Summer Recipes to Impress Your Guests
Summer Recipes to Impress Your Guests
One of the great joys of summertime is sharing delicious meals with loved ones. The long, warm days provide ample opportunities to dig into scrumptious eats with friends and family. Whether your go-to is a summer salad, an afternoon BBQ with friends, or a frozen dessert, there’s nothing like a shared summer meal.
We all have the traditional dishes we look forward to, and those tried-and-true summertime favorites are fantastic. If you’ve found yourself eager for a new flavor, though, you’ve come to the right place. Here are a few easy recipes that will be sure to tantalize your taste buds — or to impress the neighbors.
Meat Eats
It’s easy enough to throw some hotdogs on the barbecue, but that’s not enough to make a truly terrific meal. What sets apart a delicious cut of meat is the attention to timing, the marinade, and the spicing. This recipe for spice-rubbed pork tenderloin with grilled peaches uses a classic barbecue spice rub — paprika, brown sugar, and onion powder, among others — alongside a few surprising additions, like cumin and celery seed, to create the ideal mix of sweet and savory.
And that’s just one great option by Taste of the South — don’t miss their orange-chipotle ribs (a flawless combination of spice and citrus) or their lemon-herb marinated flank steak (a bright, summery recipe to elevate this classic cut of beef). If you’re new to the grill, we’ve got plenty of helpful tips to get you started on becoming a grill master extraordinaire.
Veggie Heaven
Looking for a vegetarian entrée or a side dish to complement that burger recipe you’ve perfected? Look no further. Summer recipes aren’t all for carnivores. There are plenty of summer dinner ideas that include the plethora of fresh produce that this season is known for. This summer squash salad with lemon, dill, and red rice by NY Times Cooking is light, colorful, and can easily be either a side or a main dish.
Country Living’s squash ribbon salad with sunflower seeds comes together in 15 minutes and will have your guests ooh-ing and ah-ing over the flavor and presentation, as will this sesame, cucumber, and avocado salad. If you’re looking for a little flexibility and self-expression in veggie-land, this summer salad cheat-sheet by chef Julia Turshen is a huge help. It comes complete with five salads that can be mixed and matched according to your specific mood or meal.
Sweet Treats
What is a summer evening without a cold, refreshing dessert? It’s great to beat the heat with some ice cream or a slushie, but there’s so much more to summer desserts than just a scoop of your favorite flavor. You can make any classic summer fruits (think peaches, plums, cherries, and strawberries) into mouth-watering pies, cobblers, and crumbles. Try a peach pie with bourbon whipped cream or a cakey strawberry cobbler to mix things up a bit.
If you’re not in the mood to bake or it’s just too hot to imagine turning on the oven, that might mean it’s time to serve a no-bake cheesecake. These are easily customizable with any berries or fresh fruit you have around. Or, you can try your hand at this fresh watermelon granita, icy and refreshing.
Spectacular recipes are only as good as the ingredients you use. Fortunately, Lowes Foods in the Villages Town Center has everything you could need to craft a memorable summer meal. Don’t let the long, sun-drenched days pass you by. It’s time to laugh with loved ones and enjoy the flavors of summertime.
Brunswick Forest boasts homes that are perfect for summer hosting. Contact our team to hear about your new home in this one-of-a-kind community today.
