The Anti-Oven Summer Dinner

When its 90 degrees outside. When you don't have air conditioning in your car. When your clothes are stuck to your back and you wish you could go to work naked. How can you even think of turning your oven on?

When you can't bear to add any more heat to this Atlanta summer, make a meal that doesn't require the oven. From start to finish-this is one of the most refreshing, flavorful, colorful meals you can make for your friends. Its inspired by french cafes, adirondak chairs on the lake, sunsets and glasses of wine.



First, a cool cucumber soup spiced with jalepeno and buttermilk. All in the food processor, with onion & sour cream. Served in wine glasses with tangy cherry tomato salad. Cool and spicy. Tangy and refreshing.



Next, a Nicoise Salad. The quintessential french salad. Sections of ingredients from the far. Seared tuna with sea salt. Crispy haricots verts. Soft, buttery potatos. Tiny oily, salty nicoise olives. Creamy eggs. Coated with a chunky dressing of tarragon, parsley, dijon mustard, olive oil, cider vinegar, garlic, and paper thin cut onions.



And last, the simplest dessert. Balsamic Vinegar, Sugar, and fresh strawberries. Finishing soft and complex on the tongue.

Who needs the oven when you have food like this?

And last-a few shots of Madeleine drinking out of my new French water glasses...I know its gauche to love your pet to death, but could she be more gorgeous drinking out of this glass?