No cook meals for hot days

[JustVanessa]

Hey ladies, since we are having a record heat wave here(highest run of temps our province has seen in my lifetime) I would love some ideas for suppers that don't require cooking at all. My dp works through supper and I am scared to use the BBQ.

We aren't veg or vegan, we eat pretty much anything.

Help me out!

[Milkymommy]

For summer dinners we love to put out platters of different things that go well together and let everyone make their own plate.

- Sliced mozzerella cheese, sliced tomatoes, pesto, whole grain bagette.

- hummus, feta cheese, tomoatoes, cucumbers, black olives, pita bread

-I make a black bean and corn salad that is so good over shredded lettuce or with tortilla chips. There is no real recipe so these are approximations. I know so many people who make this recipe and everyone puts their own twist on it.

1 can black beans
1/2 bag frozen corn
red bell pepper diced
avocado diced
lime juice
good seasons dry package of salad dressing
olive oil
vinegar

prepare the package of good seasons salad dressing. I use less oil than it calls for and substitute more water. Drain and rinse the black beans and put them in the bowl. Add diced red pepper and frozen corn. I put the corn in still frozen - it helps chill the beans. add the diced avocado. mix in the salad dressing and lime juice to taste. I don't use all the salad dressing. Just add a bit at a time, stir and taste till it is coated and yummy. You can use green or yellow peppers. Sometimes we add diced red onion. My mom makes this with out the salad dressing, just lime juice, a little olive oil and salt.

[JustVanessa]

good seasons dry package of salad dressing

It sounds really yummy but I don't know what this is. American thing maybe?

[Elecampane]

Here is a fabulous list of salad ideas from Mark Bittman.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/di...list.html?_r=1

(And I'm scared of our grill, too! It drives DH nuts, he thinks I should get over it!)

[annethcz]

We do a lot of sandwiches for dinner when it's hot.

I also cook with the crockpot and put the crock pot outside (in the garage or on the deck) to keep the house cool.

[JustVanessa]

Originally Posted by annethcz

We do a lot of sandwiches for dinner when it's hot.

I also cook with the crockpot and put the crock pot outside (in the garage or on the deck) to keep the house cool.

That is brilliant. : Roast beef tomorrow!

[Thalia the Muse]

A lot of things people have suggested -- hummus with pita bread and crudites is great!

• Bean salads made with canned beans; OK, not so elegant, but they don't make the kitchen hot.
• Salade Nicoise with canned tuna, capers, olives, and hardcooked egg.
• Crab or shrimp louis
• Coldcut sandwiches and antipasto -- artichoke hearts, olives, etc. Yes, we eat a lot of olives.
• Cold soups -- gazpacho or buttermilk-cucumber. SO REFRESHING! Add some bread on the side.
• Panzanella (stale bread salad, made with juicy tomatoes so they soak the bread and make it yummy)
• We eat a lot of purchased sushi when it's super hot out -- if you were ambitious, I suppose you could make your own.

You don't really need the Good Seasons packet - it's just an herb and seasoning blend, substitute your own fresh or dried herbs to taste.

[chiromamma]

Originally Posted by annethcz

We do a lot of sandwiches for dinner when it's hot.

I also cook with the crockpot and put the crock pot outside (in the garage or on the deck) to keep the house cool.

This IS a brilliant idea! I cook my beans in a crockpot but usually go canned in the summer. Not any more.

[Llyra]

I chop tomato finely, dice some garlic and onion and add that, and add some basil. Then I slice some italian bread lengthwise, top it with the tomato mixture, and sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese. The kids especially love this one.

Chicken salad is nice. You make the chicken on a rainy day or a cool day, and then keep it in the fridge until you're ready to make it. Put it on sandwiches, with a green salad on the side. Or make potato salad to pair with it.