Summer Meals.

[Big Daddy's House]

It's been too hot, oppressive, torrid and just plain downright miserable to cook anything!! Even boiling a small pot of water would create heat and heat up the kitchen!! The humidity level has been so high.

I'm looking for ways to stay out of the kitchen when it comes to cooking during the summer!

Oh. And then there's the oven. Well, unless you want to pack up some of this heat and save it for the winter, then that might be a good reason to use it!

What do some of you do to get by without cooking during this long hot, but mostly enjoyable summer?

I sometimes eat out, but that can be expensive. So I wait for times when the weather isn't too hot and cook something to eat that can easily be prepped for the next period of extremely hot weather.

Like chicken breasts for chicken salad, potatoes for potato salad, or bake some chicken or meat loaf to be eaten cold later with a salad. I'm a salad freak! So whenever the opportunity hits, I'll go for one practically in a heartbeat!!

Or I just make a salad on the hot days. There are all kinds of ways to avoid cooking this summer, unless you are cooking out, which is also a great idea. The heat stays outdoors and no additional heat builds up in the house!

Or you may get invited by friends or family to eat at their house if they are cooking out. There are many ways to avoid taking the heat during cooking if you want to get out of the kitchen.

[Semigourmet]

Bently this is a Great Thread. It is Very hard in the summer to make a Nice comforting meal that doesn't overheat the house and drain your energy as well.

I have a couple other things you might do with your leftover cooked chicken breasts.

Tex Mex Chicken Wraps (This makes enough for 6 wraps)
Ingredients

1 ½ cups chopped cooked chicken
½ cup salsa
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (7 oz.) whole kernel corn, drained
6 spinach or flour tortillas
1/3 cup sour cream
Additional salsa, if desired


Directions

1. Mix chicken, ½ cup salsa, the beans and corn. Divide chicken mixture among tortillas, spreading to within 2 inches of bottom of each tortilla. Top each with sour cream

2. Fold one end of the tortilla up about 1 inch over filling; fold right and left sides over folded end, overlapping. Fold remaining end down. Serve with additional salsa.



Notes This is very tasty and quick to make. Try adding some diced onions, sliced black olives, and some taco sauce. Even some leftover sticky rice would be good. MMMM.

[Semigourmet]

How about a Waldorf Sandwich (This makes 2)

Ingredients

¼ cup finely chopped celery
¼ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons raisins
2 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts
¼ cup light salad dressing
4 slices Pepperidge Farm® 100% Natural Whole Grain Nine Grain Bread *
1 medium apple, cored and sliced
2 leaves leaf lettuce


Directions

1. MIX celery, cheese, raisins, walnuts and salad dressing. Spread on 2 slices bread.

2. TOP with apple slices, lettuce and remaining bread.

[Semigourmet]

Cucumber Chicken Pita Sandwiches (This makes 4)

Ingredients

½ cup plain yogurt
¼ cup finely chopped cucumber
½ teaspoon dried dill
¼ teaspoon dried mint, crushed
4 large pita bread rounds
4 lettuce leaves
6 ounces thinly sliced cooked chicken breast
1 small tomato, thinly sliced
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese



Directions

1. For Dressing, in a small bowl, stir together the yogurt, cucumber, dill, and mint. Set aside.
2. For each sandwich, place a pita bread round on a plate. Top with lettuce, chicken, tomato, and feat cheese. Spoon the dressing on top. Roll up pita bread; secure with wooden toothpicks. Serve immediately.