Summer Recipes: 9 Reader Favorites | Cup of Jo (2024)

i’m so glad you liked it!

I am literally making this (https://cupofjo.com/2016/06/summer-salad-halloumi-peach-cherry/) tonight, as I have once a week for the past month or so. My special twist: throw some blackberries in the pan along with the peaches and cherries. It’s amazing!

Another summertime favorite: https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-avocado-caprese-salad-246172

Current favorite summer salad: greens of some kind + grilled corn, fresh tomatoes, feta or Gorgonzola cheese, and finely sliced red onions, doused with an easy homemade creamy balsamic dressing.

Also loving the combo of cubed tomatoes, sliced red onions, cucumbers, cilantro, and avocado, tossed together with olive oil, lime juice, and salt/pepper. I serve it on crusty ciabatta bread or with tortilla chips. So perfect.

My mouth is watering! How do you make your creamy balsamic dressing!

Carrie, it’s very simple, and tbh I don’t measure. About a quarter cup balsamic vinegar, tsp of sugar, salt and pepper to taste, squeeze half a lemon, a tablespoon or so of plain Greek yogurt, then a quarter cup of olive oil – I combine it in a small jar with a lid and shake shake shake!

I make this EXACT salad, but I also add chickpeas! That makes it super filling and it stands up as a lunch by itself. My favourite trick is to cube half the avocado and MASH the other half with a little lemon juice then mix it through, so that the mashed avo becomes a creamy, smooshy dressing that holds the whole thing together. Ahhhh heaven.

Oh I was referring to the second salad – the tomato/red onion/cucumber/cilantro/avocado combo. It’s insanely good. Thanks for reminding me it exists.

Stealing this!!

I feel your timing the ripe avocado pain! (And the salsa sounds yummy!!)

We LOVE Mex street corn. My husband makes it by grilling ears of corn, then slathering a mix of cojita or feta, mayo, lime juice and chili powder on every bite. Such a treat! I think this salad looks amazing too, definitely trying this weekend (probably a lot less messy!!)

Hannie, that is such a good one! I made that galette early on in my learning-to-cook days and it is still a favorite :)

Here in Northern California we can get insanely delicious peaches for about a month each summer. This is my favorite and very easy way to serve peaches;
-Bed of greens (arugula, little gems, whatever) tossed in a salad dressing of great quality pesto, lemon juice, salt & pepper.
-sliced and grilled (or sautéed in olive oil!) peaches
-cheese: crumbled feta or whatever else you have on hand
-sliced, toasted almonds
-sometimes I add some raw thinly sliced red onion or shallots.
-baguette or crusty bread on the side.

Heavenly.

Yum.

Anna – Hello! I just love Ridgway :) I’m forever dreaming about breakfast at Kate’s Place!

Cara M – Oh yes, can’t forget those peaches! Last summer I started making an easy summer salad with Palisade peaches, rare grilled steak, mixed greens, goat cheese, sunflower seeds, and a basic vinaigrette. It’s my new go-to late summer meal! Now I’m totally going to try some of our peaches in a caprese salad with burrata, like the one above. YUM.

that sounds so simple and delicious.

Love it! I appreciate the recipes here for being amazing every time I’ve tried them AND not super complicated.

I hope you guys do another round of Trader Joe’s recipes like you did earlier this year! Those were the best.

we would love to, thank you!!!

I’ve been getting zucchini at the farmers market every weekend and making my favorite zucchini bread. It’s sooooo good with melted butter on top. https://cookieandkate.com/2016/healthy-zucchini-bread-recipe/

yuuuuuuuummmmmmmmm!

Thanks for the suggestion. I’m leaving work early and I think I’ll make this with my kids today. YAY!

YES! that sounds like a really fun night, chiara.

Heirloom tomatoes from the farmer’s market are a true joy of summer. We here in Colorado also have some very delicious sweet corn grown in the small town of Olathe on our western slope. It’s like candy! Every year they have a sweet corn festival that’s basically music and all-you-can eat corn, either plain or buttered. It’s heaven.

My favorite way to enjoy both these summer treats is in Smitten Kitchen’s corn and tomato pie. It is a tried-and-true summer hallmark that I make every year. My husband wishes I’d make it more often, but I think it’s perfect as a yearly treat. And don’t be intimidated by the crust – it’s basically a biscuit!
https://smittenkitchen.com/2009/08/tomato-and-corn-pie/

that looks delicious! her recipes are so good, every time.

Agreed Amanda!! Ps hi from Ridgway, CO :)

I was so excited to see a comment by a fellow Coloradoan here! In the same vein, I can’t get enough Colorado Palisade Peaches. I’m definitely excited to try the frozen Peaches and Cream cake – that looks divine. I love Amanda G’s recipe link and will be trying it after I purchase more heirloom tomatoes.