What do YOU like to make for dinner when it is 91 degrees in your house?

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lisainla

Well-known member
I love where I live here in Southern CA, but every September we get this unbearable heat. I have no a/c in my house, and it has been miserable the past couple of days. My DD is out with her friend for dinner, so it is just me, DH and DS.

I think we will have cereal!! smileys/bigsmile.gif

 
Reservations! ...Ok, salad with cold shrimp and iced tea - or go to the movies/someplace cool.

I will say even one of those room AC units will help a lot (adding central air was one of the best things I ever did tho), but my SIL who lives in the hot/hot central valley had a wall one in her first house and at least it's a relief. My neighbors put a wall unit in their family room and use fans in the rest of the house and it's not bad at all.

(no I don't sell AC units, but they should go on sale soon as stores clear end of summer stock)

I feel for you!!!!

 
Sorry you do not have a/c in your home, Is that the normal in So CA?

My kitchen often gets up to low 80's because we are trying to conserve, however we have a dedicated a/c for kitchen and laundry room. I try to not cook but serve salads, and grill outside... Veggies, fruits, meats can all be done outside on the grill....then top a mixed salad with the goodies. It can get repetitive so it all depends on your utility bills and what you want to eat.

I'm happy with a fresh garden salad, and a good vinaigrette.

 
I made chicken curry with rice and veggies. I figured since we are having a monsson I oughta cook

monsoon food. I had a fan on me in the kitchen but still, halfway through I went outside and jumped in the unheated hot tub. Damn, it's miserable today. We Californians are not accustomed to humidity with our heat, AND THERE IS NO REASON WHY WE SHOULD BE!

 
It's been brutal here in NoCal too, 102 degrees last week and humid. Used to grill our dinners

prior to finally getting central air conditioning in the house.

 
I live within a mile of the coast, and we only get these temps for about 2 or 3 weeks total

during the year. Most homes built before the most recent decade in my area do not have central a/c.

I really shouldn't complain...most of the time we have primo weather.

 
smileys/bigsmile.gif Great idea bout the quick dip! I had the whole house open last night, and DD woke

up this morning covered in mosquito bites. It reminded me of when my friends and I used to camp out in the yard over the summer.

 
Sometimes, the whole dinner goes on the grill, meats, baked spud, veggies

I like those kind of dinners, cause DH does it all. I get to sit inside where it is cool, sip my drink, and watch the news in peace! LOL

 
Crockpot meals work too....doesn't heat up the kitchen.

I'm not personally a big user of the crockpot but I know it works for many people.

Another thought....in August you could start planning dinner leftovers that can be frozen and then pulled to microwave on the hot September evenings. Pulled pork is one item that comes to mind -- just toss it with some bbq sauce and pile it on a bun. Add a quick salad or coleslaw and it's a meal (maybe some grilled corn too??).

A big batch of taco meat can be reheated quickly to use for tacos or a taco salad -- kid-friendly food.

You could make a big tortellini salad earlier in the day (before it gets too hot to boil water and cook the tortellini, LOL) then let the salad marinate in the refrigerator til dinner time. Mmmm, good.

Grocery store rotisserie chickens can be your friend too. (Costco's is my personal favorite, and they are very reasonably priced). Add a salad and you're done (Trader Joe's has some great bagged salads -- easy on the cook). Grab 2 chickens and make chicken salad or wraps or a chef's salad or a Caesar chicken salad for additional meals. smileys/smile.gif

 
Very chilled diced watermelon (in lime/simple syrup/mint dressing) with feta and crackers.

I also buy "already cooked" portions of blackened salmon from the organic store when Larry's gone so I don't have to cook at all.

 
I have a first edition, circa 1961 Spice Island cookbook...I looked in it and did not find

any salad with the word Indonesian, so I looked in the chicken salads and could not find anything. Do you know what was in the salad besides chicken?

 
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