As the weather gets warmer, especially when it's hot and humid, the last place you want to be is in a hot kitchen. But unless you're willing to eat foods that are packaged and don't require any cooking, you'll eventually have to make friends with your kitchen appliances. Some of the recipes below require time to chill, but others are good to go as soon as you've finished prepping.
Recipe Tips:
Cut Time
Cut down on the time you spend in the kitchen by purchasing foods that have already been cooked or can be eaten right out of the can, such as tuna fish, crabmeat, cookies, and rotisserie chicken.
Ice Bath
To cool soups and other liquids quickly, fill a bowl with ice and cold water and place the hot liquid in its original container directly into the ice bath. To chill cooked vegetables, chop them, spread them out on a roasting pan or cookie sheet, and stick them in the freezer.
Make It Tasty
Cold-temperature foods sometimes taste bland, so plan on seasoning them liberally-but do so in increments, tasting intermittently, so that you don't overseason your dish.
Recipes:
Chilled Fruits:
Chilled Watermelon Soup
Chilled Vegetables:
Velvety Chilled Corn Soup
Chilled Meat, Poultry, and Seafood:
Tuna Carpaccio with Watercress Salad and Balsamic Dressing
Chilled Desserts:
Chocolate and Peppermint Candy Ice Cream Sandwiches
More Chilled Foods From Epicurious
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