when it's too hot to cook (2024)

when it's too hot to cook (1)

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

Good afternoon!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend. Ours was a whirlwind of Jersey Shore and Bed Stuy barbecues then watching the fireworks from our roof, the 6 year-old in pajamas, all of us a little sunburned. I’m ready for a full week to recover, but instead took half a day. Real cooking is pretty far from my mind. Even if it’s not the hottest week of the summer, I’m keenly disinterested in turning the oven on but but am happy to participate in light cooking/assembling some ligh happy to assemble things, like a salad, or use the stovetop. Luckily, with everything delicious in season, I’ve got a few ideas. I hope you’ll find a few worth auditioning so that you, too, can stay cool and rested this week.

Cheers,

Deb

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✨ My third cookbook, Smitten Kitchen Keepers, will be out in just over four months and I cannot wait to share it with you. I hope you will consider preordering it so it’s deposited at your doorstep the moment it’s out in the world and you can get cooking from it right away. Details here!

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Low- and no-cook hot weather favorites

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Cucumber, watermelon, salted pepitas, and matchsticks of ricotta salata, plus three more suggested riffs at the end in case you also dream of having your oven off until September.

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zucchini carpaccio salad

A ribbony, lemony, salad that's flecked with parmesan, punctuated with arugula, and exactly as refreshing as it looks.

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When the heatwave demands nothing but chips and salsa for dinner, who are we to argue?

cold noodles with peanut-lime chicken

A colorful bowl of a heat wave antidote, booming with crunch and flavor, as modest on cooking times and dishes that need to be washed as I could manage.

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Thick slices of cheese, griddled until crisp. Slide it onto toasted bread with a little mayo, and add big slices of the freshest tomatoes you can find, seasoned with salt and pepper. Repeat until tomato season ends.

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frozen coconut limeade

This drink solves everything: cool, creamy, icy, but still bright. It makes the stickiest weather seem bearable; it makes you feel like you’re on vacation even if you’re not.

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Knots of barely sweetened doughnut strands absolutely blizzarded with powdered sugar are my favorite thing to eat on a beach boardwalk. It turns out it also takes barely 15 minutes to make at home and tastes exactly as good as you remember it.

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best hot fudge sauce

This hot fudge sauce is done in 10 minutes and is, unquestionably, the best thing since ice cream on a hot day.

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when it's too hot to cook (14)

Quick, stovetop mac-and-for that you can have 15 minutes from now, or when an intense need for pasta with a sauce of salty melted cheese strikes and nothing else will do.

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when it's too hot to cook (16)

shop my favorites

I've created a page on Smitten Kitchen with links to some of my favorite kitchen items, the ones I'm asked about the most. For each item, I've attempted to provide a range of shopping links so we're not just focusing on one giant retailer. Let me know if there’s anything I’ve left off that you need.

See you next week!

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when it's too hot to cook (2024)

FAQs

What to eat in extreme heat? ›

Eat fruits and vegetables.

Experts recommend eating produce with high water content, such as berries, watermelon, cucumbers, tomatoes, celery and bell peppers. While lettuce is known to contain a lot of water, Wood said darker greens such as kale and spinach can also be hydrating.

What foods are good for humid weather? ›

"Cantaloupe, watermelon, berries, tomatoes, leafy greens — all of these things are nutrition powerhouse," Larson said. "These foods are [also] low in calories. They fill you up, so you're very satisfied, they add a little bit of hydration, and they also help you control your weight."

What to eat in hot summer days? ›

What to Eat:
  • Hydrating Fruits: Incorporate a variety of hydrating fruits into your diet, such as watermelon, strawberries, cucumbers, and oranges. ...
  • Leafy Greens: ...
  • Cooling Beverages: ...
  • Cold Soups: ...
  • Grilled Vegetables and Lean Proteins: ...
  • Frozen Treats: ...
  • Whole Grains: ...
  • Healthy Fats:
Apr 3, 2024

How do you cook on high heat without burning? ›

Start with a low heat and then gradually turn to medium or high. Or, if you like your food a little charred, you can start with high heat, and then switch it to medium and low to finish cooking. Stirring is also a great way to prevent your food from burning as it doesn't let the food stick to the bottom of the pan.

What foods should you avoid in high humidity? ›

First and foremost the foods to be avoided because they create an environment in the body ripe for dampness (humidity) include: Sugar, Fried/Greasy Foods, Milk Products, Processed and Refined Flour and Starches, Sodas and Alcohol.

How do you keep your body cool in high humidity? ›

Drink cool water and drop your body temperature with a damp cloth and a fan. For heatstroke, immerse yourself in a cold bath or pack ice and cooling blankets around yourself. If symptoms for either condition don't improve within half an hour, call emergency services.

How do you reduce humid heat? ›

Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological pollutants. Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows.

Which meat is cool for the body? ›

Some say chicken with skin keeps you hot where as mutton is cool. Mutton is more comfortable for the body in hot climate.

Which food cools the stomach? ›

12 Best Summer Foods To Keep Your Body Cool
  • Leafy Greens.
  • Buttermilk.
  • Mango.
  • Lemon.
  • Curd And Yoghurt.
  • Fish.
  • Avocado.
  • Coconut.
May 3, 2024

What foods cool down your body? ›

Top 12 foods that help reduce body temperature:
  • Water. The best way to maintain the correct body temperature is to hydrate regularly. ...
  • Watermelon. Watermelon is one of the highest water content food, made up of approximately 90% water. ...
  • Onions. ...
  • Cucumbers. ...
  • Curd. ...
  • Coconut Water. ...
  • Mint Leaves. ...
  • Aloe Vera.
May 24, 2023

What can you cook in the sun? ›

It even tasted better than the beans we cook on the stove. I also cooked vegetables like cauliflower, cucumber, bell pepper, spinach, tomato for soup, mixed vegetables and many more. The possibilities to this solar cooker have no end. My next items are sun baked tomatoes, raisins and salted nuts.

What can I cook over a campfire besides hot dogs? ›

16 Surprising Recipes You Can Cook Over a Campfire
  1. Campfire Pizza Cone. Who doesn't love pizza? ...
  2. Bread on a Stick. Can you imagine how amazing this warm, freshly made bread would be on a campout? ...
  3. Campfire Stew. ...
  4. Chorizo Zucchini Chili. ...
  5. Campfire Nachos. ...
  6. Campfire Sliders. ...
  7. Foil Packet Chicken Dinner. ...
  8. Grilled Shrimp.

What is refreshing to eat on a hot day? ›

Chill Out: 10 Refreshing Foods to Beat the Summer Heat
  • Watermelon - The Hydration Hero. ...
  • Cucumber - Cooling and Crisp. ...
  • Coconut Water - Nature's Electrolyte Drink. ...
  • Mint - The Zesty Refresher. ...
  • Berries - Bursting with Antioxidants. ...
  • Citrus Fruits - Vitamin C Boosters. ...
  • Yogurt - A Cool Creamy Delight. ...
  • Cilantro - Flavorful and Fresh.
Jul 17, 2023

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