“Dear Family. We canoed today. I’m sunburned and got poison ivy but it’s not that bad. I also got lost but then they found me. Camp is fun.”

Sometimes they cry when you drop them off, but summer camp usually ends up being a happy time for kids—and an even happier time for parents who get a nice little break in the parenting action, a week or so to enjoy a slightly less hectic, quieter household.

What a great time to enjoy some really delicious, sophisticated meals, featuring foods that are decidedly more “grown-up” than your typical weeknight family dinner!

We’ve got some fab ideas for you and fellow adults—easy enough for every day, but elegant enough for entertaining.

First up: Beef, Blue Cheese and Thyme Tartlets—incredible as an appetizer or light bite and so easy to make with frozen phyllo dough, blue cheese, and DI LUSSO® Rare Roast Beef. Garnish with sprigs of fresh thyme—maybe you’ve got some growing in a kitchen garden or patio pot. (If not, it’s widely available at the store.)

A marvelous summertime centerpiece: Grilled Zucchini with Double Smoked Black Pepper Ham—zucchini “boats” topped with DI LUSSO® Double Smoked Black Pepper Ham, cherry tomatoes, red onion and a pesto-like sauce made from sunflower seeds and fresh cilantro. They’re incredibly flavorful and let you make the most of one of summer’s best seasonal vegetables.

Another amazing vegetable-based entrée for lunch or dinner is our Genoa Salami and Fried Eggplant Sandwich, featuring DI LUSSO® Genoa and Mozzarella, lightly breaded fried eggplant slices, tomato and vinaigrette on hearty ciabatta rolls.

Set the table. Light the candles. Pour the wine. And relax and enjoy a quiet mealtime before your little happy campers come home again.