What is it about August? Just the word makes me think ‘hurry up and have fun’!! What do I think is going to happen in September?August is all about lazy days and the fruits of the season. Farm Stands make our mouths water with just the idea of that tomato that just doesn’t taste the same the other months of the year!
There are so many ways to enjoy tomatoes… just try- cutting into a tomato, sprinkle it with sea salt or kosher salt and a really fruity olive oil (Greek is great). OR my favorite.. just bite into it like a peach! Let it drip and enjoy the fleeting taste of that perfect tomato.
So before August comes to an end, here is a delish way to enjoy tomatoes… And of course add layers of flavor to savor!
Individual Grilled Pizzas with Wild Thyme, Cherry Tomatoes and Goat Cheese
Ingredients
6 individual Naan breads
1 pint red cherry tomatoes
1 pint yellow cherry tomatoes
2 Tablespoons rough chop of wild thyme (or oregano)
Salt/pepper/garlic powder (SPGP)
3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (preferably Greek) plus 2 more Tablespoons
for brushing breads
1 small container crumbled goat cheese (or fresh mozzarella)
1 bunch basil – julienned (roll basil leaves and slice them thinly- little secret)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 450’
- Wash and then cut cherry tomatoes in half
- In bowl mix cherry tomatoes, ½ tsp salt/ dash of pepper/ 2 dashes of garlic powder
wild thyme, and olive oil - Put aside 1 cup of the seasoned tomatoes. Add remainder to cookie sheet that you have sprayed with Pam or have a silicone sheet.
- Roast for 5-6 minutes. Do not allow to burn.
- Remove from oven and place on paper towel to rest.
- Spray grill pan with Pam and heat until very hot
- Grill Naan bread on both sides until it shows grill marks
- On cookie sheet, brush Naan bread with olive oil/ top with crumbled goat cheese or fresh mozzarella, a few of the roasted tomatoes and chiffonade of basil
- Bake until cheese is bubbly.
- When ready to serve, add a few of the fresh, uncooked cherry tomatoes and if you like, a bit of arugula. Enjoy!!
PS- you can add other summer roasted vegetables such as eggplant, zucchini or onions
Follow us on Pinterest for many other sensational summer recipes.
While we are enjoying the fruits of the season, most of us are starting to think about the new school year. Favorite part? I still remember lining up my new school supplies and wondering what the new year would bring me. When I had children, we continued the tradition of talking about what they would fill these notebooks with.. what adventures they would discover, the old friends they would see and the new friends they would make. And we always went to visit the new classroom, hopefully catching the new teacher… it’s hard to know where you are going when you don’t have a map!!
So to make your mornings easier and more enjoyable- here are a few thoughts – with a nod to Woman’s Day.
1/ Skip the stores- sign up for Amazonfresh. There is a 30 day trial period (just checked it out by ordering non-persihables– they came this am between 7 and 10 as ordered… Amazing Amazon!!
2/ Keep fruit fresh! At night, cut an apple in half and then put it back together, core and all. Wrap a rubber band around it – air won’t get in and the apple won’t turn!
3/ Catch the Skimm, a daily email of trending items, short summaries of the day’s news. It’s free – theskimm.com
5/ And this is from me! Make a memory – not sure where I found this… but LOVE the idea of a quick pix every year. Trust me… when they are older, it will be a testimony to a tradition of “catching the moment”. It may not feel it… but it is fleeting!
NOW! Let’s slow down and enjoy the last of the summer fruits – its 5:00pm somewhere!
Blackberry Mint Julep Margarita
Ingredients
7 Blackberries 5 per drink /2 to garnish/6 Mint sprig 5 per drink/ 1 to garnish// 2 oz. Tequila/
1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
Honey Syrup (one part honey- one part water) 1 oz.
Directions
In a shaker, muddle the blackberries & Mint
Add remaining ingredients and fill with ice
Shake, and strain into Julep cup filled with ice
Garnish with blackberries and a mint sprig
For fun and easy) Entertaining give us a call! Our late summer menus are ready for outdoor entertaining and our fall menus are ready for the taking! Ask about our “Plated” menus! Fun, delicious and ready for the table or oven, our delivered party foods is ready for your summer entertaining!
Please email me at [email protected] or call us at 203 847 7774/festivitiesevents.com
For your special events, our event designers and chefs are ready to plan your celebration with style!!!
Love sharing with you all! Until next month – September!
Happy last days of summer!!
Xo – Roe