21 Super Summer Menu Ideas

Savor the flavors of summer with a week's worth of dinner menus that feature grilled meats, just-picked produce, cool treats and more.
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Menu #1: Grilled steak dinner

Our steak's peppery rub and topping of juicy tomatoes combine some of summer's best foods. Serve with colorful sweet potato wedges, and linger at the table with a cool ice cream-shortbread dessert.Your menu:Peppery Grilled Steak with Summer TomatoesGrilled Sweet Potato Wedges with Dipping SaucesLemon-Pecan Shortbread Sundaes (see next slide)Tip: The steak recipe serves four big eaters or eight regular folks. Halve or quarter tomatoes for easier eating.Peppery Grilled Steak with Summer TomatoesGrilled Sweet Potato Wedges with Dipping Sauces

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Lemon-Pecan Shortbread Sundaes

Irresistible tangy lemon and rich pecans flavor one of the easiest cookies around: buttery shortbread. Prop shortbread triangles in scoops of ice cream or citrus sorbet with assorted fresh fruit.Lemon-Pecan Shortbread Cookies

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Menu #2: Grilled chicken dinner

Give your grilled meal an international flavor with spiced chicken. The East Indian garam-masala blend seasons the chicken, giving off an enticing aroma as it grills. The rest of the meal goes together fast while the chicken cooks.Your menu:Spiced Chicken with Cucumber-Mint SauceNo Measure Spinach SaladHoney-Berry Yogurt Frozen Yogurt Sundaes (see next slide)Tip: For a timesaver or a different flavor, substitute purchased mango chutney for the Cucumber-Mint Sauce.Spiced Chicken with Cucumber-Mint SauceNo Measure Spinach Salad

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Honey-Berry Yogurt Frozen Yogurt Sundaes

Fresh raspberries, blackberries, strawberries or blueberries star in our Honey-Berry Frozen Yogurt Sundaes, which take only 15 minutes to make from start to finish.Honey-Berry Yogurt Frozen Yogurt Sundaes

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Menu #3: Vegetarian dinner

Juicy fresh tomatoes flavor both the cheesy tart and the salad, and fresh basil gives the tart extra oomph. Top the angel food cake dessert with in-season berries.Your menu:Fresh Tomato TartRomaine Hearts with Lemon-Honey Vinaigrette (see next slide)Triple-Berry Angel Food Cake (see slide 7)Tip: The Tomato Tart makes a delicious appetizer (8 servings) as well as a main dish (4 servings).Fresh Tomato Tart

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Romaine Hearts with Lemon-Honey Vinaigrette

We based this salad on heart of romaine lettuce because it's so easy to serve. Colorful cherry tomatoes and tangy Kalamata olives add great flavor and visual interest to this side dish.Romaine Hearts with Lemon-Honey Vinaigrette

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Triple-Berry Angel Food Cake

This simple, make-ahead dessert is light and colorful. Save time by using store-bought angel food cake and making the berry fruit spread the day before. You can substitute some of your other favorite fruits in the sauce, if you like.Triple-Berry Angel Food Cake

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Menu #4: Pork chop dinner

Serve spicy smoked pork with sausage-and-cheese cornbread stuffing plus black-eyed peas. An easy-to-make dessert using store-bought ice cream finishes the meal.Your menu:Grilled Applewood Smoked Pork ChopsKansas Corn Bread StuffingPurchased black-eye peasUpside Down Maple Pie (see next slide)Tip: If you're pressed for time, skip smoking the pork.Grilled Applewood Smoked Pork ChopsKansas Corn Bread Stuffing

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Upside-Down Maple Pie

Maple syrup drizzles over a square of cinnamon ice cream, then a sprinkling of pecans and a dab of whipped cream finish off this delicious treat. Try adding a maple leaf piecrust cutout baked with a coating of cinnamon sugar--or a crispy cinnamon sugar cookie from the store if you're not in the mood to bake.

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Menu #5: Main-dish salad dinner

Cool down with a menu so easy you don't have to open the oven or turn on the stove. Buy a deli rotisserie chicken to keep the salad super-simple, and pick up some muffins or your favorite bread while you're at the store.Your menu:Strawberry Spinach Salad with Hickory-Smoked ChickenPurchased MuffinsGinger Fruit with Pineapple Sherbet (see next slide)Tip: Store the Orange-Balsamic Vinaigrette in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.Strawberry Spinach Salad with Hickory-Smoked Chicken

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Ginger Fruit with Pineapple Sherbet

This topping will impress family or guests with its zesty goodness. But easy ingredients--canned pineapple and mandarin orange sections tossed with orange marmalade, crystallized ginger and vanilla--make it a snap to create and pair with good-for-you sherbet.Ginger Fruit with Pineapple Sherbet

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Menu #6: All-American cookout

Pack extra flavor into classic grilled burgers by mixing the meat with egg, cheese, chopped onion and spices. Add a traditional potato salad, some watermelon and our easy ice cream dessert for a hearty backyard meal.Your menu:Our Best-Ever Grilled BurgersGrandma's Potato SaladWatermelon wedgesPatriotic Salute (see next slide)Tip: For more great burger ideas, click on the link to "Best Burger Recipes" below.Our Best-Ever Grilled BurgersBest Burger RecipesGrandma's Potato Salad

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Patriotic Salute

Patriotic color bursts from strawberry ice cream, strawberry topping, whipped cream, cinnamon candies and fresh strawberries dipped in white chocolate and colored sugar. Add a star cookie cutout baked with a sprinkling of colored sugar (blue, of course).

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Menu #7: Grilled tuna dinner

How do you improve on grilled marinated tuna? Weber Grill Restaurant in Chicago serves warm tuna with this fresh-tasting citrus salad. Add purchased cheesecake with an easy homemade topping for dessert.Your menu:Citrus Pesto TunaFennel-Tangerine SaladRaspberry-Topped Cheesecake (see next slide)Tip: Try to cook fish the day you bring it home. If you have to keep fish overnight, cover it tightly with plastic wrap and keep it in the coldest part of your refrigerator.Citrus Pesto Tuna and Fennel-Tangerine Salad

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Raspberry-Topped Cheesecake

Start with 4 slices of your favorite purchased cheesecake. Mix up this easy topping, and you've got dessert!Raspberry-Topped Cheesecake

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Continue for more great Midwest Living summer recipes

Our Best Burger RecipesCool and Creamy Summer DessertsJust-Right Summer Side DishesSuper and Simple Potluck RecipesSummer's Best Berry, Cherry and Peach Pies32 Sensational Salads

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