It is a bright and sunny day, probably one of the hottest days of the summer.
You had spent most of the early morning at the park with your children.
You plan to take the children to visit grandma and have a lovely, relaxing afternoon with the family. Your children are red in the face, and you cannot stop sweating. You dream about the nice air conditioning at her house.
Not even five minutes pass by since your arrival, and she brings out a bowl filled with caldo.
What is it about Latina moms who love to make caldo even during the year’s hottest days? I love caldo, but there are simply some days that are way too hot for soup.
Well, amiga, I think it is time to stop the cycle of scalding hot caldo on a 95°F day. Here are some delicious recipes that I enjoy year-round and are perfect for those sunny days.
And the best part? They are quick and easy, so you don’t have to stand over a hot stove for hours.
Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is just about my favorite thing to make. It is so customizable that it will be a hit at home.
I like to use tri-color rotini as my pasta since it adds extra color and catches the attention of my children more.
Prepare your pasta and drain well. Add salt, mayonnaise, cherry tomatoes; one can of corn, diced ham, and parmesan cheese. Easy, right?
Just toss all ingredients together and mix well. If you want a bit more protein, you can even add rotisserie chicken pieces.
Chicken Salad Sandwich
My children love this recipe. In reality, I started making this accidentally when I had leftover rotisserie chicken but did not want to eat it with rice again.
I shredded the chicken and added mayonnaise, diced apples, chopped celery, and green onions. Add it to sliced bread, and you have a delicious sandwich for the sunny weather.
Fruit Smoothie
By now, you can probably tell that I like quick and easy recipes that are convenient and nutritious. I love making fruit smoothies as they are refreshing and quench my thirst during those overwhelmingly hot days.
Pop your favorite fruits into the freezer. I usually have frozen bananas and strawberries on hand, but the possibilities are endless.
Grocery stores also sell bags of mixed frozen fruit already cut into chunks, so you can buy these if you are short on time.
Fill your blender with your milk of choice, add the fruits, and my secret ingredient, honey, for that extra taste of sweetness. I sometimes like to add plain greek yogurt for extra creaminess. Serve and enjoy!
With summer right around the corner, these easy recipes will surely come in handy!