Baby, It's HOT Outside! (and Contest Reminder)

It's been another scorcher today in the Sunshine State! By 9:00 this morning the temperature had already shot up to 85 degrees F., and was steadily climbing. For weeks now, we've been experiencing hot, blistering days and nights in the 90's. People, let me tell you, that is HOT! Not even the short, sporadic bursts of rain we've had have managed to cool things off.

Now, I know that many of you are reading this while snow is still melting and thunderstorms have been pummeling down all around you, thinking "What is she b*tching about?". But, let me tell you, this incessant heat is no day at the beach! It's oppressive! While the the sun is shining in a pristine blue sky, and flowers are blooming in a profusion of bright, beautiful colors, it's too darn hot to spend much time outside to enjoy it. Honestly, I don't know how people ever survived here before air conditioning!

The last thing I feel like doing in weather like this is cooking. So, unless I have to, I don't. We still have to eat, so I rely a lot on take-out, outdoor grilling and quick, easy dishes that require very little or no cooking. This was one of those weeks, where I was able to just coast.

I do believe, however, that you can still be creative in the kitchen even if you don't turn on the oven. Just to prove it to you, I've dug out some of my favorite summertime recipes from the SGCC archives. Each one is satisfying and delicious, and guaranteed to help you beat the heat. I hope you enjoy them!

This simple chilled Gazpacho is a Spanish-style soup that sort of resembles a chunky, liquid salad. It has lots of fresh, raw vegetables suspended in a broth of tomato juice. It's full of zesty and refreshing flavors, and is one of my favorite warm weather meals. I like to jazz it up a little with some diced jalapeno, fresh lime juice and a dash of Tabasco. I often top it with a little creme fraiche and a few boiled shrimp.

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Another lovely summertime soup is this Sumptuous Strawberry Soup. I've served this soup both as a brunch dish and a dessert. Ripe, fresh strawberries are blended with yogurt, sour cream, lime juice and honey. The result is a cross between a rich mousse and a smoothie.

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This Edamame & Heirloom Tomato Salad with Lemon-Miso Vinaigrette is light and vibrant dish made with heirloom tomatoes tossed in a light lemon-miso vinaigrette, along with steamed edamame, scallions and a chiffonade of shiso leaves. Of course, you can add any mix of vegetables and herbs you like to this salad. Throw in some pre-boiled shrimp from the market, and you have a complete meal.

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My Kitchen Sink Asian Slaw is another great summer salad. All you need to start is some pre-packaged cole slaw mix from the produce aisle of the supermarket and build on that. I toss in some scallions, diced mango and pineapple, thinly sliced kumquats and some garlic. Then, I dress it with a bottled ginger dressing, also from the supermarket, squeeze in a little lime juice and squirt in a generous blob of Sriracha sauce. The result is a fabulously sweet and spicy slaw that will knock your socks off!

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This Chicken Pasta Alfresco came to be one night as I was rushing to make dinner and accidentally dumped my cooked pasta into my Caprese salad instead of my chicken and mushroom pasta sauce. After that, the only thing left to do was mix the chicken in too! I did and it was fabulous! If you're militant about not turning on your stove, you can eliminate the chicken and serve this pasta with just the salad. Or, you can add some shrimp or rotisserie chicken from the market. It's all good!

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The Rachel sandwich is a variation of the ever-popular Ruben. It's filled with lean pastrami, cheese and either coleslaw or sauerkraut. And, it can be cooked either on your barbecue grill or with a small tabletop electric grill, like the Griddler.

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I've never given this big, fat Italian-style sandwich a name of its own, but I make it all the time. I layer slices of various cured meats, like prosciutto, capicola ham and sopressata Calabrese (which is like a spicy salami) on one side of a ciabatta loaf. On the other side, I spread a generous layer of crisp, peppery arugula, thick, ripe, juicy slabs of heirloom tomatoes and slices of fresh buffalo mozzarella. Then I drizzle a little balsamic vinaigrette on top, close up the sandwich and voila - dinner!

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These Pacific Rim Burgers with Ginger Mayonnaise are hands down my favorite burger ever. They are made with ground chicken and some spicy good stuff. They are glazed with a honey-teriyaki mixture and either grilled or seared in a pan. Then, the burgers are smothered with an utterly magical ginger-based mayo, topped with crunchy, fresh cucumbers and served on toasted sesame seed buns. These burgers are so moist, flavorful and delicious that you will forget you're eating ground chicken. Honest! I swear! You'll never miss the beef!

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A visit to Whole Foods is usually a dangerous proposition for me. I almost always go armed with a specific list of items to buy, and I never stick to it. I can't help myself! The day I bought these veal chops was no exception. As the name implies, the first time I made these Pan Roasted Veal Chops with Chipotle-Lime Butter, I seared them in a cast iron skillet. Since then, I've made them out on the grill and they're just as succulent and juicy that way.

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So, there you have it - a small arsenal of tired and true, simple and tasty recipes you can serve to family and friends without breaking a sweat!

Enjoy!

I just want to add in a reminder that my Razor Clams recipe contest ends at midnight EDT tonight. If you haven't submitted your recipe ideas yet, get moving! You can find the details here.