It’s 100 Degrees Out! What’s For Dinner?

Summary

The website provides a quick and easy recipe for a no-cook dinner to avoid heating the kitchen during hot weather, featuring a pancetta and apple salad with garlic bread.

Abstract

In the midst of a heatwave in Denver, the author shares a simple recipe that avoids prolonged use of the oven or stove, ensuring a comfortable indoor climate. The meal consists of a salad made with mixed greens, smoked almonds, crisp apple, and sweet Vidalia onion dressing, paired with crispy pancetta served atop take-and-bake garlic bread. The recipe is designed to serve a family of four but can be adjusted for different family sizes. The author also provides tips on where to find specific ingredients like the salad dressing, garlic bread, pancetta, and mixed greens, suggesting major retailers like Walmart or Target.

Opinions

The author emphasizes the discomfort of cooking with heat-producing appliances during hot weather and the preference for a quick, cool meal preparation.
They suggest that fresh ingredients, such as the garlic bread, are preferable to frozen, indicating a value for quality and flavor.
The author provides a personal adaptation of the recipe for a smaller household, demonstrating flexibility and the potential for customization.
There is an implied opinion that convenience, in terms of sourcing ingredients from major retailers, is important for the reader.
The author seems to appreciate the balance of flavors and textures in the meal, as indicated by the combination of crisp apples, smoked almonds, and crispy pancetta.

How to feed a family without heating your kitchen

We’re having a heat spell here in Denver. Today’s temperature hit 100 degrees. The last thing I want during miserable weather like that is cooking something where I’ll have the oven on for an hour, or have multiple pots boiling away on the stovetop. This quick, easy meal serves a family of 4 just fine.

Directions:

Coarsely chop smoked almonds.

Core the apple. Thinly slice slivers of apple, then cut them in half to make them bite-sized.

In a large salad bowl, combine mixed greens with chopped almonds, sliced apple, and sweet Vidalia onion dressing. Set bowl aside.

Follow directions on take-and-bake garlic bread to cook it. Separate the top and bottom portions so they are both brown. Your oven should be on for no more than 15 minutes.

Place a large non-stick skillet on medium heat. Add 1 tsp oil. When the pan is hot, cook the pancetta 2 or 3 slices at a time, 1–2 minutes/side, until crispy. Turn cooked pancetta onto a paper-towel-lined plate to cool. Your stovetop should be on for no more than 10 minutes.

Cut the garlic bread into 4 pieces (cut the separated loaf in half). Arrange 1 1/2 slices of pancetta on top of each piece.

Serve pancetta-topped garlic bread with a side of the apple salad.

You can adjust the recipe to feed a smaller or larger family. Since it’s just my husband and me, I cut the mixed greens down to 3 ounces, use half the loaf of garlic bread, and only 3 slices of pancetta. Store your opened pancetta package in a resealable bag to keep it from drying out. I know it’s already dried… but it’s not dried out.

If you’re not sure where to get the various ingredients, I use Ken’s Steak House lite sweet Vidalia dressing. That’s available at major discount retailers, like Walmart or Target. Your local grocery store may carry a different variety.

Take-and-bake garlic bread is also available at Super Walmarts or Targets that have an in-house bakery. Frozen garlic bread is available at most grocery stores.

Sliced pancetta is usually with the deli meats at grocery stores. And pre-packaged mixed greens are found in the convenience area of the fresh vegetable department.

Stay cool and enjoy!

It’s 100 Degrees Out! What’s For Dinner?

How to feed a family without heating your kitchen

Ingredients:

Directions: