One of most unique aspects of living in the United States is the crazy amount of diversity between our day-to-day experiences–someone in California could be returning from her lunch break at the same time as an East Coaster is beginning the evening’s commute, and a couple in Phoenix can have an outdoor holiday dinner while a family in Ohio huddles by a fireplace, avoiding snow banks and sub-zero temperatures. But if there’s one time of year where we can all feel unified in collective frustration, it’s summer. Whether you’re a heat-lover who lives for days spent basking in the sun’s rays on the beach, or someone who considers leaving your palace of AC a verifiable suicide attempt, most of us can agree on the fact that keeping our bodies cool all summer long is crucial to staying healthy and sane.
We all spend a lot of time figuring out ways to keep the outside of our bodies from burning up, whether it’s by looking for dollar mini-fans that spray water on our faces, skinny-dipping in ice-cold lakes, or trying to discover the cheapest-possible and longest-lasting drink that’ll allow for hours of basking in Starbucks’ chilly air-conditioning. Want to change things up? Here are a few recipes that’ll help cool your insides this weekend and beyond:
White Strawberry Lemon Sangria
The folks at Kitchen Treaty have come up with a way to make everyone’s favorite summer wine beverage even tastier and more delicious. Apples, lemons, and strawberries soaked in rum add beauty and a little extra punch.
For some reason, gazpacho has become the catch-all term in the US for ‘cold soup,’ when in reality, there is an extraordinary variety of fresh veggies, spices, and other ingredients that can be blended together to create wildly different versions of this Spanish classic. The Food and Wine blog has over a dozen recipes and a set of tips to ensure that any one you choose turns out amazing.
Cold Rice Noodles With Peanut-Lime Chicken
The Smitten Kitchen has been a long-time online hotspot for all things cute and delicious. Though this recipe seems fairly time-consuming, there are really just a lot of little steps. Some blending here, some whisking there, and in no time, you’ll be chowing down on a tasty, restaurant-worthy meal.
If you’re not already cold enough after everything else, this granita recipe, thanks to Our Kitchen Sink, is guaranteed to chill you to the core. Blood oranges provide fabulous color without forsaking flavor, and only three other ingredients (lemon juice, sugar, and pepper) means you won’t break the bank to create this simple treat.
Images Courtesy of I Sing the Body Electric, Kitchen Treaty, Food and Wine, Smitten Kitchen, and Our Kitchen Sink
