We've been sitting around a lot here, and when everyone starts fighting, it's time to get out the wading pool. Wednesday afternoon I returned from doing groceries to a houseful of crabbiness. I hauled the pool up on the shady porch and filled it with COLD well water. Before you could say "climate change", everyone was in, including Nanny, Daddy, and me (just our feet!). Add to this some local, greenhouse-grown peaches from our CSA basket, and everyone's mood shifted within minutes.
To top it off, we got into a splash fight, with Daddy dousing my mom, then me, then ending with me dousing him. The kids were drunk with the hilarity of grownups acting so silly and screamed with laughter, which made us all feel 100 times better.
All we can do in a house without a swimming pool or an air conditioner is get wet, and avoid too much activity. By activity, I mean knitting, sewing, typing, even turning the pages of a book. I collapsed for a moment off my feet, and Miss Violet, always on the lookout for a cuddle, joined me. Within moments we were both snoozing away, her all ready for swimming lessons later in the day.
We're living on mostly raw foods, not as any kind of health kick or political statement, but because we can't bear to add another degree to the temperature in our house by using the stove. We're eating lots of guacamole, salsa, wraps, salads, and of course, fluids.
Here's a great recipe I got from my sister, when I wondered how I'd use up all the mint in our CSA basket! I'll call it
Too-Darn-Hot Salad
Combine in a bowl:
1 cup diced English cucumber
2 cups diced watermelon (I used canteloupe because I had one on hand)
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup chopped mint
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
I didn't even break a sweat making this! It was quick and tastes absolutely fresh and delicious. I scooped it up on tortilla chips. If you plan to use watermelon, eat it immediately, or the melon gets mooshy. If you chopped everything more finely, it would be a perfect salsa! If you want to bring it to a potluck, assemble the ingredients at the last possible moment.
Another favourite hot-weather recipe is my:
Aunt Clara's Green Apple Guacamole
2-3 avocadoes, mashed
1 peeled, chopped Granny Smith apple
juice of 2 limes
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
salt, pepper, cilantro to taste
Unfortunately, before I could photograph it, this happened:
Who needs testimonials when all that's left is an empty bowl?
What are your favourite keep-your-cool foods?
We're in for a hot one too. You can bet we'll be breaking out the pool shortly!! Your salads look delish! We've got a BBQ pork roast in the slow cooker for pulled-pork sandwiches, and one of those might be just the right side. THanks for sharing and try to stay cool! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for helping me choose my menu for tonight!!! Too darn hot salad it is!!
ReplyDeletexo xo maureen
As an aside...I was out watering my garden before breakfast, and picked a huge handful of greens as this was all I could imagine eating this morning...I topped it with the leftover salad and a bit more feta! Delish! I never thought I'd eat salad for breakfast...but never say never!
ReplyDeleteYum! Salad is all I can think of these days too.
ReplyDeleteAnd this morning for breakfast, hazel asked for crackers with cream cheese and red pepper jelly....must be because she had cereal for dinner last night.
I think today is supposed to be the last of these crazy days.
That salad looks delicious, as do the photos of the babe with the peach and the one in your arms. Mmmmm...
ReplyDeleteI think bbqing will be in order for the rest of this week and that salad will go along with something, I'm sure! I LOVE that guac, too.
The house we are in now has central air, which is a first for us, and even my husband admits that it's just SUCH a blessing when it is this hot. Normally we just open windows, but not this week.
Hang in there all, it should be "cooling" down to 25 soon!
Oui. C'est. TROP. Chaud. Everyone and everything is withering away here on the farm. As soon as I wake up I make lunch for everyone. I boiled water for quinoa at 5:30 AM to avoid heating up the house later in the day. We are eating every possible version of a salad around here. I've tried different versions of that melon/feta salad before.... so good with heirloom tomatoes later in the season.
ReplyDeletegreat post, great recipe, thanks x
ReplyDeleteHow fun to see a recipe and then an empty bowl. Now I really want to try making that because it must have been delicious. ;-)
ReplyDelete