Summer Linguine

Oh sweet summer, how kind you have been to me.
Thank you for keeping me up late at night watching gorgeous skies of pinks and purples while I sip on sweet, fruity wine.
Thank you for the beautiful bounty you have given and the tomatoes that are growing eagerly on my balcony.
For the sand in places I can't name.
For my sun kissed skin.
For countless road trips around the province, boat rides and bug bites.
Thank you for continually reminding me why you are my favourite (shhh!.. don't tell the other seasons!)
And finally, thank you for making it so hot outside that I have banned my oven from being turned on until the fall.

Potato Salad

This is nothing new

Nothing fancy.

Everyone has a potato salad recipe.

But it's summer and summer equals salads, specifically potato and pasta!

Green salads are a staple year round but for some reason potato and pasta salads are best in the summer. They are easy to take along to picnics, parties and making ahead for a week of lunches!

Either you like it mayo or vinegar style.
I am a mayo girl.
If I am eating french fries, you better believe I am dipping them in mayo.
Don't give me that look! I'm half dutch, what do you expect?

Quesadillas!

Here is a simple recipe that is perfect for busy weeknights! In my case, I made these one night when I was cooking for just me, they turned out so good I made them the next day for my fiance and he loved them. They are sweet and very cheesy!
One of the ingredients that makes this recipe taste so good is the addition of chili sauce, I used a style of chili sauce that had chunks of peppers, onions and tomatoes.

Rosemary and Garlic Chicken with Roasted Beets and Sauteed Beet Greens

I was a little skeptical half way through making this meal that it wasn't going to be very good.
Don't you hate that? You've dedicated your time and effort and you're not feeling positive about the final results.

Sometimes my doubts are for good reasons and the meal is a dud, it happens, I eat it and I don't make it again. But other times, I hit the jackpot and the meal totally exceeds my expectations! Yes! I did it right! Gold star!

Qunioa Cakes

I have been wanting to make these for awhile.

I spotted them on other food blogs and each one was different and looked delicious.

The recipe comes from the beautiful cookbook - Super Natural Everyday by Heidi Swanson, this is the second recipe I have tried since picking up this book a few months ago. The first one, a rice and mushroom casserole, didn't turn out the way I was imagining but these Quinoa Cakes, are better than I thought they would be.

A true test to them being as delicious as everyone says - my fiance had second helpings! Second helpings of something that has no meat! I struck meatless-meal gold with this recipe!

Sausage Bean and Spinach Soup

Here is another great soup for fall!!

If you like Italian Wedding soup than this is right up your alley! It's quick to prepare and only needs a few ingredients, the heat of the sausage is up to you, I don't like things too spicy but I used hot Italian sausage in this and it gave it just enough kick to give the soup a great taste!

This recipe is taken off of one of my favourite blogs to visit - shutterbean.com - visit it when you can, she has a lot of great recipes and decorating ideas!