What Do You Cook When The Summer Heat Doesn't Come?

Why? Well, it just hasn't been very hot.

With temperatures staying in the 70s much of the time, we've only been moved to turn on our little window air conditioner on a couple of occasions and we're spending more time in the kitchen.

We imagined our summer would be filled with panna cotta and stovetop desserts (which would have been wonderful), but instead we've been cranking up the oven and baking up a storm, pouring our fresh-picked summer fruit into pies, muffins, crumbles and buckles.

The unusually cool weather also has us lingering over the stove a little longer at dinner time. Being grill-less in the city usually makes us grumble a bit as we throw our dinner on the grill pan, cooking it as quickly as possible and retreating to a cooler room. But this year, our Dutch oven is getting a lot more summertime attention than usual. We've even made a couple of seasonal stews. It's all just a little bizarre.

But things may be returning to normal soon as the forecast has temperatures reaching into the 90s over the weekend. We'll believe it when we see it. And we have our panna cotta recipe ready just in case.

Are you experiencing an unusually cool summer too? How has it affected your cooking?

(Image: Flickr user jessicafm, licensed under Creative Commons)

I live in Paso Robles Wine Country, California, and while it's been cooler this year, it certainly hasn't been cold. However, that didn't stop me from making the NY Times' Soup au Pistou, which was featured on their site a few weeks back. It came out really well, and I didn't even mind having hot soup when it was 100 degrees out...haha.

http://lauraezolnoski.com/2009/07/24/soupe-au-pistou/

posted by Laura Zolnoski on August 4th 2009 at 11:33am
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It doesn't get hot in San Francisco (see Mark Twain's famous quote) so I'm a little frustrated that it's too cold to enjoy things like gazpacho and other chilled treats. We can't even enjoy dinner on the back deck without putting on sweaters and jeans!

posted by Kathryn Hill on August 4th 2009 at 12:01pm
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@Laura I'm from that area! Never thought I'd run into someone from there on this site.

It's always cold in San Fran during summer. I just wear a sweater while I eat my fresh tomatos and pasta. Rattatoullie is also a good dish since it can be served hot or cold and it's comforting and delicious. Cakes with fruit on or in them, or tarts with baked crusts work out well.

posted by Tiamat_the_Red on August 4th 2009 at 12:11pm
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Its been cooler than usual in Denver too, and I have cooked more than usual. I have a recipe for a peach bread pudding that I've made several times for picnics and family gatherings. It is a perfect warm summer treat.

posted by dmstudio on August 4th 2009 at 12:28pm
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It's been a cool summer in Kansas City too. I've also made Soup au Pistou (the Patricia Wells version), Rattatoullie and lots of peach pies (I'm overrun with fresh peaches from my in-law's orchard). I tried Molly Wizenberg's recipe for cream braised green cabbage. It was so good, but it would be kind of a odd dish for a normal summer.

posted by LauraEvrard on August 4th 2009 at 1:29pm
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I find myself hating all of you right now! ; ) I can't think of how many 100* days we've had in Austin this summer... waaaaay too many!

We're grilling. If you can't beat the heat, join it, with a cold beer and a little shade.

posted by ashleym (aka autzve on flickr) on August 4th 2009 at 2:38pm
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Actually, the coldest winter quote is attributed to Twain, although he actually never said it. A quick Google search will show what I'm saying.

Anyhow, I've been making stew to get myself through the summer. Today is the first day in a while where I can remember it being warm enough to go outside without a sweater.

posted by adiaphane on August 4th 2009 at 5:08pm
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