Cookaholics Bulletin Board

It's going to be 90 degrees here in Upstate NY today. And it's still May. I'm thinking gazpacho. What's everyone else cooking when the weather's hot?

I'll check back later; snow forecast for Saturday...

Ahh, the joys of central air, which allows me to cook and bake with abandon in the summer.

Nevertheless, when it gets hot and humid I tend to cut way back on the cooking and often have a bowl of cereal or a sandwich. I'm just not that hungry.

I also use break out the ice cream maker and make a lot of fruit sorbets.

Like Darcie, since I got central air, I am no longer confined to cooking outside of the oven. However, the availability of so much fresh produce does move me toward salads, and fresh ingredients for quick pasta dishes in the summer. I hardly ever braise or roast anything (except fresh veggies, which I love roasted). I am still a traditionalist when it comes to grilling and use the Weber kettle (haven't broken down and bought a gas grill yet) and use it all summer long for seafood, fruits and veggies. This year, I was motivated by a lecture I attended on Edible Landscaping, so I have put some veggies in the flower beds. Hopefully some of them will produce. Just about the time I get sick of all of this, it turns cold and I am ready for soups and braises.
ilene

We grill out most nights in the summer. Kabobs, lots of chicken, burger, chops etc. Fresh vegetables either done on the grill, steamed or sauted. Fresh sliced cukes and tomato's of course and lots of salads. Throw in a sandwich once a week and that about does it.

I rarely do a braise or stew in the summer. I do however do the occational potato soup.

Laurie

Not that it's broken 62 yet in San Francisco ....

In addition to those above, in hot weather I like doing meze, Arab or Greek small plates. Many of them are cold, and even the ones which aren't are fast-cooking. After all, who would know better about eating in hot weather?

Fuzzy - that's a great idea! I did the gazpacho with shrimp. I have A/C just don't want any heat in the house. I usually do a lot of salads and cooking outside, but I think I need some new ideas.

Fuzzy, give me some examples of what would be on a small greek plate.

Laurie

I just got back from Turkey and we had fantastic things on little plates. Eggplant salad, hummus, beans in tomato, feta with melon, grilled hallumi cheese in many variations, stuffed peppers, flat breads, chickpeas in yogurt, fresh sardines, olives. Lots of dill and olive oil. Seriously fantastic food, I was very impressed. I had assumed it would be much like Greek food but it was much more varied.

Mary

PS If it ever gets warm here, I am making cold soup of some sort.

CI's tomato salad with tuna and kalamatas, and a grilled mozzarella sandwich with roasted (from the jar) peppers. They posted that as a sample menu many eons ago, and it's still my summertime favorite.