Holy macaroni, it is HOT outside!

I am not a big fan of the extreme heat.  I choose to live in Minnesota, after all.  Although there is nothing I can do about our current heat wave, I do have some tried and true dinner options that can get your crew fed with minimal heat generation in your kitchen.

BLTs:  Tasty bacon, garden fresh tomatoes, crispy lettuce – yum!

Taco Salad:  This is a favorite at our house.  We layer lots of lettuce, cheese, taco meat cooked with Thousand Island dressing and crushed Doritos (nacho flavor).   We serve chopped green peppers and tomatoes on the side, since not everyone appreciates such things in his or her salad.  You can serve a side of rice, if you want a heartier meal.

Sandwiches:  Let’s face it – who wants to eat anything hot anyway?  We use bakery buns and add in deli pickles, sprouts, tomatoes and lettuce.  Stick with chips, fruit and salads as sides.

Grill:  The grill is a great way to serve a more traditional meal without heating the house.  Think kabobs, teriyaki chicken with grilled pineapple, steak with grilled potatoes and stir-fried peppers, zucchini and carrots (use a metal pan on the grill).  Yum!

Corn on the Cob:  Seriously – with anything it is an awesome summer favorite.  I cannot lie – we have eaten just corn on the cob, super fresh tomatoes and green beans and called it dinner.  Why  not?  Finish up with fudgesicles in the shade.

Pasta:  One pot of pasta can serve many in our house – some like it plain, some like spaghetti sauce on it.  My favorite is to toss some fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, a little garlic and some olive oil into the pasta for a light summer dinner.

Also, remember to use those heat saving appliances – the slow cooker, rice maker, pizza oven or toaster oven can all help serve up a warm meal without heating up your kitchen.