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First Day of Summer

First day of summer and 40 toes to keep busy and happy! ️

Ricotta Toast With Berries

Sunday brunch with two of my TJ favorites! Toasted wheat sourdough bread Ricotta cheese mixed with lemon curd Berries or Mango Mint, julienned Lemon zest Dash of Sea Salt

Watermelon Cucumber Cooler and Blackberry Spritzer

So refreshing! Watermelon Cucumber Cooler Watermelon, chunks Cucumber, sliced Fresh mint Trader Joes Watermelon and Cucumber Juice Add ice when ready to serve Blackberry and Basil Spritzer Blackberries Basil Mint Sparkling water or Soda Water Crush blackberries, mint, and basil together. Add sparkling water (let sit) and add ice when ready to serve. Drink markers can be a fun way to add details to a party. I had emoticon stickers and everyone picked their favorite to put on their goblet!

Peach and Mozzarella Stacks

I wish you were all able to come over for lunch right now with this peach salad, grilled chicken, and a cold Diet Coke! Sprinkle lime juice and honey on sliced peaches. Grill peaches until they have grill marks. (You don’t have to grill the peaches, fresh peaches or nectarines would be great too). Lay Arugula on platter and mix with dressing. Layer mozzarella slices and peaches and place on top of arugula. Drizzle dressing and EVOO on top of stacks. Dressing In a blender (until combined): 5 peaches One bunch green onions, sliced 1 C chopped fresh cilantro 1/3 C honey 1 tsp salt Zest of one lime 2 limes juiced 3/4 tsp cumin 3/4 tsp chili powder 1 C EVOO

Party Planning 2 weeks out

Send out invitations to guests. Paper invitations are my favorite (order a month out) but evite, paperless post, or email/text work as well. If you’re using your own dish-ware make sure you have enough of everything. In my case I often use sturdy plastic plates in cool shapes and colors as well as dessert and appetizer plates, nice plastic glasses, and silverware. When party time comes, you will be so glad you’re dumping everything in the trash and not loading the dishwasher. Trust me. So, buy all paper products, glasses, plastic utensils, dessert/appetizer plates, etc. Check to make sure you have drink dispensers, platters, utensil holders, place mats, tablecloths, candle holders, vases, and anything else you might be using for the party. If you don’t have it, order or get it now. Don’t wait until LATER. Later = Stress Have you come up with any new ideas, fun food thoughts, or anything that might require some planning. Get that all done now. When I entertain I actually want my friends to be entertained and have something to do. Set up…

Overnight Oats

Serving a healthy breakfast at a morning meeting today! As great as muffins and doughnuts are, you’re guests will appreciate a healthy breakfast even more. This is a great way to serve oatmeal in the summer too. One serving: 1/3 C Old Fashioned Oats 1/3 C almond/coconut milk 1/3 C Plain Greek yogurt 2 TB Chia Seeds Small dash of vanilla Dash of Maple Syrup Dash of salt Cover and refrigerate overnight. You may need to add a bit more liquid in the morning to achieve your desired consistency. Top with any toppings you like!

bai5

Obsessed!

Spicy Asian Slaw

Last salad recipe from my party. This one was definitely the favorite! So many different textures with a spicy, sweet, Asian twist. There are a lot of “dashes” in this recipe because I can’t remember exactly how I made the dressing and playing scales can be so boring. Dressing 3/4 C mayo Juice of 2-3 limes A couple of dashes of red wine vinegar Heavy dashes of soy sauce Heavy dashes of sesame seed oil Dashes of chili oil Grated ginger 2 TB or so Wasabi paste Sugar, 2-3 TB S&P. (Mix, taste, and add until it’s just perfect) Bagged coleslaw mix Costco Sweet Kale Vegetable Salad (1/2 of the bag) Cilantro, chopped Green onion, thinly sliced Snow peas, roughly chopped Red, yellow, and orange sweet peppers, chopped small Costco cashew nut clusters, chopped up Add chicken to make this dinner. Mix dressing and let sit. Add all other ingredients together and pour dressing 20 minutes before serving. “Following a recipe is like playing scales, and cooking is jazz.” Shauna Niequist

Grilled Doughnuts with Balsamic and Strawberry reduction

Happy National Doughnut Day! These babies were the dessert at my party and everyone ate them up! Grill or Broil Glazed Doughnuts Fill the hole with custard (I bought some at a local bakery) or mascarpone cheese is good too. Drizzle on warm balsamic strawberry sauce and serve. Sauce- On a stovetop combine: 1 part Balsamic glaze 1 part brown sugar Lemon zest Dash of lemon juice Once sauce is combined, add strawberries and warm through.