68 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.

Summer white bean soup with sauteed celery, swiss chard or kale, a splash of rice vinegar, and a hint of liquid aminos. Light, vegetarian, naturally high in fiber and gentle enough for warm weather.

Fresh tart cherry pie with a flaky double crust and just five ingredients. Summer baking at its most honest, no canned filling required.

We used leftover grilled vegetable salad to make these quick tacos, and they were very yummy!

Grilled summer vegetables are served on top of spaghetti that is tossed with tomato sauce. A refreshing and tasty summer dish!

You can decorate this easy tart to look so elegant, your guests will be impressed.

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.

No-cook summer spaghetti with a cold marinated sauce of Roma tomatoes, green olives, capers, garlic, and fresh herbs tossed with hot pasta.

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.

Summer pandowdy layers juicy nectarines and blueberries under a cream biscuit crust, then dowdies the top by pressing it into the bubbling fruit. Old-fashioned New England dessert.

No-bake cheesecake with cream cheese, whipped topping, and a graham cracker crust. Only 4 ingredients and 15 minutes of prep, then chill overnight. Top with fresh fruit or pie filling.

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.

Lemony summer squash sauteed in walnut oil with garlic, rosemary, and fresh lemon juice. A quick, five-ingredient side dish that's light, bright, and diabetic-friendly.

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.