This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Arizona chapter.

After a sunny Arizona day the last thing anyone wants to do is go home and cook. However these colorful recipes are absolutely perfect at the end of a hot day, and they include some of my favorite spring-inspired ingredients! So throw on a sundress, take a trip to the grocery store, grab a few friends, and head out to the patio for a fabulous meal.

Skinny Sangria

Start the party off right with a pitcher of white wine sangria. Combine a bottle of white wine, 3 cans of Fresca (try the peach flavor), and a few of your favorite fruits for a fresh and SKINNY version of a classic.

Spinach Strawberry Salad

Fresh fruit and vegetables are the theme for this meal. Try an easy spinach salad that everyone is sure to enjoy. Just buy a few bags of spinach, some strawberries, poppy seed dressing, and almonds slivers. Mix it all together, and for a personal touch roast the almond slivers at home.

P.S. Brianna’s poppy seed dressing is my favorite!

Grilled Chicken Pesto Pasta

Cut up a few grilled chicken breasts, boil some pasta (try whole wheat), and top with pesto, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, parmesan, and maybe a few cut up artichoke hearts! Although you can use store-bought pesto for this dish, I highly suggest you try making your own. Here is a super easy recipe that will only take a few minutes!

2 cups basil leaves (fresh leaves only & firmly packed 2 cups)

3/4 cup parmesan cheese (grated)

3/4 cup olive oil (I use Extra-Virgin)

3 garlic cloves

1/4 cup pine nuts

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in blender or food processor & cover.

2 Blend on medium speed about 3 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape sides, until smooth.

Individual Fruit Pizzas

For the finale, try making individual fruit pizzas! I have great memories making fruit tarts with my mom as a kid, and they were always a hit. These ones are basically sugar cookies, topped with a special whipped cream spread, and fruit of your choice.

Ingredients:

1 Package Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough

8 oz cream cheese, softened

7 oz marshmallow fluff

1/2 tub cool whip

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

Desired Fruit

Directions:

Prepare sugar cookies as directed on package and let cool completely.

With electric mixer mix cream cheese, marshmallow fluff, and confectioners sugar. Fold in cool whip.

Frost cookies and top with desired fruit. Store in the refrigerator.

Dinner on the Patio

We wanna slide into your DMs