Three Simple Summer Recipes

I thought it would be fun to share some simple summer snacks that you can enjoy poolside – or just have around to snack on. This post was inspired from my Fourth of July pool party this weekend, and I figured I’d share some simple recipes to have on hand.

Four ingredient Potato Salad

I call this my mother-in-law potato salad because it came from my mother-in-law’s kitchen. She made this for us when we were visiting one year, and it’s delicious. And, it’s only four ingredients. It holds well, so you can make it ahead of time and serve chilled – or you can make it the morning of. I would say, from start to finish, it only takes about 30-minutes.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Red potatoes (it really depends on how many people you are serving, but I used about 15 medium-sized red potatoes.
• 2 Tablespoons of Relish
• 2 Tablespoons of Diced pimentos
• Cubed cheddar cheese (1/4 cup)
• 2 Tablespoons Miracle Whip (until you achieve the desired consistency)

Here’s what you’ll do:

1. Cut your red potatoes up into small pieces and boil until cooked through (normally about 7 minutes once the water begins to boil).
2. Once they are tender to the touch, strain and let cool for about 5 minutes.
3. Add in your relish and diced pimentos and mix gently.
4. Add in your cheddar cheese.
5. Finally, add in your Miracle Whip. I start with about two tablespoons, and depending on how many potatoes I use, I can always add more.
6. Chill until ready to serve.

Two-ingredient French Onion Dip

This is one of my all-time favorite snacks to serve by the pool. And, without fail, someone always asks for the recipe. It’s two-ingredients, and it takes about two-minutes to make. You really can’t beat that. The way I make this dish, also makes it relatively healthy (seriously). So, I’ll give you an option to add in some additional fat if you are feeling festive.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Box of Lipton French onion soup mix
• 1 16 ounce or 35 ounce container of 2% Fage Greek yogurt (You can also use sour cream if you want)

Here’s what you’ll do:

1. Mix 16 ounces of greek yogurt (or sour cream) with one packet of the Lipton French onion soup mix.
2. Chill until ready to serve.

I love serving this dip with some mini Naan bread – and Ruffle potato chips.

Rattlesnake Bites

I call these “rattlesnake bites” because you can make them spicy if you want. The version I’m sharing today is not spicy because I had some kids at the party, and I didn’t want them to get a spicy surprise if they ate one. I’ll tell you how you can spice them up, though. These take about 30-minutes to make from start to finish. I’ve been making these for years now, and they are a hit at outdoor parties during the summer.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 pound of lean ground beef
• 1 8 ounce block of cream cheese
• 1 4 ounce can of green chilies (sub diced jalapeños if you want to make these spicy)
• 3 cans of the Pillsbury mini crescent rolls
• 1/4 teaspoon Cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Here’s what you’ll do:

1. Brown your ground beef in a separate pan.
2. Preheat your oven to 375 while your ground beef is cooking.
3. Once your ground beef is fully cooked, drain the grease and add in your green chilies (or jalapeños) and your cream cheese. Stir until full mixed together.
4. Add in your cumin and chili powder.
5. Separate your Pillsbury crescent rolls into 24 mini triangles. You might want to let your mixture chill for a bit before doing this part. Add one tablespoon of your meat mixture into your triangles and roll up.
6. Pinch any edges that have openings so your mixture doesn’t leak out and place point side down on cooking sheets covered in foil.
7. Bake for about 12 minutes or until the tops start to develop a golden brown color.

In closing….

I hope these three simple summer recipes find a home on your table at some point soon. I promise, they are super easy to whip together, and ya’ll know I wouldn’t be sharing if it wasn’t. For a girl who likes to entertain, but is short on time, these are all a great option.