In my book, summertime cooking should be about two things: simplicity and seasonality. We get some of the year’s best produce during these months and it would be a shame not to make these fruits and veggies the star of our meals. It would also be a shame to spend hours in a hot kitchen when you should be outside enjoying good weather and good company. So today I’m sharing a menu with you that was created by one of my best friends that is perfect for summer entertaining. It’s full of the flavors of summer and most of the prep can be done before your guests even arrive.
Our friends, Emmy & Curtis, served this meal to a group of us that regularly gets together to cook, eat, drink, and laugh. We ate outdoors, gathered around a large table (covered with margaritas) and enjoyed the fact that aside from a few stints at the grill, they were able to sit and relax with us. The meal kicked off with a delicious, chilled corn soup that was both refreshing and flavorful…and instantly devoured. The recipe, which has been adapted from Bon Appetit magazine can be found here.
The main course featured another summer stunner: peaches. Curtis grilled some juicy chicken breasts and glazed them with a chipotle peach barbecue sauce. While Emmy made a salad that is going to become a new staple on our summer table. She made a vinaigrette using 2 parts We Olive Fresh Basil olive oil and 1 part We Olive Peach White Balsamic, salt, pepper, and a teaspoon of sugar. She tossed butter lettuce with the peach and basil vinaigrette then topped the greens with chives, feta, and candied walnuts. Curtis’s chicken recipe, which was adapted from one created by Gwyneth Paltrow in Bon Appetit magazine, can be found here.
The meal finished with one of my favorite summer treats – grilled peaches. If you’ve never grilled fruit before, it is, to me, a revelation and reminder that some of the simplest preparations are often the most delicious. Emmy’s recipe, which she adapted from one by Emma Silvers, can be found here.
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