Food & Drink

Summer Menu to Savor the Season

The sweetest summer memories are created in your own backyard. Having the right tools on hand makes dining at home a simple pleasure, and is there anything more inspiring than a trip to the farmer’s market to get the creative juices flowing? Jewel-like strawberries, stone fruit, fresh green herbs, ripe heirloom tomatoes, peak seasonal vegetables…with such an embarrassment of riches, all you need are a few kitchen essentials and plenty of good company to enjoy the sunshine season to its fullest.

Strawberry Bruschetta with Ricotta and Herbs

There are few things as quintessentially summer as the smell of sweet, juicy strawberries warming in the sun at the farmer’s market. While the first batch of the season is best enjoyed out of hand, the rest of the summer is devoted to simple strawberry recipes like this one: ripe, thinly sliced berries piled over fresh ricotta on crunchy, olive oil-toasted crostini.

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Tomato & Stone Fruit Panzanella

Panzanella, a classic Tuscan bread salad, is an easy and elegant way to put summer’s vibrant mix of heirloom tomatoes on full display. It’s also a wonderful blank canvas for the rest of the season’s bounty, from ripe stone fruits to peppery basil leaves. This salad is the ultimate simple showstopper for a backyard summer spread.

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Warm Spiced Pineapple with Vanilla Ice Cream

Juicy, tart, sweet, and sunshine yellow, ripe pineapple can evoke a tropical breeze no matter the season. In the days of peak summer, it’s an essential, everyday luxury to enjoy by the pool or on the back porch during breezy evenings. While eating a bowl of freshly cut pineapple is a delight in and of itself, caramelizing pineapple with a hint of warming spices and piling it all over cold vanilla ice cream is a simple showstopper.

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Smoky Grilled Chicken with Summer Vegetables

Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly weeknight meal or hosting your favorite people for an elegant dinner alfresco, summer is meant for grilling. Doesn’t everything just taste better in the warm breeze under an open sky? A beautiful platter of grilled chicken and vegetables highlights the magic of simplicity, reminding us that ease and luxury can go hand in hand. Pair with a frosty drink, good conversation, and a vase of backyard flowers.

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