Stuffed Vegetable Rolls

In the heat of summer we are always looking for refreshing meals that can be made ahead of time.  By doing most of the work ahead of time we are able to enjoy our evenings and not heat up the kitchen right before dinner.  Make-ahead meals are also great for dinner parties and potlucks any time of year.  This meal was inspired by our trip to the farmer's market where we found local eggplant and zucchini, though peppers would work great as well.  The filling (we used goats cheese, basil, and lemon) can also be adapted to your liking with different combinations of cheeses and seasonings.  These easy to prepare and amazingly delicious rolls will soon become a go-to main dish or appetizer all summer long.

Green Pea Soup

Cold soups are a wonderful way to enjoy the tastes of summer while cooling down after a hot day.  Because this can be made in advance, it is an easy meal to put together on a weekday night and have leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day.  If peas are in season this is an excellent use for them, but if not, then frozen peas work just as well.  We actually find that frozen peas are one of the few frozen vegetables that retain their taste and taste fresh once defrosted.  For that reason, we went with frozen peas here but the option is yours.  As for the cinnamon used here, while it may seem like an unusual ingredient for a savory soup, it adds a unique and delicious rounded flavor to this dish.

Fried Squash Blossoms

Nothing says summer like squash blossoms.  Cooking squash blossoms can seem daunting, as they are typically a gourmet restaurant fare, but when they caught our eye at the farmers market we decided to give them a try.  These blossoms grow on the ends of zucchini and are plucked once the zucchini have developed.  Because they are so fragile and delicate they are sometimes difficult to find.  However, if you look around your local farmers markets or talk to the farmers you are sure to find some this time of year.  Once purchased they are best eaten day of and as a delicious appetizer.  This is a very easy recipe that you can play around with the fillings to suit your likes and we've found our favorite to be stuffed with goat cheese or ricotta.