AAR

[Sandlynn]

Since we've been suffering through our first heatwave here in Washington (and I imagine other places) I've been starting to think about easy to prepare recipes and foods that can be stored and pulled out quickly for such enervating weather. I'm particulary fond of soups, although salads are good too. (I just don't eat them quickly enough and the ingredients go bad faster.)

I went on a picnic with a couple of friends a couple of weeks ago and one of them made a chilled mint pea soup that was very refreshing and delicious. I'm asking her for the recipe. I've also made gazpacho in my time, but I wouldn't mind changing things up and trying something different. Although I've never made either, both cucumber soup and vichyssoise are on my radar screen.

Oh, by the way, the friend who made the soup passed the following website on to me the other day. So, for your information, here is a list of the fruits and vegetables most and least loaded with pesticides -- not that I'm good at paying attention to this. I was raised by a mother who liked TV dinners:

http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php

[KayWebbHarrison]

IMO, the best cold soup is GAZPACHO. It's like a reverse salad; instead of putting dressing on the chopped up vegetables, you put chopped up vegetables into the liquid, which is made up mostly of liquefied vegetables.
It's great for using up tomatoes, cucumbers and sweet peppers from your vegetable garden.

Kay

[Audrey]

I also put a lot more effort into sandwiches in the summer in an effort to make them into a meal, like specialty breads or whatever.

Another "meal" we sometimes have when it's too hot to turn the stove on which seems like a snack but can be quite filling is a Mexican dip, the seven layer one. Especially if you sit around outside on the deck and eat it.

[LinnieGayl]

I'm also a huge fan of gazpacho in the summer. I'll be buying the ingredients this weekend to make my first batch. I also do lots of Greek peasant salads (cucumbers, feta, tomatoes, and olives) in the summer.

Another favorite, easy meal for me in the summer goes back to my childhood..BLTs (although I make them with turkey bacon).
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LinnieGayl

[Cyl]

One of our favorite summertime sandwiches is simply cheese and tomato w/mayo; we prefer american or velveeta. My friend's summer favorite is cheese (american) and pineapple w/miracle whip.

[Nana]

Cold stuffed grape leaves. Delicious!

[Sandlynn]

[LinnieGayl]

sandylynn, that spicy avocado-cucumber soup sounds very interesting.
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LinnieGayl

[cheri]

I make a salad during the summer that my family loves, super easy.
I already have lettuce growing in my garden so I use that but you can get Romaine at the store.

Romaine lettuce, strawberrys(they're in season right now), walnuts and poppyseed dressing. Does not last long at my house. I usually do it with kabobs(chix or steak) so there isn't a lot of prep/cook time. cheri

[georgie Lee]

Salads help get me through the hot months. I'll use leftover chicken or streak for salads. It's fast and it's cool.
_________________
Georgie Lee
Lady's Wager - Available 1/3/2008 from Cerridwen Press
http://georgielee.blogspot.com/
www.georgie-lee.com

[KarenS]

For a simple desert that's fast, easy and delicious mix jello that's been pre-made and vanilla ice cream in a blender to get a mousse like desert. I always use the strawberry jello that becomes pink when combined with the vanilla ice cream. If you are having a girl baby shower or a get together with the girls, this desert makes a pleasantly pink presentation. Plus it taste great considering it's so easy to prepare.

[Cyl]

[KarenS]

[KarenS]

Cyl:

I usually serve it separately in parfait glasses just to create a nice presentation.

The blueberries would make a very nice garnish.

Karen

[Cyl]

Thanks for the info Karen. I'll let you know how it turns out.