Anyone have a Go-to Meal for when it's too hot to cook?

[Tania]

So here it is the middle of May and all of a sudden, out of the blue......it's supposed to be 90 degrees here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Monday we had a high of MAYBE 60 degrees and by Thursday....BAM! 90! So just curious if anyone has a special, go-to recipe for those nights where it is just too dang hot to turn on the stove or oven? I decided tonight to give DH the option of either Crab Salad Sammies or Chili Dogs......

[Nicole]

I get a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and make a simple chicken salad with mayo, walnuts, sliced red grapes and salt/pepper. It's great in a sandwich or on top of some greens. The kids still aren't into it so I just hold some of the chicken aside and they eat it cold with some of the grapes.

[Ashley Housing]

That sounds delicious!! I'm getting my pen and paper right now!

[Shirley]

Here, in Florida it is always too hot to cook...so I don't!!! LOL!! No, really!

If you HAVE to get dinner on the table I will not use my oven..it heats up the house like crazy. I like to do the rotisserie chicken thing, too...what a life saver...some rice in the rice cooker and a salad and bread...and you're good to go!

[Jennifer Grant]

Does Corona count if you add a fruit? you know...like limes?

[Shirley]

LOL!!! Now that's what I'm talking about! But we DO have to feed our kids, I guess...how about good ol' PB&J??!!

[Ashley Housing]

I have an awesome taco salad, but you have to use the stove to cook the hamburger. I guess you could do it in the morning while it's still cool and then keep it in the fridge until you assemble it at dinner time. I make a huge batch because there are 5 in our family and then I like leftovers.
Let me think........
Chop up one head of iceberg lettuce, drain and add one or two cans of kidney beans (I can't remember, I haven't made it since last summer, just so it looks right) , dice and add 2 big tomatoes, Slice a big can of olives, drain and add that, grate a bunch of cheddar cheese, i don't know two or more cups. Then, crunch into bite size pieces a bag of plain tortilla chips and them and pour a big bottle of thousand Island dressing in and mix it all together. Oh yeah, duh.... add the two or three pounds of cooked hamburger that you've cooked taco seasoning in (just like you were going to make tacos with the seasoning). After it's cooled a little though or else it'll wilt your lettuce. At the end I add two diced avocados. I think that's it. Boy, I'd stink at writing a cookbook!! LOL!!! It's really good though and a lot easier to make than to describe!

[Tania]

Sounds AWESOME! Or Yum-O as Rachel would say! We may have to have that this week. Thanks for sharing!

[Ashley Housing]

you're welcome and, I love Rachael ray!! I used to watch her 30 minute meals all the time, I'm going to have to start recording her on the DVR so I can make time to watch her again. That's where I got the slider burger recipe in my other post, but she used chicken and hers were way too salty with the huge amount of seasoning salt and, I could never find the pickled ginger she mentioned. So, I changed them up a bit.

[Tania]

I found pickled ginger in the produce section of my grocery store. Where they sell the Kimchee (sp?) and egg roll and wonton wrappers. Sounds like you cook like me.....I just pour it in the bowl or pan until it looks 'right'. :-)

[Ashley Housing]

Thanks, I'll have to look for it. Yep, i don't measure very often unless I'm baking. Jen can actually make chocolate chip cookies just by dumping flour and other ingredients into the bowl with out measuring at all!! Amazing! And, she has it down pat!

[Jennifer Grant]

WWAAAHHHH!!! This made me sad to realize I haven't made choc chip cookies in so long that I can't remember the recipe anymore!!! ACK! I'm totally going to make 2 batches today for me and the kids. the boys'll be so excited when they get home! and i'll make mine with gluten free flour!

[Jennifer Grant]

Ashley Housing!?!?!?! I cannot believe you just said 'plain tortilla chips'!!!! I realize you have made this salad way more than me, but when the heck did you take out the FRITOS and put in 'plain tortilla chips'??? :0)

**can you tell I've made her recipe one of my families favorites over the years?

we really need to get over to the Cooking with Wine group and post all of Gramma Jack Rabbits best recipes. Thats the woman who needs to right a stinkin cook book huh? And you have to add in your scrumptious peach cobbler recipe too!