We’re going through some kind of heatwave this week, and I finally understand why everyone has been warning us about the summer heat where we live out west. It’s H-O-T. Then again, I still remember what winter felt like back east (it was C-O-L-D) so I’m not complaining.

I’ve been drinking my share of plain cold water and cold seltzer, trying to stay cool and hydrated. I also find myself reaching for iced coffee when I can afford the extra caffeine. I like smoothies for breakfast, whip up fruit slushies in the blender when it’s snack time … I’d drink ice cream too, if I could. I think I ingest food mostly in liquid form when the temperatures start rising, and I suspect I’m not the only one. So, in an effort to expand our summer beverage repertoire, tell us:

What are some of your favorite summer drinks?

A Sicilian I used to work with swears by piping hot espressos and tea. He’s convinced that hot drinks can actually to cool your body down. I’ve also seen a lot of hot tea served in the middle of sweltering afternoons in India, so I’ve always wondered about this. Studies have shown that hot drinks make your body think it’s really hot outside, and that triggers sweating, which is your body’s way of cooling itself. But they warn it’s not as simple as that. It depends on other factors, like how humid it is outside and what you’re wearing. Because sweating helps only if it actually evaporates from your skin. Personally, I don’t like sweating, and if there’s no way for it to evaporate, you don’t quite get that promised cooling effect. You might instead get a hot-and-sticky effect. Not fun.

So I stick to my cold drinks, but wonder if anyone else might have a different experience. We want to hear all your summer drink ideas. Come share below!

I’ve been waiting for summer to hit the usually-cooler cities everywhere so I’d have an excuse to talk about ice cream. (I’m always looking for a reason to bring up ice cream.) Yes, it doesn’t have to be warm outside to enjoy it, but I figured it might make me appear more seasonal than obsessed if I waited until summer.

We’ve discussed ice cream here before, talking about tips and tricks to homemade ice cream, and I’ve bombarded you with quite a few ice cream roundups in the past. Whether homemade or store-bought, ice cream is the perfect summer treat. So easy, too! Just grab from the freezer, scoop, and eat. Instant gratification.

But today, we’ll take a bit of a different approach. After all, there’s more than one way to enjoy ice cream. Which is always a good thing. Today, we want to know:

What’s your favorite thing to make with ice cream?

Do you like ice cream cakes (like that incredible Banana Split Ice Cream Cake you see above)? Ice cream sandwiches? Soda floats? Super thick milkshakes? Or are you against all things that complicate ice cream and firmly believe all it needs is a spoon?

These days, I’ve been enjoying that wonderfully simple Italian affogato. All it is, really, is a scoop of gelato or ice cream with a shot of hot espresso poured over it. Sometimes I’ll add some Bailey’s in there, but that’s it—just one extra step after scooping the ice cream. Almost feels like cheating.

Kids love ice cream in any form, and an afternoon treat that includes it in any way is always a big hit with them. With adults, too! So let’s broaden our ice cream repertoire this summer and find even more ways to enjoy it!

To help save our beer-loving sanity, recover space in our bars, and for the satisfaction of being able to put good ingredients to use, let's brainstorm together!

What can you do with an assortment of beer that you don't particularly care to drink?

Grilling is all about letting the meat shine, and usually, you don't need much more than a simple sprinkling of salt and pepper. But sometimes, you want to add a bit more flavor. That's where a marinade comes in.