Cool Recipes for Hot Days

Uncooked Foods - Stuffed Mushrooms, Sliced Avocado Salad, Guacamole

© Linda Hatton

Apr 21, 2009

During the winter, hot foods can be a source of comfort and inner warmth. However, with the progression into summertime heat, cool foods can be a great relief. Not only are raw – or nearly raw - meals easy to prepare, but they also save on energy. Cooking appliances heat up the air along with your food, creating a need for more air conditioning usage and making it more difficult to stay cool.

The following are five simple uncooked food recipes :

No-Pasta Spaghetti

Serves 2 to 4

Ingredients:

• 3 Zucchinis
• 1 Can Olives
• 1 Green Pepper
• 1 Bunch Green Onions
• 1 Box Grape Tomatoes
• 1 Ear Corn
• 1 Bunch Cilantro
• 1 Bunch Mint
• Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Using a mandolin or cheese grater, grate the zucchini into long spaghetti-like strips. Set aside.
2. Chop olives, green pepper, green onions, cilantro, and mint. Halve grape tomatoes. Slice fresh corn off the cob.
3. Mix everything together, except for the zucchini, along with salt and pepper.
4. Place zucchini strips on dinner plate and scoop a generous helping of the mixed vegetables on top.

Stuffed Mushrooms

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 Pound White Mushrooms
• 1 Bunch Green Onions
• 1 Can Olives
• Salt and Pepper, to taste
• Splash Italian Dressing

Directions:

1. Clean mushrooms and remove stems. Set aside mushroom tops.
2. Chop mushroom stems, green onions, olives, salt and pepper. Mix together and cover with a splash of Italian dressing.
3. Place helping of mixture inside each mushroom, in the area where the stem has been removed.
4. Serve and enjoy.

Hummus Stuffed Mushrooms

Serves 1 to 2

Ingredients:

• 1 Pound White Mushrooms
• 1 Can Garbanzo Beans, drained, liquid reserved
• 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice, or to taste
• Olive Oil
• 2 Garlic Cloves
• 1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
• Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Remove mushroom stems to save for another recipe. Clean mushrooms and set aside.
2. Mix together everything else together in a food processor.
3. Fill the mushrooms with hummus. Serve and enjoy.

Sliced Avocado

Serves 1 to 2

Ingredients:

• 1 Avocado
• 1 Red Onion
• 1 Bunch Cilantro
• 1 Lime
• Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Cut avocado in half. Remove the skin and pit. Slice avocado and place it at an angle on one or two plates depending on how many servings you are preparing.
2. Halve lime. Squeeze lime juice over the top of each avocado portion.
3. Chop red onion and cilantro. Mix together along with salt and pepper.
4. Place heaping scoop on top of each avocado. Serve and enjoy.

Guacamole and Lettuce Leaves

Serves 2 to 4

Ingredients:

• 2 Avocados
• 1 Red Onion
• 1 Bunch Cilantro
• 1 Bell Pepper
• 1 Garlic Clove, Minced
• Lime Juice, to taste
• Salt and Pepper, to taste
• 1 Head Romaine Lettuce

Directions:

1. Cut avocados in half. Remove peel and pits. Mash avocado in bowl.
2. Chop red onion, cilantro, and bell pepper.
3. Mix chopped vegetables with lime juice, salt and pepper.
4. Separate romaine leaves. Wash and dry.
5. Place guacamole into serving blow and layer romaine leaves around the bowl in place of tortilla chips.
6. Serve and enjoy.

Using your imagination - along with your favorite foods - can produce a surprising number of new scrumptious and cooling recipes.

Avocados – Not Just for Guacamole

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