Come For Drinks!

 

In the summer, when the weather gets hot, happy hours might be the perfect party to plan. Invite your guests for a couple of hours, serve them something light and yummy, and don't forget a delicious drink or two. Here's inspiration for your next alfresco happy hour.

Summer Cobbler Cocktail

A haute "house cocktail" to have ready for guests. The interesting ingredients include white whiskey, Grand Marnier,  blackberries, blackberry preserves, and fresh lime juice.

Southern Living

Baked Chipotle Salmon Sushi Cups

These are just the cutest! And the salmon is actually baked, not raw at all. With bits of avocado and ginger, not to mention the chipotle mayo, this is something different that most will love.

Half Baked Harvest

Pea Pesto

Homemade Pesto is my favorite, and I grow my own basil and make the pesto, myself. But I have never made pea pesto! This is so bright and beautiful, it must be delish. They say that this recipe is so good, you could eat it with a spoon.  

Broma Bakery

Antipasto Tortellini Skewers With Lemon Basil Vinaigrette

What a pretty presentation this platter makes! Feel free to mix up your skewers - some with tomatoes, some without, just to accommodate your guests preferences. But do make sure you add that drizzle of vinaigrette at the end. The toasted bread will be great for dipping!

Half Baked Harvest

Golden Layered Piña Coladas

If I am going to indulge in an umbrella drink, it's always one of these. This may be the prettiest frozen drink ever!

Pineapple & Coconut

Heirloom Tomato Tart

If you are going to spotlight any one ingredient, it better be good. It's hard to beat heirloom tomatoes. The tart filling is of ricotta and basil. You won't need to serve another thing. 

Williams Sonoma

Salmon Nicoise With Charred Scallion Pesto

Here's a fun take on the classic Nicoise salad. It makes a pretty platter, and your guests can just take what they want. This dish is packed with protein, and probably all anyone needs. I think that this recipe will be unexpected.

Williams Sonoma

The Best Guacamole

Most people love guacamole. So why not serve it? But if you do, make sure it is the best guac ever. I looked at this recipe and noticed two ingredients that I don't add in mine - red onions and lime "zest." I can't wait to try these additions.

Love and Lemons

Rhubarb Mint Mojito

It's rhubarb season, So let's make a cocktail. It's a muddled drink, which is always fun to watch. The liquor is rum, and the presentation of so sophisticcated!

Broma Bakery

The Best Cerviche

On a hot summer day or night, cerviche seems just right. It's fresh fish cured with lime juice, tossed with cilantro, cucmber, tomato, and optional avocado. Since when is avocado ever really optional?  You can use almost any kind of fish you desire. Yum!

Feasting at Home

Everything Smoked Salmon Dip

Easy to make and so delicious to eat. In fact I suggest that you make a double batch. It's that good!

How Sweet Eats

Tomato Peach Crostini With Hot Bacon Dressing

The perfect recipe to highlight the stars of summer. Any kind of crostini  is always a hit with my guests. The tomatoes and peaches are served over grilled garlic bread that has been topped with goat cheese and basi. A chic choice.

Half Baked Harvest

Citrus Mezcal Cocktail

Who knew that Tequila's sister spirit could make such a chic cocktail? If you didn't know Mezcal is like tequila but smokey with a distinct personality of its' own.

Brit + Co

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Stylish Summer Host Gifts

Foodie Friday: Tomatoes ~ Recipes For The Stars Of Summer

{ Via: Justin Patrick }

Happy to report that I had my first good tomato of the season last weekend. Whole Foods had Heirloom Tomatoes on sale. It was a treat, eaten simply with a little pink Himalayan Sea Salt.  Hopefully this tasty trend will last the rest of Summer. This recipe roundup features some of the best uses of tomatoes that I have ever seen. I hope that you agree.

Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad
Summer on a platter! Made with the simplest of ingredients, this dish is full of nature's freshest ingredients and flavors.
Cookie and Kate

Herbed Butter Heirloom Tomato Pizza

This pizza features homemade pizza dough topped with herby garlic butter, baby spinach, creamy goat cheese, and summer heirloom tomatoes. What's not to like?

Half Baked Harvest

Spaghetti With Tomato and Walnut Pesto
I never met a pesto that I didn't like, except for the kind in a jar. This dish is the perfect Summer pasta. It's nutty, cheesy, and has lots of fresh basil. Yum!
Bon Appetit

Strawberry Tomato Bruschetta

What a beautiful combination! It's a tasty twist on a Summer classic. It's served on grilled homemade Rosemary Raisin Bread, but I bet any good quality bread would do.

Sweet Cayenne

Cheddar Dill Tomato Pie
I feel as if my Grandmother in Kentucky made something like this. It's a southern staple, but I don't see why we wouldn't love it up North!
Taste Of The South Magazine

Avocado and Gouda BLT Corn Fritter Stacks
This is one grown up recipe for a childhood favorite, a BLT. And what makes it an adult only dish is the Chipotle Bourbon Dressing. Wow, this sounds good! 
Half Baked Harvest

Tomato & Blue Cheese Salad Stack
Old school. I remember when I simply couldn't go to Morton's Steakhouse without a serving of their sliced tomatoes with blue cheese dressing. This dish is composed of the juiciest tomatoes you can find, and a creamy blue cheese spread.
Foxes Love Lemons

Summer Gazpacho
How beautiful! One of my very favorite dishes to make in the Summer. I haven't done it yet this season. This recipe is interesting, as you puree the ingredients to make a creamy smooth soup, accented with pretty veggies.
Bon Appetit

Panzanella Italian Bread Salad
A classic Tuscan dish that I happen to adore. In fact I need to try it again but with gluten free bread. Once considered a peasant meal, it is now served in the finest Italian restaurants. It's simple to make and just delicious.
All Our Way

Homemade Tomato Basil Sauce
This recipe affords us all the luxury of a homemade pasta sauce, even when we are out of time. Consider spending a little time cooking up a batch of this fresh sauce today for use in the future. Trust me, it's better for you than that stuff in a jar on the shelf. It freezes well, too. Watch a step by step video by clicking the link below.
Fool Proof Living

Tomato Zucchini Tart
I feel as if I may have featured this recipe before. An easy mistake due to the artistic appeal of this terrific tart. I will admit that the recipe, at least the crust, is for an experienced baker. Other than that, you just need the patience to arrange your veggies. 
An impressive dish!
A Beautiful Plate

Peach and Tomato Caprese Salad With Buratta
Another twist on a classic Summer salad. I think I could pick off this pretty platter for the rest of my life. What a great way to take advantage of all the fresh summer produce! And yes, that's prosciutto wrapped around the peaches. It's a perfect dish for entertaining.
Cooking For Keeps

Roasted Lemon Basil Butter Salmon with Burst Tomatoes
Now this is a recipe! I think that we all should make this dish sometime this weekend. The breading is unexpected, but I bet so good!
How Sweet Eats



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Foodie Friday: Cooking With Tomatoes ~ Recipes & More

Foodie Friday: Cooking With Tomatoes ~ Recipes & More

It's now or never, for taking advantage of Summer's bounty of fresh tomatoes. After September, good tomatoes are hard to find for some of us. While writing this post I learned that I have been storing mine all wrong. Click HERE to see if you are guilty, as well. Scroll through this post and then head to the farmers market, for your own terrific tomatoes. Enjoy!

HERE: 17 Summer Recipes To Make 

This Weekend

Grilled Bloody Mary

Grilled Bloody Marys, oh yum! Grilled tomatoes, chiles, citrus, and Hangar 1 Vodka make for a delightfully savory Bloody Mary you're sure to love all year long.

Honestly Yum

Caramelized Corn and Tomato 

Tarte Tatin

Use up that Summer produce with this simple but beautiful recipe. As Tieghan states, "It’s not a salad, a pizza, or another pasta dish. Nope, it’s something different and fun."

Half Baked Harvest

Caprese Grilled Cheese

So I know a certain "Mr. Shop This" who will love this. That pesto sauce will make all of the difference. A very grown up grilled cheese!

 Kitchn

Bruschetta Chicken

I think we all can use another chicken recipe in our repertoire. For this dish you marinate the chicken, sear the chicken, cover the chicken with one little piece of cheese, bake it, and top it with the bruschetta and balsamic glaze. And there you have a great warm weather dish.

How Sweet Eats

Heirloom Tomato Pesto Pan Pizza

This pizza puts other's to shame. Just use your favorite homemade pizza dough recipe or like me, get Whole Food's pizza dough. It's great. This just might happen this weekend at my home!

Broma Bakery

Spaghettini With Roasted Tomatoes, Fresh Basil, and Toasted Garlic Breadcrumbs

You will never want to buy a jar of sauce again.

 This fresh dish is just "bursting" with flavor. 

A Beautiful Plate

Summer Tomato Salad With Burrata And Kalamata Olives

Perfect for a one last Summer celebration. It just doesn't get any more fresh than this dish.

Bite Me More

Late Summer Tomato & Shrimp Risotto

This recipe has my name all over it. I made myself a lobster risotto on my birthday this year. It was fabulous but took patience. Worth it. A great recipe to make for transitioning from Summer to Fall.

Broma Bakery

Chef’n Hullster Tomato Corer

I am not very good at removing that core. This would make a cleaner slice for sure. It's less than $10.

Sur La Table

Margherita Pizza Dip 

This is not any ordinary cheese dip. It's made with Burrata.  The cheese doesn't stop there, though it could for me. Add grilled bread, and you have an appetizer that everyone will love!

Half Baked Harvest

Roasted Stuffed Heirloom Tomatoes

Roasted with a goat cheese and creme fraiche mixture, this is a beautiful Summer side!

Running To The Kitchen

Tomato Basil Granita With Vanilla 

Ice Cream

And though it may not sound appealing, it certainly looks fabulous! This time of year, tomatoes are very sweet, 

so it does make sense. 

Rachel Ray Magazine

Sun Dried Tomato & Basil Pinwheels

This recipe is simple, requiring just 8 ingredients and 15 minutes to prepare! Just stir filling ingredients, spread into a tortilla, roll and slice! Serve it to a crowd or elevate your child's

 school lunch. 

Minimalist Baker

Classic Gazpacho

Daniel Boulud's recipe is relatively straight forward, a little bit of work, but so worth it! This traditional gazpacho is hearty, healthy, and wonderfully refreshing

Elle Decor

Mozzarella and Tomato Caprese Flatbread

For me, a flatbread crust always seems lighter and crispier than a pizza crust. With the drizzle of Balsamic, it is a fab appetizer for this time of year.

Foodie Crush

KAI for Williams Sonoma Tomato Knife

Get double duty for half the price. "The serrated blade cuts neat slices of tomato without squashing; it's also a great choice for slicing and serving cheese."  Now on sale for less than $10

Williams Sonoma

Roast Tomatoes With Raisins & Feta

A recipe by Jordan Theodoros from the Goolwa, South Australia restaurant Aquacaf. This rustic recipe is simple, but all about reducing the liquid.

Gourmet Traveller

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Foodie Friday: How About Those Tomatoes?