The good old summertime! Time to relax and celebrate warm Illinois weather, grillin’ and chillin’ with family and friends. Nowadays, casual get-together etiquette requires everyone to pitch in and bring a delicious dish. Some pass-and-share favorites include fried chicken, creamy potato salad, and plenty of gooey brownies and chocolate chip cookies.
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So what’s in your picnic basket? I recommend bringing a refreshing salad spotlighting the season’s best veggies. Something light and healthy to balance heavy, traditional picnic fare. Go ahead and show off your locally grown sweet bell peppers, crisp cucumbers and vine-ripened tomatoes. And if you need inspiration, check out these four crowd-pleasing, go-to summer salads. Each takes only minutes to prepare and incorporates seasonal vegetables and grab-and-go ingredients, making them perfect for impromptu parties or unexpected guests.
When short on time, toss together lightened-up Four Bean Salad. Canned beans make this popular, summertime salad quick and easy to make. And rinsing the beans under running water washes away 40 percent of the sodium, but not the savory flavor. When you have a few spare minutes, I suggest steaming or blanching fresh green and waxed beans instead of using canned. It adds extra crunch and color. Also, compared to traditional recipes, I cut the sugar in half. So feel free to enjoy seconds.
