Keeping Cool

[Svadhisthana]

Now that the weather is warmer, I find myself leaning towards meals that require less cooking. What do you like to prepare when it's hot.

[Kimmie]

When it's REALLY hot, I like to make a Caesar Salad. It's simple and so fast, gets me out of the kitchen in a flash!

[nancya]

fresh garden gazpacho is my favorite hot weather food. I can hardly wait for the good fresh summer veggies to start coming in so I can make it.

[Pastachef]

Fresh garden Gazpacho sounds wonderful, Nancya. The sorority is closed for summer and I miss feeding 'girls.' With two adult sons and a husband to feed, I do a lot on the grill in summer. But where veggies are concerned I have to sneak them in. They're carnivores to the bone. It seems to be this way with all of the men in the family. Meat and potatoes non-stop. Is it my imagination or is it a girl thing to go for the fruits and veggies? My girl dog goes for both, and my male doesn't. My two year old grandaughter by nature seems to go for them first, but my grandson goes for the meat and potatoes first.

[ June 11, 2001: Message edited by: Pastachef ]

[ziggy]

Summer arrived awhile ago here in Arizona...once the 100 degree temps started I refused to turn on the stove or oven anymore. We grill almost everynight. Typically you will always find sweet onions, asparagus, and red bell peppers on our grill to accompany whatever we are having(often fish).

We also eat a lot of main course salads. Our favorite is grilled sea bass, grapefruit, mango and avocado salad.

Would love some suggestions on cold soups besides gazpacho if anyone has one they love!

[Pooh]

Grilling, from veggies, to meat, to fruit...absolutely everything GRILLED!

Cold Avocado-Tequila Soup


1/2 cup tightly packed fresh cilantro leaves
1 jalapeno pepper stemmed, seeded, and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup tequila
One 15-ounce can chicken broth, fat skimmed from top
2 ripe avocados (about 1 pound), peeled, pitted, and coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
4 lemon wedges (optional)
1 small tomato (optional), cut into 1/4-inch dice

1. Place the cilantro and jalapeno in a blender or the work bowl of a food processor. Process until finely chopped, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice as necessary.

2. Add the lemon juice, tequila, chicken broth, avocados and salt, and process until smooth. Refrigerate the soup until it is well chilled, about 1 hour. (It can be refrigerated up to 6 hours until ready to serve.)

3. Ladle the soup into 6 serving bowls and garnish each bowl with a lemon wedge and a tablespoon or two of chopped tomato, if desired. Serve immediately.

[nancya]

that sounds really yummy pooh - going to have to take it to my next moon ceremony. Ladies would love it.

[Pooh]

What's a moon ceremony?

[nancya]

Pooh, a moon ceremony is a Native American ceremony. Women gather together, talk a lot - about feelings, spirituality, life, - and then we eat. Always looking for something interesting and not too hard to take. Try to meet on the full moon, but we are off a lot lately. Busy all the time.

[Pooh]

Sounds interesting Nancya.

Thanks!

[Kimmie]

How about

Cold Pear and Watercress Soup

I have to translate the recipe. Anyone interested?

[Jill Reichow]

Ziggy - How about fresh strawberry soup served in cantelop halves that you remove some of the cantelop then garnish with the reserved cantelop and fresh mint sprigs?

[ziggy]

pooh - thanks for the recipe! sounds yummy.

would love to try pear and watercress too if it's not too much trouble to translate(what language is it in? if it is french or italian you can email as is)

and the strawberry soup sounds delicious! two of my husband's favorites - strawberries and cantaloupe...how do I make the soup?

Many thanks!

[Pastachef]

Cold pasta salads with lots of veggies and grilled chicken are healthy and filling. I like to do the Caesar salad thing too, with grilled chicken breast and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Good with crusty French bread. There is also macaroni salad, and one in particular the girls like at the sorority is chopped Romaine lettuce, chopped tomatoes, lots of tuna, drained, and Miracle Whip. There are fresh fruit salads, stuffed tomatoes with egg salad, gelatin salads with fruits or veggies. Minimum cooking required.

[nancya]

gee Pastachef, that reminds me...I have this great dinner salad with chicken and shrimp and bananas and cantelope and grapes.... I haven't made that in a long time and it is really refreshing in the hot weather eating out on the porch.