Tuesday, June 29, 2010

When It's Too Hot to Cook


When the days are sweltering, the idea of heating up your kitchen to make dinner is about as appealing as taking a sauna. So what's the ingenious homemaker to do?
Toss together a main dish salad.
Like this one: lettuce, orange segments, precooked shrimp.

And this tangy cilantro-flavored dressing with a lime bite, whipped together in the blender with dollops of yogurt and mayonnaise.
LIME-CILANTRO SALAD DRESSING
1 large lime (you'll use both the peel, grated, and the juice)
1 c. loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1 t. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. plain yogurt
In blender, place grated lime peel, lime juice, cilantro leaves that you've washed, mayonnaise, sugar, and salt. Blend at medium speed until well blended, about 30 seconds. Add the yogurt and blend until smooth. Serve over salad of lettuce, orange segments, and cooked shrimp.
What are your dinner favorites for when it's too hot to cook?

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16 Comments:

Blogger DarcyLee said...

Well, I have been known to throw a hot dog in the microwave and call it dinner-LOL But salads are probably the best hot weather foods there is. That dressing looks really good!

June 29, 2010 at 4:22 PM  
Blogger ~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

We love using lime in many of our dishes! This sounds great! We make a pasta salad that's good! ♥

June 29, 2010 at 4:34 PM  
Blogger Lynn said...

DarcyLee, a hot dog in the microwave sounds like a fine dinner on some nights. As does a bowlful of cereal. Lavender Dreamer, I'd love to hear more about your pasta salad. What do you put in it?

June 29, 2010 at 4:45 PM  
Blogger Joanne said...

I love just about anything that has cilantro in it! What a great salad dressing!

June 29, 2010 at 5:24 PM  
Blogger Holly Lefevre said...

Sadly where I live it is never too hot for cooking...we are eating soup in the summer to warm us up. I think this dressing sounds fabulous!

June 29, 2010 at 11:13 PM  
Anonymous Faith said...

That salad dressing sounds so bright and fresh, I bet it's great with the shrimp salad! When it's hot I love to grab a sandwich or a salad!

June 30, 2010 at 6:32 AM  
Blogger The Bumbles said...

Ah - I love sweet things in my salads - via fruit or dressing - doesn't matter to me.

I posted about this very topic last week - the results of Andy's grilled swordfish via an online recipe. It was delicious and people left all kinds of cool, easy and yummy suggestions for hot summer nights!

June 30, 2010 at 10:58 AM  
Blogger Joy @ Joy Of Desserts said...

Lynn, I've been off-line due to a non-working computer, but I want to thank you for your comment about Peg Bracken's book which I'm currently giving away on my blog. I appreciate that you took the time to comment even though you're not entering, just to let me and my readers know what a great cookbook it is and from a fun author. :-) I haven't seen the book yet, so it's great to know you like your vintage copy so much.

June 30, 2010 at 1:10 PM  
Blogger Ingrid_3Bs said...

My jaw was tingling as I was reading this. I love cilantro and lime together.

Happy 4th!
~ingrid

July 3, 2010 at 9:22 PM  
Blogger Controlling My Chaos said...

Salad makes a perfect main dish for summer. Everyone is too hot for anything heavy anyway.

July 4, 2010 at 11:00 PM  
Blogger Carpool Queen said...

You would have been proud of my mad cooking skillz yesterday.

1. Open pillsbury pie crust box and place in pie pan.

2. Open can of cherry pie filling.

3. Top with second pie crust.

4. Bake.

You have never seen a happier husband and I'm left wondering why I even bother..

July 5, 2010 at 11:26 AM  
Anonymous Juliana said...

Oh! I love cilantro, I have to try your lime and cilantro dressing...looks so tasty :-)

July 7, 2010 at 12:56 PM  
Anonymous Jacque said...

Lynn, So wonderful to get your comment on my blog. Imagine my surprise when I read "who" you were. I'm reading your book now and just suggested my soon-to-be 15 yr. old try your recipe for salt dough on the little boys she's babysitting this summer!!! Fun, fun, fun.

Comment on your post- I love cilantro. So much so that my kids have requested I refrain from using it in every dish...too funny!!! We eat from our garden too in the summer, in the winter too by way of the freezer and canning shelves but in the summer I make the most of not having to dip into my reserves. On "meat" nights my hubby's soooo happy!!! Tonight's a "meat" night in central PA! So happy to be getting to know you.
jacque

July 20, 2010 at 11:05 AM  
Blogger Lynn said...

Thanks, Jacque, for your comment, and how fun that you're reading my book! I hope your daughter tries the salt dough recipe; it really does make a nice, squishy batch. We have been eating lots of fresh goodies from our yard this summer,too, but have been too busy to post much about it. I will have to remedy that. It is wonderful getting to know you via the blog world :)

July 20, 2010 at 5:49 PM  
Blogger Mimi said...

Great salad dressing, I love cilantro and lime. When it's to hot to cook we buy some great bread, cheese, and a bottle of wine.
Mimi

July 21, 2010 at 3:38 PM  
Blogger Lynn said...

Mmmm, Mimi, bread, cheese, and a bottle of something good to drink sounds like a fine hot weather dinner.

July 21, 2010 at 4:59 PM  

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