Hi Everyone! Hope you're summer is getting off to a terrific start. I'm busy in the kitchen as it's not only the 4th but my husband's birthday week.

Just finished off a double batch of my homemade BBQ sauce, put a cherry cake in the oven, a batch of vanilla bean custard ice cream in to churn (recipe coming soon), pork chops are brining and ready to smoke (also coming soon) covered in my homemade dry rub, and baguette is sliced for goat cheese crostini with figs and prosciutto. Whew! And it's just Monday!

Some of these recipes are tested and written but not yet photographed and written up for the website. If any of you would like to give them a test run before they are public just email me.

4th of July Menu Ideas

What are you cooking for July 4th? My tradition is baby back ribs on my pellet grill. Whether it's burgers with easy side dishes, or maybe grilled chicken or steak, here is a list of possibilities to help your kitchen creativity:

Side dishes: Greek pasta salad, easy coleslaw, from scratch baked beans, or sweet corn succotash with bacon.

Mains: Grilled chicken with an easy lemon blender marinade, grilled chicken kabobs with hoisin sauce, or maybe a grilled flank steak with a Mexican-style marinade. Leftovers make great steak salads.

Desserts: My latest favorite is this lemon posset recipe (just 3 ingredients!). For a terrific cake that travels well for sharing or a picnic, try this lemon olive oil cake. And for something classic and chocolatey, bake a pan of my gluten-free brownies. No one will ever know they are GF.

For more ideas, check out the 4th of July recipe idea page.

Watermelon!

As watermelons are filling produce bins everywhere, try a few of these watermelon recipes. If you are hesitant to cut one up, let me show you how to cut up a watermelon in this tutorial.

Recipes: Watermelon, feta, and basil salad, Mexican watermelon water (might be good with a splash of white tequila?), or this watermelon and goat cheese appetizer (with more than 70k shares).

Summer Season Produce Ideas

You know it summer just walking into any market. Aisles overflow with beautiful stone fruit from cherries (have you tried my cherry smoothie recipe?) to peaches and plums. The tomatoes are beautiful, and there's lots of zucchini. And in my garden, my first English cucumber plant is doing nicely.

Cucumbers are so refreshing and hydrating on a hot summer day. Try this easy cucumber salad with feta and mint. Ever tried gazpacho? This classic chilled Spanish soup is like a summer garden in a bowl with tomatoes, cucumber, herbs, and more. If you've never made it, I encourage you to try it. For a small batch, cut the recipe in half to test it out.

If you've made any of my recipes, would you take a moment and please give them a star rating? It's on the recipe card area (and I hope they are 5 stars).

Signing off for now, stay healthy and happy cooking (and eating!). However I can be of help and support in your journey please let me know.

Happy 4th of July!

Sally