We have a rather small place that has a too small air conditioning unit. This time of year I can't really cook evening meals in the oven or stove without getting the house way too hot. Need ideas about meals for microwave, George Foreman, Crockpot etc.

Need helpful ideas. I can try to cook in cooler times of day like after the sun goes down or early in the day on my days off but that isn't always feasible with working 2 jobs.

Thanks for any ideas gang!

Does all your food need to be hot? Would a cold pasta or veggie salad with some previously grilled chicken be refreshing at the end of a long day? Can you pick a day and do all the baking at once so you have meat all week to toss in salads, sandwiches, wraps? Or cooking a whole chicken in a crock? Would that help?

Sorry, no microwave ideas - it's basically only used as a sponge sanitizer in our home! But you could also cook up a large lot of food one day, freeze and nuke as needed!

I do a like to cook almost stew chicken breast in the crock pot - I have gotten so used to my EFL meals like the enchiladas and such. I picked up a tukey breast today - I can't find the ones now without the bone so I am hoping it will fit in my crock pot. I know I can use my PC stoneware in the oven but can't put the lid on deep dish baker - microwave is a smaller one

We will probably be doing the grill more - we did the salmon on the grill last night
I am going to try the EFL turkey meatloaf in the crock pot tonight

We are going to try the Portebella pizzas on the grill tonight but I am not sure how that will work. Experimentation time!

cott cheese/yogurt
fruit/cottage cheese
canned tuna/chicken on whole wheat bread

soup - barley, chicken, chicken broth, veggies

Do you have a toaster oven that could handle the meatloaf? Or what about those counter top convection ovens? They supposedly cook in less time. Hmmm, I wonder if they would work if you plugged them in outside! Yes, roll the oven outside!! LOL!!!

Could you cover the stoneware pot with foil in place of the lid or does it not turn out the same results? I've not had any experience with low and slow cooking in the oven!

Sharen- you are too cute. I am going to use my microwave for my sponge :-)

Could you cook things in advance and then just use the microwave to re-heat? Maybe it's just me but I always think most of my meals are better the second time around.

I use the grill a lot. You can cook almost anythig on it and it gives such good flavor with the right spices or marinating times.

Our toaster oven is toast LOL! Can't put foil in microwave for stoneware. We had a taco salad tonight. My blood sugar got a ltitle low during our weight training so the energy dropped a bit.

What about cooking low and slow in the stoneware in the oven? I like the idea of having a big cooking day to get ready for the week. Sure does save time around here! But the hot kitchen part... can't relate... the high today was 71!

Hey kat here are a couple of recipes I use for my George Foreman Grill and boy are they yummy in my tummy....


A simple marinade flavors tender chicken breasts, which are grilled on a dual contact grill for a super quick dinner.
Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 6 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 Tbsp. oil
• 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Preparation:

In ziplock plastic food bag or shallow pan combine honey, juices, salt, pepper, garlic and oil. Add chicken, seal bag, and turn to coat chicken. Marinate in refrigerator for 2-3 hours. Remove chicken from marinade. If you want to serve the marinade as a sauce, bring it to a boil in a small saucepan and boil hard for 3-4 minutes until reduced. Grill chicken on two sided grill for 4-6 minutes until thoroughly cooked. Serve with reduced marinade as sauce if desired. 6 servings


This simple recipe takes just minutes to prepare and cook. Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 (6 oz.) tuna steaks
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp. lemon pepper seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. grated lemon peel

Preparation:

Combine oil, lemon pepper, salt, and lemon peel and rub into tuna steaks. Cover and refrigerate tuna for 1-2 hours. Cook on George Foreman two sided grill for 2-3 minutes per each 1/2" of meat thickness, until done as desired. Can also cook on charcoal or gas grill, 5-8 minutes, turning once, until done. 4 servings


And this one is my favorite....Scrumptious......mouth is watering...........

These simple sandwiches are fun to make and eat. I love the combination of teriyaki seasonings with chicken and pineapple.
Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 6 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 Tbsp. teriyaki baste and glaze sauce
• 1 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds
• 1 tsp. grated ginger root
• 1 Tbsp. honey
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 Tbsp. teriyaki baste and glaze sauce
• 8 oz. can pineapple slices, drained
• 8 slices sourdough bread or whole wheat
• 4 slices Swiss cheese
• 3 Tbsp. mayonnaise

Preparation:

In small bowl, combine mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp. teriyaki sauce, sesame seeds, ginger root and honey and blend well. Cover and refrigerate.
Brush 2 Tbsp. teriyaki sauce on chicken breasts and set aside. Pat pineapple slices dry with paper towel and grill on George Foreman two sided grill until tender and hot, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from grill. Grill chicken breasts on George Foreman two sided grill for 4-6 minutes until thoroughly cooked.
Slice chicken. Then spread reserved mayonnaise mixture on one side of each piece of bread. Make a sandwich with grilled chicken slices, cheese, and grilled pineapple. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the outsides of the sandwiches. Grill in the two-sided grill until bread is toasted and cheese is melted. Cut sandwiches in half and serve immediately. 4 - 6 servings




You can make this excellent grilled salad in the dead of winter, with an indoor grill, or in the summer over charcoal or gas. It's so delicious.
Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Ingredients:

• 15 oz. can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 10 oz. pkg. mixed salad greens
• 1 avocado, peeled and chopped
• 5 plum tomatoes, chopped
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 lb. boneless sirloin steak
• 1 cup French salad dressing
• 2 cups crushed tortilla chips

Preparation:

In large bowl combine beans, salad greens, avocado, tomatoes, and cheese and toss to combine. Add salsa and toss to combine.
Brush steak with 2 Tbsp. french salad dressing and grill steak on two sided dual contact grill for 5-8 minutes until medium doneness. Remove steak from grill, cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Slice against the grain into 1/4" thick slices and place on salad. Drizzle with french dressing and top with tortilla chips. Serve immediately. 8 servings

Also you can go here and get some great healthy Crockpot recipes I use them every now and then when I don't feel like cooking. Check it out!!

http://busycooks.about.com/od/health...hycrockpot.htm

How about a small propane grill? I love to throw chicken, fish, or really anything on the grill. And, here in Florida, I don't cook indoors very often because of the heat.

Thanks guys this really helps - It is going to be a long summer. I was hoping we would have a house by the fall but doesn't look like it. Perhaps by next summer.

Hey guys I put my sponge in the dishwasher on the top shelf everytime I run a load. Work like a champ. Cindy