My 10 favorite summer recipes!

Happy Wednesday, friends!  I can't believe we're already at the hump.  Gotta love those short holiday weeks.  The picturesque Memorial Day weekend was the perfect unofficial start to summer: cookouts, merriment with family and friends, and plenty of time outside which led to the inevitable (and obligatory) first sunburn of the season -- yikes!  #SPF30forlife

Being around so many buffets this weekend had me dreaming of overflowing farmers' markets, seasonal produce, and classic summer foods.  I made a list of new recipes I'd like to share with you in the coming weeks and, boy, should you get excited/hungry!

But, with along with the new, I fantasize and long for the tried and true recipes of summers past.  Things that have become part of our season repertoire because we loved them so much.  From my kitchen to yours, here are my top 10 favorite summer recipes.  Happy (summer) cooking!

• Cool overnight oats with fresh fruit - A little planning at night makes this a quick and refreshing breakfast on hot summer days.  This is my go-to breakfast when I have lots of physical activity planned for a toasty and humid day ahead.

• Watermelon, arugula & goat cheese salad with balsamic glaze - I had my first taste of watermelon this weekend at my parents' house.  It wasn't the sweetest just yet, but it did the job.  Once I get my hands on the ingredients, this is a salad I can't/won't stop.

• Zucchini pizza bites - This recipe serves two highly important purposes: 1) it utilizes the abundance of zucchini in the summer, and 2) satisfies my craving for pizza without heating the oven/pizza stone/entire apartment for an extended period of time.  Win win!

• Andy's marinated BBQ chicken - While Matt's friend, Andy, is such a hilarious and fun dude, his recipe for barbeque chicken might just be my favorite thing about him ;)

• Caprese quinoa-stuffed tomatoes - Another delicious result that came from brainstorming about how to use excess fresh summer produce.  Instead of zucchini, tomatoes got the royal and extra cheesy treatment!

• Thai pork burgers with Sriracha aioli - Not yo' mama's burgers, these will knock your socks off time and time again.  I recommend doubling the recipe for Sriracha aioli because you'll want to put it on everything!

• Gnocchi with chicken, corn, zucchini & goat cheese - Corn, zucchini, and fresh basil make this dish the ultimate garden party.  Fluffy potato dumplings and creamy goat cheese send it over the edge into must-have-seconds territory.

• Two ingredient fruit dip - Quick, simple, and guaranteed to please everyone.  Try it with any kind of berries, apples, cantaloupe, peaches, etc.!

• Chocolate wafer icebox cake - This is, hands down, the most requested treat among my friends with summer birthdays.  Simple, sweet, oh so creamy, and positively show-stopping.  No oven or special tools are needed, and it uses only 4 ingredients.  You've gotta try this!

• Grandma's ice cream Oreo dessert - I couldn't make a list of summer eats without including my family's favorite treat.  Matt and I were talking about upcoming trips to my aunt and uncle's cabin at the Potomac river and obviously this Oreo dessert came up several times.  I can't have it soon enough!