Wednesday was the first official day of summer meaning 2012 is now more than officially half over. How are we doing on those New Year’s Resolutions? Thought so.

No resolutions in this post. Just 15 summer recipe ideas for that are lighter, cooler, fresh and easy.

Orange Ginger Tempeh and Brown Rice Salad with Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette (vegan, GF if GF tempeh is used)

Orange Ginger Tempeh and Brown Rice Salad with Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette

Orange Glazed Chilean Sea Bass with Mustard Dill Cucumber and Orange Champagne Relish

Orange Glazed Chilean Sea Bass with Mustard Dill Cucumber and Orange Champagne Relish

Steamed Brussels’s Sprouts & Broccoli with Cheezy Coconut Sauce (vegan GF)

Steamed Brussels’s Sprouts & Broccoli with Cheezy Coconut Sauce

Fresh Vegan Spring Rolls and 2-Minute Peanut Sauce (raw, vegan, GF)

Fresh Vegan Spring Rolls
Peanut Sauce

Roasted Grapes and Balsamic Reduction with Cheese and Crackers (use GF crackers to keep GF and vegan cheese to keep vegan)

Roasted Grapes and Balsamic Reduction with Cheese and Crackers

Peaches & Coconut Cream Smoothie (vegan, GF)

Peaches & Coconut Cream Smoothie

Homemade Horchata (Vegan, GF, Soy-Free)

Homemade Horchata in three jars

Vanilla Iced Coffee – save your extra coffee, pour it into a pitcher or glass and store it in the refrigerator. Pour cold coffee over ice and add cream and sugar, to taste, and stir.

Also, pour extra coffee into ice cube molds for coffee ice cubes, which will water down your drink even less, if you really want to get fancy.

People make such a big deal over iced coffee but it’s so simple and I’m always amazed at the elaborate “recipes” and “techniques” about pouring coffee over ice cubes that I see.

Vanilla Iced Coffee

Vanilla Baileys Slushie

Baileys bottle and NuNaturals Stevia

Peach Mango Pineapple White Sangria

Peach Mango Pineapple White Sangria

Vanilla Avocado Banana “Ice Cream” (vegan, GF, no ice cream maker required)

Vanilla Avocado Banana “Ice Cream”

Strawberry Banana Bread

Strawberry Banana Bread

Baked Orange Banana Coconut Donuts with Orange Coconut Vanilla Cream Cheese Glaze

Baked Orange Banana Coconut Donuts with Orange Coconut Vanilla Cream Cheese Glaze

Pink Lemonade Freezer Bars

Pink Lemonade Freezer Bars

No-Bake Rolo and Caramel Cheesecake Parfaits

No-Bake Rolo and Caramel Cheesecake Parfaits

Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups and Ice Cream

Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups and Ice Cream

Is summer weather in full swing for you?

Unfortunately in San Diego, it’s far from hot. In fact, it’s actually cooler now than it usually is in September or October. We are plagued by fog and a heavy marine layer this time of year, known as May Gray and June Gloom, and the gloom is more pronounced closer to the coast. Inland, not so much, but I live pretty coastal so have seen more gloom than sun many days. However, I think we’re breaking out of it because this week was much nicer.

Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t always look like this here.

Coronado Island path with grass and palm trees

What are your favorite summer foods and recipes?

Link them up.

Thanks for the 3 Vegan Cookbooks Giveaway entries

Have a great weekend!

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.