Can’t stand the heat? Get out of the kitchen.

An easy way to keep your house a little cooler and save on your monthly utility bill is to use your oven and stove as little as possible during the hot summer months. The kitchen is generally the warmest room in the house, so cutting back on the amount of heat that’s generated there gives your AC a break, thus reducing your energy usage.

So, this summer put the oven and stove on the bench and go with some other options.

• More use for the other guys – Take advantage of your microwave, toaster oven or slow cooker.
• Cold cuts – Make a few sandwiches and consider a backyard picnic or outing at a local park.
• Fire up the grill – Nothing says summer like cooking outdoors. Here’s a simple recipe you might want to try:

Grilled Potatoes and Cabbage

Ingredients

• 1 head of cabbage, shredded
• 6 to 8 potatoes, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 4 oz. smoked sausage, sliced
• 1 stick of butter
• 2 cups of water
• Heavy-duty aluminum foil
• Salt and pepper

Directions

Make foil into a pouch approximately 10" x 15" x 1 1/2" deep. Slice butter and place in bottom. Add potatoes, onion and sausage, seasoning each layer. Top with cabbage and place on pre-heated grill (medium). Add water and cover pouch with piece of foil. Cook for 30 minutes.