Keep it Saucy San Diego! Summer treats to beat the heat

LA JOLLA It s hot out there a perfect time to avoid hot food and assemble specific cooling cuisine Here are specific quick summer treat ideas to enjoy Cool hearty gazpacho minutes plus hours chill time Ingredients Whole Foods or garden tomatoes garlic watercress cucumber bell pepper olive oil goat cheese with herbs riced cauliflower sesame-cooked tofu or seafood Whole Foods or Costco Cholula hot salsa red wine vinegar Tools needed Blender sharp knife cutting board garlic press two soup bowls and a small cooking pan Prep and serve For servings cook cup riced cauliflower until barely softened blend cauliflower cups rinsed tomatoes heaping tablespoons of cream cheese dashes of red wine vinegar tablespoons olive oil I use imported Mistra Estates splashes of Cholula cup spicy salsa crushed garlic cloves chill in bowl for hours in fridge pour into serving bowls embellish with water cress chopped bell pepper cucumber sesame tofu can substitute crab or other seafood and small wedge of goat cheese with herbs Enjoy Fancy summer figs Fancy summer figs Photo by Margo Schwab Special to La Jolla Village News minutes Ingredients Whole Foods or Costco pitted dates goat cheese honey Whole Foods or garden figs and mint Tools needed Cutting board sharp knife plates Prep and serve Cut desired number of figs in half and place on plates cut side up for each half place on top in middle a small dab of goat cheese about the size of peas press middle of goat cheese slightly and add a drop or two of honey push in a mint leave gently add a small piece of date Enjoy Too lazy to cook alternatives Costa Brava or Caf Sevilla