Turn Down The Kitchen Heat

The summer heat can put a damper on your inner master chef. Dishes that require long periods of stove and oven use are the quickest way to turn up not only the kitchen temperature, but also your daily calorie count. Summer is the perfect time to enrich your diet with low-calorie, antioxidant-rich fruits, vegetables and herbs. Most importantly, recipes that require little to no stove use keep the kitchen sizzle free. Visit a local farmer’s market and take your pick from a bounty of fresh produce. During cooler hours, boil chicken in advance for shredded chicken salads, sandwiches and tacos that can be thrown together quickly, or consider picking up a ready-made rotisserie chicken from the grocery store to save time in the kitchen.

Here are a few ideas to keep your kitchen cool and your metabolism pumping.

Start with a homemade low-calorie salsa like this “Salsa Cruda”, which only requires a few chops of the knife, and a couple of turns in the food processor.

Salsa Cruda

• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 large chili (your preference), chopped
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 11/2 pounds tomatoes, quartered
• 1  can of fire-roasted tomatoes (14.5 ounces)
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/4 cup cilantro

Get the full recipe.

Make the best of the summer sun and grill your vegetables outside. Here’s an easy recipe for

Spicy Grilled Corn Salad with Black Beans and Queso Fresco

• 3 ears fresh corn, husked
• 1 medium red onion
• 1 large red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 small canned chipotle in adobo
• 1 tablespoon adobo sauce (from can of chipotle in adobo)
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1 can of black beans (15.5 ounces)
• 5 ounces queso fresco or feta, crumbled
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped

Get the full recipe.