When it’s 92 degrees outside, the last thing I want to do is turn the oven on and make a hot house even worse! Here are 3 strategies I use to beat the heat:

1. Serve cold food

Quick to prepare, easy to serve, refreshing to eat. I love a cold dinner in the summer! All of these go over well at my house. Combine 2 or 3 for a complete meal:

• Salad  (Green, potato, macaroni, coleslaw—we love it all!)
• Sandwiches
• Cheese and crackers
• Veggie tray
• Bagel with cream cheese
• Fruit slices
• Deviled eggs
• Chips and salsa
• Yogurt parfait

2. Use a slow cooker

My family will gladly eat cold food. If yours insists on a hot meal, this is the easiest option. These machines are fabulous for containing heat even though the cooking period is long. Even better if you can place it in the garage or on a patio/deck (preferably in the shade). Items I love to make in a slow cooker include:

• Whole chicken
• Beef brisket
• Stew
• Soup
• Cake

3. Prepared foods

There’s no shame in picking up a rotisserie chicken or a carton of grilled chicken pieces from the grocery store. The cost is affordable (usually $5.00 on sale) and the aggravation savings is priceless! Normally, I just buy cooked meat because the mark-up on side dishes is so high, but do whatever works best for your situation.

Do you have a favorite “oven-free” recipe?