Favorite Summer Farmers Market Menu : Steak Kebabs, Creamy Cilantro Sweet Corn & Tomato Panzanella

My Favorite Summer Entertaining Menu

Real, local Summer produce is just getting started - real heirloom tomatoes, fresh sweet corn, berries and peaches.  I put this menu together that features all of these seasonal stars... and what we'll be making for our next get together.  We might be moving the party inside though, since this relentless heat and abundance of mosquitos don't seem to be going anywhere for a while.

I do like to move the party outside after dinner, though.  Dessert and after dinner drinks on the back porch (after the sun has gone down) still makes it feel like summer.

Everything can be made ahead of time and then cooked out on the grill - including the creamy cilantro corn.  I have been making by using the gas burner on the side of our grill, but you could also put the skillet right on the grill, too.



Blue & White Block Print Tablecloth

Sometimes I restock certain items because the sell out before I am able to keep one for myself : )  This Blue & White tablecloth is one of those items.  I neeeeded this tablecloth.  To me, this print is everything I love about entertaining - casual, classic and easy.  I will use this every single season of the year.

$68

60" x 98"


Brown Sugar & Sesame Steak Kebabs

Creamy Cilantro Corn

Tomato Panzanella

Fresh Peaches & Sugared Scones

Easy Summer Supper Recipes & Ideas

I'm constantly looking back at my old recipes to give myself inspiration for the night's dinner... I thought you might be doing the same thing!  So, here is a compilation of some of my favorite summer dinners from the past couple of years - kebabs, skewers, steaks, soups and pasta.

Don't forget to pin so you'll know where to look next time you can't decide what to have for dinner.

Grilled Summer Vegetable "Bolognese" with Fresh Pasta

 

Simple Summer Supper Menu | Lemon Orzo & Squash, Teriyaki Marinated Steak & Heirloom Tomatoes

 

Summer Vegetable, Sweet Corn & Chicken Chowder

Heirloom Tomato & Fresh Mozzarella Flatbread Pizza

Grilled Steaks with Pineapple, Zucchini, Mushroom Kebabs

 

Lemon Basil Grilled Shrimp Skewers

 

Brown Sugar Chili Lime Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Kebabs

 

Tastes of Summer : 4th of July Menu Idea | Ribs, Grilled Sweet Corn, Cucumbers, Garden Tomatoes Watermelon Margarita & Peach Crostata

In just a couple of days we'll be on our way back to Kansas City for the 4th of July.  Last year we didn't make it home for the 4th and while we had a great time watching the famed Boston Fireworks display, I hated hearing about the festivities back home.  I told Mike that we would absolutely be going back for the 4th this year.  I can't wait to spend the 4th of July out in the country at my parents' house for a casual day by the pool with the entire family.  There will be mountains of food, kids in the pool and my Brother and my Dad setting off a fireworks display that night (another benefit of celebrating in the country is that you can have your own display). 

When I talked to my Mom, she already had the menu planned- most of it either from their garden, their field or one of their friends' gardens or fields.  Even the ribs would be from a local butcher and prepared by a family friend.  This menu is similar to what we'll having.  I think it sums up all of the best of summer - BBQ, sweet corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, peaches & watermelon.

The BEST (& easiest) Barbeque Ribs

Grilled Sweet Corn on the Cob

Sliced Garden Tomatoes

Old Fashioned Cucumber Salad

Easy Peach Crostada

 
 Easy Peach Crostada 

Watermelon Margarita

Here is the easy to pin strip!

Father's Day Menu : Sliced Flank Steak, Grilled Corn, Heirloom Tomatoes, Sliced Avocados & Mini Peach Cobbler with Ice Cream

In honor of Father's Day weekend, I've decided to share some of Mike's favorite things in hopes of inspiring your Father's Day celebrations. 

He's definitely a steak and potato sort of guy... but with a twist for the summer months.  This is Mike's idea of a perfect Summer meal- steak, tomatoes, avocados and grilled sweet corn.   In the colder months the avocado, tomatoes and corn would be replaced by a baked potato loaded with sour cream and butter, and the steak would be a filet crusted with salt and pepper.

In the summer, he loves this lighter, fresher version. We top the sliced flank steak with a spice and herb filled chimichurri sauce that gives it so much flavor. I love that flank steaks are really inexpensive (usually about $7-8/pound) and cook in just a couple of minutes. This entire dinner is ready in 15-20 minutes from start to finish.

Here is the recipe for the Chimichurri Sauce.

Our all-time favorite sides are sliced tomatoes and avocados.  Real summer tomatoes aren't here quite yet, so we opt for these heirloom cherry tomatoes that have great flavor all year long.  There is no prep, no cooking- I just slice them, drizzle them with really good olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  He loves it every time.

When the corn is good, I throw a couple of ears on the grill that have been brushed with butter and salted.  Stay tuned for the recipe and method.

Isn't this a beautiful dinner?!  There is really no excuse.  This dinner costs about $15-20 and takes 15-20 minutes, start to finish.

For dessert? 

Individual Peach Cobblers with Vanilla Ice Cream

.  I make big batches of crumble topping and keep it in the freezer.  When I go to the store I grab whatever fruit looks good- berries, peaches or apples.  I toss the fruit in a little sugar and flour, put it in a small bowl, then top with a handful of my pre-made crumble topping from the freezer.  They bake for about 15-20 minutes.  Here is the recipe for Individual Peach Cobblers with Vanilla Ice Cream.

Here is the easy to pin strip!

Come back later today for all of the links to recipes and instructions!

Ladies Night Cocktail Party on the Patio | Summer Entertaining

Sometimes I'm amazed by how things have a way of working out.  Last year, after living in Concord for a couple of months I had met a couple of people.  Literally, a couple of people.  Sure I waved at our neighbors and at the people at the dog park, but I hadn't met anyone that I would've called a friend- someone that I would've wanted to meet for coffee or invite to dinner.  As a person who spends a lot of time by myself working from home for myself, I'm used to braving the 9-to-5 alone until Mike gets home.  After a couple of months I remember saying to Mike - I miss friends.  Not only do I miss our friends- which is a big deal entirely, I miss having friends.

A few days later my neighbor, Jenny (also married to a Mike...), whom I had never met pulls over on the side of the road while I'm walking the Mr. and invites me to a Mom's Night Out- a Friday night at a local restaurant with a group of girls that need a night out.  Sometimes I'm amazed how things work out.

Ladies Night Cocktail Party on the Patio

It has been so fun for me to get out, meet some local ladies and chat-  just the perfect thing for a new gal in town.  This month I invited the crew to my house for sangria and appetizers on the patio.  Stay tuned this week for more details and all of the recipes!

White Peach Sangria

I think Sangria is a great thing to serve when you're hosting a cocktail party.  It's not just wine, it's not just a cocktail... the best part of both worlds and everyone loves it.

White Peach Sangria Recipe >>






























Creamy Crab Rangoon Dip 
with Vegetables

Everyone loves Crab Rangoon.  Period.  This dip version is basically the cream cheesy filling of the crab rangoon served hot with cold veggies... so good!  You can also serve it with fried wontons if you really want to go for the crab rangoon thing. 

Here is the recipe for Creamy Crab Rangoon Dip! 

 
























Summer Tomato, Zucchini & Olive Bruschetta

This is one of my favorites this year.  It is fresh and healthy- always nice to have a light option at a cocktail party so your guests can graze all night without feeling bad!

Recipe for Summer Tomato Zucchini & Olive Bruschetta, here!

























Lemon Basil Grilled Shrimp Skewers

This was one of my most popular menu items when I was a caterer.  The flavors are amazing with the shrimp... inspired by the Barefoot Contessa, of course.  They work just as well as a main course with pasta or a steak, if you're really going all out.

Here is the recipe for Lemon Basil Grilled Shrimp Skewers!

Bite Size S'mores

These were the hit of the night!  They are all of the goodness of the messy campfire treat without the bonfire or sticky mess.


Stay tuned this week for more details and all of the recipes!

 Here is the easy to pin strip!
 

Celebrating Tomato Season | Tomato Tasting Party

Recently, I was asked to contribute to the The Party Dress Magazine.  My contribution was to be... a party celebrating Tomato Season.





It was an easy task for me as for the last three years I have attended my cousins' Fahrmeier Farms Tomato Days back in Kansas City- a festival held at their farm with local chefs that prepare recipes featuring heirloom tomatoes picked fresh from their fields.

Many of the chefs had created great inventive dishes- sorbets, spicy gazpachos, soups, etc., but my favorite stop at the festival was the actual tomato tasting tent.  They had out every variety (15+), sliced ready for tasting and comparing- inspiration!  A tasting would be the perfect start for my Tomato Celebration Dinner Party.



So, for the Tomato Celebration Party, I decided to start the evening off with the "Tomato Tasting" instead of hors d'oeuvres.  I displayed a variety of sliced tomatoes and a board, served with sea salt and a bit of fresh basil... the perfect and simplest way to enjoy real summer tomatoes.

With the Tomato Tasting I offered another Summer favorite- Frozen Watermelon Margarita with an Heirloom Cherry Tomato Garnish.  

Fresh Watermelon Margarita Recipe- here!

For the setting, I created a custom Painted Linen Napkin (the easiest craft you'll ever do- see other samples here!) with red stripes on an oatmeal linen.  Click here for more details on the setting.

For the main course, I decided to use the tomatoes in a different way than typically served- they're grilled.  In fact, I used every Summer vegetable I could find- tomatoes, eggplant, squash, peppers- brushed them with olive oil, then they were grilled and tossed with fresh pasta.  The tomatoes and eggplant broke apart, creating this amazingly fresh and flavorful sauce that coated the pasta- it was almost the texture of a meaty bolognese sauce.  It was really amazing- Mike was convinced there was meat in it!

Summer Vegetable Bolognese with Fresh Pasta Recipe, here!

It had never occurred to me to grill tomatoes.  They had such great flavor from the grill and were cooked perfectly- ready to fall apart into a sauce, but not into a mushy mess.  The texture was amazing.

For dessert, a really fresh taste of the best of Summer- a Strawberry, Watermelon and Tomato Salad with a sweet basil drizzle.  Recipe coming later this week!

For more Summer Inspiration, visit my Summer Entertaining Guide home page- I've created links and shortcuts for everything from great Grilled Appetizers, Summer Menus, Tomato Recipes, Simple Summer Table Settings, Summer Travel and more.

Here is the easy-to-pin strip!