Once the frenzy of Christmas food and cooking is over, the last thing most of us want to do is get back into the kitchen.

Long hot summer days are all about picnics on the beach and hassle-free dinners.

Here is some inspiration for easy, tasty and healthy meals you can put together in minutes during summer using fresh and local produce available at the Mullumbimby Farmers Market.

BEACH PICNIC:

Bring your basket to the market and fill it with some of these goodies for a lazy picnic lunch: Fresh bread from Scratch Patisserie or Crabbes Creek Woodfired, some beetroot or hummus dip from The Spice Palace or Baraka Foods, a bunch of baby carrots from Everest Farm, some cucumbers and cherry tomatoes from Coopers Shoot Tomatoes.

Add some cheese from Cheeses Loves You or Nimbin Valley Dairy, some fresh olives from Grumpy Grandma’s Olives, and then a selection of fresh fruit like peaches and nectarines from Morrow Farm, watermelon from Everest Farm, strawberries form Morrow Farm or Monty’s , blueberries from Blueberry Fields or papaya from Mt Chowan Organics.

To wash it down, grab a bottle of Organic Forrest’s refreshing organic turmeric and ginger or organic ginger, hibiscus, elderflower and turmeric kombucha, or a take away bottle of fresh sugar cane juice from Byron Bay Cane Juice.

QUICK DINNERS:

Byron Bay Gourmet Pasta has a big range of fresh pastas and ravioli, including gluten free options, that you can have ready for dinner in under 10 minutes. Fresh sauces are also available, or pick up some basil pesto from The Salad Hut or some chilli and garlic infused olive oil from Grumpy Grandma’s olives to drizzle over the top.

For a quick and easy barbecue dinner, grab some sausages from Hayters Hill Farm (they have 10 varieties – including gluten free and preservative free), some sweet corn to throw on the barbecue as well,  and some fresh salad from the farmers – lettuce, tomato, cucumber, capsicum, green beans, beetroot, carrots, and sprouts are all in season now and tasting great.

Church Farm’s home made Thai Curry Paste is another easy option. Just add meat or vegies and some rice for a quick easy dinner.

• Mullumbimby Farmers Market every Friday 7am-11am.