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Chimichurri Flank Steak
For a little taste of South America in your kitchen, try this fiery recipe for Chimichurri Flank Steak. Chimichurri is the quintessential sauce of Argentina and best enjoyed on juicy, grilled steaks. Meats in Argentina are never served without a side of chimichurri! The traditional sauce is made with parsley, garlic and vinegar–and it surely packs a punch. To best showcase this tasty marinade, I decided to grill flank steaks, a long and thin cut of meat that is surprisingly lean and very juicy. Although this recipe is perfectly delicious on its own with a side of vegetables and potatoes, I decided to throw the steak in sizzling fajitas along with with sautéed onions and red peppers for a family dinner at the beach last week. Feel free to be creative with sides and serving suggestions. However you decide to serve it, the succulent, boldly flavored steak will take center stage. A perfect excuse to throw your next fiesta!
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Margarita Cheesecake
Last week the fiancé and I were tasked with cooking dinner for one night at our family shore house in beautiful Ocean City, New Jersey. Before I even thought about what I’d make for the main dish (post coming soon…), I thought long and hard about what to bake for dessert – my favorite course of any meal. With the abundant sunshine and beachside location, I thought a Margarita Cheesecake would be perfect for this occasion and hoped our family would enjoy it. You start out with a recipe for a traditional, creamy cheesecake with a graham cracker crust as a base and then add tequila, triple sec and lime in true margarita style. The cheesecake is finished with a thin layer of tangy sour cream topping. It’s light, refreshing and a fantastic variation on a timeless favorite. By the end of the night, the whole cheesecake was devoured… except for the piece I hid for myself 😉
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Summer Tomato Cucumber Salad
For a great side or light lunch, try my healthy and refreshing Summer Tomato Cucumber Salad. This fresh and cool salad is made with sweet cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumber and thinly sliced red onions and topped with crumbled feta, basil and a light red wine vinaigrette. Serve alone with crusty bread or alongside your favorite meal. Enjoy!
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Baked Stuffed Lobster
Looking for the perfect summer cookout feast this weekend? My recipe for succulent Baked Stuffed Lobster with homemade crabmeat stuffing is sure to impress. The recipe for the stuffing is from a very popular shoreline restaurant called, Lenny & Joe’s Fishtale in Connecticut. Known for its delicious, fresh seafood and fun, casual atmosphere, I was lucky enough to find the exact recipe chefs use at the restaurant to make their famous crabmeat stuffing and then used this stuffing to create Baked Stuffed Lobster. Preparing this dish is truly half the fun.
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Classic Andalusian Gazpacho from Cádiz, Spain
One of my favorite summer meals is gazpacho because it is so light, refreshing and packed with flavor. Hailing from Andalusia on the southern coast of Spain, this cold soup epitomizes tasty, fresh Spanish cuisine. Although there are loads of different variations on the traditional dish, I set out to find the most authentic recipe straight from one of the top restaurants in Cadiz, Spain — El Faro. Situated in a tiny fishing village in La Viña, El Faro is renowned for its mouth-watering gazpacho. I found the authentic recipe used at El Faro and it does not disappoint.
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Summer Strawberry Cake
If you are lucky enough to visit a farmer’s market in your hometown, you will most likely be able to find delicious, fresh-picked strawberries in the early months of summer. Local strawberries are nothing like store-bought varieties and one of my favorite ways to enjoy them is to make some delicious baked goods. Instead of the usual strawberry shortcake or strawberry pie, try making this light, airy strawberry cake.
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Baked Scallops Recipe
With summer in full swing, I wanted to share one of my favorite easy and elegant summer seafood meals — Baked Scallops. This dish is so easy to make, but at the same time delicious, bursting with flavor and sure to impress your family and friends.
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Homemade Lemonade
Ever since I got back from the Caribbean this spring, I have been trying to recreate the light and refreshing, fresh-squeezed lemonade I enjoyed daily at a St. Martin resort. Although making lemonade from scratch may seem easy (squeeze some lemons and add some sugar and water?), there is truly an art to creating the perfect sweet, but not too sweet, lemonade.
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Red Curry Chicken Kabobs with Minty Yogurt Sauce
Last night my boyfriend made me a delicious dish that has me dreaming of warm summer nights — Red Curry Chicken Kabobs with Minty Yogurt Sauce. This recipe is so easy to make and bursting with bold flavors. With the base of Thai red curry paste, he made a zesty marinade that coated the chicken beautifully. The dish is finished off with a refreshing and healthy mint and lime yogurt dipping sauce. We added a heirloom tomato side salad and a few grilled vegetables (corn on the cob and grilled onion and red peppers) to make a healthy, mouth-watering summer meal. This recipe is a summer-must. Enjoy!!
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Caprese on a Stick : Cherry Tomato, Mozzarella & Basil Skewers
I have a great recipe today for an easy, healthy and delicious summer appetizer that is fun to make. Instead of making a traditional tomato and mozzarella salad, try using skewers to create fun, pick-me-up “Caprese Sticks” that your guests will love. You can add variations to this recipe based on your favorite Caprese salad ingredients. I included Kalamata olives on some of my skewers for an extra twist!
