Oh. My. Word. It is so hot and I have been thinking all week about getting your great suggestions for ways that I do NOT have to turn on the oven. For some reason, our laundry/sewing room that is right off the kitchen does not have an air vent. So, we added a little window unit out there. That helps, but when I turn on the oven, the kitchen is hot for 2 hours and that window unit is killing itself trying to help cool off that half of the house and I suspect that does not help our electric bill.
Plus, the oven is really near S's chair where he would like to relax after supper and not sweat.
We have pretty compact house. The oven does not help.
I loved JulieMom's idea of using the crock pot. Honestly, I think of the crock pot as a winter thing. I don't know why? I guess I only know how to make soups and roast and stuff in there.
And I'd really like to share a bunch of recipes where you don't even have to use the stove, but I don't know any.
Except hot dogs. And other microwave food.
And I'm not really sure that qualifies as a "recipe" for "cooking."
So, you will have to use the stove for this one. But that's better than the oven, right?
When I got married, my college roommate's cousin was recovering from surgery and sat in her bed and wrote out their family recipes for me. It was one of my favorite wedding gifts. I knew her whole family so it really was a treasure to have her Mama's, and Granny's, and Aunt Shirley's recipes.
Italian Chicken Cutlets (her cousin's recipe)
4-6 chicken breast halves
1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup flour
1 (80z) envelope light Italian salad dressing mix
2 teaspoons dried whole Oregano
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil (I used canola though)
Combine breadcrumbs and next 5 ingredients. Dip chicken in eggs and dredge in breadcrumb mixture. (or use a Ziploc baggie) Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown, adding extra oil if necessary. Drain on paper towels.
Yes, it's kind of fried chicken, but it's healthier---I promise! My family LOVES these "chicken strips" as they call them. They really are good.
In the summer, I would serve this with fruit salad (chopped up and mixed with vanilla yogurt or Cool Whip), or a green salad (also no cooking). And then I would zap a veggie in the microwave.
And of course tea. That went without saying, right?
I sure wish I had more cool recipes for you, but JulieMom added that pesky little word "healthy" in there so that excludes my Pink Pie recipe---EVEN THOUGH there is no cooking involved. (If you want the recipe, I'll give it to you! Shh!)
Now head over the JulieMom's place today or tomorrow or even Sunday if you need to....and share your cool recipes with us. My husband and our electric bill will thank you. (Thanks for hosting JulieMom!!!!!)
I cut up some fresh fruit and made a fruit salad which is good for breakfast, lunch, snack or dessert. Oh I am eating it with some fat free Cool Whip though.
ReplyDeleteAnd you could make salads as well as using the crockpot. Salads are great for a cold lunch on a hot day.
I'm Australian and while I was growing up we'd make salad sandwiches. I like to make them here with Jewish Rye bread. I use mayo instead of butter, then put down some lettuce, cheese, grated carrot, alfalfa, lunch meat, sometimes beets and tomatoes (not necessarily in that order). So you can have stuff that is good for you (salad) and something cool (salad) while having it still fill you up (bread).
Anyway those are just a few ideas.
My kids would eat chicken cutlets every day of the week if I let them. Sounds yummy! You have me wondering what the pink pie recipe is, what is it? Let me take a look at it : )
ReplyDeleteBrenda,
ReplyDeleteI have two magic words for you, toaster oven. They even have ones with a rounded back to handle a pizza (which is the one I had) I love toaster oven. My favorite thing is a baked potato 2 hours on hightest setting, they come out creamy like mashed potatoes! it cools down quickly and doesnt heat the whole area like the oven and uses way less electricity. Plus you could have it on the other side of teh kitchen way from hubbies chair! Also it is easier for teh girls to cook with
That recipe looks great, Brenda.
ReplyDeleteA barbeque all my food during the summer. No oven. It is to hot. I make chicken and burgers I even grill my vegetables. I cook rice in the rice cooker and then throw some meat and veggies on it. Instant meal. No oven. yeah!
ReplyDelete