Summertime Comfort Food

I don't know about you, but there are just times that the LAST thing I want to do during the late afternoon on a hot summer's day is stand over the stove cooking dinner, let alone sitting down to a piping hot, heavy meal. This is an absolute favorite of both the kids and myself. They get to choose what they care to eat, so even our pickiest eaters are on board (there is something everyone will like!) and I have the pleasure of avoiding melting into a puddle-that-once-resembled-mom right there on the kitchen tile for my whole family to see. Truly a win/win, yes? Plus, on days like today where we will be out this afternoon until right before (I return home with more sun scorched, tired, cranky kids than your average minivan will contain) supper, I can make it all in advance, cover it, pop it in the fridge, and wala! Dinner is served. Add some crusty bread and we're ready to go. Obviously, after a meal this healthy, ice cream that you don't even have to feel a twinge of guilt about eating, is for dessert. {Bonus!}

Tonight's salad bar includes lettuce, kale chips, watermelon and cantaloupe, carrots, cucumbers, olives, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, yellow peppers, pickles, sliced almonds, & kidney beans. Most of the time we have hard boiled eggs too, and maybe some yogurt, but part of the beauty of this (awesomeness on a plate) is that you can use whatever you have on hand. A kitchen sink salad. A happy family. A mother who did not die of heat stroke because she is way too crunchy for air conditioning. {Love}

The chickens don't mind it either. :-)