So, here in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s summer. And summer means it’s hot, and when it’s hot I don’t really want to cook! But ya gotta eat, right? And our wallets and waistlines can only handle so much take out food… So I thought I’d share a couple of fast and easy recipes that are perfect for summer!

This recipe, Summer Meatballs & Lemon Fettucini, is my most “pinned” on Pinterest! I like the idea of a light version of comfort food. It takes a while to make the chicken meatballs, but the recipe makes a double batch so you can cook once and get at least another meal out of it. The fettucini is fast and delicious… it’s one of my daughter’s favorite meals. You could also just skip the meatballs altogether, and serve the light, lemon-y pasta along with some grilled chicken.

In the summer, nothing beats fresh tomatoes and basil straight from the garden, right? You can’t beat Cheesy Bruschetta Porkchops for fresh and light summer flavors! Serve with crusty bread to sop up the delicious juice, and a steamed vegetable on the side. Summer perfection!

I also like seafood in the summer. How about Spicy Shrimp with Ginger Coconut Rice? I love how the spiciness of the shrimp plays against the cool and creamy rice.

I know we usually think of using the crock-pot during the cooler months, but the advantage is that it doesn’t heat up the kitchen like the oven or stove does! You could try this Slow Cooker Chicken Provencal:

We can’t talk summer food without talking burgers! Turkey Burgers with Asian Slaw is a fun twist on traditional burgers (and, I like using turkey because it’s lighter than beef, I don’t like to eat things that are too heavy when it’s hot outside):

When we get invited to a cookout and I say, “Thanks for inviting us! What can I bring?”- this is usually the reply! Fresh summer basil makes this soooo tasty! And I call it my Summer Bean Salad Un-Recipe, because you can substitute whatever you have on hand to make it. It also makes a nice light lunch all on its own.

So now it’s time for dessert! I have a couple of “go-to” cheese cake recipes- because they’re so simple and, well, I happen to love cheesecake!

Blueberry Lime Cheesecake Bars are light and yummy and put to use one of my favorite summer foods, blueberries. And blueberries are very healthy. So this recipe is actually good for you :)

Finally, these cute little Miniature Cherry Cheesecakes are very simple to make. Feel free to substitute any fruit for the topping.

Well, now I’m hungry! You can find all of my recipes here.