dinners in this heat wave

[Anonymous]

Please share any refreshing dinner ideas you are planning to make over the next few nights. I would like to use my oven as little as possible (although I don’t relish standing over the grill either!). The only idea I have is to buy a rotisserie chicken and use it in “big salads.”

[Anonymous]

We've got some leftovers so that'll help!

-deconstructed nachos: chips, a Texas caviar style bean salad, grated cheese,salsa, avocado. Make your own bowl.

-BLTs: normally I hate turning on the stove at all, but we have a really nice big tomato and "everything sourdough." Leftovers of a big batch of green beans or cole slaw on the side.

-leftover ground lamb, tzatziki, salad greens, store bought naan.

-pizza made in outdoor oven.

-other bits and pieces in fridge and/or picky kid food from freezer (ravioli, nuggets, etc).

[Anonymous]

We make meat on the grill and then mix it with things. Grilled chicken can be added to a ton of stuff. Burgers, lamb burger's, sausages. Even grilled tofu.
My youngest needs a carb so I'll make pasta for her. The rest of us use wraps, bread, etc etc to round out meat and vegetables.

[Anonymous]

Quinoa, black bean, mango, pepper salad. Make in the morning to chill.

Sushi with mango, cucumber, tofu.

Farro salad with snap peas, tomatoes, dill

Caesar salad

Tagine (cooked potatoes, marinated artichokes, green beans, roasted peppers, tomatoes) - serve cold with couscous

Stuffed peppers done in slow cooker or microwave

[Anonymous]

I’ve been thinking about making (artificial) crab salad. It’s wonderfully refreshing. Although I seem to have lost the “recipe”, so I don’t have exact measurements, it is easy enough to prepare “to taste”. Here are the ingredients:

chopped artificial crab meat
chopped green onion
grated cheddar cheese
sliced black olives (drained)
ranch dressing (you can use bottled, but making it from the packets is better)

I serve it with low-salt wheat thins.

————————

A great dessert for the heat that kids can basically make themselves is frozen yogurt pie:

Mix 2 single serve containers of fruit yogurt with one tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip. If desired, you can add jam for extra fruit flavor. (Note: yogurt containing gelatin will result in a spongey, Chiffon-like? pie. I prefer using yogurt/Greek yogurt that doesn't contain gelatin.)

Spoon into graham cracker crust. (Please note that the foil pie tin the crust comes in can have sharp edges.)

Cover and freeze.

———————-
While I’ve never made it, tabouleh salad is fantastic when the weather is hot. I think I’ve seen it in grocery delis, and if you can find it, it would be a marvelous side for that rotisserie chicken.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been thinking about making (artificial) crab salad. It’s wonderfully refreshing. Although I seem to have lost the “recipe”, so I don’t have exact measurements, it is easy enough to prepare “to taste”. Here are the ingredients:

chopped artificial crab meat
chopped green onion
grated cheddar cheese
sliced black olives (drained)
ranch dressing (you can use bottled, but making it from the packets is better)

I serve it with low-salt wheat thins.

————————

A great dessert for the heat that kids can basically make themselves is frozen yogurt pie:

Mix 2 single serve containers of fruit yogurt with one tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip. If desired, you can add jam for extra fruit flavor. (Note: yogurt containing gelatin will result in a spongey, Chiffon-like? pie. I prefer using yogurt/Greek yogurt that doesn't contain gelatin.)

Spoon into graham cracker crust. (Please note that the foil pie tin the crust comes in can have sharp edges.)

Cover and freeze.

———————-
While I’ve never made it, tabouleh salad is fantastic when the weather is hot. I think I’ve seen it in grocery delis, and if you can find it, it would be a marvelous side for that rotisserie chicken.

I made tabbouleh last week! No cooking required, but I like to air fry tofu, crumble it up, chill, and mix it in. My kids love this as a main.

[Anonymous]

"snack plates" of charcuterie, crackers, cheese, etc.
Sardines on various toasts/crackers
Cold soba noodles w/ tofu
cereal w/ fruit (not the most healthy, but it's quick and cold!)
salads
Cottage cheese or yogurt w/ fruits/veg
Cold bean salads, potato salad, deviled eggs
I always think 'gazpacho' but my kids don't like it and even when they eat it, they're hungry again within 2 hours.

Also ice cream/popsicles. Probably smoothies at some point. If I have to cook anything, I'm grateful I have a smart oven and don't have to fire up the whole stove!

[Anonymous]

Stove top burgers and cold pasta salad

[Anonymous]

Burger bowls - salad topped with a burger (I’m vegetarian and do veggie burgers); I could eat this every night of the week. In my salad I add chopped egg, beets, artichoke hearts, shredded cabbage, shredded carrot, shredded cheese, walnuts, red pepper, avocado, chickpeas, crushed tortillas, etc and toss with oil and balsamic vinegar.

[Anonymous]

I just made gazpacho and DH is grilling steak and vegetables.

Honestly I'd be fine with salads and sandwiches. I have no appetite in the heat. Our pizza hating kid is away at camp this week so we will probably pick up pizza at least once.

[Anonymous]

Panzanella is my absolute favorite summer meal.

[Anonymous]

I like the tabouleh idea with rotisserie chicken on side.

My plan was:
Crockpot steak butter bites over rice

Another night that Asian ramen noodle salad with rotisserie chicken (may have add dumplings for teens who think salad isn’t dinner)

Trader Joe’s meatloaf warmed in pan plus spinach tomato mozzarella salad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been thinking about making (artificial) crab salad. It’s wonderfully refreshing. Although I seem to have lost the “recipe”, so I don’t have exact measurements, it is easy enough to prepare “to taste”. Here are the ingredients:

chopped artificial crab meat
chopped green onion
grated cheddar cheese
sliced black olives (drained)
ranch dressing (you can use bottled, but making it from the packets is better)

I serve it with low-salt wheat thins.

————————

A great dessert for the heat that kids can basically make themselves is frozen yogurt pie:

Mix 2 single serve containers of fruit yogurt with one tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip. If desired, you can add jam for extra fruit flavor. (Note: yogurt containing gelatin will result in a spongey, Chiffon-like? pie. I prefer using yogurt/Greek yogurt that doesn't contain gelatin.)

Spoon into graham cracker crust. (Please note that the foil pie tin the crust comes in can have sharp edges.)

Cover and freeze.

———————-
While I’ve never made it, tabouleh salad is fantastic when the weather is hot. I think I’ve seen it in grocery delis, and if you can find it, it would be a marvelous side for that rotisserie chicken.

I made tabbouleh last week! No cooking required, but I like to air fry tofu, crumble it up, chill, and mix it in. My kids love this as a main.

That sounds so good, can you share the recipe?

[Anonymous]

I stole a salad recipe from Zaytinya: arugula, watermelon, and feta. I make a dressing with evoo, fresh lemon juice (not too much), and salt. Delicious!

[Anonymous]

Gazpacho