Stove-free meals

It's hot out there!

Here are some quick, easy dish ideas for summer.

Summer Squash "Icebox Pickles"

Slice up your favorite summer squash, add a marinade, and leave in the refrigerator for later. Replenish the squash stash as needed to really stretch the sauce! Select your summer squash for small size and undeveloped seeds for the best crisp icebox "pickles"-- and baby pattypan add a fun star shape to the mix.

Dressing version 1:
1/2 cup balsamic vinagre
good dash of olive oil
juice of one lemon, and a few lemon slices for garnish
lots of fresh-cracked black pepper
salt to taste

mix together and let the squash soak; add fresh basil and serve.

For a little more variety, add sliced fennel, cippolinis, sliced tomatoes, basil, crushed garlic, and red pepper flakes!

Dressing version 2:
1/2 cup rice wine vinagre
good dash of sesame oil
good dash of maple syrup
good dash of soy sauce or tamari
whole stems of fresh thai basil

mix together, let squash soak, and remove thai basil stems before serving.

For an extra kick, add sliced serrano pepper and slices of peach!

Both dishes will last in the fridge, covered for a week or so. If you get tired of eating the same thing every day, here are two more ideas: cut squash slices on the diagonal and mariate so they're large enough to fit on a sandwich; or toss hot or cold pasta into the mix!

Enjoy!