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Summer

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The kids are back to school and it is Mom’s Night! Gather your mom friends together that you haven’t seen over the long, busy Summer season and enjoy catching up with a Ladies Night complete with the perfect end of Summer appetizer and signature cocktail, the Peach Plunge!

Cocktail with peach and lemon, crater lake vodka, wild roots peach vodka, spiced peach simple syrup, and brightly colored mums

My favorite Ladies Night drink is one that I rarely get unless out for a Ladies Night—the Lemon Drop. The sweet and sour combo is always one that makes me feel like cutting it up with friends. I wanted to create a drink with that same feeling, that also helped celebrated the best flavors of the end of Summer and early Fall. This Peach-variation of the Lemon Drop was dubbed the Peach Plunge by my husband upon first taste! He included some cheesy tagline about plunging you into the flavors of Summer. It was perfect!

The Peach Plunge Cocktail Recipe

This end-of-summer sipper is sweet and sour and has the spices you’ll recognize from your favorite peach cobbler desserts. It all starts off with a homemade Spiced Peach Simple Syrup. Simple Syrup is easy to make and a cocktail staple. A traditional simple syrup is simply 1 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water heated over medium heat until the sugar has completely dissolved into the mixture. It can be stored, sealed, in the fridge for up to 7 days.

Similarly, the Spiced Peach Simple Syrup will include sugar and water, but this mixture has a bit more to it than the traditional simple syrup. Call this a slightly more complicated, but equally easy syrup.

Peaches in brown sugar and water mixture with cinnamon stick

Spiced Peach Simple Syrup

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup frozen peaches
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • Supplies: small heavy-bottomed saucepan, sieve, and heat resistant jar with airtight lid

Directions:

  • Add all ingredients to the saucepan and heat on a stovetop at medium to medium-high heat. Stir occasionally, you do not want the sugar to burn.
  • Bring ingredients to a low boil for 5 minutes, or until peaches are very soft and all sugar is incorporated into mixture.
  • Turn off the heat and let the mixture sit for 30 minutes to cool and let flavors meld.
  • Pour the mixture through a sieve reserving the liquid. Use a fork to squeeze all liquid from the peaches. Discard the peach/spice mixture. The liquid, once cooled, is your Spiced Peach Syrup!

Now, on to the cocktail! This recipe makes 1 cocktail.

Peach Plunge Cocktail Ingredients:

  • Supplies: 1 shaker, ice, martini glass
  • 2 oz Vodka
  • 1 oz Peach Vodka (or peach schnapps)
  • 1 oz Spiced Peach Simple Syrup
  • 1/2 oz of freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Garnish: Slice of Peach and Sugared Rim

The Peach Plunge: A Peach Vodka Cocktail Twist on the Lemon Drop – Directions:

  • Add the vodka, peach vodka (or peach schnapps), lemon juice, and spiced peach simple syrup in a shaker over ice and shake or stir until thoroughly chilled.
  • Take a lemon slice around the edge of a martini glass and dip the edge of the glass into granulated sugar to rim the glass.
  • Strain the chilled cocktail mixture into the sugar rimmed martini glass, top with a slice of peach.
  • Enjoy!

Celebrate the end of the summer season by highlighting the best of the produce from this special time of the year. This produce grew sweet and delicious in the heat of the Summer sun and tickles the taste buds with memories of summer fun even as the evenings get cooler. This appetizer is an easy-to-assemble dish that is perfect for your next dinner alfresco or impromptu meal with friends.

If you’ve followed my blog for long you know I like EASY recipes that are more assembly situations than full days of cooking. I do sometimes get involved in my meal plans (for instance my 7 course Italian dinners!) but, especially while entertaining at home, I really value quick to assemble, delightful dishes that don’t take all my time and energy. Let’s be real, you know I’m cleaning the house until the very last minute anyways. This peach and corn bruschetta dish is inspired by my favorite flavors from the end of summer and the desire for quick to assemble!

peach and corn appetizer on wood tray with colorful appetizer plates and colorful mum flowers

Peach & Corn Bruschetta Appetizer

This recipe makes around 30 individual bruschetta bites. This is dependant of course on the size of your baguettes and portions on your toasts. Like I said, I’m more of an assembly gal! 😉 But, it does make a hearty amount!

Ingredients:

  • 2 Peaches
  • 4 ears of corn (or 16 oz of corn)
  • Tablespoon of butter or oil
  • 1 cup of heirloom cherry tomatoes (or any ripe cherry tomato will do)
  • 2-3 large balls of burrata – I used 3 because I like burrata!
  • basil shredded
  • pesto
  • olive oil
  • balsamic glaze
  • salt & pepper
  • Ciabatta Bread or baguette  sliced into small bite sized pieces and toasted. I did around 2 inch wide and 1/4 inch depth on my cuts. To toast, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and toast in a 400 degree oven around 10 minutes.

 

Directions:

  1. Dice up peaches.
  2. Dice up cherry tomatoes.
  3. Slice corn from cob and then cook in pan with a pad of butter or tablespoon of canola oil. Let the corn sit in the pan with infrequent stirring so that it can get a good char on it. A good shortcut here is to buy frozen corn or frozen pre-charred corn that you simply. have to heat! Trader Joe’s has a great frozen Charred Corn.
  4. Mix the corn, peaches, and cherry tomato in a bowl. It is okay if the corn is a touch hot.
  5. Top toasted bread with a spoonful of the above mixture. Repeat until all are topped.
  6. Break up the burrata and top each of the bruschetta bites with burrata. (This is a messy job, but so worth it!) Get a good amount on each piece.
  7. Mix two tablespoons of pre-made pesto with 2 tablespoons of good quality olive oil. Drizzle on each burrata topped bruschetta bite.
  8. Drizzle balsamic glaze over all of the appetizers.
  9. Sprinkle shredded basil on the top as a garnish!

These peach and corn bruschetta bites are surprising, sweet, and all of the best of Summer. If you make them, please let me know what you think! And, stay tuned for more peach-inspired recipes coming soon!

Am I the only one that thinks of the Aquabats every time I think pool party? Or is my elder millennial showing? Well, it is full on Summer now and I am ready for our first pool party of the season. Before the 4th of July holiday I was able to share some of my favorite summer party tips on KATU’s Afternoon Live that are great for any outdoor party including pool parties, family reunions, splash pad parties, summer bbqs, and more. Follow these tips and you’re sure to say, “It was a cool party.”

Watch my segment on Afternoon Live for my Summer Pool Party Tips!

5 Tips for a Summer Pool Party + One Bonus Tip!

Five of these tips I shared on the TV segment above. However, the sixth, bonus tip below, is one I got from attending our first pool party of the season hosted by our realtors. I love sourcing great party tips from others (giving credit where credit is due) and incorporating them into my own events in the future to help make my parties even more fun going forward.

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One of the things I’ve learned over the past few years as time or resources have become more limited is that it is okay to NOT do everything I want to do. It is okay to not be ready at party time and have friends help pitch in. It is okay to not photograph everything ahead of time. If you have the time, resources, capacity, and desire to go full Pinterest mode then enjoy it to the fullest (I know I do!). However, if that is an expectation that is weighing on you (as it has me over the years), please do your best to let go of a few things. Edit your list. Be okay with almost.

Tip 1: Have Summer Party Protection Essentials ready to go!

This summer party tip goes well beyond just pool parties. I have a summer protection kit set up at my house throughout the entire summer for my own kids to use as well as guests at impromptu bbqs and, of course, my summer events.

Sunscreen and Bug Spray Station Party Idea with Sign that Says Help Protect Yourself in US Patriotic Colors

As a skin cancer survivor, I take skin protection very seriously and tend to have sunscreen on me at all times. But, I also understand that when people are running out the door it is easy to forget something that you only use once in a while. So, having things like face sunscreen, body sunscreens (both spray and lotion), bug bite prevention, and wipes for cleaning hands, makes skin protection easy for guests and doesn’t put someone on the spot to ask others if they did forget.

Tip 2: Keep Extra Pool Supplies on Hand!

If we all lived by the rules of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, then we’d never leave without our towel. But, I know I’ve been at a pool party before sans towel or wishing I had a pair of sunglasses, or maybe an extra pool float.

display of summer party items including towels sunscreen and floaties

You certainly do not need towels and supplies for everyone and don’t need to go out and buy extra items. But, sourcing your supplies for some extras to keep available for people to use if they forgot their own is helpful. Add a sign* or bucket for returning the items if you’re worried they’ll be mistaken for favors.

Tip Three: Prep hydrating, healthy, and easy to eat snacks for quick snack breaks that lead right back to play!

Listen, when everyone is enjoying themselves swimming or playing outdoor party activities such as wiffle ball, cornhole, kickball, or playing in a splash pad, they simply do not want to stop long to eat a bunch of food! Plus, they don’t want to feel too full or heavy for more playing in the heat. Make easy to eat snacks that are mostly healthy, somewhat sneakily hydrating, and fun to eat!

Ideas for foods to serve at a summer party:

  • Fruit kabobs! This was featured on the Afternoon Live segment above. Food on a stick is just naturally fun. Fruit is hydrating, quick to eat, healthy, and delicious! Wash and cut fruit into bite size pieces and add to a skewer. Use a melon baller or small cookie cutters to create more interesting fruit kabobs or to match a theme, like star shaped watermelon slices for your Independence Day Party.
  • Cheese sticks and cheese snacks. Prepackaged isn’t my normal go to for parties, but they are perfect for this type of event. Keep the cheese on ice and people can grab a pre-packed cheese stick, eat it easily without the need of a plate, and discard of the package before jumping right back into the pool.
  • Individual snacks: Chip bags, pretzels, snack bars, squeeze pouches… all of them make great fast snacks for a summer pool party! While I’d normally not go for individual servings, this is useful for not getting pool water in snacks or having a bunch of half filled plates laying around getting gross in the heat.
  • Bite size appetizers: Caprese bites on a toothpick, italian antipasto skewers, crostini, and similar easy to grab and eat without a plate appetizers are also solid choices for an active outdoor event.

Tip Four: Make hydration fun!

For my boys there seems to be nothing worse than me telling them to drink more water or how important hydration is! But, if I make hydration fun by putting out interesting mixers and making it more like an activity than a chore, they will hydrate themselves without effort (or groans)! Don’t forget to use plastic, compostable cups*, or other outdoor drinkware so that you don’t have breaks that end up closing down the pool for the day.

Water hydration station set up with fourth of july colorscheme

Items to Stock with your Hydration Bar:

  • Ice and water! I use a big water jug and fill it with ice and water. I then put an ice bucket and scoop to the side so people can add ice to their glass as well. When it is really hot, this will be welcomed. You can also use water bottles if you choose, but then you’ll limit your ability to add in fruit and other fun additions to your drinks limiting just to powdered mix in items or juices.
  • Cut up fruit, vegetables, and herbs. While you can make different mixes of flavored water it takes a bit of the fun out of making your own combinations. Cut up produce such as strawberries, lemons, limes, oranges, cucumbers, mint, basil, and other such fresh items.
  • Liquid sweetener. I personally like my water without sweetener, but sometimes a little simple syrup* or agave syrup* will help take the flavored water to a more enjoyable level.
  • Electrolyte or flavored mix ins. Grab some of the flavored water drops*, your favorite electrolyte powders*, and other such mix ins that people can add to their waters for a punch of flavor.
  • Something for stirring and muddling.* I like to keep a muddler and long spoon or several long stir sticks at the table for people to mix in their favorite combinations and get the most flavor out of it.

Tip Five: Keep it on ICE!

The saying goes, hot things hot and cold things cold. In an outdoor party you’re likely not serving heated appetizers, but if you do then remember to consider food safety—the heat of the day is not hot enough for several hours of hot food safety. More likely though, you’ll be serving items that need to keep chilled. Every summer, despite having an ice dispenser and plenty of ice trays, I buy ice in bulk. Utilize ice chests and your freezer space to keep it cold.

Keep food cool by putting food in one tray and top it on a tray of ice, utilize these amazing cold food serving trays*, or use inflatable serving bars* to fill with ice and add your trays of food or chilled drinks.

Bonus Tip 6: Create fun favors for the kids to take home to keep the party going!

Now, not every party needs a party favor. Gulp. Sacrilege from me, I know. But, if you have the budget and the desire then this is a great one for a summer pool party!

colorful buckets filled with sidewalk chalk beach ball and bubbles

We were recently invited to our first pool party of the season by our amazing Oregon and Washington based realtors, The Enloe Group. The party was fabulous as all their parties are, but the party favor was exceptionally sweet! My son loved grabbing a beach bucket filled with sidewalk chalk, a beach ball, and bubbles. Such a great gift for a pool party.

Other excellent favors would include different sized flip flops, sunglasses, sunscreens, towels, pool floats, and other such summer-related items.

Use these five tips plus summer fun bonus tip for your last-minute summer BBQs where kids (and adults) will be running around playing games, at your next splashpad gathering with moms, your summer birthday parties at the park, or your next pool party. Keep hydrated, cool, protected, and prepared for a fun and safe event!

What are your summer party tips? Share in the comments below!