Summer Party Food and Recipes

Summer Berry Cobbler Recipe

Berries invoke fond summer memories. Whip up a mixed berry cobbler for a summer party or picnic.

Nutella & Banana S'more

Famous Italian chocolate hazelnut spread will have you asking for s'more.

Homemade Sweet Potato Fries

Add home-baked Sweet Potato Fries and your friends won't stop raving.

Berry-Filled Milk Spongecake

Berry-Filled Milk Spongecake goes great with Berry Buttercream Frosting.

Cinnamon Apple S'more

Make it a little nutritious with some apple and delicious cinnamon.
Picture taken by the queen of subtle via Flickr.

Summer Berry Cobbler

A sweet, tasty cobbler that ends the night on a high note.
Photo taken by lepiaf.geo via Flickr.

Anise Almond Madelines

A delicious French-inspired dessert that's both easy to carry and fun to munch on, making it the perfect picnic recipe.
Makes about 26 cookies

White Chocolate S'more

A twist on the traditional S'more.

Double Chocolate S'more à la Mode

The new ice cream sundae.

Summer Solstice Delectable Desserts

Dessert should also be light and summery. S'mores are a perennial outdoor favorite that everyone can enjoy.

A do-it-yourself ice cream bar is another sure-fire hit with your guests

Calamari Salad

This make ahead dish is sure to be a staple in your picnic basket recipes. Recipe courtesy Cafe Fina & Food Network, makes 6-8 servings.

Cold Risotto Primavera

An easy picnic food idea, pasta salad with a twist- tasty risotto, this dish fits the mediterranean theme.
Makes 4-6 servings.

Asian Marinated Shrimp and Snow Peas

Shrimp and snow peas can be served room temperature making them perfect for your summer picnic menu.
Makes about 8 servings

Vodka Corn on the Cob: Recipe from Sophisticated Entertaining by Jeanne Benedict

Delicious corn on the cob that makes the mouth water and gives you the nutrition you need for the summer!

Beer Barbecue Sauce for Baby Back Ribs: Recipe from Sophisticated Entertaining by Jeanne Benedict

It's tasty, it's classic, everyone should try it!

Banana Boat

All you need is bananas, marshmallows, and chocolate chips.

Grilled Mahi Mahi

Easy and tasty grilled mahi mahi fillets, great for serving with Mango Salsa.

Peanut Butter & Jelly S'more

A traditional twist on top of another traditional treat!
Photo taken by sparktography

Sweet Biscuit Mix

A perfect match for your cobbler, also great just plain!

Conch Fritters

Make things tropical with delicious conch fritters! Photo courtesy of Mouse, these fritters are certain to delight!

Chicken Strips

Please people of ages with delicious breaded chicken strips. They can be added to any simple picnic menu for a filling feast.

Sweet Biscuit Mix

Sweet biscuits make for a great snack or dessert and will transport well to a picnic or barbeque.

Milk Spongecake with Berry Buttercream Frosting Recipe

A berry decadent treat that will be one of the highlights of your Bubbly and Berries party.

Mango Salsa

A refreshing and sweet salsa, this goes with anything! As a chip dip or a garnish, mango salsa is the way to go.

Key Lime Pie

Very easy, very good, light Key lime taste that still makes you pucker. No fuss - takes 15 to 20 minutes to make.

Berry Buttercream Frosting

Berry Buttercream Frosting is perfect for frosting a berry cake.

Mini Burgers

For the main course, fire up the barbeque and grill some tasty chicken sausage hot dogs and Gourmet Mini Burgers that are bursting with flavor.

Homemade Guacamole

Choose easy-to-munch finger foods that won't spoil quickly in the heat, such as blue corn chips with Homemade Guacamole as well as fresh cut fruit and vegetables.

Apple Pie Filling

Granny Smith apples are firm and tart, perfect for baking.

How to Assemble a Pie

Baking your apple pies.

Sucree Pie Dough

The perfect sweet and flaky pie crust.

Field Greens with Berry Garnish

Courtesy of the Food Network, this is a refreshing treat that will complement your garden party.

Watermelon Cucumber Salsa

Lemon, Caper, and Parmesan Pasta Salad

A lively pasta salad is great on any party table since it appeals to most palates.

Pineapple Glazed Shrimp Skewers

Sure you could use a marinade in a bottle to add flavor to shrimp or chicken skewers, but it's tough to beat the homemade flavor of a candied glaze made with fruit juice, butter, and brown sugar.

Lime Mint Calamari Salad

This calamari salad is a less spicy and simpler version of a classic Thai dish typically made with red pepper flakes, fish sauce, and cucumbers.

Orange, Hearts of Palm, and Pine Nut Salad

The bright ingredients in this simple salad blend together beautifully, making this dish ideal for summer entertaining.

Grilled Pineapple with Ice Cream and Hot Rum Sauce

Transport yourself to an island oasis with this Grilled Pineapple with Ice Cream and Hot Rum recipe from Ellie Krieger, a star on the Food Network. Pineapples are rich in Vitamin C and taste heavenly when soaked in rum.

Traditional Girl Scout S'mores

S'mores are a campfire classic that kids and adults alike will enjoy. Evoke a crackling fire and the great outdoors by roasting marshmallows and layering them with crunchy graham crackers and gooey chocolate.
Recipe courtesy of The Food Network. It is originally from Girl Scout Troop #1404 in Granada Hills, CA.

Grilled Nutella and Pecan Poundcake Sandwiches

Nutella is a creamy hazelnut spread with a chocolate-y taste that is sold in over 75 countries and outsells all brands of peanut butter combined worldwide! Slather it on grilled poundcake slices and you'll see why its so popular.
Recipe and photo courtesy of The Los Angeles Times.

Grilled Figs with Mascarpone

Foodies will fall for this unexpected flavor combination. Mascarpone, an Italian dessert cheese made from fresh cream, is a sophisticated topping for honey-sweet figs.
Modified recipe courtesy of Gourmet magazine. Adapted from Michael Laiskonis, Le Bernadin, NY.

Grilled Banana Split Sundae with Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce

Update the sundae, a summer standby, with grilled bananas and a bittersweet chocolate sauce that can be cooked and stored in advance.
Recipe courtesy of The Food Network.

Grilled Fruit en Papillote

En papillote (meaning "parchment" in French) is a technique where food is placed in aluminum foil or parcel and then cooked. The wrapping retains the flavor of these assorted fruits and releases an amazing aroma when you unwrap the grilled package.
Recipe courtesy of The Los Angeles Times. Adapted from Michael Laiskonis, Le Bernardin, NY.

Photo courtesy of dieteticienne-pollard.com.

Grilled Peaches with Chilled Sabayon

Grilled Peaches with Chilled Sabayon is a fun way to incorporate a bottle of bubbly into your dessert. Cheers to this succulent dish!
Recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart Living.

Mangoes Foster with Creme Fraiche

Mangoes are the number one selling fruit in the world. Bring a dose of the tropics to your barbecue with this sweet and juicy fruit served with Creme Fraiche, a thick cream with a tangy taste.
Recipe courtesy of Bobby Flay.

Fruit Kebobs on Sugar Cane Skewers with Lime Honey

This nutritious dessert couldn't be easier to make! Dress up simple fruit skewers with a tart yet sweet dressing of Lime Honey.
Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse.

Summer Blossom Cupcakes

A perfect treat for a summer afternoon tea.

Grilled Corn with Hoisin Orange Butter

Hoisin is a Chinese soybean and chili-based sauce that adds a bit of spicy-sweet flavor to corn.

Summer Time Applesauce

Grilled Lemon-Coriander Chicken

BBQ Steak Sandwiches with Smothered Onions

Sponsored recipe courtesy of French's.

Cajun Turkey Burgers with Spicy Remoulade

Sponsored recipe courtesy of French's.

Crunchy Layered Taco Salad

Sponsored recipe courtesy of French's.

French's Classic Burgers

Sponsored recipe courtesy of French's.

Mike's Marvelous Marinated Steak

Sponsored recipe courtesy of French's.Serves 6 to 8.

Red Skin Potato Salad

Sponsored recipe courtesy of French's.

Beer and Brown Sugar Sirloin

If you love steak and you love beer but you've never even considered dipping your steak in your beer, this recipe will change the way you eat and drink forever.

Beer Butt Chicken

Warning: chicken may feel violated! This recipe, consisting of a chicken sitting on a beer can, look silly but the moist meat you'll get as result is unlike any other.

Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles

These frozen treats are pretty in pink with beautiful strawberries in a pink lemonade ice.

Pretty Flower & Herb Ice Cubes

Try this idea for a poolside garden party or all-girl get together.

Mango Martini Sorbet

Bring in the tropics at your pool party with this frozen mango treat!

Frozen Chocolate-Covered Bananas

Frozen bananas with a chocolate coating are a great treat for a summer day.

Strawberry Shortcake With a Twist

Our strawberry shortcake recipe is an ideal summer treat thanks to the frozen whipped cream twist.

Ingredients:

- 2 tubs of frozen, thick cool whip cream
- One large, fresh angel food cake
- Grand Marnier
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- cup lemon juice
- 2 pounds of fresh, riped strawberries, cut into fourths

Steps:

1. Combine strawberries, lemon juice and sugar in a large Tupperware container. Shake thoroughly to combine all ingredients and allow to soak for a few hours to overnight in the refrigerator.

2. Remove the frozen cool whip cream and allow to thaw slightly for about 15 " 20 minutes; just so its soft enough to scoop out with a spoon (should still be tough to scoop out, however).

3. Cut the angel food cake in half and sprinkle a small amount of Grand Marnier on both of the open sides.

4. Scoop out semi-frozen whipped cream and add a inch thick layer on top of the cut-open angel food cake.

5. Add half the strawberry mixture on top of the thick whipped cream layer. Top with another half-inch thick layer of the semi-frozen whipped cream.

6. Finish by placing the other half of the angel food cake back on top to create a completed cake. Sprinkle a small amount of Grand Marnier over the outside of the angel food cake to add a zest.

6. Serve by placing a slice of strawberry shortcake on a plate, top with another scoop of frozen whipped cream and add a large spoonful of strawberries on the side.

Mocha Ice Cream Pie

Instead of a post-dinner party coffee service, delight guests with a slice of mocha ice cream pie. It provides all of the coffee taste without any of the heat " perfect for a warm summer evening.

Ingredients:

- Coffee Ice Cream
- Mocha Ice Cream
- Caramel Drizzle Sauce
- Chocolate Fudge Sauce
- 1 Lage Bag of Crushed Oreos (use food processor)
- Deep brownie pan or ceramic baking dish that is freezer-safe

Steps:

1. Tightly pack the bottom of the pan or baking dish with half an inch of Oreo cookie crumbs.

2. Add a 1.5 inch thick layer of coffee ice cream, followed by a 1.5 inch thick layer of mocha ice cream.

3. Sprinkle on another inch layer of crushed Oreos on top of the mocha ice cream layer.

4. Drizzle fudge sauce and caramel sauce over the top of the crushed Oreos.

5. Serve immediately, or cover with Saran Wrap and place in the freezer until ready to be served.

Coca Cola Classic Granita Float

Old fashioned Coca Cola in a glass bottle is a nostalgic summer classic. Our take on the Coke float includes an intermediate step in which the Coca Cola is turned into an icy granita.

Ingredients:

- One small glass bottle of Mexico Coca Cola (original formula, made with sugar instead of corn syrup) per person
- Vanilla bean ice cream
- Optional: mini chocolate chip cookie garnish

Steps:

1. Pour Coca Cola into a freezer-safe bowl and allow to freeze completely

2. Use fork tines to scrape the frozen Coke out of the bowl into little chips

3. Pour scrapings into a dessert bowl and add a large scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top.
4. Garnish with a crispy mini chocolate chip cookie placed off to the side on top of the ice cream scoop.

Chilled Banana Pudding Cup

The classic vanilla wafer and banana combination is a summertime favorite. Simply serve chilled in a tall glass that shows off the layers of wafer, banana and meringue and give guests a long spoon to scoop out the goodness.

Ingredients:

- Vanilla wafers
- 1 cup milk
- 3 Egg whites for the meringue
- 3 egg yolks for the pudding
- 3/4 cup of Sugar (1/4 cup for the meringue, cup for the banana pudding)
- 5 or 6 very ripe bananas
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Steps:

1. In a bowl over a double boiler mix together the vanilla extract, mix together milk, cup sugar, and eggs to create the pudding.

2. Line glass baking dish with vanilla wafer layer, then pour over a layer of the pudding. Repeat layering the wafers and pudding until youve reached the top of the dish.

3. Create the meringue by using a hand mixer to beat together 3 egg whites with cup of sugar until stiff peaks form. Spoon over the top of the pudding and wafers, and place into the over for twenty to twenty five minutes at 335 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Allow to cool fully outside the oven, then place in refrigerator to allow to chill for a few hours before serving. Serve by carefully spooning into tall glasses and placing the meringue back on top.

Cold Peach-Ginger Soup

Recipe adapted from Sophisticated Entertaining by Jeanne Benedict. Serve guests in style by offering a delicious cold soup in Champagne flutes.

Grilled Chicken with Tomato-Mint Coulis

Recipe adapted from Sophisticated Entertaining by Jeanne Benedict. A "coulis" is a strained sauce typically made from a blend of pureed fruit or vegetables, perfect as a topping for a summer meal.

Lemon Meringue Pudding

Recipe adapted from Sophisticated Entertaining by Jeanne Benedict. Turn the flavors of lemon meringue pie into a delightful dessert in a cup. Instead of the traditional browned soft meringue, the lemon curd in this recipe is topped with crunchy meringue cookies for easy assembly at the party.

Aranitas with Sour Cream and Cilantro

The word "aranitas" translates to "spiders" and this delish appetizer is named such because the finished product, apparently, resembles spider legs . This recipe's main ingredient, plantain, is similar to a banana and can be found in the produce section of most grocery stores.

Picadillo Burgers

Traditionally, picadillo is a spiced ground beef saute with vibrant ingredients like green olives and capers to brighten up the flavor. Various Latin countries, such as Puerto Rico and Cuba, have their own versions and this recipe is a "2-tablespoons at a time" blend of many cultures' renditions.

Tropical 7-Layer Bars

If a big old birthday cake is too much for a casual grill-out, go with these easy tropical layered cookies.

World Cup Globe Cake

Making a globe cake is simple - you need a round cake pan, cake mix, vanilla icing and blue and green food coloring. The rest just takes a bit of creativity (and a map!)

Purchase mini toothpick flags for your favorite countries playing in this year's World Cup and place them in their appropriate locations on your globe cake.

Wine Based Punch

TIP: Your punch can do double duty-if you have some leftover white wine in the refrigerator, or a bottle of vodka you never touch, use it as the base of your bunch and build from there.

Chicken Under a Brick

Combine the herb mixture with sea salt, ground pepper, and chopped garlic for a potent summery flavor!

North African Spice Mixture

A spicier substitute to my fresh herbs mix, this recipe will give your chicken a hint of exoticism while still maintaining a fresh, tender flavor.

Cousin Bobby's Prize Winning Chili

For this recipe, I turned to actress, party planner and Southern chili connoisseur Sandra Staggs. It's her Cousin Bobby's Prize-Winning Chili, and according to Sandra, "Truly one of the best pots of chili this side of the Rio Grande"!"

Veggie Chili

If a bowlful of steer doesn't suit your twang, you can also whip a pot of Veggie Chili that tastes as good as the real thing.

Inspired by the University of California Davis
Coffee House Chili.

Lobster Steamed in Vodka

I have the great fortune of having friends with fabulous homes right on the coast of Maine. On one of my sojourns to "Camp Bartlett", my title for their compound, we had the complete lobster adventure. We selected our lobster's fresh from the sea and steamed it New England style in a pot of seaweed and ocean water. I added a splash of vodka and a new traditional was born.

Grand Marnier Glazed Corn on the Cob

When mixing this potent glaze, it may seem like the liquor bottle accidentally spilled on the corn. Never fear, the liqueur mellows as the corn cooks into a light coating with a just a trace of orange.

Blackberry Crumble Bars

Bar cookies are a great choice for outdoor events as these finger sweets are more elegant than a regular cookie and easier to make than a pie or cake.

Cornbread Recipe

Of course, Chili & Cornbread fit together like a horse and saddle -- and here is my favorite Cornbread Recipe.

It comes courtesy of Susanne, the Hillbilly Housewife. Her homespun blog is chockfull of wonderful recipes and Home Ec tips. I encourage you to check out!

Cowboy Style Baby Green Salad with Shaved Pecorino Cheese and Balsamic Vinegar

You can purchase baby greens at your supermarket or better yet, if you have access to a local farmers' market, select from the many varieties of baby lettuces and greens. I wash my greens under cold running water and then dry them in a salad spinner.

Cowboy Coffee

You'll have everyone feelin' right at home on the range if you finish off the evening with Cowboy coffee and my lip-smacking Good, Bad, and the Fudgy Brownies. Just make sure they wipe any stray cow patties off their boots before they kick them up on the coffee table.

The Good the Bad and the Fudgy Brownies

Black Bean Brownies, a short cut version...

These sweet treats contain, yes, Black Beans as the main ingredient. But before you scoff at the idea, remember they are terrific, especially considering that they are dairy, oil and egg free. They are also easy to bake, low calorie and high in fiber. I made them and didn't reveal to my boyfriend that these chewy, fudgy brownies were mostly made of black beans. (Don't ask don't tell!)

Silver Palate Brownie

If you prefer, you can opt instead for a more decadent brownie. This version is wow amazing, chocolaty and luxurious, but I'm not going to list the calorie count on these!

Top off the brownies (either version) with a du-wop dollop of fresh whipped Chantilly cream.

To make Chantilly cream, you will need heavy whipping cream, superfine pure cane sugar and a vanilla extract.

S'Mores Cake Poppers

Bite-sized and flavor packed, s'mores cake poppers are perfect for any kind of party.

These delicious morsels are a messy endeavor, but totally worth it! Be warned though, once you make a batch of these and share with friends and family you are obligated to make them over and over!

The Kahlua Banana Split

 

The delicious addition of kahlua to this banana split makes it a perfectly sinful take on tradition – one that you'll want to enjoy over and over again.

Banana Split Affogato

Europeans love their gelato affogato en caffe, which literally means 'soaked in coffee.' We've created a European twist on the traditional banana split by adding a shot of warm espresso over the top. For this banana split, we recommend using gelato since it is denser and melts slower with the heat of the espresso shot.

Limoncello and Lavender Banana Split

For a completely unique, modern take on a banana split, we love using lavender (or lavender honey) ice cream. It's best found at a local specialty ice cream shoppe or made at home (Martha Stewart has a great recipe), and its subtle flavor is both refreshing and exotic. Add a little bit of limoncello and you've got yourself the perfect banana split for summer.

Simple S'mores Cupcakes

With only three ingredients making up traditional s'mores, it's easy to put them all together to create one delicious cupcake.

Pina Colada Cupcake Recipe

Combine some originality with cake mix from a box and what does that make? Fast, easy and delicious pina colada cupcakes that taste just like your favorite frozen cocktail!