I love summer food. Fresh watermelon, peaches, and corn, grilled everything, and all those potlucks. Yes, I love potlucks. And since we don’t go to nearly as many family parties or reunions since moving to Texas, I miss them. So, over the next few weeks or so, I’m having my own virtual potluck. A ‘here’s what I would take to the potluck’ if you will.

To kick off this summer party potluck: Summer Street Corn Salad. Another salad today? Really, Jill? Yes. Yes, yes yes. If this is the last salad I ever write about (hint: it’s not), then I’m glad I snuck it in. This corn salad is my go-to, my answer to what should I make to pair with that grilled chicken or spoon into some tacos to add a little umph or scoop right out of the bowl with some tortilla chips. I make some version of this corn salad almost all summer long, and it’s long overdue for its own post.

Sunday dinner is a bit of a big deal in my family. Growing up it was always the “big meal” of the week, when my mom made things like roast beef with potatoes and Yorkshire pudding and homemade gravy and always dessert. Always. Calories don’t count for Sunday dinner (right?) and we go all out.

I’m not sure which matriarch of my family started this tradition, but I know for sure that my Grandma solidified it. My family is BIG on tradition (sing it with me… Tra-di-tion, tradition….. tradition!) and I love it! I really do – the holidays and the specific things that we eat on specific days and how we celebrate birthdays.

I also love Sunday naps. And Sundays full of reading on the couch. And Sundays most importantly not full of doing a thousand dishes. So I want a nice traditional Sunday dinner but I gotta get in my Sunday nap too. Enter these green beans.

Is it un-American of me to say I don’t LOVE bacon? I like it well enough, and I enjoy it on occasion. But bacon has had its day in the sun for a few too many days in my opinion. Bacon-infused donut with bacon filling and maple bacon frosting, bacon-wrapped hot dog with bacon jam on a cheddar bacon bun, deep-fried battered bacon – I’m gonna take a strong pass on all of this. Bacon is a great flavor but this is all just too much.