The Recipe Reality Check

Most of the recipes I review are main dishes, but every now and then it’s nice to remember that the sides can steal the show too. With summer officially here, I wanted to try a recipe that would be perfect for backyard cookouts, family gatherings, or those last minute invitations where you’re asked to “just bring a side.”

This Pasta Salad with Corn, Bacon, and Buttermilk Ranch Dressing from Simply Recipes immediately caught my attention. It sounded like everything I love about summer cooking; simple ingredients, fresh flavors, and easy enough to throw together without spending all afternoon in the kitchen.

Why I Chose This Recipe

Summer and pasta salad just seem to go hand in hand. It’s one of those dishes that works for almost every occasion. Whether you’re hosting a barbecue, heading to a potluck, or just looking for something to serve alongside grilled meat, it’s hard to go wrong with a good pasta salad.

This recipe also had a few ingredients that sounded especially appealing to me. Corn, bacon, Ranch; honestly, that’s already a pretty convincing combination.

How It Was to Make

This recipe was very straightforward and beginner friendly.

The only change I had to make was the pasta. The recipe called for orecchiette, but my grocery store didn’t have any in stock, so I substituted small shells instead. Thankfully, they worked perfectly.

Everything came together quickly, and none of the steps were complicated. It felt like one of those recipes you could easily throw together the morning of a family gathering or even at the last minute before heading out the door.

Paul grilled pork chops to go alongside it, and together they made a perfect summer dinner.

How It Tasted

I really enjoyed this one.

The dressing was creamy without being too heavy, and the bacon and corn added plenty of flavor and texture. It felt fresh, satisfying, and exactly like the kind of side dish I picture at a summer barbecue.

More importantly, it wasn’t difficult to make. That’s always a huge bonus in my book.

Family Review

Paul: This may have been one of his favorite reviews in a while. He didn’t just ask for it to be added to the meal rotation, he immediately said, “Make this again.” Then he finished every bit that was left, which I think speaks for itself.

Charlotte: She wasn’t very interested, but she’s currently cutting more molars, so meals have been a little unpredictable lately.

Ben: He wasn’t interested either, but I think it had more to do with being tired than the recipe itself. Some nights are just like that.

Final Thoughts

This recipe was exactly what I was hoping it would be.

It was:

• easy to prepare
• full of classic summer flavors
• a perfect side dish for grilled meals
• ideal for potlucks and backyard barbecues

The fact that Paul immediately declared it a “make again” recipe is about the highest compliment it can receive in our house. I’ll definitely be keeping this one in mind throughout the rest of the summer whenever we fire up the grill or need something simple to take to a get together.

Sometimes the side dish ends up being just as memorable as the main course and this one definitely earned its place in our summer recipe collection.

Looking to try this recipe for yourself? You can find it here: Corn, Bacon, Ranch Pasta Salad.

Looking for more summer inspiration? You can find my list here: Seasonal Recipes

Most of my recipe reviews come from websites, but this time I decided to pull a recipe from a cookbook. The cookbook was The “I Don’t Know How to Cook” Book by Mary-Lane Kamberg, and the recipe that caught my eye was Pesto Rigatoni.

I chose it for a pretty simple reason: it looked easy, and it felt like summer on a plate. Pasta, tomatoes, pesto, and toasted pine nuts? That sounded like exactly the kind of meal I want this time of year.

Why I Chose This Recipe

As the weather warms up, I find myself gravitating toward meals that feel a little lighter and fresher.

This recipe seemed to strike a nice balance between comfort food and summer flavors. It also didn’t require a long list of ingredients or complicated techniques, which is always a plus.

How It Was to Make

This recipe was very easy to put together. The instructions were straightforward, and everything came together without much effort.

My biggest challenge was the pine nuts. I was so worried about burning them that I think I actually under toasted them instead.

And then there was my grocery list mishap.

The recipe calls for rigatoni. While making my grocery list, I checked the pantry and confidently thought I already had some. What I actually had was rotini. Apparently my brain decided those words were close enough. By the time I realized my mistake, dinner was already underway, so I used penne instead.

Thankfully, the recipe survived my lack of pasta reading skills.

How It Turned Out

I really enjoyed this one.

Going into it, I expected a strong pesto flavor, but I found it leaned more toward a tomato based sauce with hints of pesto throughout. That wasn’t a bad thing at all.

In fact, I thought it gave the dish a nice balance and kept the pesto from becoming overwhelming. The flavors felt fresh, simple, and perfect for this time of year.

Family Review

Paul: A definite success. He had two bowls and immediately asked if this could be added to our regular meal rotation.

Charlotte (toddler): Happily enjoyed her noodles.

Ben: Declared that he didn’t like it.

However, I suspect the real issue was that he was tired and not particularly hungry. He didn’t ask for an alternative dinner, which is usually my clue that the food itself wasn’t actually the problem.

Final Thoughts

This recipe ended up being exactly what I hoped it would be.

It was:

• easy to make
• full of fresh summer flavors
• family friendly
• simple enough for a weeknight

The fact that Paul immediately requested it for our regular rotation is probably the strongest endorsement it could get. I’ll definitely be keeping this one in mind throughout the summer months.

And next time, I’ll make sure I actually know the difference between rigatoni and rotini before writing my grocery list 😅

Looking for more easy weeknight meals? You can find my reviews here: Easy Weeknight Meals

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