101 Days to Go: Wednesday Giveaway

Jul 10, 2012 | 157 Comments

It’s another giveaway day!! More on that in a second.

Not sure who else is obsessed with Breaking Bad, but I’ve been catching up (and by catching up I mean starting at Season 1. Ep 1 and watching all the way through the end of Season 3 in five days) and am ready to start the 4th season before the final 5th starts on Sunday!!  I’m completely addicted and sources say that this past season has been the best!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage - Breaking Bad Season 4

Season 4!! Season 4!! ((PS, just putting it out there that we might have to do some sort of live tweeting/chats when the show begins this season! Who's in??)

I’m also excited for all the amazing skin help you guys provided.  Argan oil has been purchased already :)   The winner of that giveaway is Courtneylee77 and the anchor stud winners are Molly, TanyaS and Meghan.

Today’s giveaway is one that I love – a tote bag pattern by Lazy Girl Designs and a Vera Bradley keychain!  I have a similar keychain that I put my car key in when I go hiking :)

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage - Vera Bradley Giveaway

Win me!!

It’s getting crazy hot in LA now too and I’m trying to keep the oven off, well aside from baking that shortcake yesterday!  To enter, leave a comment below with a good meal that doesn’t involve heating that oven up!  Let’s hear any good cool and yummy food ideas that you love…next month’s cooking club is at my non-AC apartment and I think that’ll be our theme :)   Help a sista out!!  Winner will randomly be chosen next Wednesday 7/17!

In all · Giveaways
  • Ginny

    Caprese salad is fantastic! Tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, balsamic vinaigrette and olive oil, plus a little salt and pepper. It’s served chilled and is super refreshing. While it can be more of an appetizer, paired with a baguette wakes it more of a full meal.

  • Darsedee28

    We are big on crock pot tacos.  Either chicken or pork. yum

  • Tlmartin04

    I usually make a sort of crushed chickpea caprese salad that I saw once on smitten kitchen.

  • Btejkl

    Here in the mid-west our window to cook out is small. Although I’ve been known to cook out in my winter coat and mittens. Hahaha Anyway, I cook something on the grill and make some yummy salads like macaroni salad and big bowls of fruit.

    • Maureen

      Being originally from Erie,Pa I have seen people cook out in the dead of winter! They brush snow from the grill and cook away! Now, my Mom and Dad use to go to Presque Isle State Park in Erie at the 1st sign of a warm day{50 degrees } and have a picnic!

      • Btejkl

        Oooooo. Presque Isle State Park is so beautiful. I haven’t been there in a looooong time. I need to go back.

  • Kayla

    orzo, watermelon, basil, and feta cheese chilled makes a great salad

  • Gina93

    This is something I’ve been meaning to try: thermos cooking. It’s difficult to find any recipes over the internet, but you can cook pasta and such in a thermos (I guess you leave it in there with a fair bit of boiling water for maybe 15/20 minutes). Why not then stick some frozen vegetables in there too and have a pot noodle-y style meal with some gravy granules and curry powder, or whatever? Things like porridge and couscous and stew and soup also work, apparently. Just takes a while.

  • Reeda

    Gazpacho is always good for hot weather.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=41603120 Emily Haager

    I am a big fan of anything in the crockpot during summertime. Warm food ready when you get home from work!

  • Ryan Ann

    soft taco bar :) can easily be both for meat and not meat eaters :)  

  • Dee

    Everyone thinks of slow cookers or crock pots as winter time accessories, but I like to use mine in the summer to keep the oven off. 
    Here’s a slow cooker recipe for Pineapple Upside Down Cake…  (Could substitute peaches.)
    1/2 c. butter (melted)
    1 c. brown sugar
    1 med-sized can pineapple slices (or peach) drained, reserving juice
    6-8 maraschino cherries
    1 box yellow cake mix

    1. Spray cooker with non stick spray.
    2. Combine butter and brown sugar, spread over bottom of cooker.
    3.  Add pineapple slices and place cherries in the center of each one.
    4.  Prepare cake according to package directions, use pineapple juice for part of the liquid.  Spoon cake batter into the cooker over top fruit.
    5.  Cover cooker with 2 tea towels, and then with its own lid.  Cook on high 1 hour, and then on low for 3-5 hours.
    6.  Allow cake to cool for 10 minutes, then run knife around edge and invert cake onto a large platter.

    • Judy B.

       Definitely! I use my crock pot year ’round. I don’t find mine heats the place up, but maybe I’d feel differently if I didn’t have A/C. And there’s no law that says you have to run it in the kitchen, right? You could always stick it in the basement or garage or even outside, if you have a power source.

  • Elise

    I love cold salads, right now I have a carrot and raisin salad (grated carrots, raisins and a little mayo) and a cucumber salad (cucumber, vinegar, sugar) in the fridge.  If I have leftover rice or feel up to making some rice I make an improvised bi bim bap with the cucumber salad and whatever leftovers I have in the fridge.  It’s a perfect way to have an oven-less meal and use up any leftovers from my csa box.

    • Kissem37

      I love bi bim bap!!

    • http://www.facebook.com/hidesama Ren Akuma

      bibimbap is awesome. It’s like the ultimate summertime food, best eaten next to the AC.

  • Lori

    A big old pasta salad with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers from our garden.

  • Kissem37

    We use the crockpot in the summertime a lot too- you can even make corn on the cob in one! My husband also made a smoker from a large clay pot and a hot plate- delicious smoked meats and all the heat stays outside!

  • Amanda Davis

    My hubby and I are on a major healthy food kick right now & my 2 new favorites are: smoothies and raw juice!!    I am drinking a smoothie right now with non-fat greek yogurt, honey, a splash of almond milk, blueberries and bananas ~ SOOO YUMMO!     And later on, I’ll shove an apple, 3 carrots and a beet into my little juicer & BAMMO!  We will have THE YUMMIEST super healthy way to get so many vitamins and minerals into you!  (…the juicer is a total mess to clean up tho, which is no fun….and I look at all this pulp I’m throwing out, wondering if there is something I could make with it so as not to waste it!! )

    • Kissem37

      you can always toss fruit based pulp into muffins- super fibery!

      • Amanda Davis

         We were wondering if it could be used for baking ~ thanks!

    • Judy B.

       I used to have a juicer, but the clean up and the waste were two drawbacks. Like Kissem37 says, you could put the pulp into muffins–I’d say you could use the fruit and at least some veggies, too. I like to add veggies to my ‘fruit’ smoothies, especially beans and spinach. Lately I’ve started adding a half of an avocado, which makes it wonderfully creamy!

  • Karenclark508

    When I was growing up we didn’t have air conditioning (I don’t know how we did it back then!!!)  and on those crazy hot nights the four of us would all sit down and have root beer floats for dinner.  It’s not really a meal, but when the family sits down together to have a root beer float it becomes an honorary meal in my opinion.  :-)  

  • Annie K

    There’s all sorts of GREAT slow cooker recipes out there! :) I love a good roast. Also, grilling outside is a great option…I mean, it still is hot, but at least your not heating up the house. 

  • Fluffsababy

    I absolutely love fresh fruits.  I can make a meal out of that anyday.  Cherries would be my fav!!

  • Nctwila

    I live in the South & try to use the air as little as possible to save on the power bills. I make a broccoli salad using chopped raw broccoli, chopped red onion (optional), bacon bits (optional), shredded cheese and either golden raisons or dried cranberries (my fave). Toss with mayo & white vinegar, let marinate in the fridge overnight, toss again 7 enjoy. I eat it all summer long!!
    Perservere!!

  • Audrirene

    In crock pot put pork, beef or chicken. Add a can of black beans, mexican tomatoes, beer, taco seasoning packet. Cook on low for 8 hours, shred meat, drain most liquid. Server on chips or flour tortillas. Add shredded cheese, cilantro, lettuce ect if desired.

    That bag is to die for. I would love to win.

  • Kit

    Still 90 degrees at 5:30 p.m. yesterday evening. Husband made delicious guacamole and some homemade unsalted chips to eat it with. Yum! We sat on the floor where it was cool, and had a little fiesta. Later, when it was cooler, there was pasta salad in the fridge to nibble on.

  • ~anna~

    Combine peeled, sliced cubumber; chopped red, yellow and green pepper, chopped red onion, and chopped tomato.(or any other salad veggies you like) Add Zesty Italian Dressing. Chill in Frig. Cut up chunks of your fave cheese and add just before serving. Buy some really good bread or rolls!  ENJOY!

  • Laura Whitman

    Slower cooker mac and cheese! Best thing ever.

    I was just visiting St. Louis and it was 107. Not okay. 

    xoxo, 
    Laura

    • Andrews My Baby

      HOW can you do that? I have a 5 year old and he would LOVE it! Please post the recipe!

  • Maureen

    Tortilla’s and cheese warm shell with  cheese in microwave just to melt cheese.  Shredding already made  roast chicken from the grocer’s & add fresh seasonal veggies{We’ve been getting tomatoes,peppers,onions from my son’s garden} Add salsa..My son has been making a  a killa nectarine salsa! Add homemade guac…yum!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000326143296 Stacy Popham Fitting

    Apples, dried cranberries, and strawberries, piled on top of a Mesclun salad with a raspberry vinaigrette.  If you would like to add a meat to it, then you could buy a packaged Jennie-O Turkey breast (no cook-usually found in the cold cut section) cut it up and put it on top as well.  So delish.

    Also, you can make a Tomato and Basil Bruschetta and serve it with sea salt melba toast (melba toast comes in other flavors as well)

  • Nchicotel

    How about a simple odd fashioned BBQ?? No hot cooking in the house!

  • Nchicotel

    oops – OLD fashioned – although if you cook exotic food, it could be ‘odd’ :)

  • Lmontoya-tucker

    I love your daily emails and am so inspired by your work. I’ve told soooo many people about you and your blog.  It is so much fun to see the changes to garments from beginning to end.
    I have a receipe for a Vegan Peanut Butter cookie.

    Peanut Butter “Minus” Cookies

    Recipe adapted from “Main Street Vegan” by
    Victoria Moran (Tarcher/Penguin)

    Makes 12 cookies

    Start to Finish: 35 minutes

    INGREDIENTS

    DIRECTIONS

    ½ cup brown rice flour

    ½ cup shelled roasted peanuts

    ¼ teaspoon sea salt

    1½ cups smooth unsalted natural peanut
    butter

    ½ cup pure maple syrup

    ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

    1. Preheat the oven to 350° and line a baking sheet with
    parchment paper.

    2. In a medium bowl, mix the brown rice flour with the
    peanuts and sea salt until combined. In a large bowl, mix the peanut butter
    with the maple syrup and vanilla until combined. Add the flour mixture to
    the peanut butter mixture and stir until just combined.

    3. Using a 2-inch ice-cream scoop, scoop the batter onto the
    prepared baking sheet, leaving about an inch between the cookies. Flatten
    the cookies with the tines of a fork and bake for 12 minutes, or until the
    bottoms are lightly browned. (The cookies will firm up as they cool.) Let the
    cookies cool slightly on the baking sheet, then transfer them to a wire
    rack to cool completely before serving.

    Thanks for all the great things you do. 
    Lisa MT

  • Gail P

    Crock pots!  My easiest dish is to throw some chicken breasts in the crock pot with Italian dressing.  It’ll stink up your house, but it’s yummy!!

  • Celeste Champion

    Mrs. Gwen Miller’s Famous Alabama Caviar Receipe –

    4 medium size Really Ripe tomatoes, diced
    1 15 oz can Hominy (do stores carry hominy in Cali?), rinsed and drained
    2 15 oz cans of Black Eyed Peas, rinsed and drained
    1 small Sweet Onion, diced (Vidalia onion if possible)
    4 green onions, diced
    1 green bell pepper, diced
    1 jalapeño

    pepper, diced
    1/4 fresh parsley, minced
    1 8oz bottle Kraft Zesty salad dressing

    Combine all ingredients in large plastic container with tight lid. Shake! Refrigerate! Overnight preparation is best so the flavors can mingle – drain before you serve it with Fritos Scoops. (If you make it day of – don’t drain it.)

    Ohmyholygeeze – it’s a little slice of South Alabama heaven for your Cali taste buds. No oven required!

  • Andrews My Baby

    good ole tuna salad! No cooking and it tastes cool and fresh, even better when you make it in advance and let the flavors enfuse and chill! :)

  • Elissa Burton

    Kale Smoothie:

    Kale – 1 large leaf
    Handful of blueberries or grapes (or really any fruit- I do strawberries, peaches, raspberries or all of the above1)
    Banana
    1/4 avocado
    a few ice cubes
    dash of paprika
    a bunch of cinnamon
    a little bit of water

    I can’t get enough of these! Delicious and filling!

  • Penina Frager

    Veggie shakes! Throw a cup of water and half a cucumber in a blender, followed by half a banana, a few strawberries, and a heaping handful of spinach. Refreshing and filling!

  • Raeraggs

    Fattoush is my favorite thing to eat in the heat.  It’s a DELICIOUS Mediterranean salad. All the veggies can be found at any regular grocery store. The one thing that really makes it is the sumac, and that may need to be bought from a spice store.  Pair it with some hummus and pita chips and you’ve got a cool, fantastic lunch. 

  • Teresa

    I like using my crockpot and grilling out during the summer.My hubby will grill alot to sace me cooking in the kitche. :) here is a crock pot recipe for bar b que ribs:
     
    Ingredients:
    4 pounds pork spareribs, cut in serving-size piecessalt and pepper, or seasoned salt and pepper1 medium onion1 bottle (16 ounces) barbecue sauce, or use 2 cups of homemade barbecue sauce
    Preparation:
    Sprinkle
    ribs with salt and pepper; place on broiler rack. Broil ribs for 20 to
    25 minutes. Place ribs in slow cooker along with sliced onion and
    barbecue sauce. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.
    Homemade bar b que sauce
    Yield: 4 cups approximately

    Ingredients:

    1-1/2 cups Dark Brown Sugar, packed
    1-1/4 cups Ketchup
    1/2 cup Red Wine Vinegar
    1/2 cup Water
    1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
    2-1/2 teaspoons Ground Mustard
    2 teaspoons Paprika
    1-1/2 teaspoons Kosher Salt
    1 teaspoon Black Pepper

    Directions:
    Measure and add all ingredients to a large
    bowl and whisk well until the sugar has dissolved and the spices are
    thoroughly distributed. Serve immediately or cover and store in fridge
    or freeze!

  • Char

    I like BLT made  with fresh garden tomatoes.  You can prepare  the bacon in the microwave or a pan fry.  No heat in the kitchen

  • Storyteller Mary

    I’ve been using my toaster oven, ideal for small quantities of kale chips or personal-size pizzas.  Also eating more cold foods, like salads and ice cream.  At least temps are below 100 now . . .

  • Llgj

    I love making a curried chicken salad using sliced (cooked) chicken, plain greek yogurt, grapes sliced in half, chopped pecans, chopped celery, salt, pepper, and lots of curry powder.  Mix all together and chill before serving–I even make sandwiches out of the leftovers…yum!

  • maria eads

    Well mine isn’t cool, its still hot. But I like to put some pork shoulder roast or beef roast into a crockpot and let it cook all day about 8 hours on medium or 6 hours on high. Then I take it out, and shred it, and make bbq sandwiches. I usually already have homemade buns around when i do this.

  • Jhadfield1

    Buy a cooked chicken from the deli.  Take all the meat off the bones and cut into bite-size pieces.  Add 1 can water chestnuts sliced and cut into smaller pieces, red grapes quartered, toasted almond slivers, 1/4 cup lemon juice and enough mayo to make it all stick together.  Serve on any type rolls you like and it is delish!

  • Heatherpaulo

    Spinach salad and an amazing fruit salad (I’m OBSESSED with fruit this summer)! Have fun!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1062343331 Keri Reese

    Yesterday I made a salad with Romaine lettuce, celery, an onion, green apple, strawberries, a red bell pepper and some shredded colby jack cheese.  We had Russian dressing left over from another recipe and it was DELISH!  The different flavors didn’t clash (I was a little worried, strawberries and onions???) but it was great!  The husband and son both had seconds, so it was classified as a WIN ;o)

  • Dianna L.

    My favorite summer treat is a ‘salad’ or marshmallows, cool whip, peanuts, apples, and pineapples. Yummiest thing ever! I could eat the WHOLE thing!

  • elsea sea

    gazpacho and a rotiesserie chicken salad!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/christenannemarie AnneMarie Mize

    Do crockpot macaroni!

    CROCKPOT, CROCKPOT, CROCKPOT!!!! I assure you, it’s not a crock! ;)

    This one comes from a busy mom, I love our crockpot any day of the year, especially for meals to just dump in and wait for the crockpot to work it’s magic! You do have to use the burners on the stove for about 10 minutes though. 

    Ingredients:

    1lb box of elbow pasta
    14oz shredded cheese
    12oz evaporated milk
    12oz milk (fat free, whole, whatever you want)
    1/4 cup butter
    1tsp salt (or more to taste)

    GO:
    Cook pasta until soft, (follow directions on the box)
    Spray the inside of the crockpot with pam or rub with butter
    Put drained pasta in the crockpot
    Mix in the Butter (Easier to do this first, as the heat from the pasta melts it)
    Mix in all other ingredients until pasta is well covered (I put the evaporated milk in first and use the can to measure other milk)
    Cook on High for 3 hours or on Low for 4 1/2 to 5. Stir every 40 minutes or so making sure to get the milk from the bottom to cover the top pasta.

    DELICIOUS! :)

  • Kim

      Crush a package of Ramen, add any fresh veggies you have (we use frozen peas, grated carrot, diced onion), drain a can of tuna (or chicken or shrimp) and add that, and mix with mayo or salad dressing.  You can use the seasoning packet that comes with it, but I think it’s too salty.  This is my family’s favorite hot-weather, do-it-in-a-hurry meal.  It’s quick and easy, versatile, and is cool and filling with a nice crunch.

  • Anna W.

    First, how are you living without AC? I am a wimp about that! I recommend you try my easy chicken salad. You can either put it on a bed of greens, some crackers, or good 12 grain bread (gotta love the texture).

    1 can of Tyson all white chicken breast meat (drained, just press the lid into the can)
    about 3/4 cup of Mayo (you can use lite)
    1 cup halved seedless graped
    1/2 cup chopped pecans
    1 tbsp of dried dill (use more if fresh)
    salt and pepper to taste

    Just combine all the ingredients (the chicken may need shredded as it is in chunks) and enjoy! Yummo!

  • Cathy Henderson

    For a cool drink I use the Bolthouse Farms protein drinks in Vanilla chai or any other coffee flavoured one that they have, add a dash more coffee, crushed ice and blend.  The whipped vodka makes it a lot more grown up and fun.
    I also use the BBQ to roast red peppers until blackened, wipe off the skin and blend with some vegetable stock.  You can have it hot or cold and it’s amazing!  Make it thicker and it’s a great sauce for sweet potato tortilla!
    ETA: Caprese salad too! So good!

  • MerryMary

    I pre-cook bacon and keep it in the freezer.  On those really hot nights when I don’t want to turn on the oven, we have BLT’s.  It’s our favorite summertime meal!

  • Valerie Satula

    Mmm tuna salad on fresh bread with fruit salad, how can you go wrong on a summer day? Or grilled pizza, get the hotness outside!

  • Lisa in AZ

    Love to make chicken salad with Costco’s yummy (huge!) $5 rotisserie chicken — serve with wheat crackers or pita chips.  We also make lots of quesadillas — plain cheese or plus meat.

    Lately, though, we can’t get enough cucumber salad.  Cut up cukes, tomatoes, onion or green onion, garlic.  Mix with dressing made from mayo, vinegar, sugar, little salt, pepper (I also add red pepper), and oregano.  Yummy side dish, goes with almost anything!

    Love that bag!  :)

  • A Garcia24

    Cereal and orange juice on EXTREMELY lazy days!

  • anokhy007

    Dijon chicken wraps!

    1/3 cup honey Dijon salad dressing1/4 cup mayonnaise2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast1 green pepper, chopped2 tomatoes, chopped4 flour tortillas4 lettuce leaves4 slices Swiss cheese

    Mix the salad dressing and mayonnaise, then stir in chicken, green pepper, and tomatoes. Lay out the cheese and lettuce and add the mixture^ and dressing to the tortillas. It’s pretty good, especially on a hot day :)

  • Savannah Fowler

    I love buying rotisserie chickens, for dinner its so versatile. Sometimes I make tacos, or chicken salad, or just cut up the chicken and add a salad for a meal.

  • Adrian K.

    I am also obsessed with Breaking Bad. I’ve had a crush on Bryan Cranston since he was the dad on Malcolm. ;) Our family’s favorite hot weather meal is hummus with pita bread and baby carrots (or other raw veggies), along with hard boiled eggs. Stay cool!

  • Taysha Riggs

    I love a nice turkey wrap!! A huge torilla, hummus, deli turkey, spinach and anything else I can find in the fridge. I like to roll it up tight and cover in saran wrap and chill for about 20 min. before I eat it. I feel like I’m at a deli when I grab it but it’s free and not day-old :-O

  • Vanessa

    My go to hot day meal is a salad with my favorites.  Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, chinese noodles for a little crunch, crumbled blue cheese, and italian dressing.   Quite yummy! :)

  • Giniamagers

    to go sushi!

  • http://www.facebook.com/curtangel Angela Laura Curtis

    On a hot day I like to keep it super simple – some cheese, sliced tomato, and an apple.

  • Judy B.

    Thai Black Bean Salad. One of my favorite things of all time! If you used canned or leftover beans and corn, it’s completely cook-free. The corn can be done in a few minutes, but if you have to cook the beans, well . . . I’ll try to copy/paste my recipe, but I don’t know if it’s too long for the comment space here:

    1 (16 oz)
    can black beans—rinsed and drained

    1 c. cooked
    corn kernels

    ½ c. diced
    celery

    ½ c. diced
    onion

    ½ c. diced
    sweet red pepper

    ¼ c. chopped
    cilantro leaves

    1 to 2
    jalapeno chilies—stemmed, seeded, and minced

    2 cloves garlic—minced

    1 tsp.
    minced fresh ginger root

    1 T. sesame
    oil

    2 T. rice
    vinegar

    1 T. freshly
    squeezed lime juice

    Salt to
    taste

    Combine the
    first nine ingredients in a bowl. Whisk the oil, vinegar, and lime juice in a
    small bowl. Pour the dressing over bean mixture and toss to combine. Season to
    taste with salt. Chill until ready to serve.

    • Judy B.

       Hey, it worked! Sorry about hogging the space. This is the recipe I’ve used for years (doubled, of course) and it’s VERY popular. I also googled it, just out of curiosity. There are lots of sites with the recipe, although I notice some of them leave out the garlic and/or ginger–how boring!

  • Anna

    taco salad!  romaine, corn, beans, salsa, cheese, chips, and sour cream, and some ground beef if you want. easy, refreshing dinner!

  • HaleyBailey

    Fruit Salad, defintally.

    Mix a bunch of fruit in with a little vanilla yogurt
    :)

  • Bee Banion

    Watermelon salsa made with peaches, cucumber, cilantro, onion, lemon juice, and red wine vinegar wrapped in a spinach tortilla with lettuce and hummus. one of my favorites!

  • Tracymichell

    I’m a simple girl, so sandwiches are always a favorite in my house (even though it’s never too hot to turn on the oven in Alaska!).

  • Anne Rimler

    I cook casseroles on the weekends so we have meals for most nights of the week.  I love love love cold tuna noodle casserole (or what we call TNC)!

  • Jessica C

    On hot summer days when I do not want to cook I go for a Banana Split. Its kinda healthy!

  • NGS

    The crock pot is your friend. Our favorite is a beef stew (beef, some veggies, stock, some spices, a little bit of tomato paste)!

  • Kate M

    I like tacos. I get a tortilla and put on some vegetarian refried beans, tomato, avocado, onion, garlic, jalepeno, and salsa. Takes about 15 minutes to make for 2 people, it’s tasty, and it’s healthy.

  • Glbandmom4

    I use my crock pot all summer long so I don’t have to heat the whole kitchen up. I have a great, easy chicken stroganoff recipe.  Put the chicken breasts in the crock pot with a packet of dry italian dressing mix, cover and leave it 5 hours.  Add 1 can of cream of chicken soup, 1 can hot water and 1 pkg of cream cheese ( I use the 1/3 less fat kind).  Cook for 1 hr and then serve over egg noodles!  It is so delicious!  

  • Ginny Britt

    I’m all for a salad when it’s hot outside.  So many choices with garden salads, fruit salads, or even pasta salad (only heat needed might be to cook the pasta!)  A fun array of salads would make for a great, easy party idea to keep cool this summer!

  • Anna C

    We love making homemade burgers and using the grill to cook EVERYTHING! :-D Make sure you put BBQ sauce in the burger to add some flavor and keep them moist and juicy! :-)

  • Alana Espineli

    Ceviche!

  • Megan DV

    Fruit salad is the best in the summer- so many delicious things are ripe and all you have to do is chop!

  • Cindy Price

    I’m a Vera Bradley fanatic! Fingers crossed.
    I love cold pasta salad. It makes a good cold supper and is very pretty, too. Tri-color rotini, diced cucumber, bell pepper, tomatoes, onion, Feta cheese, 2 parts olive oil, 1 part vinegar. Yum.

  • Kgalambus

    I’d crock-pot cook some chicken and BBQ sauce and buy some potato salad and a key lime pie.  Easy peasy:)

  • sanae

    A salad! Last night I made one with watermelon, olives and pine nuts on a bed of arugula. You can add feta cheese, or keep it vegan. Toss with a light olive oil and white balsamic vinaigrette!

  • Noseringirl

    Fattoush salad is the BEST on a hot day!!

  • Evening22

    Buffalo Chicken wraps are my favorite go to in the Summer. Just put some chicken breast in your crock pot, sprinkle with a pack of ranch dressing, and pour on half a bottle of your favorite buffalo wing sauce. Cook for 4 to 6 hours….take chicken out of crockpot and shred. Mix the rest of your wing sauce with half a stick of melted butter and add to chicken. Then roll up in a wrap with your fave toppings…..delicious!

  • Lwoods

    Such cute giveaways!!
    I love making all kinds of sweets or snacks that don’t involve the oven. My favorite is a mixed-nut granola bar with dried cranberries. All you need are whatever nuts/seeds you like, dried fruit of your choice, and about two cups of old fashioned rolled oats. Melt some honey and nut butter (almond, peanut, chesnut) in a bowl (use the microwave) and fold all your ingredients in. Put it in a flat baking pan and let it settle. You can also do a sweeter version with chocolate chips and caramel for example. Chop it up into squares and blend yourself a smoothie to go with it while you lounge by the pool!

  • Suellyn

    Last night I made tilapia with some blackened seasoning ( Pam in a non stick skillet) and a delicious slaw: radishes, cucumber, red pepper, cilantro, green onions, lime juice, olive oil and salt and peppers.  Easy and tasted great.

  • Sarah Wibowo

    Cold frozen drinks are always a good choice. Smoothies, shakes, and margaritas. Anything that’s frozen and then shoved in a blender works for me. Think strawberry banana smoothies, or chocolate peanut butter brownie shakes. I’ll leave the alcoholic choices up to you!! Cold and refreshing, possibilities are endless!!

  • Mnmisko

    Anything in the crockpot is always good for a hot day! A delicious beef roast with fresh veggies and a salad. Or another favorite – Steak, Shrimp, and veggie shish kabobs on the grill. Add some corn and asparagus to the grill and your meal is ready!! 

  • http://www.facebook.com/jane.coombs88 Jane Coombs

    Got this recipe in a South East Asian cooking class 33 years ago. Just mix and chill.
    Malaysian Cucumber Salad1 cucumber sliced1 red onion sliced thinly1 small can of pineapple tidbits1/3 c vinegar1/3 c white sugar.

    • http://www.facebook.com/bettina.elliott Bettina Anzaldua Elliott

      omg, i am SOOO making this….

  • Lovestosew

    My favorite Summer meal is a giant salad.  I make a mixed green salad and add some carrot shreds, diced apple, and cucumber,  I then rummage through the fridge for left over cooked meat, (chicken is great for this), I shred the meat by hand, toss it in the salad, grate a bit of cheese over it and then toss the whole salad with a little oil and red wine vinegar.  If I’m home alone, I don’t bother to dish up this salad, I just grab a fork and eat out of the big bowl. (less dishes that way :) )

  • Ronigro

    BBQ pulled pork…..put a pork butt in a crockpot and a bottle of BBQ sauce, cover nd cook on low 8-10 hours. Makes lots to share! serve on buns, over a baked potato that is microwave or over salad greens!

  • Crossmusic

    Nothing like good ole BLT.  Cook the bacon in the microwave, toast your bread, slice a home grown tomato, slather that bread with mayo….doesn’t get better than that!!

  • Jennifer C.

    What we had tonight for dinner – a nice cool salad & johnny marzetti – quick and easy!

  • lindasews

    I’m slow-cooking a roast beef with 40 cloves of garlic. When my hungry farmer gets in tonight it can be served with sides or on a french roll with au jus. Tomorrow it will be chopped beef salad sandwiches with onion,mayo, salt and pepper.

  • Tami

    Craziest idea you will probably see (unless some one else has also seen/tried it)-make foil packets of fish and veggies (broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, squash, etc.), with a little butter and seasoning of your choice (I like lemon pepper), and cook it in the top rack of your dishwasher.  :)  It works!  Just make sure you double wrap the foil, and there are NO LEAKS.  

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Serena-Bramble/797253253 Serena Bramble

    One of my earliest childhood memories is watching my parents make ice cream from home, hand-churned. And whoever says it’s not a meal clearly isn’t a woman.

  • http://www.facebook.com/bettina.elliott Bettina Anzaldua Elliott

    i got this!  watermelon gazpacho….just google the words….so easy & way too delish!  makes a bunch too.  seedless watermelon & a food processor or any auto chopper makes it quick.  any & all fresh veggies you like/can find.  season to taste w/ lime juice, garlic, kosher salt & cracked pepper.

  • Jacqui

    From where I am (Australia) we are in the middle of a freezing winter so I’m all about heating up the oven! But just wanted to say that I am counting down the days as well until we get Season 5 of Breaking Bad…it is the best television ever created. Thanks for the idea of catching up, I’m going to start from S01 again to recap! 

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=522510114 Janet Birsch Kenney

    Not a full fledged recipe, but when as someone else who has no AC, I bought one of those George Forman type grills.  I usually cook chicken breasts in it.  It takes 4 minutes and it is a much small source of heat (get the one with dishwasher safe-removable parts for easy clean-up).  You could cook up the chicken earlier in the day and then chop it up to put on a salad, or make chicken salad.

  • Marissa Willerick

    Hello Marisa,

    My husband and I are newly weds and aren’t allowed to have ANY air conditioning in our apartment! We’ve spent a few evenings at friend’s house and always turn the evening into a potluck. (I bring fresh fruit salad or salas type dishes that involve NO heating!)

    Hope to win your fun prize!
    Marissa

  • Emily

    Fruit salad! Simple, cool, and tasty! 

  • lookingforwardtofriday

    Thanks for the fun blog!  My no-heat recipe is what I call “super salad”. It’s spinach leaves with chopped up tofu and seseme seeds. I add soy sauce and tabasco for the dressing. I think I mostly call it super because it’s fast and easy. Stay cool!

  • Rae

    A great salad for hot summer days is wilted kale with red grapes and feta cheese.  Choose a lite dressing of your choice.  Yum!!!

  • Jodie

    My kids’ favorite meal in the summer is cold tuna (chicken) macaroni salad and BLT’s.  Love love it!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1354804345 Kate Brison

    I love pasta salads in the summer! A really easy one I make uses a couple of cups of cooked elbow macaroni,  one seeded and chopped tomato and english cucumber, toss with salt pepper and mayo, mmmm. You could also add some chopped sweet peppers and/or onion, plus small cooked shrimp or that pre-cooked seasoned chopped chicken for something more hearty. Fruit salad is great too, especially over peach or berry sorbet..mmm. Keep cool, and keep the cute outfits coming ;)

  • Jaye

    Using my crockpot to cook chicken, beef or pork, shread the meat and use in wraps or on salads.

  • Mar

    Pregrill chicken over the weekend. Then just cut it up and put it on top of a tossed salad filled with veggies. A piece of fresh fruit for dessert. YUM!

  • Sandy

    Tabouli! chopped tomatoes, cracked wheat (bulgar), green onions, parsley, mint flakes, olive oil, lemon juice and a little salt. And you soak the grain until soft instead of cooking it. Serve with fresh pitas and maybe some hummus. Yum.

  • Cma21317

    Spinach Salad with berries and walnuts YUMOOOOOOOOO!

    Thanks for the heads up on breaking bad I’m going to check ON DEMAND tonight. Although I might not be able to watch all the episodes like you did.

  • Cbrow8

    I had a great salad recently. Grill chicken breasts outside on the grill. In the salad put romaine lettuce, cabbage, craisins, apple slices, grated cheese of your choice, grilled chicken strips, and toss with balsamic dressing. Add a good loaf of bread and serve with mixed fruit.
    Yummy on a hot day –we enjoyed it when it was almost 100 degrees.
    I’d love to win! Thanks for the chance!
    L Brown

  • Fiestabec

    Foil packs on the grill-tons of recipes on line-or wraps, you can throe just about anything in those too

  • Carole

    Do you have a grill? a Pork loin roast, cut a large slice in it get plums in a jar or can stuff the pork loin roast with the plums and rosemary branches, sew it back together to hold all in , base with juice from the plums and put on grill for about 40 mins. I usually do indirect heat, I have a tripple burner so I turn the two outside burners on and leave the middle one off. Through out the cooking baste with more juice over it. It is so moist and taste so goooood.

  • Gamarho

    Cold cuts and cheese ball with crackers and fruit salad! My 8th wedding anniversary is the 17! Love what you do, Marisa!

  • Jessica Humphrey

    Cold tuna or salmon salad.  My grandma’s secret?  Add a chopped apple along with some chopped celery, mayo of your choice and plenty of salt and pepper.  The apple balances the tanginess of the celery and gives the salad a sweet flavor.  Serve on store bought croissants!  :-)

  • Rcollen

    We just survived a two-week heat wave living on cold veggie salads accompanied by naan bread or pita. If people were coming over we got fancy and made up a big platter with several salads. In our refrigerator now are a Moroccan beet salad

    (6 to 8 medium-size cooked beets, juice of 1 lemon, 2 cloves finely
    minced garlic, 4 T. extra virgin olive oil, 1 t. ground cumin, and salt and
    black pepper to taste sprinkled with 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley;

     

    a cucumber-tomato-parsley concoction tossed with 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and white vinegar and 1 teaspoon ground cumin and a touch of salt and pepper; and a corn and olive salad  

    (a thawed one-pound bag of frozen corn, a diced bell pepper, ¼ cup each chopped black and green
    olives, 1 stalk diced celery, 1 T. extra-virgin olive oil, 3 T. apple cider
    vinegar, 1 t. honey, ½ t. dried dill weed, and salt and pepper to taste).  

    Put a bowl of olives from the grocery store’s olive bar in the middle. If you have a grill, just brush the naan or pita with a little oil and grill until warm. Voila, dinner party!  

  • Debby G.

    In Wisconsin we had some hot weather for a couple weeks now.  We haven’t used the oven yet.  Lots of salads from the garden and grilled turkey burgers, brats and potato salad!  

  • veronica lancin

    As a new yorker and half decent cook i have 2 suggestions: 1. take-out 2. reservations.
    And I’m all for hearing about doing it on a budget :) Thanks for a great blog!

  • Megan L.

    Great no-cook snack: bruschetta on avocado!  Use prepared bruschetta and just pile it inside half an avocado & eat with a spoon (make criss-cross cuts in the avocado first for less-messy scooping). My mom can’t eat gluten or dairy so she has it around all the time.  Yummm :)  Fill it out as a meal with a side of potato salad & fresh fruit, with frozen banana slices for dessert (they taste just like ice cream, banana-flavor!!).

  • Amber Saugier

    Grilled chicken. Grilled corn. Grilled peaches.

    If you don’t have a grill, try cooking your favorite dish in the crockpot, just expect it to take 6-8 hours instead of 30-60 minutes.

  • Rebekah

    I love a homemade pesto involving garlic, walnuts, oil, and fresh basil from the garden……add some fresh grown tomatoes that are just starting to ripen and have a nice twist on a caprese salad!

  • Vmfisher

    Make up a box of Rice a Roni, and cool it. Mix with mayo, chopped green onion, diced chicken, diced celery, etc. Stuff into a tomato that has been cut 3/4 of the way through into wedges. Very cool and satisfying meal, and different than a salad.

  • buffy

    Don’t knock this til you try it……it’s my super secret speedy yummy weapon that is quick, ‘cool, and convenient.  It’s called….(dun dun dun duuuuhhhh) 

                                            HAMBURGER SALAD!    First, mix fresh spinach with a bit of mixed bagged salad greens onto your plate. Chop up all the fixin’s that you usually like on your hamburger: tomatoes, onions, pickles…and then top the salad greens with those fixin’s. Next comes the hamburgers. (I use a George Foreman Grill to cook my hamburger patties.) Break a cooked hamburger patty into chunks and drop the chunks onto the salad. Next, sprinkle on grated cheddar cheese if you please. Finally, squirt, (in a spiral fun fashion of course), ketchup and mustard over the “hamburger” salad.  If you’re feeling “saucy” you can cut the tip off a baggy and spoon some mayo into the baggy and squeeze it onto the salad all sassy and swirly too. Or, you can just plop a spoonful of mayo onto the middle of your hamburger salad like the cherry on top. You’ll be amazed with this bunless wonder!!   

  • Vjsprain

    Sub sandwiches piled up with lots of fresh veggies!

  • Diane S

    A few things that I love are a good hearty salad or…someone else barbecuing for me  :)

  • Sue

    To Lisa in AZ:

    You are so right about the Costco rotisserie chickens. I am always surprised by the size and price of them when I visit my family in Phoenix. :)

    Delicious too.

    Tear off some meat, make a sandwich and have some tomato slices on the side.

  • Christi_Peck

    We don’t have AC here at my house either so I try to find things that require as little cooking as possible; much to my husband’s dismay (his favorite is enchiladas). One of my favorite things to east on a hot summer night is pasta salad. The only cooking it requires is boiling noodles and cooking chicken.
    Recipe:
    boneless skinless chicken breasts cubed and cubed (or cold rotisserie chicken cut in to pieces
    Spiral noodles cooked, drained, and rinsed with cold water
    String cheese cut in to rounds
    Capers
    Bernstein’s cheese fantastico (I think. It is in a wishbone shaped bottle with a light colored lake) Italian dressing

    using entire bottle of dressing, mix everything together.

    Accompany the pasta salad with fresh fruit and a summer refresher.

    Summer refresher:

    Cherry 7up (1 can)
    Lime juice (1/2 tsp)
    Several sprigs of fresh mint
    (serves one)

    Hits my spot every timeand it is super fast.

  • Gail M.

    Pick me, Pick me.  I’d love to win this Lazy Girl pattern.  I’m a big LG fan and have made many of her other patterns.   Thanks for the draw..     On hot nights, we cook chicken on the bbq, and have a salad.  I’m going to try a quinoia salad for the first time today.  Seems pretty simple.

  • Monaquilts

    Sandwiches, turkey ham, roast beef and veggies. Clean up is quick and then a quick dip in the swimming pool! Watermelon and tomatoes for dessert! Love it! Love Lazy Girl Candice, HOPE I WIN!

  • Jinkatya

    A meal that doesn’t involve heating up? Most of my meals these days (during this terrible heat and NO rain :P ) involve berries! I think I’ve almost become a fruititarian these days since I eat SO much fruit!

  • Lnoelle2

    Pizzas using Naan Bread cooked on the grill.  All sorts of different topping options.   For white – mix some mayo with grated parm cheese and spread on the Naan bread.   Add some artichokes, broccoli, mushrooms, etc. as toppings and mozz. cheese.   Cooks quick on the grill.    

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/C6CA4CARDB7X7NKU5YQAJ72Y3I EmilyE

    A favorite of my kids and I is do get some really yummy sub sandwich bread, they a whole mixture of different lunch meats, ham, turkey, salami, your favorites.  Then some yummy different cheeses.  What ever veggies you like.  And then to your favorite sandwich dressings are, add a little horseradish for some kick!!   Then on your side, your favorite summer fruit.  We love a good Bay City Honeyrock!!   Sounds like dinner tonight!!

  • Peggy Humeniuk

    my two stand-bys for no cooking hot weather(or anytime) are a can of tuna fish or a good nonhydrogenated oils peanut butter.  apples and peanut butter make a great combination…tuna fish is great with some raw celery or cukes or tomatoes.This way you can have a protein with your diet.  Thank you for your great site. Peggy H.

  • Julia

    Here’s a good one: baby spinach, tangerine, pineapple, blueberry, strawberry, pecans. Bliss.
    Pretty much any chilled greens-fruit combination (with nuts for pizzaz) is parfait for hot summers!

  • Angela

    Why is it when someone asks about something to make that doesnt involve the stove/oven, I completely draw a blank.  It’s like “don’t think of a banana” and one pops into your head.  I can only think of PBJ and dry oatmeal….think your club would like that? lol
    Although not a meal, salsa is fun to make and is so very yum!!

  • Nicole Valadez

    That’s how I watched Breaking Bad too!  That show is amazing and every episode leaves you wanting to start the next.  By the end of it, I was stopping the show in the middle episodes rather than at the end because they were always cliffhangers!

  • Quinn8

    QUINOA SALAD
    Cook 1 cup quinoa in 1 1/2 cup water according to package directions. (Do this in the morning before it gets too hot, then it will cool during the day). After it cooks stir in 1/4 cup dried sweetened cranberries, 1/2 cup cashews, 1/2 cup chopped celery, and 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley, and 1/4 cup chopped mint. Stir everything together. Now mix the dressing; 2 tablespoons olive oil and the juice of 1 lemon, salt and pepper. 

    It’s high in protein, and high in YUM factor.

  • Anna

    Well to keep the heat out of our house I have been using the grill more and using the crockpot out on the porch. There are really good creamy cucumber soups and tomato soups that are all raw and chilled but I don’t know the recipes.

  • Lydia

    BLT sandwiches have always been a favorite of mine.  Just this last week we had a cucumber gazpacho soup. Delicious! 

  • Cathryn

    My birthday is in August and for the last few years I’ve thrown myself a party with friends and family. It’s an all-ages, diverse group and this is the menu I’ve come up with. It involves stove-top cooking, but no baking. Most of it is store prepared which is easy in a mega metro area like Chicago.

    For the meat eaters, I buy tubs of sliced Italian beef in juice which I heat slowly on the stove and keep on simmer during the party. I serve with crusty rolls.

    For the kids, I simmer a pot of hot dogs and serve with buns and fixings with sides of baby carrots and cheese cubes.

    For the vegans and vegetarians, I cook a pot of lentils and rice and add some curry. If I’m thinking ahead I chill and serve cold. Otherwise, it is left simmering on the stove, too.

    For the Italian beef and as a side for the vegans, I saute onions and green peppers.

    Then I add potato salad, broccoli salad, and olives with feta from the deli.

    I finish with store-bought cookies and ice cream.

    Pitchers of ice team, lemonade, and an invitation to BYOB and I’m done.

    Easy peasy and everyone seems happy :-)

  • Erica Newhart

    Not a meal, but I just recently taught myself how to make deviled eggs.  I love them, and even though I’ve only made them twice I feel like I’m starting to get the hang of it.  Maybe you can make them for your club next month?

  • Littleandi3

    grilled chicken wraps with cheese, lettuce, tomatos and ranch dressing Yum! if you don’t like the wraps, toasted bread tastes great too :)

  • jguidapo

    How about a cool Shrimp Cocktail?  Great summer fare and easy, fast and delicious!  You can make different kinds of sauces for it.
    Janine from NJ
    jguidapo@yahoo.com

  • Lynn

    Bruschetta! Tomatoes, onions, olice oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper (and I’m sure I forgot somethings) on toasted slices of baguette. While the oven is the method of choice for toasting the bread, it is only for 5 minutes, and I have used a toaster in its place when only making enough for myself.

  • Jesica

    In the summer, I like to make BLT’s when it’s too hot to cook.  Since I cook my bacon in the microwave, no oven or stovetop is involved.  My tomatoes are just starting to ripen so I may be doing this soon.

  • Kathy Schoenherr

    We do cold sandwiches and salad when it is hot out.  Easy on everyone.

  • Maggie

    I love chiken salad from left over chicken!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=765730216 Judy Pariser Scharf

    I will open a can of tuna and put it over salad greens.  Top with a balsamic dressing.

  • elise

    watermelon, arugula, feta mint with a homemade orange and lemon juice vinaigrette! it’s kind of my favorite salad ever!

  • http://www.facebook.com/flowerakelly505 Kelly Ma

     My mother made cold soba noodles when our power was out for a couple of weeks (and we live in Miami so we were all dying on the tile floors). It was really yummy, nutritious, simple to make provided that you have the ingredients.

  • Siggybee

    I usually do an Asian salad on hot days…..napa cabbage, pea pods, green onions, ginger, crunchy ramen noodles, deli chicken & Asian dressing.  Quick, easy and yummy! 

  • Cojudo

    my only suggestion is order out chinese or buy microwave meals which is what we are doing to lower the electric bill

  • Cojudo

    pizza

  • http://www.facebook.com/mary.torpy Mary Torpy

    One of my faves — summer grill pockets
    Take a sheet of aluminum foil
    start with a pat of margarine or butter your preference
    next add meat of the day like a chicken leg, hamburger, or pork chop
    okay grab some vegies out of the garden, frozen works too wash and cut them up into the mess
    peel and cut up a potatoe
    season with salt and pepper to taste
    seal it up into a nice package place on the grill the grill need to be at a medium heat for about a half hour to 45 minutes