Summertime and the entertaining is easy. There’s no excuse- this is the season when you’ve got everything at your fingertips- from fresh asparagus to glistening strawberries. It’s also the time to flex your culinary muscle with some accessible and delicious recipes to make any meal feel like a celebration.
Gathering Around the Grill
First up is Andrea Witzel and Kris Schumacher’s ode to the Que - “Gathering Around the Grill.” The clever ladies have simplified and taken the stress out of any reunion where family, friends and food take centre stage by creating twenty-one menus in their new book.
You’ve got the ideal Manning the Grill Menu that’s perfect for dad for Father’s Day. This menu includes: leafy greens with avocado and cherry tomatoes, orange ginger baby back ribs, grilled French fries, green beans with toasted almonds, and a grilled pineapple upside down cake to top it all off.
And best of all, each menu comes with a useful Getting Organized tip sheet to do just that- stay on top of your entertaining game so you don’t get flustered when you should be enjoying time with your chosen guests. Tasks are broken down for even the neophyte party thrower. For this menu, the ladies suggest- Up to one day ahead- Toast almonds, prepare BBQ Sauce and vinaigrette. The morning of: Bake/grill cake, clean and cut potatoes for French fries and soak in a large bowl of cold, salted water. 21/2 hours ahead: Begin to grill ribs. Immediately before serving: Grill potatoes, prepare beans, assemble salad.
Other Menu Ideas
Other menu ideas include Sweet Legacy- perfect for celebrating benchmark occasions like 40th and 50th birthdays, anniversaries or promotions, Love Potions for when a romantic dinner is the order of the day and Coming of Age for the graduates in your life. This is full-flavoured food that is meant to be enjoyed with a group, preferably outdoors, with people you love. To order online, click here.
Lean and Lovely Desserts
Another book on my top summer favourites is Ani’s Raw Food Desserts- 85 Easy, Delectable Sweets and Treats by Los Angeles’ Ani Phyo. Phyo lives by the raw food mantra- in her words, “When we feed ourselves the right nutrients from whole, uncooked fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, we look, feel and perform at our best… Choose to be happy, compassionate, strong, lean, vibrant and healthy.” With such resounding insights, and with bikini weather around the corner, this tasty little book offers a spate of raw food treats that won’t leave you feeling bloated or glum.
The Raw Foodies' Ingredient List
Phyo uses dates (her moisture boosting ingredient of choice), nuts, nut butters (no animal butters of course), seeds, agave syrup, carob, cocoa nibs and coconut oil amongst other ingredients, to mix her way to a sweet finish. This gal can take a fresh peach, dress it up with some Coconut Ice Kream (no cream- just coconut oil and nuts- such as cashews, to give everything a silky smooth finish) and raspberry sauce and voila! You have a raw version of a Peach Melba. There’s the raw Apricot Lovers’ Cobbler if fancy fresh fruit with a decadent ice kream isn’t your thing. A mix of fresh apricots, agave syrup and alcohol-free vanilla extract sit atop a wonderful crust of dried apricots, sea salt and freshly shelled pistachios.
If Phyo has it her way, you’ll be able to have your cake and eat it too. All together now: Lean, Green and Serene- words to live by- Phyo does!
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