What To Cook On A Steamy Night

The last thing you want to do today is turn on your oven. But you still have to eat, right? So what to cook?

Cold pastas and salads seem to be the best bet. One idea is to serve pasta sprinkled with cold cherry tomatoes, rocket leaves, parmesan shavings, and freshly ground black papper. Another idea is Gazpacho soup - which you can buy already made at Kings right next to the cheese section. Chicken Caesar salads are good, so long as you buy the rotisserie chicken so, again, you don't have to cook.

Also quite yummy is pureed Boston lettuce and canned peas, heated just a bit on the stove, with a bit of cream added in at the end. Chill and serve garnished with chopped parsley.

Here are a few other ideas for cool dinners on a steamy night:

-- Chicken and Peaches Platter from Real Simple.

-- Insalata Caprese salad from Allrecipes.

-- Kitchen Sink salad from the Food Network.

Anyone have their own fave recipes for hot days? Post them on Montclair Patch or email them to me at Shelley@patch.com. Stay cool!