Late summer, made simple: Easy meals for hot days

When it's still hot outside, the last thing many people want to do is spend an hour standing over a hot stove.

Late summer is actually one of the easiest times of year to simplify meals. Fresh produce is abundant, and many of the season's best ingredients don't need much cooking at all.

Here are a few easy formulas to keep in rotation.

Build a grain bowl

Start with a cooked grain such as quinoa, brown rice or farro. Add whatever vegetables you have on hand, a protein such as beans, chickpeas, chicken or tofu, and finish with a flavorful dressing.

Grain bowls are especially useful because you can prepare the components ahead of time and assemble individual meals throughout the week.

Want to make dinner easier? Let us do the work for you — stop by the Rosewood Market Deli Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. to order a fresh bowl made for you.

Make a no-cook dinner

Some of the best summer dinners barely require cooking. Try a combination of hummus, vegetables, olives, cheese, whole-grain crackers and fresh fruit for an easy snack-style dinner.

You can also make a simple salad with canned beans or fish, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a flavorful dressing.

Keep wraps in rotation

Wraps are an easy way to turn leftovers into another meal. Fill a whole-grain tortilla with greens, vegetables, your favorite protein and a sauce or spread.

Leftover grilled chicken can become a chicken wrap. Roasted vegetables can become a hummus wrap. Even last night's grain bowl can get a second life wrapped in a tortilla.

Need an easy meal? Rosewood Market’s grab-and-go wraps make lunch or dinner simple. Pick one up when you need something fresh and satisfying without the chopping, cooking or assembly — just grab, go and enjoy.

Make a better smoothie

Smoothies can be more than a quick breakfast. Add fruit or vegetables, a protein source, nut butter or seeds and your preferred liquid base for a balanced option.

Frozen fruit can also help make smoothies cold and refreshing without relying on ice.

Lean into seasonal produce

August is a great time to let fresh produce do most of the work. Tomatoes, peaches, watermelon, corn, cucumbers, peppers, berries and other summer produce can become salads, sides, snacks and desserts with very little preparation.

Sometimes the easiest meal is simply the one that requires the fewest ingredients.

Keep a few shortcuts on hand

There's nothing wrong with using convenient ingredients to make meals easier. Frozen vegetables, canned beans, jarred sauces, prepared hummus, and other pantry staples can save time without requiring you to rely on takeout every night.

Summer cooking doesn't have to mean elaborate recipes. Keep a few versatile ingredients around, use what's in season and focus on meals that can be assembled rather than cooked.