Spring Fling: Easy Dinners
In my very first blog post, I mentioned how spring has always been my favorite time of year. While that’s true to an extent, I’m rather fickle when it comes to deciding, so I’ve started a new section dedicated to all of my favorite aspects of each season. Since spring is in full force here in L.A., I thought I’d kick things off by sharing my passion for warm nights and cool, easy dinners.
This Citrus Sangria took mere minutes, but added a refreshing complement to our light meal.
Antipasti salad of mozzarella balls, raw asparagus, heirloom tomatoes with basil and avocado.
What’s your go-to dinner when it’s still 90° at 7:30?
74 comments
thanx for sharing the sangria recipe I’ll try it this we!!
well since I’m italian and from the south mozzarella for us is really like bread!! we eat it at least 2 times a week..I adore one of my mum best dishes it’s a fresh pasta salad, you just need to cook the pasta (better penne http://www.all-creatures.org/recipes/images/i-pasta-penne-rigate.jpg) but don’t overcook it , put the pasta in a bowl add small dices of mozzarella , basil, cherry tomatoes, little slices of roasted courgette,olive oil and put in fridge for 1 hour, before serving add few mint leaves..et voilà!!
Hey love your blog. I just switched over to wordpress.
http://www.chelseasgirl.wordpress.com
<3Chelsea’sGirl
Wow ….I’m incredibly hungry right now!
What is most refreshing.
Kisses
Do not forget to take your award “award 10.
http://look10.blogspot.com/2009/03/cupcakes-and-cashmere.html
Kisses
Oh that’s funny to discover that you eat exactly like us here, in the South of France!
that looks amazing!
lately I’ve been making a salad with baby spinach, red onion, dried cranberries and feta, with light poppyseed dressing. your spring sounds more like our summer (we don’t see 90 degrees until july, usually) which is when I mostly consume strawberries, corn on the cob and icecream.
This looks amazing… I’ll have to try this once the temps in the midwest heat up!
The “go-to” meal in our house for warm summer days is Panzanella (bread salad) there are a million different ways to make it, but in the summer when produce is fresh my favorite is cucumber, tomatoes, basil, white beans and shaved parmesan cheese… all that on top of homemade crusty bread croutons and a balsamic vinaigrette! YUM!
Kate (above) your spinach salad sounds amazing too!
wow, that looks absolutely delicious. i think mozzarella and tomato are one of the most delicious combinations ever.
my favorite hot summer night meal has to be grilled
Veggies on our outdoor grill. All I do I slice up colorful peppers, summer squash, zucchini, brocoli & anything else, brush with olive oil & salt & grill until grill marks are highly visible. You can also slice up fresh peaches & throw them on the grill for desert for a really warm, hearty flavor. This can also be done inside with a grill pan on top of the stove.
ohh… look at that citrus sangria! Yummmm
yum! these both look amazing! on hot summer nights, i love making a big greek salad, with lots of cucumber, tomatoes, olives, red pepper and red onion–add some feta and a splash of oil and vinegar, et voila. so refreshing and good!
that looks delish!
i love mozzarella + tomato … your dinner looks delicious!
my boyfriend makes a great smoked salmon salad – we use pecans, bleu cheese, green beans, spinach leaves, and raspberry vinaigrette.
That looks so good! mmmm. xo Cari http://isnotfashion.blogspot.com/
That’s pretty much my dream meal right there! My go-to on hot nights have been lavosh wraps (from Trader Joe’s), I fill them with tons of lettuce, shredded carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and a yummy herb yogurt sauce. Delish, totally refreshing and not heavy at all.
ohhhh YUM! that antipasti salad is so colorful- what a cooling meal =)
WOW! That plate looks if I dare pretty
your quite the chef! and I will definately be trying the sangria recipe!
Yummy! Your man is lucky! I love doing caprese salads. Light and filling.
I don’t even remember what it feels like to be 90 degrees! We’re still trying to dig out from the past winter, although today is supposed to be near 70 and tomorrow in the 80′s. yay!! (unseasonably WARM for a change).
The antipasti tray looks delish… usually when it is so hot, I just go for salads.
thank you always for you: http://look10.blogspot.com/
kisses
I need to move somewhere warmer…BUT come mid-July, I’ll be eating antipasti quite often. I usually blanch the asparagus, maybe have some balsamic vinaigrette on the tomatoes and mozzarella…some olives. Oh and I like to do salad nicoise, too (cold tuna/green beans/hard boiled eggs/potatoes)
great idea for posts!! i find the best recipes on other people blogs rather than cookbooks. that sangria looks amazing, i’ll have to try it once the weather warms up again.
I think my warm weather food is a lot of fruit, light salads and fish. It’s hard to eat when it’s so hot out, but these foods make me feel refreshed!
That looks yummy. It’s only the morning, and now I think I want some of that Citrus Sangria. Some shrimp and pineapple kabobs mixed with grilled veggies are always simple and easy.
Becs
http://www.stylewithbenefits.wordpress.com
That sangria recipe sounds fabulous-I will be trying it out very soon! When it’s hot outside I can’t stand to eat anything heavy or too rich late at night so I usually stick to some sort of fish (salmon or tilapia are currently my faves) or this yummy new salad I recently tried out-gorgonzola crumbles, candied pears and toasted pecans with a raspberry vinaigrette over baby spinach-YUM!
That looks delicious! And by the by your necklaces are so lovely!
Oh my goodness, it all looks absolutely delicious!
How lovely and looks refreshing. Perfect on a hot summer ridden day. I swear I will even try it in the fog as well.
Come and stop by and let us know what your definition of a true survivor is?!
Wow, that sangria looks amaaaazing. I am always so excited for the spring because the change in the foods I eat is so great. I just don’t like eating all those heavy foods when it’s warm and all the best fruit becomes available. Yum!
I like to try my hand at intricate sandwiches on warm nights. I am lucky to live in a beautiful condo community with a balcony, so I tend to eat outside on warm nights
The sangria looks amazing- will have to try it soon!
That salad looks DIVINE! My go-to for 90-degrees-at-7 is a giant glass of water … if it’s that hot, the last thing I want is food.
mmm that salad looks so good! tomato basil & mozzarella is possibly my favorite combo ever.
so nice meeting you last night..and i am stealing that sangria recipe for game night!
around here we have to grill out along with great drinks and beer. my grilled shrimp are a fave in the family.
yummy yummy.
I think that IS my go-to meal! It never gets that hot here though (good thing or bad thing?) however when I’ve traveled, I totally favour salads, beer…oh and I tried gazpacho for the first time last summer and loved it!
mmm… that antipasti sounds delicious!! My favorite quick & easy meal when it’s warm is a grilled chicken taco salad with lettuce, kidney beans, black olives, shredded cheese, fresh salsa, & if I feel like it fresh guacamole! It’s pretty quick & easy… just grill the chicken & throw whatever you feel like on top. Now I’m super hungry
it was nice meeting you last night
that sangria looks amazing, i’ll have to bottle some up and take it to the beach one weekend! 
Greek salad: http://jamieofalltrades.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/03/greek-salad.html
All right!! Love summer dinners, and the citrus sangria sounds so crisp and refreshing – have to try that one asap! My go-to for those really hot days is a crisp salad or chilled ceviche… Yummy post!
xoxox,
CC
Those both look amazing! We had one of those nights this week. Ugh. But we ate chinese chicken salad, fresh strawberries and pineapple.
I can’t wait to try this sangria recipe!
sangria. fabulous idea!
Gorgeous dinner! I usually end up just eating cheese and drinking wine out on the balcony when it’s too hot to handle the kitchen.
Now I’m hungry. That salad couldn’t look more amazing. The colors are breathtaking.
That all sound so delicious! If it warms up here this weekend, I’m definitely making that sangria. Well, I’ll probably make it either way!
I love everything about this light meal! I’ll be trying the sangria tonight!
Hi! Love your blog, you have great style. Oh, and your jewellery is AMAZING!
I am totally looking up that sangria recipe! I love making a grilled romaine or caprese salad:)
I LOVE your pitcher. Unfortunately my go-to hot weather meal usually involves burritos in the air conditioned taco shop down the street from my apartment.
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Yum! I love to make panzanella when it’s hot out. Also…peach sangria is amazing!
xoxo,
Hudson
http://www.hudsonjeans.com/lifestyle
Looks delicious! I usually go for sushi, a big salad or perhaps a hot dog and some coleslaw, asian style…reminds me of 4th of July. To drink, Sprite, white wine or a light cold beer – first choice, Pacifico.
I can’t wait to try the sangria recipe! Thanks!
On a hot day I love sushi, salad, fruit, although bbq-ing can be fun too…
Wow that looks so delish & perfect! Thanks for the recipe! I’m definitely going to link you on my upcoming post on food!
that looks delicious!!
http://pearlsandgreentea.blogspot.com/
That looks amazingly DELISH! I wandered over to your blog through taza’s and love your sense of style. So I thought I’d pass along this website: http://champagneandcupcakes.ca/ since the name totally reminded me of you
It’s a cute store here in Toronto, where I live, come visit some day in the summer! 
wow this looks scrumptious!!! the weather is definitely already warm down here too.
mmm can’t wait to make this sangria this weekend!
xxo
Tomato salad is probably my favorite food and that sangria looks really good. On really hot days its usually some kind of salad or a movie and some popcorn in a nice air conditioned theatre.
This looks so wonderfully delcious!
Wonderful blog by the way!
Have a great day!
it looks amazing!! delicious!
mhmmm that looks sooo delicious
i’m thirsty and hungry now!
Yum!
Thanks for sharing that Sangria recipe – I am definitely going to try it – I think it will be perfect for an evening hear in Vegas
xoxo
ugh, typo – “here in Vegas”
Oh yeah, want to Fedex some of your treats to me in Montreal? Delicious!
your antipasti looks delicious!
Today I made citrus sangria with Cava champagne and added raspberries – delicious!
all looks super delicious! I want to make that sangria!
http://thestyleccentric.com
Absolutely gorgeous!! Glad I found you via Dionne’s blog…
Pamela
http://pamelasusan.typepad.com
Love the tomatoe/basil dish! We had it last night…it felt so SUMMERY…is that a word?? also love, love the black and white stripe outfits…so makes me think FRENCH thoughts…
LOVE the tomato/basil dish! not (tomatoe)…i need to learn to spell…lol
Gazpacho, fish tacos, and cold beer
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