WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO TURN ON THE OVEN . . .

                                                                             

It's summer and it's dang hot here in Florida. Too hot to turn on the oven for sure. But you have to eat! Grilling is a good alternative to the oven. Below are some selected grilling recipes to get you through the heat.

First up is Asian Flank Steak. Marinate this overnight, make a big butt salad, grill your steak, and you have a hot weather meal and you don't heat up your house.

Another grilled meal you can try is Soy and Garlic Pork Chops. This recipe also requires marinating. You can add a baked sweet potato, and grill some string beans on the grill beside your chops, and you are set. I've also served it with raw sugar peas.

If you don't feel like grilling, you can use your stove-top and microwave.Thai Shrimp and Broccoli is a one pot Asian influenced dish. Follow the directions and you'll have very little clean-up when you are finished.

Another pasta dish you can make is Cappellini with Sausage and Spinach. This will require a few more dirtied dishes than the Thai shrimp but it's well worth it.

Like gazpacho? This recipe is for a soup similar to gazpacho. You can eat it cold if you wish, although I prefer it to be at room temperature in the summer because I think more of the fresh veggie taste comes through better. Try Chile Cheese Soup and use up all those summer tomatoes.

Technically, you can use only the microwave for this next recipe. For Buffalo Chicken Dip, you need 3 cooked chicken breasts. If you are trying to stay cool, grill the chicken or nuke it. Serve with celery, carrots, or endive leaves.

Looking for a nice cool dessert? Try some Strawberry Pretzel Salad.