Chill Out Frozen Fête

This no-cook menu delivers plenty of fun and flavor without all that business about slaving over a hot stove.

Gazpacho: Summer vegetables take a spin in your blender for this icy-cold Mediterranean soup. (Note: Substitute 1 tablespoon fresh herbs for 1 teaspoon dried.)

Avocado-Shrimp Salad: Shrimp, avocado, tomato, and sweet onions chill out for a fuss-free seafood salad. (Note: Spice things up with a dash or two of hot pepper sauce and minced cilantro.)

Chocolate Wafer Ice Cream Sandwiches: It's too hot to chase after the ice cream truck so make your own frozen treats instead. (Notes: To change things up, roll cookies in cake sprinkles or crushed candies.)

Frozen Lime Daiquiri: Freezy, slushy, lime-drenched refreshment. Watch out for the rum. You've been warned.

• Beat the heat with a day-into-night pool party. If swimming's not an option, embrace your chance to throw an outdoor bash without having to bundle up against the chill of the night. Keep things glowing with tiki torches and strings of lights. You'll probably have to deal with bugs crashing the party so light up the citronella candles, too.
• Want a combination cool spritz and natural bug repellant? Fill spray bottles with distilled water and a few drops of essential oil such as basil, cedarwood, citronella, rose geranium, peppermint, or rosemary (not all in the same bottle, you silly). Label the bottles by fragrance, along with instructions to shake well before using. Refrigerate overnight and set the bottles in a bed of ice at party time so guests can spray themselves cool and keep the little biters away, too.
• Raid an import store for paper fans to hand out to your guests. Turn this into a crafty affair by supplying watercolors and paintbrushes so they can decorate plain fans for DIY party favors.
• Hang a white sheet on a fence or borrow a projection screen and show an outdoor movie. Seating is easy if everyone brings blankets or lawn chairs. Play a movie trivia game afterwards to see who was actually paying attention.