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| Neurotic Kitchen Summer Favorites |
As you think about your own cooking goals this summer, whether they include big parties or intimate entertaining, I thought it might be helpful to compile a list of just some of my tried and true summer dishes. You can rest assured that all of them have been made multiple times and, better yet, you can prep or make almost all in advance. This means you'll have more time to enjoy your parties, which is as it should be. I hope you enjoy and I wish you a season you can savor in more ways than one.
Neurotic Kitchen's Summer Menu Ideas
"Surf" Mains/Starters/Sides
Turn any dish into a Surf & Turf with one of these
Grilled Marinated Calamari Salad - serve alongside Steak for an easy Surf & Turf, salad included, or as a great starter
Tuna Crudo with Peach & Jalapeno
Skewered Shrimp - Season the marinate large shrimp in flavors to your liking. Stack one serving (3-4 shrimp) and skewer them in two places for easy flipping. Grill on a piastra, pizza stone or grill basket
Clams in Cartoccio - these grillable hobo packs makes any main a Surf & Turf
Cooked Shrimp Ceviche
Fluke Ceviche
Rose Mignonette for Oysters
Margarita Oysters Verde (Salsa Verde, Lime & a splash of Tequila)
Grilled Scallop Salsa Cruda
Pastas/Pizzas - App, First Course or Main
Lemon Pizza in Grill or Oven
Scallop & Sungold Tomato Pasta
Menus:
Latin Inspired Menu
Mojo Marinated Skirt Steak
Yellow Rice
Watermelon Arugula Salad
Or
Grilled Pineapple, Basil & Cucumber Salad
Corn with Jalapeno Lime Butter
Florentine Inspired Menu
Prosciutto & Melon
Bistecca Florentina - T-bone Steak Marinated in Herbs on the Grill,
Italian Corn
Summer Stone Fruit Panzanella Salad (use any seasonal stone fruit)
Assorted Gelati
Classy American BBQ Menu
Israeli Couscous with Seasonal Additions (ideas here, here or here)
Tomato and White Onion Salad, Red Wine/Olive Oil/Oregano Dressing
Corn on the Grill - just remove the silk, soak the corn a long while and grill in the husks
Ribeyes Marinated in Caper Vinaigrette then grilled
Strawberry Pretzel & Gelato Sundae
Greek Inspired Menu
Shepherd's Salad (Any variation like Cucumber, Tomato, Scallion etc)
New Potatoes & Green Bean Salad with Vinaigrette
Leg of Lamb Marinated in Mint and Yogurt - Grilled
Assorted Sorbets (Mint, Lemon, etc)
Other Easy Sides/Starters:
Sweet & Savory Watermelon Wedges
Tomato Carpaccio
Grilled Peaches with Goat Cheese
Crab Salad served on or with Cucumber Chips
Grilled Asparagus on a Grill Basket or in Foil Packets
Ready to Serve - Products We Love
Xotchitl Tortilla Chips
Xotchitl Salsa
Tate's Chocolate Chip Cookies
Il Laboratorio del Gelato - all flavors (especially the mascarpone used in our Pretzel Strawberry Sundae)
Talenti Gelato - Particularly Sicilian Pistachio
Spoonable Salted Caramel - Makes any Ice Cream special
Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers - add to Ice Cream, serve with coffee, etc
Your favorite Pie a la Mode -- we like Briermere Farms Peach Cherry
