Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have AC in my house. I don't have a problem cooking anything.

This. I never really understood the issue.

I have AC too, but cooking something lengthy on the stove or in the oven on a very hot summer day puts extra unnecessary demand on my AC system and the electric grid as a whole. I also don't really like cooking over a hot stove or near a hot oven when temps are scorching outside. I keep my roasts and braises for cooler weather, and stick to outdoor cooking, salads, and stuff that doesn't take more than ~30 minutes on the stove.

Anonymous wrote:I have AC in my house. I don't have a problem cooking anything.

This. I never really understood the issue.

Prosciutto wrapped melon
Watermelon feta mint salad
Caprese salad
That cabbage salad with ramen noodles broken up and mixed in

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Appreciate and interested hearing the suggestions. Unlike some of the posters, I don’t sit inside an air conditioned home all day.

Watermelon or grapes (as a side, though I personally can make watermelon a whole meal)
Grilled chicken - my husband does the grilling, or I use a grill pan on the cooktop. I know that doesn't solve your problem; but it's fairly quick and easy and doesn't require heating up an oven that heats up the house more.

Salads (with or without leftover grilled chicken/salmon/cold cuts) - goes great with that watermelon and grapes or strawberries on the side!

Carry out pizza

Panzanella - day-old dried out bread cubes with tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, vinegar.

Smoked salmon with crackers, cheese, and cucumber slices.

Cold bean salad with a crusty baguette.

Yogurt-marinated chicken skewers in the air fryer or grill, with a cucumber-mint salad.

...... But then I usually have to throw something heartier into the air fryer or on the grill for my teen boys. So any of the above with a "side" of Italian sausages, meatballs, frozen pizza, whatever. And a boatload of ice cream.

Sushi, spring rolls, dishes I can make in the morning and serve chilled

Gazpacho!
Salad!
Yesterday’s grilled stuff cold today!
Popsicles!
Anything frozen.

I am grilling a lot— things that I can throw on and go back inside until they need turning.

Pasta salad
Caprese
Potato salad with a main protein
Fish Tacos

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have AC in my house. I don't have a problem cooking anything.

+1

I don't understand OP's contrived problem. Just pretend it is December and cook inside...

Well Pepco has asked people to not use their oven because it is heating up your house which means you have to use more air conditioning which put a load on Pepco they can't handle, which is causing brown outs.

But sure let's all turn our ovens on to 400 degrees and bake a lasagna on the hottest day ever.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have AC in my house. I don't have a problem cooking anything.

+1

I don't understand OP's contrived problem. Just pretend it is December and cook inside...

Do you really want to eat the same foods in December and July? That's weird.

This is OP. Appreciate and interested hearing the suggestions. Unlike some of the posters, I don’t sit inside an air conditioned home all day.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t even want to step out and turn on my grill most nights lately.

Lately we’ve made deconstructed salmon nicoise salad; cheese/charcuterie (my teens enjoyed but then asked what’s for dinner); shrimp scampi; kale, cherry tomato and feta salad topped with grilled steak.

Please share how you are staying cool and seasonal with your dinners.

Just make your warm savory snacks inside

Anonymous wrote:I have AC in my house. I don't have a problem cooking anything.

+1

I don't understand OP's contrived problem. Just pretend it is December and cook inside...

Anonymous wrote:I don’t even want to step out and turn on my grill most nights lately.

Lately we’ve made deconstructed salmon nicoise salad; cheese/charcuterie (my teens enjoyed but then asked what’s for dinner); shrimp scampi; kale, cherry tomato and feta salad topped with grilled steak.

Please share how you are staying cool and seasonal with your dinners.

Whatever you normally cook inside in your kitchen, try that.