Summer

What to Cook for the Fourth of July

June 30, 2021 by Lindsay 1 Comment

20 perfect recipes for your 4th of July potluck! Make one, make a few, prepared to be the "omg can I have the leftovers" guest of the weekend.

bowl of pasta salad with veggies and wooden spoon

It's my favorite type of week - holiday weeks including a long weekend, that is. I'm cooking so many yummy things this week, and love menu planning for days off where the "plan" is to eat, drink, and hang out with people we love.

To get ready, here's a great big list of my favorite 4th of July cookout recipes! I want them all, and here are some of our favorites for this week and all summer long.

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Spicy Grilled Firecracker Shrimp

June 29, 2021 by Lindsay 15 Comments

Spicy grilled shrimp at its finest with TWO kinds of hot sauce! Just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes are all you need for this spicy, buttery take on firecracker shrimp.

cooked grilled shrimp on grill pan with lemon slices

Hello and welcome to our favorite 15 minute appetizer! When we're having grilling parties I'm always into a little snack right at the beginning - something delicious that can be thrown on the grill or in the oven while we wait for the main event, you know?

Fake-out focaccia is an example of this.

Now, don't confuse this Firecracker Shrimp with the dish by the same name from Panda Express. This is not that, although I'm sure that's delicious too. I've called this spicy grilled shrimp Firecracker Shrimp for YEARS, mainly because it is a very fun summery nibble to add to a grilling party at one of the American summer holidays. Hence, Firecracker Shrimp.

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Vegan Pasta Salad with Roasted Veggies

June 24, 2021 by Lindsay 2 Comments

Yummy vegan pasta salad is the perfect summer side dish! I make this with any seasonal veggies I have on hand, pine nuts, and lots of fresh herbs and lemon vinaigrette for brightness. Change up the veggies, pasta shape, and herbs each time for a fresh take on this yummy, healthy side dish!

large serving bowl of vegan pasta salad with asparagus and tomatoes

I just finished the book Hello, Summer and tbh want to start all recipes like this with OH, HELLO SUMMER, but it feels kind of redundant.

Know that I'm thinking it, though.

This is, to me, the pasta salad to end all pasta salads. It's light, fresh, and full of summery flavors. I love that it's vegan because lots of different types of eaters can eat it, and almost every aspect of it can be switched up based on what you have on hand. Different nuts, veggies, fresh herbs, it all works.

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Watermelon Juice with Lime and Mint

June 22, 2021 by Lindsay 3 Comments

The best homemade mocktail for summer! Homemade watermelon water (or watermelon juice) blended with lime and fresh mint is the most refreshing, hydrating, electrolyte-packed drink to sip on. It's a homemade agua fresca in 15 minutes, done and done!

top view of watermelon water with mint leaves

For summer! A drink. A refreshing drink.

I loathe the Starbucks refreshers. I realize that's a harsh word considering I've never actually had one, but I can all but guarantee they're full of sugar and also refresh isn't a noun and shouldn't be made into one. Is my opinion.

But! This blended watermelon drink is actually refreshing. It is incredibly light, incredibly quick to throw together, and so very good for you.

I first had this years ago at the yoga studio where I worked; we called it watermelon tonic and it appeared all summer every summer. Watermelon and lime are a great combination, the ingredients are good and good for you, and fresh mint just screams summer to me.

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Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie

June 10, 2021 by Lindsay 4 Comments

Hello, summer! The most delicious strawberry cream cheese pie with no Jello and no sweetened condensed milk! This version uses cornstarch to thicken the strawberry layer and has a base of sweetened cream cheese whipped with fresh cream for a decadent, creamy layer. Make this pie with your favorite pie crust; graham cracker or pastry pie crust both work deliciously!

flatlay strawberry pie with cream cheese slice on plate with bite taken out

Ok strawberry season, I see you.

We have been going through literal gallons of local strawberries since the season started, and every year we go through the "they're just so much better in season, right?!" conversations that we have every year. I mean, of course local, in season stuff is better.

Strawberry pie is one of my favorite ways to use up bunches and bunches of strawberries, and there are tons of variations on strawberry pie. This is a strawberry cream cheese pie with a fluffy cream cheese layer, lightly sweetened berries, and flaky pie crust because I just like it better than graham cracker crust.

PS, if you have extra strawberries, turn them into a salad with my favorite strawberry cucumber salad!

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