Too Hot to Cook? Chill Out with a Cool Soup

It almost sounds crazy, the thought of serving bowls full of soup in the middle of summer. If you've always thought of soup as a fall or winter dish that'll warm you up, it's time to rethink this dinnertime classic. Soups come in all forms – including cold gazpachos and chilled spins on old favorites. And they're the perfect solution for a quick meal when temperatures are just too hot to pop dinner in the oven.

Need inspiration? Our Chilled Corn Soup with Shrimp, Avocado and Tomato Relish is as colorful as it is packed with in-season produce. Pair our Cool Minted Pea Soup with shrimp seasoned with fresh orange juice and zest. Or, take the ingredients of delicious Green Goddess dressing and make our Chilled Green Goddess Soup with Open-Face Shrimp Lettuce Cups. And if you haven't tried gazpacho, our Seared Scallops with White Gazpacho Sauce is a light, quick and easy dish.

These summer-ready meals will help you beat the heat without swearing off your stove completely. Who would've thought you'd be sipping soup in the warmest weeks of the season!

Sweltering in the Heat? Make Your Own Ice Cream, No Ice-Cream Maker Required!

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Nothing screams summer like ice cream. Whether it's scooped into a cone and dripping down your hand in the heat or served in a chilled bowl with fresh fruit toppings, there's really nothing better to treat yourself to on a warm day. But you don't have to trek to your favorite local ice cream shop – you can make clean ice cream of your own and have your favorite flavors in the freezer all summer long.

It's super easy to make your own ice cream at home. You don't even need a fancy ice cream maker! With nothing but a few ingredients, a blender and your freezer, you can create absolutely delicious varieties. And we even have clean, dairy-free and vegan recipes that will satisfy your sweet tooth and cravings for truly creamy ice cream.

What's your favorite flavor? Once you try our easy, almost effortless ice cream and sorbet recipes, you're going to have a new go-to.

Treat yourself to one of these three indulgent recipes »

Quick and Easy Summer Solutions:

MEAL PLAN

Spend Less Time in the Kitchen With Our Simple Meal Plan

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Healthy meals don't have to be complicated. Our Keep It Simple meal plan features one week of clean meals, all of which are easy to prepare, nutrient-rich and wholly satisfying. Best of all, they require very little time in the kitchen.

COOKING TIPS

Want to Save Time? Don't Try These Crazy Food Hacks

Viral internet food hacks are supposed to save time – but they can be a lot more time-consuming and frustrating than they seem. Instead of wasting time and potentially putting your kitchen at risk, skip these food hacks. They really are too good to be true!

RECIPES

Portable, Picnic-Friendly Meals You Can Make Anywhere

Need ideas for meals you can take to the beach, your favorite park or outdoor concerts? We've got the inspiration you need with ready-to-travel cooler meals that can be cooked right on a portable grill. All you have to do is prep them!

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What we've been reading this week:

Saffron is so flavorful – but did you know it can also improve your mood? Better Nutrition explains the benefits of this sought-after spice.

Cool down with a scoop of perfectly creamy vegan ice cream; Vegetarian Times has a list of the best pints to try.

30 minutes of daily exercise might not be the gold standard anymore. Oxygen is sharing the results of a surprising new study.

If you love garlic, get excited: Better Nutrition has a whole list of reasons why this pungent herb is great for health and healing.

Have you tried a grilled salad? It's the perfect summer food, so fire up your BBQ and try Oxygen's protein-packed grilled salad recipes!

Outside shares one writer's personal story of going through a vegetarian bootcamp, learning how to keep meals exciting without any meat.

If you're having trouble falling asleep at night, relax before you head to bed with this gentle yoga sequence from Yoga Journal.

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