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The perfect summer meal takes less time to prepare than it does to eat, looks and tastes delicious-and requires no oven at all! These five recipes can be served together for a satisfying meal, or prepared separately for any occasion. This summer, spend your time cooling off at the beach or pool, not wiping sweat out of your eyes in a scorching kitchen.

1. Endless Summer Salad

The perfect summer salad has just four ingredients: a green, a fruit, a nut, and a cheese. Which ones? The possibilities are limited only by your creativity. One mouth-watering combination goes like this:

2 bunches spinach
4 cups sliced raspberries
1 cup crushed walnuts
1 cup blue cheese

Another winner is mango with macadamia nuts and mild cheddar. Or how about apple with cashews and Gouda? These all work great over spinach, but if you crave a crunchier texture try iceberg or green leaf lettuce.

For the dressing, use equal parts oil and vinegar and toss well. Let inspiration come from the salad ingredients; walnuts call for walnut oil, apples for apple vinegar.

2. Cool Cuke Gazpacho

This cold Andalusian soup is traditionally tomato-based, but we've cut the prep time down, simplified the ingredients, and made the cucumber the hero for a tasty main course.

6 peeled cucumbers
2 cups plain yogurt
1 tsp each cumin, coriander, salt & white pepper
2 red bell pepper
1 small red onion
1 chili pepper
cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
cup chopped fresh cilantro

Puree cucumbers in a food processor or blender. Add yogurt and lemon juice. Chop the other vegetables finely and mix in a large bowl. Add cucumber-yogurt mixture and spices and stir well. Garnish with a handful of chopped tomato, serve, and bask in the compliments.

3. Rosemary Bean Spread

Long days at the pool make you hungry for protein. The only recipe on our list that requires any cooking at all, this bean spread is so scrumptious that you won't begrudge the ten minutes by the stove.

1 can white kidney beans
1 lemon
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 clove chopped garlic

All ingredients except garlic go straight into a small pot and are cooked over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, brown garlic in a small pan with butter or olive oil. Add garlic to bean mixture and simmer for five minutes or so. Remove the rosemary, mash the beans, and voila! Enjoy warm or chilled on tortilla chips or a sandwich.

4. Fresh Lemon Cooler

Unless you're deliberately trying to fit into a larger swimsuit this summer, skip the soft drinks. Studies have shown that even folks who stick to diet drinks pack on the pounds. Instead, impress your friends with a fizzy, low-cal beverage.

1 glass of soda water
Juice of 1 fresh lemon
Squirt of agave nectar (can be found in any natural foods store)
1 sprig of fresh mint

Combine the first three ingredients in a glass, garnish with mint, and take a long refreshing sip...yum! Hint: to release the flavor of the mint, crush the leaves in your fingers first.

5. Orange Rosewater Wedges

The easiest-and most delectable-dessert you'll prepare all summer.

1 orange per person
Rosewater
Cinnamon

Slice oranges and arrange on a plate. Sprinkle with rosewater and cinnamon and serve. This keeps well in the fridge, and the longer the slices marinate in rosewater, the more fragrant they become. Served a la mode or with a bowl of vanilla yogurt, these delectable citrus treats are out of this world.

Learn more about this author, Antonia Anderson.
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