Eat to beat the heat?

[mizducky]

Why I am living in Southern California when I do so poorly with hot weather, I haven't a clue (oh yeah, I forgot--it's because it isn't like this all year round...) But I see from the weather map that I am currently far from alone in my sufferings, at least here in the U.S. (and certainly many other places as well).

So--what are your favorite ways of keeping yourself fed when the heat wave is on?

Do you just stay home in your air conditioning (or with every window open and a bazillion fans running), and eat nothing that requires turning on the stove?

Do you do a lot of eating out in air-conditioned restaurants?

Do you wind up using your outdoor grill a lot?

Do you just say "Aw, what heat? This is nothing compared to (some other even hotter place you once lived)" and just tough it out?

What foods do you find particularly pleasing in hot weather? (Either cooling, or good for enticing an appetite killed by extreme heat, or whatever.)

Me, I've been doing a lot of huddling in my apartment's (barely adequate) air-conditioning, eating a lot of foods that require no cooking, and doing a lot of George Foreman Grill-ing because I don't have access to an adequate outdoor grill. If nothing else, this hot weather has gotten me over my ambivalence about leafy green salads! I've also been going through a lot of fresh fruit--I inhaled a 1-pound box of well-chilled strawberries last night without even blinking an eye.

[MissAmy]

I eat a lot of salads when it's this hot. And ya'll, I don't know about California, but here it is HOT.

The grill seems inticing until you fire it up and realize that with the radiant heat from it, you're soaking in about 500 degrees. Blech!

[johnsmith45678]

I eat lighter foods, and less food. And lots of iced tea. Other than that, the heat (105F here the past couple days) doesn't bother me - I never use air conditioning, go outside in the heat of the day, use the oven/stove, etc.

I thought I was a bit warm on Saturday, but then I read this story about people training for the 135 mile race in Death Valley later this month. Incredible.

[H. du Bois]

It's hella hot in New York today. I was just at the grocery, and couldn't even look at anything that involved heating. So it's goat cheese on crackers with salad for me. And pears.

[Gifted Gourmet]

I feel your pain (and your sweat!) everyone .. have you read this thread on what one might not make during the summer heat?

Foods I refuse to eat during hot summer days...

[Toliver]

I'm with MissAmy...salads & crudité play a big part of my meals during hot days.

No cooking in the kitchen...so nothing to do with the stove or oven.

However, the microwave oven does get used since it doesn't heat anything up but the food.

[BigboyDan]

Well, considering the normal heat in my restaurant kitchen is 105 and with 85% humidity... pretty much the same: snacks instead of meals, and two gallons of liquid each day.

[Lilija]

We've been eating out more than usual, but outside places, carnivals, seafood, down by the water, a lot. Boardwalk food, Vietnamese food, light dishes, or 'street food' mostly. Any excuse to go out, and better still, get some ice cream.

Tonight, I'm 'cooking' dinner, which is gonna consist of some steamed bao, a pot of tom kha soup (chicken broth from the freezer, a few cans of coconut milk, and some other easily thrown together ingredients, 20 minutes to simmer...) and we grabbed a slab of awesome looking yellowfin, for some home sashimi. Pan-Asian hot weather goodness.

Salads, of course. Lots of tuna, and chicken salads, over mixed greens, and homemade vinagrettes.

[BarbaraY]

Today I picked up deli meats and crusty bread. Will make a green salad with balsamic vinaigrette. For some reason the acidy dressing makes me feel cooler. Lots of ice tea and diet pepsi chilled till it's slushy.

It was 107 in town and I nearly keeled over when I walked out of the store because the store is well air conditioned.

At least we don't have to contend with the humidity.

[bluechefk]

we've been firing up the grill lately - although it's so freakin' hot out there, that that's starting to feel like a hardship, too! we also fall back on the classic Carpet Picnic, too - cheeses, olives, crusty breads and/or crackers, etc. - all with a nicely chilled bottle of wine, of course

of course, my real problem is that i like to bake, and it's WAY too hot for that nonsense! never tried a cherry pie on the grill - maybe now is the time to start?

[ChefCrash]

It hit 96 here in Eat Lansing. We have lots of ice cold yogurt-garlic-cucumber soup. Goes well with most grilled meats.

[sparrowgrass]

Watermelon.

[UnConundrum]

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Really great with some sliced chicken, shrimp or leftover steak <br>

We always make our own dressing though... You can find the recipe and pictures of how to do it <strong>here.</strong>

[maggiethecat]

97 at noon in my Chicago burb. I'd laid in stuff to grill, but that ain't happening: oGod, why cook in an atmosphere resembling Hades?

So we're huddling in air conditioning (until ComEd shuts us off for nonpay,) meatloaf in the oven, fettucini dressed with pesto from my basil plants and sauteed zucchini. Oddly, the heat makes me hungry.

[Jason Perlow]

99-100 here in NJ but feels like 105 due to the humidity.

I'm going to make a fresh italian ice using lemons, sugar and mint shortly.

[ludja]

Only low 90's and low humidity in SF Bay Area (on the Peninsula) but it still feels plenty warm for around here. Started off things with mojitos. Dinner is sliced tomatoes and avocado on toasted bread with lemon, s&p, basil and mayonnaise. Sliced peaches in cream for dessert.

[jsolomon]

Hit 103 Sunday here in Nebraska.

No change.

[dvs]

it was hotter than FORK in the wine country today (and this weekend)... so, i resorted to firing up the grill at 9pm last night and grilled off a flank steak marinated in olive oil, s&p, garlic & parsley and a bunch of chicken breasts marinated in tj's mole sauce.

i didn't even think of eating them last night... but they sure tasted great in salads today

[Alchemist]

Not so bad in NYC. So I am eatinng Tom Yum Goong, Curries, Sushi, Ice cold beer, South Side Royals, Som Thom, Ice cold beer. It's 90 degrees at 11 pm.

[Lady T]

Dayum.

Hotter than the hinges yesterday in the County of Cook, in the State of Illinois: heat indices around 105 degrees F. Best I could do for dinner yesterday was a l'il cheese-and-pate platter, with Michigan white peaches and a goodie from Bennison's Bakery (ah, keepers of the good sugar-sprinkled custard-filled [that is, refrigerated!] faith!) for dessert. Nothing stronger than prosecco to drink, and lots and lots and lots of water.

Worse yet today, but the condo here's buttoned up tight and both the A/C's are on, on 'low'. Managed to bake a piece of salmon in white wine (total oven time: 15 begrudged minutes), steam some asparagus, and shut it all down PDQ thereafter.

Plenty of juices in the fridge, plenty of Brita water in the pitcher, plenty of everything else stocked on the shelves. Can we say, until tomorrow at least: Not. Moving!

Best of all so far: major-league lightning-bearing storms incoming tonight from the WNW, heralds of at least some relief tomorrow.

Obvious thing to do: assess the state of the larder, and shop tomorrow to fill any voids before the temps spike again.

[katen]

Lots of salads (tuna and lettuce) plus my new favorite "snack" that ends up being a meal. Tomato slices spread with goat cheese and topped with basil. Maybe not gourmet, but tasty!

[Lady T]

Whoa howdy.

Weather update for epicures in Cook County: Button the grill up and get inside if you aren't already, NOW! Thunderstorm system incoming fast from the WNW, with major league winds (60 - 75 mph gusts already reported out west) and considerable lightning potential. The main source I'm using is Tribune.com's weather maps, but CNN and others don't look different.

Update: By the looks of the regional weather charts, the Detroit area is also about to get slammed. Careful, guys!

I wanna see everybody here in one piece tomorrow after it cools off, yes?

Edited July 18, 2006 by Lady T (log)

[petite tête de chou]

This weekends temperatures are supposed to tumble into the hell of over 100 degrees (F). I live in a single level house, without air-conditioning, that is shaded from all sides by old Oregon White Oaks, Austrian White Pines and Norway Red Maples. My husband and I are, genetically, Northern European and shirk at weather over 85. And yet, when the temperatures go over 95 I kinda dig the freaky-ass heat. I mean, what the heck are you gonna do?! Be hot. So, I usually grill a few varieties of kebabs, keep the 'fridge stocked with unsweetened iced green tea (sugar in green tea tastes funky-in-not-a-good-way to me), lightly sweetened iced black tea, various sodas, juices and beers. I eat a lot of wonderfully ripe cantelope, halved and chilled for a few hours. Actually, chilled fruit and tea are my definite go-to's when it's hot-enough-to-kill. But fruit and tea aren't a proper supper for my husband who wants (demands? ) more. Hence the kebabs, rice made before 9:00 a.m (warmed in the microwave under a damp paper towel with butter, onion chives, s + p), olives, various sliced vegetables, red grapes, cukes in rice vinegar, chilled pasta salads, etc.

In the past I've thrown reasoning to the wind and made pizza dough the night before, did all the prep for toppings and baked the pizzas very early in the morning. So the gent comes home to cold pizza and a few beers. Never had a complaint.

Edited July 18, 2006 by petite tête de chou (log)

[snowangel]

It was over 90 degrees at 10:30 pm last night in Minneapolis (yes, Brooks, it does get hot here). Grill on the Kettle, turn on the sprinkler and run through it. Lots of ice and water. Minimal alcohol. It's no wonder I'm heading north on Wednesday morning to lay in the lake with three kids.

[savvysearch]

Supplement my diet with lots of fruit for the heat. Cantalope, mangos, papayas. Otherwise, eating habits are the same.