47 summer recipes

Rhubarb strawberry jam preserves the brightest pairing of early summer in jars, with crushed strawberries, simmered rhubarb, sugar, and liquid pectin. Sweet, tart, and water-bath canned for shelf-stable storage.

Baked stuffed summer squash filled with ricotta, scallions, sage, thyme, and parsley. A light vegetarian side dish ready in 30 minutes that makes the most of garden squash.

Light summer salad with shredded apples, carrots, crushed pineapple, and lemon zest in a vanilla yogurt dressing over crisp lettuce. Fresh, fruity, and no cooking required.

Summer soup with potato, leek, watercress, and fresh basil in vegetable stock. A light, peppery vegetarian soup that celebrates green flavors without cream or heavy thickeners.

Vegetable-loaded summer chili with zucchini, squash, mushrooms, kidney beans, and bell peppers in a cumin-chili tomato broth. Hearty, meatless, and full of garden produce.

Classic British summer pudding made with softened berries and white bread, chilled overnight until the juices soak through. Unmold for a jewel-toned dome of fruit served with whipped cream.

Homemade summer sausage made from ground beef with liquid smoke, curing salt, mustard seed, and coarse black pepper. Mix, roll, chill overnight, and bake for smoky, savory sausage you slice and serve hot or cold.

Frozen summer fruit punch made by freezing pineapple, orange, and banana juice into a slush, then topping with strawberries and lemon-lime soda. Crowd-sized recipe serves 30.

Grilled summer squash halves brushed with lemon, rosemary, and margarine, then charred over medium-hot coals until tender. A low-calorie, diabetic-friendly side for any cookout.

Fresh apricot sundae with dark brown sugar, orange zest, and vanilla or raspberry frozen yogurt. A no-cook summer dessert ready in 5 minutes at just 58 calories.

Three beans mingle with zucchini, fresh tomatoes, and banana peppers in this Southwestern-spiced vegetable soup. Red wine and cumin add warmth to this hearty, healthy bowl.

Summer fruit salad with rice, strawberries, kiwi, grapes, banana, and pineapple tossed in a honey-yogurt-pineapple juice dressing. Light, low-fat, and ready in 25 minutes.

Citrus Summer Hummer blended cocktail with brandy, lemon ice cream, and orange sherbet. A 3-ingredient frozen boozy milkshake that takes just 2 minutes to make.

Summer fruit compote with poached plums, boysenberries, raspberries, citrus, and grapes in a maple syrup and wine sauce finished with fresh mint. An elegant warm fruit dessert.

No-bake summer cake with angel food cake suspended in strawberry gelatin and fruit cocktail, chilled in a fluted mold. A retro dessert that's refreshing and light.

This is a great pizza, and I added some onions too, very tasty and light.