Chilling out with elegance

It’s a hot summer, all right. At least, it is so far as we enjoy the month of July. The warmth is wonderful in many ways, but it can also be a bit overwhelming. Even when your car, home, and every store you go to is air conditioned, on some days it’s just too hot to do much.

On days like that, you might not feel like cooking but to keep it simple yet (of course) elegant.

We have a few ideas for beautiful but almost effortless meals you can create on those hot-hot days or while you’re at the cottage, or when you just want to, you know…chill.

Chilled avocado and cucumber soup with smoked salmon

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 ripe avocados

2 English cucumbers, peeled and chopped

1 cup plain Greek yogurt

½ cup buttermilk (or milk)

Juice of 1 lime

2 tablespoons fresh dill

2 green onions

Salt and freshly ground pepper

200 g smoked salmon

Fresh dill and cucumber ribbons for garnish

Directions

• Blend the avocados, cucumbers, yogurt, buttermilk, lime juice, dill and green onions until silky smooth.

• Season well with salt and pepper.

• Chill for at least one hour.

• Ladle into chilled bowls and top with curls of smoked salmon, cucumber ribbons and fresh dill.

• Serve with crusty artisan bread and, if you wish, a nice white wine.

Burrata cheese with heirloom tomatoes, peaches and basil

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 balls burrata

3 or 4 heirloom tomatoes

2 ripe peaches

Fresh basil leaves

Good olive oil

Balsamic glaze

Flaky sea salt

Fresh black pepper

Directions

• Arrange sliced tomatoes and peaches on a platter.

• Tear the burrata over top. Scatter with basil.

• Drizzle generously with olive oil and a little balsamic glaze.

• Finish with flaky salt and cracked pepper.

• Serve with warm baguette.

Mediterranean picnic platter

Some things to include for a simple, cool picnic:

• Hummus

• Marinated olives

• Roasted red peppers

• Marinated artichokes

• Prosciutto

• Smoked turkey

• Good cheeses

• Cherry tomatoes

• Cucumbers

• Grapes

• Toasted pita

• Artisan bread

Lemon blueberry icebox cake

Serves 8

Ingredients

2 cups whipping cream

250 g cream cheese, softened

½ cup icing sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

Zest of 2 lemons

2 tablespoons lemon juice

About 2 cups fresh blueberries

1 package graham crackers

Directions

• Beat the cream until stiff peaks form.

• In another bowl, beat together cream cheese, icing sugar, vanilla, lemon zest and lemon juice.

• Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.

In an 8-inch square dish:

• Spread a thin layer of filling.

• Add a layer of graham crackers.

• Spread more filling.

• Scatter blueberries.

• Repeat until all ingredients are used, finishing with cream.

• Top with extra blueberries and lemon zest.

• Refrigerate overnight.

(The crackers soften into delicate cake-like layers.)

Raspberry chocolate mousse parfait

Serves 6

Ingredients

2 cups whipping cream

300 g dark chocolate, melted and cooled

2 tablespoons icing sugar

2 cups fresh raspberries

Chocolate shavings

Mint leaves

Directions

• Whip the cream with icing sugar until soft peaks form.

• Fold half the cream into the cooled chocolate to make a mousse.

• Layer chocolate mousse, fresh raspberries and plain whipped cream into wine or other elegant glasses.

• Top with chocolate curls and mint.

Chill for two hours.

***

Happy July! We hope you slow down, take it easy, stay cool, and enjoy a beautiful Ottawa summer.

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