There is nothing better than a fresh cold salad in the summer.  One of my favorites to make is a tomato and mozzarella salad.  Here is an easy recipe that makes a great side dish for your summer dinners!

Tomato and Mozzarella Salad Recipe

Ingredients

3-5 Heirloom Tomatoes, Sliced

1 Package of Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, Sliced

1 Bunch of fresh Basil

1 TBSP. Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

2 TBSP. Balsamic Glaze

Directions

1.)  Slice Tomatoes and Mozzarella and place on serving platter

2.)  Sprinkle with Salt, Pepper, and Olive Oil

3.)  Add Basil throughout the platter and sprinkle with balsamic glaze

Peach Bellini Punch

Ingredients

2 Bottles of Peach Wine

2 Packages of Frozen Peaches

1 Bottle of Champagne

Directions

1.)  Puree 1 1/2 bags of Peaches in blender

2.)  Mix together Peaches, Peach Wine, and Champagne in beverage dispenser of choice and top with remaining frozen peaches

**You can double the recipe based on party size.  This served 10 people

Fruit Salsa

Ingredients

2 Peaches

2 Mangos

4 Kiwi

1 cup of Strawberries

1 TBSP Cilantro

Juice of 1 Lime

1 tsp. Honey

Directions

1.)  Finely chop all fruit and cilantro and place in mixing bowl

2.)  Squeeze juice of lime over fruit and add honey

3.)  Mix all ingredients together and place in fridge until ready to serve

4.)  Serve with Cinnamon and Sugar Pita Chips (tastes delicious with Tortilla chips too, sweet and salty)

**You can use any fruit you would like

Pineapple Salsa

Ingredients

4 Jalapenos

1 Red Pepper

1 Orange Pepper

1/2 of a Red Onion

2 Cups of Pineapple

1 TBSP Cilantro

Juice of 1 Lime

Sprinkle of Salt

Directions

1.)  Finely dice jalapenos, peppers, red onion, cilantro and pineapple.  Place in mixing bowl

2.)  Add juice of lime to bowl and salt

3.)  Mix all ingredients together and place in fridge until ready to serve

Watermelon Margarita Recipe

Ingredients

4 Cups of Watermelon, cubed

4 Cups of Ice

1 Cup of Tequila

1 Cup of Triple Sec

1 Lime, Juiced

Directions

1.)  Using a blender puree Watermelon and Ice.

2.)  Add in Lime Juice, Tequila, and Triple Sec.  Blend again to mix all ingredients together

3.)  Pour into a pitcher and chill until ready to serve

**You can also slice limes to add to glasses for garnishing

***Can also take lime around the edge of your glass and dip rim of glass in salt or sugar

Frozen Rose Cocktail

Frozen Rose

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bites

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bites

Summer Berry Trifle

Ingredients

1 Fresh Angel Food Cake, cubed into bite size pieces

1 Pint Blueberries

1 Container of Strawberries, sliced

1 Vanilla Pudding Mix, prepared according to package

1 Container of Cool Whip

Directions

1.)  Prepare vanilla pudding according to package and place in fridge to set

2.)  Slice strawberries and cut angel food cake into bite size pieces

3.)  Begin layering Trifle with angel food cake, pudding, cool whip, strawberries and blueberries.  Repeat layering until you end with Cool Whip on top.  Then create design with fruit on top

Red White and Blue Fruit Cookies

Ingredients

1 Package Store Bought Sugar Cookie Dough

1 Container Cool Whip

1 8 oz. Block of Cream Cheese

1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar

2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

2 Cups Fruit of Choice (I used a mix of Strawberries, Blueberries, and Raspberries)

Directions 

1.)  Bake Sugar Cookies according to package and let cool

2.) Mix together Cream Cheese, Cool Whip, Powdered Sugar, and Vanilla using a hand mixer

3.)  Spread Icing on the Cookies and Decorate with Fruit of Choice

Cinco de Mayo is another fun excuse to throw a party and make some festive food and drinks!  Here are some of my favorite recipes that I make all summer long for parties!

Mango Salsa Recipe

Ingredients

2 Mangos

1 Red Pepper

1 Green Pepper

2 Jalapenos

1 Small Red Onion

1 Small Bunch of Cilantro

Juice of 1 Lime

Pinch of Salt

Directions

1.) Chop mangos, red pepper, green pepper, jalapenos, red onion, and cilantro

2.)  Mix all together in a medium bowl

3.)  Juice the lime over the salsa mixture and add salt

4.)  Mix and Enjoy

**You can eat right away but I always refrigerate for at least an hour before serving

Margarita Cheesecake Bites

No Bake Margarita Cheesecake Bites

Peplum Top

Leggings

You know I love a good party and a reason to entertain.  Just because we are at home in quarantine doesn’t mean you still can’t throw a little party at home.  In our house tonight we are having a video game party with homemade pizza and appetizers!  The kids love it!  I have been trying out new recipes lately and here are a few of my favorite party food recipes!

Plus a party at home especially in quarantine is not complete without a fun cocktail and dessert!  Check out my single serve Prosecco Pink Lemonade drink!  For dessert we are going to have an ice cream bar!  The kids love making their own sundaes!

Mexican Corn Salad

Ingredients

1 Bag of frozen Sweet Corn

1 Small Red Onion, diced

1 Red Pepper, diced

2-3 Jalapeno’s, diced

1 Bunch of Cilantro, chopped

1/2 cup of Queso Fresco Cheese, crumbled

2 TBSP. Olive Oil

Dressing

3 TBSP. Sour Cream

2 TBSP. Mayo

Juice of 1 Lime

1/2 tsp Cumin

1/2 tsp. Paprika

1/2 tsp. Chipotle Chili Powder

1/2 tsp. Salt

Directions

1.)  Heat Olive Oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Add corn and cook until golden brown (you can also grill corn cobs) about 10 minutes

2.)  Chop Red Onion, Red Pepper, Jalapenos and Cilantro.  Add to a medium bowl and add Corn and Queso Fresco Cheese

3.)  In a separate bowl mix all dressing ingredients together.  Whisk until creamy

4.)  Pour dressing over corn mixture and mix all ingredients together

5.)  Top with additional crumbled Queso Fresco

6.)  Place in fridge until ready to serve (you can serve hot or cold)

**Serve as a side dish when you grill out or would be great served as corn salsa with chips

Prosecco Lemonade Punch

Ingredients

1 Can of Frozen Pink Lemonade

1  2 Liter Bottle of Sprite Zero

1-2 Bottles of Champagne (I used 2 Bottles of Prosecco)

1 Bag of Frozen Strawberries (they add flavor and act as ice)

**To make an individual glass of this punch follow this recipe

1/2 Can of Sprite

1/2 Cup of Pink Lemonade (Ready to serve juice)

1 Cup of Prosecco

Handful of strawberries

Arancini (Rice Balls)

Recipe from Joanna Gaines

Magnolia Table 2 Cookbook

I have been trying out some new side dish recipes that will go great with summer picnics and grilling!  I made this creamy sweet corn with pancetta that was inspired from a recipe in Giada De Laurentiis Giada’s Italy cookbook. (Here is a link for her cookbook, you will love it) This side dish was a huge hit in our house.  I changed a few ingredients.

Creamy Corn with Pancetta

Inspired by Giada De Laurentiis recipe from Giada’s Italy

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1/4 pound Pancetta, diced

1 Onion, chopped

1 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes

1 Bag of Frozen Corn (I used golden and white corn mix)

1 Container of Mascarpone Cheese

1 Cup of Parmesan Cheese

Handful of Basil, Chopped

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

1.)  In a large skillet heat Olive Oil and then add Pancetta.  Stir and cook until crispy

2.)  Add in Onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes

3.)  Add in Corn, Red Pepper Flakes, Salt and Pepper, Mascarpone Cheese, and Parmesan Cheese.  Stir until creamy

4.)  Remove from heat and add in Basil

Greek Salad Recipe

Ingredients

1 Cucumber, diced

1 Container Cherry Tomatoes

1/2 of a small Red Onion

1/4 Cup of Pine Nuts, toasted

1/2 Cup of Feta Cheese

Vinaigrette Dressing

1/2 Cup of Olive Oil

1/4 Cup of Red Wine Vinegar

1 TBSP. Oregano

1 Clove of Garlic, minced

1 tsp. Dry Mustard

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Directions

1.)  Dice Cucumber, Tomatoes and Red Onion.  Place in a medium bowl

2.)  In a toaster oven toast Pine Nuts until golden brown

3.)  Mix all vinaigrette ingredients together and whisk until combined

4.)  Add Pine Nuts, Feta Cheese, and Vinaigrette to veggies and mix until combined