Continuing our theme from last week’s Cold Sandwiches post, this week we’ll be featuring some of the amazing cold dips you’ve submitted. Because when it’s been hot all day and evening starts to roll in, sometimes there’s nothing better than a nice cold drink and something yummy to nibble on that’s quick, easy, and more likely calls for the food processor rather than the stove.

Note: You won’t be seeing any salsa and guacamole recipes in here because, let’s face it, they deserve their own post. (And they’ll get one, too. Trust me.)

Let’s start off with one of the most popular dips around: hummus. It’s healthy, extremely customizable, and all it calls for is a food processor and a few minutes of your time. We’ve even got a white bean version for those who don’t like chickpeas.

Clockwise from top left: PW’s Classic Hummus, Spinach and Feta Hummus from whatsgabycooking, White Bean Dip from stickycook, Homemade Hummus from ThreeManyCooks, Roasted Red Pepper Hummus from Heather, and Beet Hummus submitted by elanaspantry (courtesy of Elise of Simply Recipes).

 
 
 
If you’d rather skip the beans altogether, try one of these other dips. They’re all cool and creamy, and some of them can also double as a burger topping if someone’s manning the grill for dinner. (Notice that I didn’t say that you were manning the grill. You’re welcome.)

Clockwise from top left: Ree’s Baba Ghanoush, Baby!, Edamame Dip from foodwoolf, (Almost) Chuy’s Creamy Jalapeno Dip from ruth, Rosemary and Thyme Spread from ericalea, Lemon Asparagus Cheese Dip from jodiemo, Caramelized Onion Dip from jenniferperillo, and Smoked Tuna Dip from rolltidegrl26.

 
 
 
For those who want a chunkier, less-smooth dip, or something that just smacks of down home comfort, any one of the recipes below would be an excellent choice. Hmmm. I wonder if I can pull off an all-dip dinner and pass it off as healthy because it has vegetables.

Clockwise from top left: Mexican Dip from Java Girl, Deviled Egg Dip from Karly Campbell, Mexican Layer Dip from Ree, Southwest Corn Dip from Karenpie, Taco Dip from Michelle (Brown Eyed Baker), BLT Dip from aliwicious, and Pimento Cheese from barefootbelle.

 
 
 
And finally, we’ve got a few sweet dips for you to enjoy. Because not all dips have to be savory, and a nice Nutella, caramel, or peanut butter dip and some fruit make an excellent snack for the kids to enjoy. You can also sneak a taste or two without feeling guilty, because hey, you just want to make sure it tastes good, right? You’re just looking out for them.

 
Ah. The sacrifices we parents make for our kids. Just look at what we have to sample for their sake.

Clockwise from top left: Creamy Peanut Butter Dip from mcmom, Fat Free Cheesecake Dip from misshospitality, Nutella Cream Cheese Fruit Dip from jamieanne, Vanilla-Mint Yogurt Dip from Briana, and Healthy “Caramel” Dip from jmjacques.

 
 
 
Whether it’s something to enjoy along with your evening drink, or a snack to munch on during the day, Cold Dips are a great way to get a delicious dish ready in mere minutes without having to fire up the stove. Which is especially helpful if you’ve already started on that drink and the sangria might have gone to your head a bit. Although, on second thought, you might not want to handle the food processor either. You know, heavy machinery and all.

 
I’m just watching out for you. Because I love you like you were all my kids. Now march yourselves into the kitchen and help me clean up.

 
Anyone fall for that? Anyone?

 
Summer is upon us, and for many folks, that means heat … kids home all day … more heat … kids playing and constantly getting hungry … and even more heat. Between the soaring temperatures, chasing active children around (where in tarnation do they get all that energy?) and the increased demands on laundry caused by copious amounts of sweat and grime, often the last thing you want to do is make something hot to eat. What you need is something that doesn’t require firing up the stove or the oven, but also manages to be more nutritious and less guilt-inducing than serving ice cream for lunch and flavored ice cubes for dessert.

Sandwiches make excellent summer fare. They’re easy to make, and kids love them. They can be made into wraps, or served on a salad for a healthier, lower-carb option. You can make them ahead, too, which means you might actually have some time to catch your breath and put your feet up before getting a meal ready.

Our collection today features cold sandwiches, and the most heating you’ll have to do for these is toasting the bread. Which you don’t even have to do if you don’t want to. We’ll save the grilled sandwiches and paninis for another time. This post is all about keeping things cool, man. Let’s get started!

First up, chicken salad sandwiches. You can make these with leftover chicken (or turkey) or even rotisserie chicken, which adds a nice roasted flavor to the salad.

Clockwise from top left: Chicken Salad Sandwiches from callimakesdo, Curry Apple and Leftover Turkey Salad Sandwich from steamykitchen, Tarragon Chicken Salad with Pecans and Cranberries from theparsleythief, Fancy Chicken Salad from golokitchen, Chicken Salad with Peas and Herb Mustard Vinaigrette from multiplydelicious, and Crunchy Chicken Salad from ConContwin2.

 
 
 
We also have a few egg salad sandwiches to show you. And okay, I realize you’ll have to boil the eggs, but you can do that in the evening and have them ready to go the next day. There’s even a mayo-free version for those trying to stay away from the white stuff, and a grown-up version with olives and oregano. If you want to skip the eggs altogether, have a look at the mock egg salad below, made with tofu.

Clockwise from top left: Egg Salad with Kalamatas, Red Onion, and Fresh Oregano from ThreeManyCooks, Curry Egg Salad Sandwich from A Cozy Kitchen, Ella’s Egg Salad from Chez Us, an egg-less Mock Egg Salad with Cashew Mayo from myrecessionkitchen, Mini Cranberry Egg Salad Pitas from jillscleankitchen, and Mayo-Free Egg Salad from Natalie (Perry’s Plate).

 
 
 
Rounding out the big trio of salad sandwiches, here are some tuna salad options you might like, including one that also uses shrimp to pack some extra punch.

Clockwise from top left: Garden Tuna Salad with Olives from Angie McGowan, Mediterranean Tuna Salad from polwig,a mayo-free Mediterranean Tuna Salad from bringingupboys, and Tuna and Shrimp Sandwich from hellosal.

 
 
 
To change things up a bit, here are some other cold sandwich choices that depart from the traditional meat salad filling. Take a look at the fancy yet incredibly simple fig and brie sandwich that you can whip up for unexpected company, or to send to that lovely mom next door whose geraniums your son accidentally trampled on while playing tag the other day.

 
Figs and brie can often cover a multitude of sins. And sneaker tracks.

Clockwise from top left: Hearty Apple Sandwich from houndymama, Summer Veggie Sandwich from tamilovinglife, Summertime Tomato Sandwich from daxphillips, Fig, Brie, and Spinach Sandwiches from Laura Zolnoski, and Turkey and Roasted Red Pepper Sandwich from starcrossedb.

 
 
 
How about you? How do you keep cool in the summer? Around these parts, we’ve got about two more months of this heat, so we’ll take all the suggestions we can get!

  I’ve been meaning to do something here to celebrate the new (well, not so new now) Comfort Food category over at The Pioneer Woman Cooks. It’s loaded with goodies like fried round steak and potatoes au gratin, but for today, I want to focus on one of the most beloved comfort foods of all […]