Twenty-Six Lists - Summer Menu Favorites - #twentysixlists

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Welcome to Twenty Six Lists! I hope you'll join me in using some fun List prompts for writing. Every other week I'll share a writing prompt and invite you to link up your list, and wherever the prompt takes you. You may want to simply make a list of five or ten items that answer the prompt, or you may elaborate on the items in your list, or even write an entire article. Be creative, and have fun!

I'm running short on time as I'm writing this, so I hope I can do it justice! Let me start by saying that I am not one that really enjoys cooking. I'm a somewhat fussy eater. So while I do like to try new things - especially international or regional dishes - and always want new ideas for my menus, I can be easily scared off by anything that takes a long time or includes ingredients that I don't like. In summer, I'm looking for easy meals, and if I can hand off to my husband to work the grill or smoker, that's even better!

A few easy go-to foods, and some that I wish we'd just do more often:

List #15 - Summer Food

1. Burgers and dogs on the grill. It doesn't get easier than this, and it's pretty quick! I try to keep a package of beef franks and a box of burger patties on hand for emergency meals, but homemade burgers are usually the way to go. Occasionally we get ground bison which makes good burgers. Mix it up with different cheeses for the burgers. A few years ago, I found out that burgers work well in a pita instead of a hamburger bun (I think the country that recipe idea came from might have been Montenegro?), and that switching up the toppings on a hot dog can make it into an international dish. Like Panchos - Uruguayan style hot dogs. (See: Eating the Americas: Panchos)
2. Corn on the cob.  This just says Summer to me. There's nothing wrong with the whole meal being corn on the cob. Boiled, grilled, baked - all good. This is another very American food that can be easily made international. We liked the idea of Corn on the Cob with Fried Cheese from Bolivia. It's just sweet corn on the cob, topped with fried queso de frier or queso blanco. (See: Eating the Americas: Argentina and Bolivia)
3. Barbecue anything. This is usually a team effort between me and hubby. I prep and rub whatever meat we are smoking, and he oversees the smoking. One of the easiest, cheapest, and most foolproof is pulled pork. My favorite is beef brisket, but that definitely takes some planning, and of course brisket isn't cheap. Another favorite that is cheap and doesn't take all that long to smoke is bacon-wrapped meat loaf. Best. Meatloaf. Ever. (We make it with  2/3 ground beef and 1/3 loose sausage, and wrapped in a bacon weave)
4. Deviled eggs.  I love deviled eggs. One of my favorite foods. But I'm lousy at making them, probably because I don't have much patience. 
5. Cold cuts, cheese and veggie trays, and fresh baked bread. Simple meal and one that can be on the table in minutes, provided I've got ingredients on hand and have thought ahead to bake bread. I do like to bake bread, so odds are in my favor. By the way, the very best bread for a meal like this, in my opinion, is za'atar bread. (See: Za'atar Flatbread)
6. Takeout food!

Not the best photo, to be sure, but I hope it gives an idea of how good bacon wrapped smoked meatloaf is:

See my related post from a few years ago: Eating the Americas: Perfect for Summer

What's on your summer menu? Link up or tell me in the comments!

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Bonus List - Upcoming in Twenty Six Lists so you can think ahead!

August 6 - Family Traditions

August 20 - Best Apps or Websites

September 3 - The Jobs You've Had

September 17 - Simple Pleasures

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