Hey, Reader, it’s Erin.

It’s another new month, and we are almost officially at the halfway point of the year, which feels wild to me since this year has simultaneously felt like it has been incredibly long and incredibly short.

Time. It's weird.

June is a favorite summer month because I feel like I can take a breath after the insanity of May (IYKYK) — except this year, it looks a little lot different for us.

After school let out, my family and I hopped over the pond to the U.K. We spent nearly a week in London before heading up to Edinburgh for a few days and then came back to the outskirts of London to finish off our trip at Hampton Court. It was absolutely incredible, and we were able to visit a lot of places that were on all of our collective lists.

Some favorites included having the opportunity to walk between the stones at Stonehenge (to say it was incredible does not do it justice), experiencing Mamma Mia on the West End, a quick hike up the Salisbury Crags (which we thought were Arthur's Seat until we got down) and walking the Potter Trail in Edinburgh with the best tour guide who really brought everything to life while sharing details about the creation and backstory of this series my entire family loves.

We came home a few days ago to our house looking QUITE different. While we were gone, our kitchen was demo'ed and work officially began on our renovation! I am thrilled that our project commenced and that we cannot wait for the end result. Our team has been absolute magic, and things are moving right along!

The downside of this is that we do not have a working kitchen. So I am doing my best to embrace the chaos of cooking with limited ingredients, having fewer tools at my disposal and firing up the grill as often as possible — and trying to keep emergency takeout to special occasions, as always!

With that in mind, here’s what is on my meal plan this month...

For busy weeks:

Rotisserie Chicken Salad

Featuring a favorite store-bought shortcut (rotisserie chicken), this recipe is easy to make a batch of and enjoy for a few days and/or nights. It's hard not to love and also excellent to customize.

Blueberry Salad with Feta, Chicken and Pecans

This was a go-to recipe for when I had a newborn at home because it was quick and easy to throw together. While it's not great for batching in advance, it is great for summer days when you don't want to turn on the oven/grill/stovetop.

Cinnamon Toast

This isn't the most summery recipe, but it is absolutely perfect for this month when the only oven we have is a toaster oven! You better believe we will have cinnamon toast for breakfast and snacks all. the. time. Every time I make it, I remember how much I have loved this recipe since I was a kid, and it is really fun to bring back that nostalgia anytime, working kitchen or not.

When you want to get together:

Grilled Steak Flatbread Pizza

Honestly, grilling an entire pizza is an excellent move for the summer months, and this one feels especially special because it involves grilled steak and caramelized onions. If you don't want to make your own dough, grab a pack of naan or pita bread for a leveled-up pizza night that involves almost no effort at all!

Galia Melon Jamon Skewers

You might be reading this and wondering: what is a Galia melon and where can I find it, Erin? It's a sweet summer melon that you can get at your local farmer's market or grocery store. You can also swap that for honeydew or cantaloupe if those are easier to find. Plus, all you need are four ingredients to make this recipe, and anything on a skewer just feels like a wonderful thing to share.

Boudin Board

This is a fun way to serve a classic Louisiana favorite. cook up your boudin any way you see fit. We love to grill it, but you can easily bake it or pan-fry it. Slice it up into bite-sized pieces and serve it with your favorite snack-y pairings.

Planning ahead and quick recipes to enjoy outdoors:

Orzo Pasta Salad

This make-ahead pasta salad holds up well and calls for rotisserie chicken. It features green onion, red onion and cherry tomatoes... and it's really easy to make, whether you plan to share it or just need an easy dish in the fridge to enjoy whenever.

Lemon Quinoa Salad

This chilled salad has a lemony vinaigrette and is the definition of a summer salad. Yes, it has greens and veggies, but it also has quinoa, and that makes it feel so much more hearty.

Some things I'm loving right now:

• Reading: I know lots and lots of people are into this series, but I've never read any of it. So I borrowed book 1 from my local library before our trip and am slowly finding my way as this world is built.
• Watching: Three things... The Reluctant Traveler, because we all love Eugene in this household; Off-Campus, which which is based off a book series that I have loved for more than a decade; and The Paper, because once upon a time, I worked at a small town newspaper AND because The Office is one of my comfort shows.
• Listening to: This album has been on nonstop since it was released back in April.
• Wearing: This dress has become a go-to... so much so that I purchased a second color (multi-floral and black for the win!) It's flouncy, incredibly flattering and the fabric feels like a dream, too. And it got a lot of wear in London during the heatwave.

Whether yours is as busy as mine or as relaxed as you desire, I hope your June is amazing. Whatever's on your plate this month (literally or otherwise), I hope one of these recipes makes it better.

And if you ever need help finding the right one, just hit reply. I'm always happy to help.

Bye y’all!
Erin

P.S. Don't forget you can click "Update your profile" at the bottom of any email from me to update your email preferences. I have several newsletters that I send throughout the week, including one that tells you about all the newest recipes on the blog! However, I never want to email you more than you like'd, so make sure your profile is up to date!

Howdy! I'm Erin. At The Speckled Palate, you'll find easy recipes and drinks that call for simple, fresh ingredients that hopefully inspire you to invite your people into your home for super low-key gatherings. Buy me a cup of coffee. take me to the blog

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