One of the best things about summertime is being able to spend a lot of time outdoors! I am quickly discovering the joys of having my own backyard since my son is now crawling and loves the grass and sunshine. Since it's so wonderful outside, I for one don't want to spend as much time in the kitchen when I can be enjoying the fresh air, but I still want to have some fun snacks and treats to serve my family and friends. I have three ideas for you for some quick and easy summer snacks that don't require a lot of time, are delicious to eat, fun to prepare together as a family, and features a surprising ingredient: canned biscuits!

Strawberry Short "Cake": You will need one can of regular refrigerator biscuits, about a half cup of white sugar in a bowl, 1 pint sliced strawberries, and whipped cream. Separate your biscuits and dip them one at a time into the sugar and place on a baking sheet. Bake according to the directions on the can, and then serve warm topped with sliced strawberries (or other berries if you prefer) and whipped cream. Delicious and refreshing! (Photo courtesy of King Arthur Flour)

Biscuit Pies: You will need one can of refrigerated biscuits, canola oil for frying, and your favorite kind of pie filling. (Blackberry is mine!) Flatten each biscuit out and put a little scoop of pie filling on it-you don't need too much. Fold over and press the edges together to seal. I use a fork to crimp the edges for a more appealing presentation. Fry them for about 2 minutes in a skillet with your hot oil, make sure to flip them so that both sides cook. Once lightly browned, remove to a plate with paper towels to drain excess oil off. You can also put chocolate chips (milk or dark) in the biscuit instead of pie filling. I recommend baking in the oven for about 10 minutes over frying if you use chocolate since you want to make sure it melts completely. Serve hot with ice cream, whipping cream, or plain! (Photo courtesy of Ape's Eats)

Crispy Jammy Biscuits: You will need 1 can of refrigerated biscuits, 1/2 c sugar combined with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 c melted butter, and your favorite flavor of jam. Separate your biscuits and then dip them in the melted butter, then the sugar/cinnamon (make sure to get both sides), then place on a baking sheet. Make an indentation in the middle of each biscuit with your thumb or the back of a spoon and fill with jam. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes, and these can be served warm or cold! (Photo courtesy of Allrecipes.com)