Cool Summer Meal Ideas

These light seafood, crisp stir-fry, and salad recipes will keep things cool in your kitchen. And they'll guarantee a warm reception from your family.

-- Mediterranean Shrimp
-- Garden-Fresh Gazpacho
-- Penne with Broccoli Rabe and Pancetta
-- Glazed Fish
-- Garlic and Pepper Stir-Fry
-- Bread Salad
-- Easy Topped Cupcakes

Shrimp cocktail goes global with this versatile recipe that lets you choose from Mediterranean, Cajun, or citrusy tropical flavors. The Mediterranean Shrimp, shown here, are extra-refreshing thanks to prechilled serving glasses.

Cool down with this classic chilled summer soup. When available, homegrown tomatoes make this starter even more irresistible.

This fresh pasta toss combines fresh summer produce with hearty penne noodles. Try using whole wheat or multigrain pasta for a nuttier flavor.

Light, quick-cooking fish hits the spot when the temperature climbs. Choose from our three simple glazes -- each one provides a savory finish with only a few ingredients. The next three slides give a close-up look at this ultra-versatile recipe.

Preparing your pan is an essential first step to perfect Glazed Fish. To grease your broiler pan, dip a brush in softened butter or shortening. Lightly brush the cold rack in the pan. The next slide will show you how to ensure your pan's perfect placement in the oven.

In a cold oven, place your prepared pan with fish on the top oven rack. Adjust the rack until the surface of the fish is 4 to 5 inches from the heat. Step 3 outlines our tips for glazing fish.

Pull the oven rack out of the oven before turning or brushing fish. The heating element is very hot, and it's easy to get burned if you try to reach in. Our complete Glazed Fish recipe includes preparation instructions for four different glazes, plus complete cooking instructions.

With a little preparation, you can finish this recipe while the glazed fish broils. Our next two slides detail a time-saving strategy for cutting the sweet peppers required for this recipe.

Try these easy tips for preparing the 2 cups of sweet peppers for the Garlic and Pepper Stir-Fry recipe. To remove seeds and stem from sweet peppers, hold the pepper upright on a cutting surface. Slice each of the sides using a sharp knife. You should have four large, flat pieces that are free of seeds and stem. The next slide will highlight the basics of slicing sweet peppers.

To cut pepper into strips, cut larger flat pieces from Step 1 into lengthwise or crosswise pieces. The strips are now ready to be used for the Garlic and Pepper Stir-Fry recipe.

Season-fresh tomatoes perfectly complement this Bread Salad recipe. Serve it as a simple, refreshing side dish.

Chocolaty cupcakes topped with cool butter pecan ice cream and caramel provide a perfect ending to any summertime meal.

Anyone Can Cook is an innovative cookbook that encourages those new to the kitchen to make simple yet tasty meals, while providing the tools to move on to more complex recipes.