Make the best of the abundant sunshine with multiple pleasurable gatherings. Fun summer activities can include surprises for youngsters such as pop-up road trips to the beach or lake. Organize a dog party, with a wash-down “spa”, to cool-down our trusted companions. Impromptu get-togethers with neighbors offer summer showcases. Outdoor grilling increases as our summer gardens flourish. The days are longer in the northern hemisphere and we need to be creative to celebrate all of the excess beaming jubilation! Be so with food. Break-out the culinary food palette and spread a spectrum of color with interesting salads. Artistic salads are wholesome and appealing. Try carrot medallion salad, French green bean salad, pea salad, asparagus wrapped with prosciutto and/or endive salad. Salads don’t have to be piled into an over-sized salad bowl. Be summer adventurous with individual stunning presentations such as with my Zucchini Roll-ups. © Kelly McBride Loft
Kelly’s Zucchini Roll-ups
Par boil a zucchini, one for every 3 guests. With a mandoline slicer, shave thin layers of each zucchini, length-wise. In a large bowl, mix equal parts for chopped black olives and chopped pecans. Add a pinch of chopped basil or chives. Add, just enough to blend, an oil and vinegar based salad dressing to the mixture. Then, roll-up the individual slices of zucchini so that each forms a roulade shape and each can sit upright. Fill the interior of the each of the zucchini roulades with the olive and pecan mixture. Top each roulade with an artful bouquet of mixed greens. Serve chilled. © Kelly McBride Loft