Every summer we go through intolerable heat waves where even just chewing seems to be too much exertion. It throws off our stomachs, creating all sorts of problems from digestive imbalances to just a simple upset. What to do ? Eat right - eat light,
Save those pancakes and French toasts for chillier fall mornings. The best way to start a sweltering day is with a filling and light breakfast. Try a bowl of strawberries and blueberries with vanilla flavored Greek yogurt.You could also have them in a bowl of rice puffs or cornflakes. Another lighter option is cantaloupe slices or a melon salad. If you feel up to something hot then think two scrambled eggs with toast. It's filling enough without feeling heavy. You could also go with a couple of slices of whole wheat or rye toast with a skin of margarine or even butter followed by a thin layer of jam, Take advantage of the season's harvests for your morning snacks too. A zip lock bag of any kind of berry or peaches can stop those eleven o' clock hunger pains,It's tempting to get one of those big frosty, whipped cream, chocolate syrup infused coffees that's more cake than drink, but put the brakes on that desire. Stick with iced black coffee or tea, especially for breakfast and mid morning. Another drink idea is having sparkling water with fruit filled ice cubes. These could even be put into iced teas too to add more flavor.
Salads will always be the best choice for lunch and dinner when it feels like a red hot dryer out there. Again , nix the heavy.foods. As much as you'd like a steak sandwich with onion rings, get rid of the bread, cube the steak and have it in a bowl of greens.Add fresh sliced red onions along with grape tomatoes and a light dressing. Craving pizza which can sometimes be too much on a broiling day? Then think a bread salad. This Southern Italian favorite combines tomatoes garlic and basil in an just an olive oil dressing Slice the Italian bread wafer thin or even cube it if you want. Grilled meals can also be light, from red meat to fish. Keep away from the heavy marinades , loaded with molasses , ketchup or sugar. Go for a squeeze of lemon or lime for the fish and chicken,Steaks and even lamb cutlets can be brushed with basil infused olive oil and then grilled. Another idea is going meatless. Have soy burgers and dogs instead of the beef and pork kind. Instead of buns , think toasted pita bread. Mayonnaise based salads may be too much right now. You can create a lighter cole slaw by subbing in olive oil for the mayo, and adding fresh ground peppercorns for bite. Change that heavy macaroni salad for a lighter orzo one, full of pea pods, tomatoes and parsley.
The temps right now are not conducive for heavy meals and heavy eating. Go lighter and feel better. It's the only way to eat during an August heat wave.
Showing posts with label heat wave. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heat wave. Show all posts
Friday, August 12, 2016
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Cooking Through A Heat Wave
Most of the US is in the middle of a hotter than a fired up grill heat wave. It is summer , after all and the dog days of August to boot. Cooking in a hot kitchen is not always the best. What to do? Keep it light and easy, both with food and eating.
If you have a grill this is the time to use it but use it sparingly. One, it's torturous to stand outside in ninety to one hundred degrees , tending to a hot fiery grill and two, too much of that barbecued stuff is no good for you. If you do have to cook, keep it easy , Dogs, burgers and steak are your best bets. They're a simple cook up without any hassle or fuss. Make easy sides too. Think a baked potato or grilled onions and tomatoes. For those who don't have grills or don't like the idea of charred meat, then stick with pasta and rice. These are versatile and you can make all different types for variety. Try a pasta con salsa crudo. This is just taking chopped tomatoes and letting them sit in a bowl with a bit of sea salt and red pepper flakes as you cook the pasta. Mix in when it's done and add some fresh mozzarella or freshly picked basil on top. Rice is another easy fix. You can make a quick lunch or Sunday supper congee with some bouillon cubes and a cup or two of instant rice. It can also be spiced with oregano and red pepper along with sliced ham and stuffed into cored and seeded peppers. Greens like Swiss chard and broccoli rape can be cooked in a flash in a frying pan. You can serve them with sautéed chicken breasts or steak for a heartier meal
Salads, any salad , is desirable. Make a tasty chef salad that will last for two meals. Serve with sun warmed baguettes or Italian bread. Canned tuna is another heat wave must. It can be made into a variety of different dishes. Buy both the oil and water based ones to expand your food base. Tonno en olio makes a simple but truly satisfying supper when paired with just French bread. Add tomatoes for a taste of Provence.. Plain tuna can be mixed with mayo , diced celery and onion for a tuna salad that is perfect for lunch time sandwiches. If you want to go up scale then think crab. Like tuna you can make wonderful salads with it. Hard boiled eggs are another plus during these hellish times. They cook up in three minutes and can be added to any salad or just eaten plain with a little sprinkle of salt. Egg salad is another friend to a home chef. It's an excellent filling for sandwiches but also for hollowed out tomatoes too. If you're stuck entertaining, don't worry. There are some elegant and easy dishes to make for company. Cold poached salmon is a great dish .It takes, at most ten minutes or less to cook up .Serve with sour cream and onion sauce for color and more flavor. Another chic idea is serving paper thin prosciutto slices with melon along with a chilled Prosecco wine.
It's a heat wave,for sure. It's time to chill , especially in the kitchen. Take it easy , cook light and simple. Eat light and simple too during these hot summer days.
If you have a grill this is the time to use it but use it sparingly. One, it's torturous to stand outside in ninety to one hundred degrees , tending to a hot fiery grill and two, too much of that barbecued stuff is no good for you. If you do have to cook, keep it easy , Dogs, burgers and steak are your best bets. They're a simple cook up without any hassle or fuss. Make easy sides too. Think a baked potato or grilled onions and tomatoes. For those who don't have grills or don't like the idea of charred meat, then stick with pasta and rice. These are versatile and you can make all different types for variety. Try a pasta con salsa crudo. This is just taking chopped tomatoes and letting them sit in a bowl with a bit of sea salt and red pepper flakes as you cook the pasta. Mix in when it's done and add some fresh mozzarella or freshly picked basil on top. Rice is another easy fix. You can make a quick lunch or Sunday supper congee with some bouillon cubes and a cup or two of instant rice. It can also be spiced with oregano and red pepper along with sliced ham and stuffed into cored and seeded peppers. Greens like Swiss chard and broccoli rape can be cooked in a flash in a frying pan. You can serve them with sautéed chicken breasts or steak for a heartier meal
Salads, any salad , is desirable. Make a tasty chef salad that will last for two meals. Serve with sun warmed baguettes or Italian bread. Canned tuna is another heat wave must. It can be made into a variety of different dishes. Buy both the oil and water based ones to expand your food base. Tonno en olio makes a simple but truly satisfying supper when paired with just French bread. Add tomatoes for a taste of Provence.. Plain tuna can be mixed with mayo , diced celery and onion for a tuna salad that is perfect for lunch time sandwiches. If you want to go up scale then think crab. Like tuna you can make wonderful salads with it. Hard boiled eggs are another plus during these hellish times. They cook up in three minutes and can be added to any salad or just eaten plain with a little sprinkle of salt. Egg salad is another friend to a home chef. It's an excellent filling for sandwiches but also for hollowed out tomatoes too. If you're stuck entertaining, don't worry. There are some elegant and easy dishes to make for company. Cold poached salmon is a great dish .It takes, at most ten minutes or less to cook up .Serve with sour cream and onion sauce for color and more flavor. Another chic idea is serving paper thin prosciutto slices with melon along with a chilled Prosecco wine.
It's a heat wave,for sure. It's time to chill , especially in the kitchen. Take it easy , cook light and simple. Eat light and simple too during these hot summer days.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Heat Wave Cuisine
Don't believe anyone who says he or she loves to cook during a heat wave. It's just not possible, even if there's outdoor grilling involved. There is a way to eat through these hot and sticky days - heat wave cuisine. It's just coming up with cool, oven free ideas that make for filling lunches and dinners.
One of the easiest hot weather dishes to make is salads - and not necessarily the lettuce and tomato kind (More on those a little later)Egg, tuna and chicken salads are simple to whip up .Egg salad does require a tad more work because the eggs have to be hard boiled. As for the chicken take the leftovers from an already roasted one and chop coarsely You could also grill chicken breasts , let them cool and then cut them up .If this is too strenuous then buy canned chicken and use that. Try a dash of tarragon to liven up the salads and serve on onion rolls. Tuna salad can have the extra oomph of chopped celery, picked fresh from the backyard or bought from the farmer's market. It's good on white bread, but even better on French which brings to mind a pain bagnat - a Provencale treat. This has the fish along with anchovies, tomatoes and hard boiled eggs in an olive oil soaked sandwich. This is made an hour or two before eating so that the oil soaks through everything.It's a wonderful Saturday night or Sunday lunch , especially served with a chilled wine.
As for those salads, think big , hearty ones. Try a chef's salad for a midweek dinner. You can get the necessary meats at your supermarket's deli counter. Usually they're roast beef, chicken and/or turkey and ham, but you can vary the meats with the addition of some pancetta or Genoa salami. Add some hard boiled eggs too for more protein along with some cherry tomatoes and peppers for color. A simple vinaigrette will suffice as a dressing however you can try a ranch if you want or a blue cheese one for the cheese lovers.Spinach salad is another easy meal to make during a heat wave. This is just spinach with hard boiled eggs and bacon. The bacon can be made quickly in the microwave or you can buy the precooked slices from Hormel. Because the flavors are so intense, use a mild dressing, such as oil and vinegar. For a lighter one, nix the eggs and bacon and add walnuts and strawberries and a fruit based dressing instead. Salad Nicoise is a great summer salad, especially if you simplify it . start off with a good head of Boston lettuce. Add some canned green beans and potatoes along with tuna and anchovy filets,then mix with sliced cherry tomatoes and chopped onion. Once done garnish with black olives and a simple Dijon based dressing. Have a slice crusty baguette on the side to sop up the dressing.
No one should cook during a heat wave. Try an easy salad or hearty salad to make for a lunch or dinner. They're both filling but without the fuss.
One of the easiest hot weather dishes to make is salads - and not necessarily the lettuce and tomato kind (More on those a little later)Egg, tuna and chicken salads are simple to whip up .Egg salad does require a tad more work because the eggs have to be hard boiled. As for the chicken take the leftovers from an already roasted one and chop coarsely You could also grill chicken breasts , let them cool and then cut them up .If this is too strenuous then buy canned chicken and use that. Try a dash of tarragon to liven up the salads and serve on onion rolls. Tuna salad can have the extra oomph of chopped celery, picked fresh from the backyard or bought from the farmer's market. It's good on white bread, but even better on French which brings to mind a pain bagnat - a Provencale treat. This has the fish along with anchovies, tomatoes and hard boiled eggs in an olive oil soaked sandwich. This is made an hour or two before eating so that the oil soaks through everything.It's a wonderful Saturday night or Sunday lunch , especially served with a chilled wine.
As for those salads, think big , hearty ones. Try a chef's salad for a midweek dinner. You can get the necessary meats at your supermarket's deli counter. Usually they're roast beef, chicken and/or turkey and ham, but you can vary the meats with the addition of some pancetta or Genoa salami. Add some hard boiled eggs too for more protein along with some cherry tomatoes and peppers for color. A simple vinaigrette will suffice as a dressing however you can try a ranch if you want or a blue cheese one for the cheese lovers.Spinach salad is another easy meal to make during a heat wave. This is just spinach with hard boiled eggs and bacon. The bacon can be made quickly in the microwave or you can buy the precooked slices from Hormel. Because the flavors are so intense, use a mild dressing, such as oil and vinegar. For a lighter one, nix the eggs and bacon and add walnuts and strawberries and a fruit based dressing instead. Salad Nicoise is a great summer salad, especially if you simplify it . start off with a good head of Boston lettuce. Add some canned green beans and potatoes along with tuna and anchovy filets,then mix with sliced cherry tomatoes and chopped onion. Once done garnish with black olives and a simple Dijon based dressing. Have a slice crusty baguette on the side to sop up the dressing.
No one should cook during a heat wave. Try an easy salad or hearty salad to make for a lunch or dinner. They're both filling but without the fuss.
Monday, April 27, 2009
The Heat Is On!!
You're probably roasting right now if you live in the New York metro area. We're undergoing a rare late April heat wave that's making everyone lethargic and full of beach fever. It's nice to have the hot weather after a rainy cold, spring however with it comes problems. The main one is wanting to cook when you're as hot as an oven
What to do?
Chill out. Literally. Start putting yourself in a summer cooking mode. This means use the microwave more than the oven and create easy simple meals that are both fresh and tasty.
Salads are a good hot weather meal. You can create a true Nicoise with tuna, olives, fresh sliced peppers and tomatoes. Mix all of this with a head of Romaine, olive oil and red wine vinegar. For more added protein and body toss in a few sliced hard boiled eggs. Serve this up with sliced French or Italian baguettes . Another easy meal is a microwaved version of a stir fry. Cook up fresh (preferably) or frozen vegetables, with some sliced garlic, sesame (or olive oil) and some freshly cut ginger.Cook for all of two minutes and serve with microwaved brown rice. You can add almonds for nutrition and crunch too. You can also throw in any leftover grilled chicken or steak from last night barbecue.
Sandwiches are a foodie's best Friend d in the summer. Use whole wheat bread (or baguettes) and fresh veggies for a tasty quick lunch that can be brought to the office or on a picnic. You can do a quick roast of peppers and toss these on along with sun dried tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Another quick , summer sandwich is chicken or ham salad on a roll. You can chop up any leftover chicken or ham as well as using the deviled kind and then mix with mayo and herbs .You can also put this blend into hollowed out peppers and tomatoes and serve with a small tossed salads. As sides you can have anything from fresh salad (such as onion and three bean) to raw veggies and dip. These are a snap to make and give some zip and zest to lunch and dinner.
Don;t panic if the heat is on. A Spring heat wave is a time to get ready for summer- and that includes cooking. Just chill out with easy to make dishes.
What to do?
Chill out. Literally. Start putting yourself in a summer cooking mode. This means use the microwave more than the oven and create easy simple meals that are both fresh and tasty.
Salads are a good hot weather meal. You can create a true Nicoise with tuna, olives, fresh sliced peppers and tomatoes. Mix all of this with a head of Romaine, olive oil and red wine vinegar. For more added protein and body toss in a few sliced hard boiled eggs. Serve this up with sliced French or Italian baguettes . Another easy meal is a microwaved version of a stir fry. Cook up fresh (preferably) or frozen vegetables, with some sliced garlic, sesame (or olive oil) and some freshly cut ginger.Cook for all of two minutes and serve with microwaved brown rice. You can add almonds for nutrition and crunch too. You can also throw in any leftover grilled chicken or steak from last night barbecue.
Sandwiches are a foodie's best Friend d in the summer. Use whole wheat bread (or baguettes) and fresh veggies for a tasty quick lunch that can be brought to the office or on a picnic. You can do a quick roast of peppers and toss these on along with sun dried tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Another quick , summer sandwich is chicken or ham salad on a roll. You can chop up any leftover chicken or ham as well as using the deviled kind and then mix with mayo and herbs .You can also put this blend into hollowed out peppers and tomatoes and serve with a small tossed salads. As sides you can have anything from fresh salad (such as onion and three bean) to raw veggies and dip. These are a snap to make and give some zip and zest to lunch and dinner.
Don;t panic if the heat is on. A Spring heat wave is a time to get ready for summer- and that includes cooking. Just chill out with easy to make dishes.
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