Summertime Eats

Ok people, here it is, my favorite summer foods! Let us start with dessert...My favorite dessert is called Lemon Lush. My mom used to make it and I think she got the recipe from my Aunt Linda. For those of you who may think, "Well, I don't really like lemon..." I don't like lemon desserts for the most part, but I LOVE this stuff. Here is the recipe:

Lemon Lush

2 Cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup of chopped pecans
6 tablespoons melted margarine
1 small tub (13oz) Cool Whip, divided
1 cup powdered sugar
1 8oz package of cream cheese softened
2 small boxes of instant lemon pudding
3 cups COLD milk

Crust: combine the graham cracker crumbs, pecans and melted margarine and press into the bottom of a 9x13 pan. I usually use a stiff spatula to press the mixture down so it is well packed.

Cream Cheese mixture: Mix 1 cup of Cool Whip with cream cheese and powdered sugar until well combined. This is the hard part and it never looks pretty when I do it, using a warm spatula, spread this mixture over the graham cracker crust. I try and make it as pretty as possible. The crust will want to pull up when you lift the spatula, even if it doesn't look as pretty as you like, trust me, people will still eat it!

Pudding: Mix the 2 boxes of lemon pudding with the COLD milk and pour over the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate until pudding is set.

When the pudding has set completely cover with the rest of the Cool Whip. This dessert does need to be refrigerated, so keep that in mind. Most importantly, ENJOY!

One of my favorite things about summer time is GRILLING!!! You don't make nearly as many dishes to wash when you grill. :) One of my favorite meals to make on the grill is Shish KaBobs! My favorite part about "KaBobing" is that you can use whatever you want to make them. You pick what meat you want to use, or don't use any, you pick the veggies and you pick the marinade. Here is what I use when I KaBob:

1 bottle of Kraft Zesty Italian salad dressing
1 each red, orange, yellow bell pepper and green pepper
1 small sweet onion
1 package of whole mushrooms
1 package of grape or cherry tomatoes
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
1 lb uncooked tail on shrimp

Preheat your grill to medium heat and if you are using bamboo skewers, get them soaking.
Cut the peppers and onion into 1 inch chunks, clean off the mushrooms and remove the stems and rinse off the tomatoes. Put all of these into a quart size zipper bag and put in enough of the Italian dressing to marinate the veggies.
Cut the chicken into 1 inch cubes and place into a zipper bag and some dressing to that too
Same with the shrimp, zipper bag and dressing.
Marinate in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Put the ingredients on the skewers in whatever order you like. Keep in mind that it doesn't take the shrimp nearly as long to cook as the chicken. Throw your KaBobs on the grill and cook them until the chicken and shrimp are fully cooked.

I usually make some Rice-a-Roni Rice Pilaf to go with and enjoy!

These are some of my favorite summertime eats. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday!