When the temperature outside is rising, it’s not always conducive or comfortable to put together a hot home-cooked meal – especially when the kitchen thermometer reading starts to meet the outside thermometer reading. Here are some tips to beat the heat in the kitchen all while still serving a healthy and delicious meal for your family. 

Go outside. Using outdoor appliances, such as a barbecue or smoker, is a delicious way to prepare a meal while keeping the excess heat outdoors. Consider adding a few burners to your outdoor kitchen for items that need to simmer for a few hours.

Serve cool recipes. Soups like gazpacho and vichyssoise are not only yummy but they are served cool and add a refreshing element to a dinner. Follow up with fruit and sorbet for dessert.

Order in. For an especially easy meal every now and then, let someone else do the cooking. Order takeout from a local restaurant or pull up DoorDash, Uber Eats or Postmates on your device and let everyone in the family pick their own supper. No oven required. 

Prep early in the day. If possible, get all your prep work done in the morning and then store it until you’re ready to start cooking. You’ll save a lot of energy during the hottest part of the day doing the tedious work like chopping and dicing. 

Try some no-cook meals. For an especially lazy cooking day, toss together a giant salad that doesn’t require any cooking at all. If you like items like chopped chicken or seafood thrown in, purchase them already prepared at your local deli counter. 

Take advantage of fresh produce. Not all vegetables need to be cooked, steamed or broiled. Enjoy local bounties raw and prepared with complementary ingredients. Think tomatoes with mozzarella cheese, veggie platters, avocado toast, etc. 

If you are searching for a new home, San Joaquin Valley Homes is still busy building homes throughout the Central Valley. Our model homes are open daily and virtual tours are available on our website for your convenience. Our model hours are Sunday and Monday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit www.sjvhomes.com for more information.