If the thoughts you have right now, food-wise, tend towards things like popsicles, icy lemonade and juicy peaches, you are right on trend. Cold foods are a balm on hot summer days, when the temperatures climb into new uncharted (for the Northwest!) territory.
Last night, I had enchiladas on my mind and ended up using both the stovetop and the oven (briefly) to prepare them. They had plenty of green chiles, which reminds me of how Indian cooking uses hot curries and other spices to induce the body to sweat and naturally cool off. They were easy and delicious, but I don't think I'm heating up the oven again tonight!
If you have a blender, you can throw together a cold summer soup. The Scandinavians adore fruit soups, with lingonberries or currants,blended with a juice or even a yoghurt base. Classic Spanish gazpacho, loaded with fresh tomatoes, peppers, chiles, onions and garlic, topped with chunky avocado and tortilla chips, refreshes and energizes. If you have a French inclination, a la Julia Child, a vichysoisse, or cold potato and cream-based soup, is your go-to dinner.
Salads are another hot weather savior. You can put just about anything in a salad, and if you have fresh greens, all the better. It's a good empty-the-frig exercise, and doesn't require much time indoors to throw together. My favorite is the Nicoise, with tuna, green beans, hard-boiled eggs and potatos, little black piccoline olives and red onions.
The siren song of summer has to be the ice cream man (or woman), plying their trade up and down the sidewalks of suburbia. You don't have to wait for an appearance: just stock up on fruity popsicles, drumsticks, Eskimo bars, ice cream sandwiches, cones and assorted flavors of ice cream, sherbet and gelato and you're set.
What foods keep you cool in the summer, and are there special summer foods you only enjoy when the temperature climbs? For me, right now it's just frosty, cold homemade rosemary lemonade.