As I visit numerous on line boards and web groups/forums I see more and more people mentioning how they made their meal in crock pot. I am happy to see it is making a comeback. With all press which obesity crisis and how bad we all eat is getting, it gives me hope for many Americans. Now we just have to worry about how to get rest of them to eat healthier.

I lived in central Florida for fifteen long, hot years. This northern girl literally wilted on vine there. I just could not adapt to heat. My biggest complaint was that for some reason Florida was no longer regarded as a tropical climate, at least not when it came to business clothing. Whereas previously, a loose cotton or linen guayabera was obvious and acceptable choice for blistering weather, nowadays it could be a hundred degrees outside and yet everyone swelters in a suit. I don’t get it. Who is making these rules?

Mealtimes tend to have lots of rules, too. Growing up, mealtime was exactly same at my house, summer or winter. Other than occasional barbecued hamburger, my Mother produced same meals day in and day out all year long. 98 degrees, oven on, burners flaming and no air conditioning, it didn’t matter. As much as I love to cook, I’m no longer a slave to that line of thinking. When weather is tropical, so are my clothes and so are my meals. I say, lighten up! Try out these summer meal ideas and see how comfortable heat can be!