Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!

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Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« on: June 13, 2006, 11:32:48 AM » by mexmarr

Since we don't have air conditioning, my husband recently announced, "We've got to quit cooking." Of course he didn't meant entirely, just to reduce the amount.

Now I am stuck. PB and honey is getting old. Cold cheese sandwiches are getting boring. I need some help! Today I cooked 20 lbs of chicken at once (to get it over with). Now I can just defrost small ammounts and make cold chicken sandwiches without heating the house.

But I am getting desperate for more ideas!!!

We do make our own bread, and granola. I do 4 loaves of bread and three large pans of granola at the sam time, so that it doesn't have to be too often.

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2006, 11:43:58 AM » by jaemom

It's not completely cold, but we like Taco Salad.

The only thing you have to cook is the ground beef so it should be very fast. Also, if you have a grill, maybe you could serve raw veggies or a salad with a grilled meat. Small charcoal grills are fairly inexpensive. You should be able to find one for about $10 if you don't have one. We grill alot in the summer to keep the house cool. Wink

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2006, 11:45:25 AM » by KatieMac

Tortilla wraps with deli turkey and fresh veggies are an awesome cold meal!

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2006, 11:47:02 AM » by healthybratt

Quote from: mexmarr on June 13, 2006, 11:32:48 AM

Totilla sanwiches. I've been making these for hubby's lunch. Just think Subway carb smart wraps. Subs are good.

Rice cookers don't generate much heat if you have one. My kids love pickles and rice (strange I know) and American cheese.

Veggies and ranch dip.

Meat and cheese trays with crackers and rolls.

Tuna salad with crackers, rolls, chips or bread. I like to dip corn chips in my tuna salad instead of eating it on a sandwich.

Boiled egg sandwiches are a hit in my house. Boil a couple of dozen eggs at night when it's cooler. Then slice them up and throw them on some bread or toast with some mayo.

Do the pot of beans thing, like Beka suggested and you could have bean burritos. Crock pots don't generate a ton of heat either.

Pot roast in the crock pot.

If you made a bunch of chicken, chicken salad, chicken fajitas or soft tacos, chicken sandwiches. (Chicken is my favorite meat...mmmmm). I really like chicken wrapped in tortillas with sandwich fixins and sometimes Korean hot sauce - yum. Chicken Ceasar salad is another yummy meal. Slice some chicken, throw in some green leaf and iceburg lettuce, some parmesean and dressing. (You're supposed to use Ceasar, or Italian dressing, but I like it with Ranch) and something crunchy like crackers or croutons. Spinach is good in these too.

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2006, 11:50:54 AM » by amazonmama2five

Hi Mexmarr!
Are you a salad family? We are a Mexican salad family! Take your cold chicken, and you can use hamburger you've cooked ahead also, put is on top of a bed of greens with homemade salsa, sour cream and cheese.
Flour tortillas can be made ahead and frozen and soft tacos can be made with the precooked meat and above mentioned toppings and there you go.
Do you have a crock pot? We live in South America and I use mine ALL THE TIME!!! We have beans, chicken, mac and cheese, beef, rice, soup, stew, you name it, in the CROCK. There is no extra heat in the kitchen and the smells that come from the kitchen are wonderful! Taste of Home has a reader's digest slow cooker recipe book (mag). Maybe you could get on their website and see if it is still available. www.tasteofhome.com
Hope this has been a help.
Lisa

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #5 on: June 13, 2006, 11:52:32 AM » by KatieMac

My mom makes a chicken salad with curry powder and green pepper that is to DIE for! I think that is all it has in it besides salt, pepper, onion and mayo.

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #6 on: June 13, 2006, 11:58:34 AM » by amazonmama2five

THAT sounds delicious!! We will be trying that, maybe with a tortilla! Cheesy

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #7 on: June 13, 2006, 12:22:26 PM » by sweet

My DH was raised on cold vegtables and it is his preference, so he has taught me how to cook like his Italian grandmother!

Some cooking is involved, but once cooked the following veggie dishes are served cold.

Most important ingredient, garlic (lots of garlic)

Green Beans

Steam, salted green bean - s/b slightly crunchy

Mince, lots of garlic, saute in a little bit of olive oil - be careful not to burn the garlic (minced garlic will burn quickly

Add green bns to garlic/oil, mix, add salt as desired, chill before serving (I like them heated)

Green Beans and Potatoes

Using the above recipe, prepare grn bns.

Boil potatoes (peeled or unpeeled your preference) until done

Cut potatoes into chunks

Combine grn bns & potatoes

Sprinkle w/ red wine vinegar 1/2 c to 1 c and a little bit of olive oil (have used canola)

Salt to taste
Sprinkle with oregano

Chill, stirring on occasion to spread the vinegar marinade (might have to add more as potatoes will obsorb it). On occasion I have omitted the garlic for non-garlic eaters and it was still good - key is the red wine vinegar, olive oil and oregano.

This always tastes better the 2nd after it has marinaded.

Broccoli

Put minced garlic on top of garlic, salt to taste and steam. Don't over cook, s/b slightly crunchy.

Once done sprinkle with lemon juice
Chill before serving (I also like this heated). Lemon juice will cause the broccoli to darken in spots...

Sauteed Broccoli

Cut a lot of garlic cloves in half, in a large frying pan saute in olive oil (might have to add more oil as cooking process goes on) until golden brown

Place broccoli florets on top of garlic, cover every 5 minutes or so, stir. Cook until slightly crunchy. During the cooking process season with salt and crushed red pepper to taste.

Serve at room temperature (again I like it heated).

You can used diced zucchini or yellow squash in place of broccoli (be careful not to overcook - crunchy is better)

I will prepare enough of any of these dished to last a few meals.

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #8 on: June 13, 2006, 12:52:41 PM » by healthyinOhio

I don't like cooking and thinking up meals in the summer, either. It is such a quick and easy task in the winter. Another dish that we like, as well as most of the others listed is: A whole wheat(or another pasta) tossed with fresh veggies and perhaps some raw cheese chunks. We then toss with a homemade Italian dressing and it is cold but filling. The only cook time is the noodle boiling. But if you could do it in the early morning when it is cooler out, it would save you from sweating over a hot stove!

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #9 on: June 13, 2006, 01:04:38 PM » by KatieMac

Garbanzo beans are a good protein addition to an italian pasta salad! I like to roast mine in olive oil but I am sure they are just as good cold from a can!

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #10 on: June 13, 2006, 06:27:45 PM » by Chadycake

Mmmm, I love "cooking" in the summer! Wink

Here's one for some of that chicken:

4c. cooked chicken, cubed
1c. sliced celery
1/3c. chopped onion
1tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4c. diced almonds
1c. halved grapes
1/3c. mayo
3Tbsp. lemon juice
Mix it all together & serve in cantaloupe rings or halves... Yum!

Also, if you use a microwave, I like to cook the chicken that way to keep the house cooler.

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #11 on: June 13, 2006, 07:04:45 PM » by kayinpa

Quote from: mexmarr on June 13, 2006, 11:32:48 AM

One of my favorite things to make is a nice big green garden salad and throw in some grilled (or left over) chicken or steak!

You can also do the same with pasta salad! YUM!

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #12 on: June 13, 2006, 10:55:54 PM » by ALittleMore

If you own a grill, do your "cooking" outside! You wouldn't believe how creative you can get with skewers. You can stick just about any meat or veggie combination you like on those things, and make sauces to go with. (This is gourmet cooking! Wink

I don't think I've ever known a guy who would turn down yummy kabobs fresh off the grill. Especially since grilling has a way of "cooking" food with out making it heavy. Perfect for Summer.)

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #13 on: June 14, 2006, 10:25:32 AM » by Bethany

Deviled eggs, egg salad sandwiches, chicken/tuna/beef/ham salad sanwiches, salad bar (put out the ingredients--greens, chopped veggies, beans, eggs/meat/chesse, dressings--and let everyone build their own).

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #14 on: June 14, 2006, 10:31:35 PM » by lotsaboys

This is an old-fashioned idea that my mom used to make for a cold meal, but could work for a dessert too, and she called it "Banana Soup". Stir a bowlful of milk and some sweetener (she used sugar, I use honey or maple syrup) together til thoroughly mixed, add sliced bananas (we've also used blueberries) and serve on bread.

One of our main meals in the summer is what we call "Haystacks", some call it Taco Salad- stack these ingredients in this order: corn chips (not healthy, so we cut into strips and fry Sprouted Whole Wheat Tortillas or make Fry Bread), taco meat with beans, cheese, (sometimes rice), lettuce, tomatoes, onions, salsa, and sour cream.-YUM!

~B

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #15 on: June 15, 2006, 12:28:38 AM » by healthybratt

Quote from: lotsaboys on June 14, 2006, 10:31:35 PM

One of our main meals in the summer is what we call "Haystacks", some call it Taco Salad- stack these ingredients in this order: corn chips (not healthy, so we cut into strips and fry Sprouted Whole Wheat Tortillas or make Fry Bread), taco meat with beans, cheese, (sometimes rice), lettuce, tomatoes, onions, salsa, and sour cream.-YUM!

We do this with Fritos, taco seasoned ground beef, sweet corn and whole pinto beans( I cook the meat, corn and beans separately, drain and them mix them together) with sour cream and shredded cheese. Very tasty. You just reminded me, we haven't had this in a long long time. MMMMM. I know what I'm getting at the store next week.

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #16 on: June 15, 2006, 12:29:11 AM » by lewisquiverfull

Chicken Curry Sandwiches:
4 Cups diced cooked chicken
1-2 diced and peeled apples
1 package slivered almonds
1 lb. halved grapes
salt
Dressing for chicken:
1/4 tsp. curry
1 1/2 cup real Mayo
1 Tablespoon Soy sauce
Mix dressing in small bowl and add to chicken and fruit mixture. Enjoy on bread or crackers!

Oriental Salad:
mix:
1 pkg coleslaw mix
1 pkg slivered almonds
1 pkg sunflower seeds
3-4 chopped green onions
2 pkg. dry ramen noodles, crushed

Just before eating mix:
1 cup oil
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
seasoning from (1) oriental ramen package and (1) chicken ramen package from above mixture

Stir together just before eating. It will get soggy if not eaten at one time. Very tasty!!

Veggie Pizza:
crust:
2- 8 oz pkg cresent rolls
roll out onto 15x8 cookie sheet, bake as directed, cool.

mixture:
2- 8 oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup real Mayo
1 pkg dry Ranch dressing mix
Beat together and spread on cooled crust.

Toppings:
Green onions, broccolli, cauliflower, peppers, tomatoes, grated cheese, bacon bits. Whatever fresh veggies you like!
If you add tomatoes, put them on just before you eat, it will make crust soggy if left on overnight. This is a very pretty food!! Yummy, I'm getting hungry now!

Grape Salad:
Beat:
1- 8 oz cream cheese
6 oz sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup sugar

Stir in:
2 lbs green grapes
2 lbs red grapes
Pour into 13x9 dish

Sprinkle with:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup pecans, chopped

Very yummy dessert!!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Mix 1 package pudding (your choice) according to directions
Spread Peanut butter on bottom of graham cracker crust
top with pudding and cool whip
We have tried vanilla and chocolate, both very good.
My kids favorite dessert!!

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #17 on: June 25, 2006, 10:23:10 PM » by SC

The answer to this problem lies in the planning. Even for cold meals and foods, you will have some cooked ingredients. So, how do you get those cooked foods cooked without heating up the house?

If you live in an area with outdoor burn restrictions, you might have some problems with grilling or campfire cooking. Should that be the case, make a note of when the coolest part of your day is. Usually, it will be in the early a.m.

Take out the meats and vegetables you will need for the week and let them thaw during the day. In the evening, turn on the fans and warn the family that you will be cooking tonight. Turn on the oven and start roasting your beef and/or chicken. Get the veggies steamed, boil your eggs, etc.

My husband leaves for work long before anyone THINKS about getting up. I use this method to cook his breakfast before I go to bed and leave his plate covered in the refrigerator. Cooked eggs (scrambled, sunny side up, omelets, fritatas, etc.) and toast will keep in the refrigerator and in the freezer, if needed.

Put your chicken(s), and/or roast in the oven first and then work on the shorter items. I've gotten my time down to about 3 or 3 1/2 hours for a week's worth of cooking, including clean up (wash as you go). During this time, I also chop up the raw veggies for salads to save time later. Place your cooked items in freezer bags to save space and freeze or refrigerate.

Don't worry if you don't have your entire menu planned. With your meats, vegetables, rice and whatever already cooked, you are able to decide on the fly what you want to eat. Use the boiled eggs to top off a vegetable salad, make an egg sandwich, or stuff them -- all without having to heat up the stove. Items that do have to be heated will only require a short time on the stove top at low heat. You preparation time for meals will be greatly reduced.

But what if DH nixes the idea of a "cook night" because it's just too warm (even with the fans and the cooler morning hours to bring the temperature back down)? Well, that's when you use the original crock pot -- the one without a cord -- a dutch oven. Look for one in a farmer's supply store or camping supply section of your local Walmart. Get one with a flat lid and dust off your sense of adventure.

First, season the oven according to directions. Then, dig a fire pit in the back yard. Get a good fire going in the afternoon. Give it about 45 minutes or an hour of good burning. Keep the flames going and lay down a good bed of coals. Place whatever you want roasted or baked into the oven. I've cooked biscuits, cobbler, roast beef, chicken, and more in mine. Just put some vegetables beneath the meat (onions, potatoes, carrots, etc.). Carefully place the oven over coals and use a fireproof shovel to place coals on top of the lid. Let cook for about the same time as you would your indoor oven. Use less coals if you want a cooler heat, more for a higher heat. After two or three uses, you'll get the hang of it. You can get some great ideas from crock pot cookbooks.

For your vegetables, you can place them in a foil pouch and put them in the coals. This also works great with fish. You can purchase a small campfire grill for less than $15 that will allow you to grill other meats over the fire. The key to all of this is to have a good bed of coals, not wood that is slow burning and smoky.

You can use this method to prepare a hot meal or to cook the ingredients for a cold meal later. Either way, the house stays cool while the food gets cooked. This can also be turned into a unit study on frontier life.

Basically, you have an outdoor kitchen for the summer. Enjoy!

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #18 on: June 26, 2006, 08:39:15 AM » by heatheronthehill

We don't have A/C either! We live so far north that we only have about 2-3 weeks each summer where the temps reach the low 90's, but I try to be creative in my cooking in the summer to avoid heating up the house! I find cooking on the stovetop on one burner to create a lot less heat than using the oven. I also use the crockpot a lot. If your house is situated such that this will work - I hang a blanket over the doorway to my kitchen when I'm doing a lot of cooking in the summer, and I put a bit box fan in the window to blow the hot air out as I'm cooking. This at least keeps the rest of the house cool.

A few things that require minimal cooking:

Pan fry fish fillets on the stove top. This takes less than 10 minutes at medium heat.

Stir Fry dinner - Only about 20 minutes on the stove top for a one dish dinner.

Tacos/Tostadas/Burritos - just enough heat to warm the meat/beans.

Egg Foo Young
3 eggs, beaten
salt & pepper
generous pinch five spice powder (opt.)
3 tbs. oil
4 scallions, sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 small green pepper, seeded & chopped
1/2 c. fresh bean sprouts
3 c. cooked white rice
3 tbs. soy sauce
1 tbs. hot sesame or chile oil (look in Asian section of your grocery store)

Heat 1 tbs. oil in a large frying pan or wok. Season the eggs & scramble them. Set aside in a bowl or plate. Heat remaining oil and stir fry the onion, garlic, pepper & bean sprouts for about 2 min. Stir in the rice and heat thoroughly. Add soy sauce & sesame oil & mix well. Return egg to pan & mix well. Serve immediately.

Serves 4

Texas Caviar
This is REALLY good! Serve with large corn or tortillas chips. NO COOKING REQUIRED!
1 green bell pepper & 1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded & chopped
¼ c. sliced green onions with tops
1 tbs. fresh snipped cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced
15 oz. can southern style, pre-seasoned black eyed peas, drained & rinsed
1 c. whole kernel corn, drained
1/3 c. Italian salad dressing
¼ tsp. hot pepper sauce
Mix all ingredients. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours so the flavors blend.

Healthy Chicken Salad
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts(2 small whole breasts)
3/4 cup plain nonfat yogurt (may substitute mayo)
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons freshly chopped chives
1 tablespoon freshly chopped tarragon
salt & pepper to taste
1 Granny Smith apple
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 cup diced cucumber
1/2 cup finely diced celery
2 cups red seedless grapes, cut in half
6 slices pumpernickel bread or pitas

Bake the chicken at 350* until done (about an hour). Let it cool, then shred.
In a bowl, combine yogurt, mustard, chives, tarragon, salt & pepper. Core the apple, and cut into 1/4-inch dice. Place in a medium bowl with lemon juice, and toss to combine. Add cucumber, celery, and grapes. Add shredded chicken and the yogurt dressing; stir to combine. Serve on pumpernickel bread or in a pita.

Serves 6

Curried Egg Salad
5 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1/2 c. chopped celery
2 tbs. chopped onion
sprinkling dried parsley or 1/3 c. fresh
1/3 c. mayo
2 tsp. prepared mustard
1 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp. celery salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 tbs. coarsely chopped sweet pickles
Mix all ingredients. Spread on thick slices of buttered honey whole wheat bread.

Another trick I have for staying cool: Keep a spare (dry) t-shirt in the freezer all day. When you get too hot, swap out the t-shirt you are wearing with the frozen one. Just keep swapping them out throughout the day. We also eat a lot of popsicles during those really hot weeks.

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #19 on: June 26, 2006, 11:26:15 AM » by amazonmama2five

Quote

Another trick I have for staying cool: Keep a spare (dry) t-shirt in the freezer all day. When you get too hot, swap out the t-shirt you are wearing with the frozen one. Just keep swapping them out throughout the day.

ROTFL!!! I will have to try this! We live in Brasil and my MAN comes in completely soaked and I think he would get a kick out of putting on a cold T-shirt!
Thanks for the idea!
Lisa

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #20 on: June 26, 2006, 12:09:09 PM » by HerbMe

We also cook 20 lbs of chicken at a time. Just take it off the bone and bag it up in zip bags about 1 lb to a bag then freeze it. You are ready for a quick stir fry, chicken sandwiches, fast soup start for a sick one. Be sure and save the broth in seperate pkgs for gravys and soups.
Yesterday I made a broccoli salad- 1 bunch broccoli, stems and tops cut in small bite size pieces a handfull of roasted salted sunflower seeds a handfull of raisens and some ranch dressing, not a lot.Chill, stir and eat.

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #21 on: June 26, 2006, 02:06:31 PM » by mexmarr

I have another idea for that deboned chicken. I somply defrost a bag and mix in some BBQ sauce. So quick and simple, yet makes delicious sandwiches!

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #22 on: June 27, 2006, 07:37:37 PM » by kittyninja

Ok this isn't exactly a COLD meal but i make this all the time for my fam and i just pulled leftovers out of the fridge and my lil ones are eating it cold and it tastes pretty yummy yummy for my tummy!! Ok its a "sopa" recipie i adapted from my friend's- i think i improved it Wink

(pride goeth before the fall!) Anyways it goes like this-
If you can bear being over a hot stove top-heat oil in a pot an sautee some chopped onion, then toss in macaroni and brown for a bit
When it is browned to your liking pour in some chicken broth or stock (or water and 2 boullion cubes if you have em). Enough to cover the noodles and then some but not like if you were boiling them and draining...make sense? We're making sopa which means soup so we want it soupy. Toss in a can of diced tomatoes (juice and all if you like it tomatoey-my friend just put a can of tomato sauce but i like the chunky tomato) garlic salt, pepper, and oregano. let it all simmer together on low med heat. Add stock or broth or water if it gets low. When the noodles are ready take them off the heat, stir and taste-season if needed. Toss in some chunks of cheese-we like colby/jack-but you can use monterey cheddar (or parm if you want to make it italian) or any cheese you like that melts well. Put as much as you want(or as little as you want). Serve!! My lil ones and hubby loves this (it reminds him of when his nana would make sopa). It's easy and somewhat nutritious-i like to pretend it is at least! Wink

So anyway I know this is hot but like i said i just pulled the leftovers out of the fridge cos my daughter was pointing and begging and the kids just started scarfing it down cold! I tried it and it tast GOOOOOODDD!! I can send this in an EASIER recipie form if anyone is interested but i just kinda dump stir and taste! Grin

Oh and if you want it more mac and cheesy and not sopa-y then just boil out the liquid (don't dump it!!) turn the heat down and let the juices simmer out and all the flavors are more concentrated! YUM!
Happy Eating!

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #23 on: June 27, 2006, 08:22:24 PM » by KatieMac

That reminds me...has anyone said GAZPACHO??? YUM!

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #24 on: June 27, 2006, 08:26:31 PM » by healthyinOhio

Quote from: KatieMac on June 27, 2006, 08:22:24 PM

That reminds me...has anyone said GAZPACHO??? YUM!

I have had a recipe for this for five years and I just go...ech! everytime I read it. Even though I like the ingredients in it. I just can't imagine eating them cold. Has anyone every really eaten this? Is it good? I would like to know before I go risking a meal. Then again, needing a reason to go out to eat in a nice air conditioning facility may not be a bad idea! Wink

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #25 on: June 27, 2006, 08:29:10 PM » by KatieMac

I adore gazpacho. If you have ever wanted to eat fresh salsa with a spoon it's pretty much the same thing. Just turn off the part of your brain that says "soup." Grin

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #26 on: June 27, 2006, 08:31:28 PM » by healthyinOhio

Okay. I'll try it. But don't judge me if I have to break out the tortilla chips!!! Cheesy

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #27 on: June 27, 2006, 09:23:50 PM » by heatheronthehill

Falafel on pitas is really yummy!

Our whole foods store carries a dry mix and you just add water to it. Form into balls and fry in a little oil on the stove. If you don't mind all of the chopping, or if you have a food processor, here's a nice recipe too. I make up a bunch and freeze them so I can pull out a few at a time for a quick lunch.

Homemade Garden Falafels with Lime-Yogurt Sauce

3 carrots, in a tiny mince
1 zucchini (I used cucumber), tiny mince and patted dry
1 can garbanzo beans, mashed
1 1/2 cups brown rice
1 tbsp minced ginger
1 tsp curry powder
1 cup bread crumbs
1 onion, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
Olive oil
Lime juice
Plain Yogurt

Mix yogurt, lime juice, and salt to taste. Set aside.

Cook onion and garlic in olive oil until translucent and fragrant. Add ginger and curry to pan and cook another couple minutes. Add carrots and zucchini (cucumber) and cook for another couple minutes.

Transfer veggie mixture to large bowl. In food processor (or with masher), blend rice and beans until a paste. Add bean mixture to veggie mixture. Add bread crumbs. Mix everything up really well with your hands, form into small patties, and set on cookie sheet. Refrigerate until cold

Remove patties from fridge and fry in hot olive oil until crisp on the outside. Serve in pita bread with lime-yogurt sauce. I like to add in any fresh veggies I have - especially tomato slices and cucumber.

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #28 on: June 29, 2006, 08:06:14 PM » by mamasboys

I just made this tonight as a side dish and it is so yummy that I think this will now be a main dish staple for us this summer!

Broccoli Salad

1/2 lb chopped fresh broccoli (about 2 c chopped)
1/2 lb chopped fresh cauliflower (about 2 c chopped)
1/3 c chopped red onion (chop this very small)
3-4 slices cooked, chopped bacon (optional)
raisins (about 1/3 c)
sunflower seeds (about 1/4 c)

Chop broccoli and cauliflower very small and add remaining ingredients. Mix together ingredients for sauce then toss with veggies:

1 c Mayonaise
1/2 c sugar (you could probably substitute with 1/4 c honey w/ no problem)
2 T red wine vinegar

My kids looked at the salad and just said 'no thanks' but after I made them have a bite, they gobbled it up!! You could easily turn this into a main dish by adding chunks of cheese and maybe some cubed smoked turkey. This is yummy alone or stuffed into a whole what pita pocket.

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Re: Help! Need cold meal ideas!!!
« Reply #29 on: June 29, 2006, 09:23:14 PM » by heatheronthehill

Mmmmm! I love this salad!

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