Refreshing on a hot day or just as a plain water alternative to a light beverage for meals, pretty water is an easy-made item that is as pleasing aesthetically as it is taste-wise.

1 orange, thinly sliced
1 lime, thinly sliced
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 handful of fresh mint

Stir together with water in a beautiful pitcher.

Drink and enjoy!

Simple, Savory Baked Beans

16-ounce can pork and beans in tomato sauce
15-ounce can navy or Great White Northern beans, drained
1/2+ cup Old Mule BBQ Sauce
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
2-4 slices crisp bacon, crumbled

Mix ingredients and bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes. 

Grilled Veggies

Corn, squash, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, onions, carrots-- basically any vegetable can be grilled alongside those burgers and meats you've got cooking. Aluminum foil is an excellent way to cook veggies on the grill. Make packets, season, cover ... viola! summer side dishes. And potatoes can just be grilled in their own jacket and served with a bar of toppings for a satisfying and appealing presentation. 

Suggested toppings and seasonings:

Butter, plain or herbed, cheesed, etc.
Garlic
Salt and/or seasoned salts
Cheese
Olive oil

Quick & Easy Pie

When you need to whip up a quick dessert that is as easy as pie, this is a good option.

1 8-ounce tub whipped topping, thawed
1 pitcher-packet sugar-free raspberry lemonade mix
1 9-inch graham cracker crust

Mix the thawed whipped topping and raspberry lemonade mix in the tub until the lemonade mix is completely dissolved. Spread the mixture into the pie crust and chill. If you have raspberries, you could add them around the edges or add "a bead" of whipped cream and enjoy!

These are just a few of the ways we enjoy summer fare. We hope this sparks your culinary curiosity and encourages you to be creative and adventurous with your next summer meal. Bon Apetit!