The temperature is rising and the only way to cool down is with cool beverages and chilled food.  Crisp salads are great; however, there is a way to improve a boring salad with amazing, chilled, hardboiled eggs. Egg salad is great with 6 boiled eggs, ½ cup of sour cream, a dash of honey mustard, 1 tablespoon of chopped dill, kosher salt and white pepper. Scoop the egg salad onto shredded lettuce.  Top with crumbled bacon and ranch dressing for a winning combination. Another fast and delicious salad scoop is to debone canned, red salmon. Squeeze a half of a lemon on the salmon. Add 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke, 1 teaspoon of horseradish (optional) and 2 tablespoons of sour cream. Mix well and add chopped (boiled) egg whites (not the yolk).  Serve cold.  It is fantastic and flavorful. Who doesn’t love a great deviled eggs in the heat of the summer? Boil two more eggs than you wish to serve. This will give more yolk volume for the filling.  To the cooked yolks add sweet pickle relish and equal parts of yellow mustard and mayonnaise. Then, add a dash of salt and pepper.  Pack the yolk mixture back into the egg white casings and sprinkle with paprika.  I’ll bet that you can’t eat just one. Now, for fast hydration, brew some fresh mint tea to serve over ice with a mint sprig. It’s time to sip, scoop and splash your way through the summer! © Kelly McBride Loft