Need a Good Summer Recipe

Why cook when you can buy? I brought a friend some homeade lasagna from a great Italian store in Lombard. It's called Frankies Deli it's right outside the Yorktown mall in Lombard , next to Lands End. They have pre-made lasagna, sauces, mostacolli (spelling off), etc. The prices for it are very reasonable and everytime I come out of there I feel like I just went to Italy. Their lasgna is in portable throw away containiers with directions on how long to cook it.

I agree with Laura - anything will do! When I had my baby in February, I was so busy/exhausted that it didn't matter what friends/family brought over because it was free and easy to make (pop into the oven). Casseroles, lasagna, etc. anything that is super easy and requires little to no thought. Even pre-made bowls of salad with lots of veggies and toppings (croutons, cheeses, nuts, etc.) where all the family has to do it dip and serve would be great. Cut-up fruit salad would be good too - seriously, what mother of a newborn has time to cut up fruit *laugh*!

I am sure your friend would welcome anything! I would definitely go with the fruit salad that was mentioned. One easy thing I like to do is Italian beef- in the crock pot, and you don't heat your house! Just a chuck roast and a jar or pepperocinis and cook until you can pull apart with a fork. It can freeze or stay a few days in the fridge. Just pick her up some rolls and salad too!
E.

Make anything! And lots of it!! We just welcomed our 4th child, less than 3 weeks ago, and most important was something the other kids would eat and it was such a blessing when the main dish was enough for 2 (and sometimes 3!)meals. Dessert was also welcomed, as we don't typically have dessert and it was a special treat for the other kids, and made them feel special, since the baby was getting so much atention. Hope this helps!

Pasta pesto made with fresh basil! They can eat it cold right from the fridge or warm it up. Great of you to bring them food! :)

One of my favorite summer recipes is Pepperoni Pasta. Make 16 oz angel hair pasta according to directions. Toss with 6 oz chopped pepperoni( Turkey pepperoni works really well,too), 1/8 tsp pepper, 6 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese,1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt or salt free seasoning blend(Mrs.Dash) and 2 large tomatoes, chopped. This is really good cold but it is also very good warmed up slightly(just enough to melt the parmesan cheese a little).

Roasted Turkey, Bacon & Avacado Wraps with Chipotle Mayonnaise New Window

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Recipe By Ladies' Home Journal

Ingredients
1 firm Avacado, ripe
2 tbsp Lime Juice
10 oz Turkey breast, store bought, carved, roasted
6 tbsp Mayonnaise
1 tsp Chipotle chiles, in adobo sauce
4 Flour tortillas, 9-10 inches in diameter
8 slices Bacon, precooked
1/2 cup Cilantro, lightly packed

Preparation
1. Halve avocado lengthwise, then remove and discard pit. Scoop flesh from peel with a spoon and slice lengthwise. Transfer slices to a bowl, drizzle with 1 tablespoon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.

2. Toss turkey in another bowl with remaining 1 tablespoon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.

3. Stir together mayonnaise with adobo sauce, and salt and pepper to taste.

4. Spread mayonnaise mixture on one side of each tortilla, leaving a 1-inch border. Top mayonnaise mixture with avocado, turkey, bacon, and cilantro. Starting with same side, roll tortilla tightly to enclose filling, while folding about 1-1/2 inches of remaining sides inward to completely encase filling. Diagonally halve rolled tortillas and serve.

Makes 4 servings.

Note
Nutritional facts per serving
calories: 550, total fat: 32g, saturated fat: 6g, cholesterol: 64mg, sodium: 1155mg, carbohydrate: 40g, fiber: 3g, protein: 26g

another idea would be to give them a gift certificate to a restaurant that delivers, chinese, pizza, etc. Then they can order what they want and just wait for it to get there. No cooking at all and pretty much no clean up either.

P. I make this pasta salad that is always a hit at picnics, etc. You can put your own twist to it. I use tri-color pasta instead of the recommended angel hair. It's from Recipeezaar.com, one of my fave websites. Check it out:http://www.recipezaar.com/55840
Good luck!