The official start of summer totally passed me by!  But now that I’m done with my summer chemistry class I’m settling into the summer and thinking about all the things I want to do in the next two months.  I will hopefully be spending more time cooking delicious things and more time on my blog.  There are also some trips I’d like to plan, and housework I need to get jumpstarted.  But mostly I’m looking forward to having some downtime and taking some time to feel inspired and get creative.

As to the food, I’m looking forward to revisiting:

Blueberry Coconut Baked Oatmeal – I love blueberry season, and finding more ways to have blueberries for breakfast is never a bad idea

Chocolate Pots de Creme – sometimes you need a little chocolate decadence in the summer, and these don’t require turning on the oven, it’s a win-win

Cinnamon Zucchini Muffins – light and tender these muffins are a great start to the day with oats and zucchini in the mix

Coconut Brown Rice Pudding – a great way to use up brown rice in an easy vegan and gluten-free dessert

Emperor’s Rice Salad – a unique twist on a grain salad using nutty black rice

Fresh Blackberry-Plum Crisp – a delicious crisp that highlights fresh, uncooked fruit

Greek Nachos – a healthy option for nachos, this is my favorite kind of snack food in the summer

Grilled Lemon Chicken Skewers – bright and refreshing, a great protein option for the summer that pairs well with salads or grilled vegetables

Herb Orzo Salad – an awesome salad that will be perfect after a long day of sun at the beach or the pool

Key Lime Bars – all the refreshing flavor of key lime pie, in the convenience of a bar

Lemony Breakfast Grains with Blueberries and Hazelnuts – the perfect combination with fresh fruit, these breakfast grains will keep you going all morning long

Mediterranean Turkey Meatballs – great on top of salads, as a wrap, or on their own, these are delicious meatballs that spread your meat buck by including lentils in the mixture

Peach Chicken with Peach Bulgur – I’m so excited for peach season!  This is a great way to serve peaches in a savory dish

Pimm’s Cup – the perfect refreshing summer cocktail

Pineapple Fried Rice – add a little tropical flair to your fried rice this summer while pineapples are in season

Roasted Asparagus with Red Wine Mushrooms – a delightful way to highlight the vegetables of summer

Savory Zucchini Cakes – perfect for the abundance of zucchini later this summer

Sesame Tahini Cookies – these cookies were one of my best experiments into vegan and gluten-free desserts.  I still have cravings for them, and they’re the perfect treat for taking on a bike ride, hike, or road trip this summer.

Souvlaki Chicken – easy, flavorful, versatile–this chicken is going to be on regular rotation

Spiced Eggplant, Chickpea, and Bulgur Salad – a delicious, filling vegetarian-friendly option that’s convenient for workday lunches too

Zucchini, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Cookies – another sneaky way to use up those summer zucchini

You can also find more inspiration for summer recipes here.