YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Turn the heat down and the flavor up with these 12 no-cook recipes

    By | Shine Food – Wed, Jul 9, 2008 8:25 PM EDT

    Even on summer's hottest days, eating healthily is no sweat with these tasty no-cook recipes. You needn't look any further than the season's fresh ingredients to help you prepare wholesome meals while keeping your cool. Here, our favorite soups and salads, mains and sides-with nary a flame in sight.


    Choose Seasonal Produce
    Take advantage of peak-season fruits and vegetables to add flavor to your no-cook meals. When corn and garden peas are at their sweetest, they don't need a fattening boost from butter.


    Pick Up Prepared Foods
    Avail yourself of your grocer's prepared ingredients to help keep the heat down in the kitchen. Low-fat deli meats like smoked turkey or a rotisserie chicken make perfect choices for adding quick, cool protein to your meals. Avoid such calorie bombs as stuffed, cheesy chicken breasts or fish swimming in butter and oil.


    Take It Outside
    If you do have to cook an item, prepare it on the grill, whether it's corn on the cob, a thick, juicy chicken breast, or skewers of pineapple. At least you're not heating up the indoors.

    Want more ideas? Epicurious and Nutrition Data's Healthy Dinner Tonight gives you delicious and nutritious recipes-with full nutritional analysis-and healthy-eating tips every weekday.

    Soups
    Raw Cream Of Spinach Soup

    Yellow Tomato Gazpacho with Cilantro Oil and Avocado

    Spicy Cucumber-Avocado Soup

    Watermelon Gazpacho


    Starters and Sides
    Roasted Red-Pepper and Hazelnut Dip

    Peach and Cucumber Salsa

    Watermelon and Watercress Salad with Ginger

    Two-Tone Coleslaw with Celery-Seed Yogurt Dressing


    Main Courses
    Turkey Paisano Sandwiches with Fig-and-Black Olive Vinaigrette

    Mexican Chopped Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing

    California Garden Roll

    Citrus Marinated Shrimp Cocktail



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