Summer Recipes | 20something cupcakes

Archives For summer recipes

{goat} cheesecake + thyme-infused cherries.

August 31, 2012 — 4 Comments

I’m pretty sure goat cheese cheesecake is one of the seventh wonders of the world that I’m just a littttle upset to be just discovering.

Goat Cheese Cheesecake with Thyme-Infused Cherries

I mean, where have I been? It’s been a long 27 years without goat cheese cheesecake.

Cheesecake should probably be my favorite dessert, right? Considering that cheese is my numero uno food group. I do love a good cheesecake, now that I think about it. Sometimes I get a craving and send Daniel down the street for this ridiculous “30th Anniversary” crazy-town chocolate number from The Cheesecake Factory. It’s so rich and indulgent and just totally NUTS. Have you ever had this sucker?

It might happen only once a year for me, for said reason – it’s so over-the-top sweet and indulgent that I have it once and I’m good for, um… a year. Such is not the case with this very distant relative of that cheesecake.

In Dinner Party Worthy, Sweets + Treats cheesecake, cherries, cream cheese, goat cheese, summer recipes, thyme

greek {chicken} nachos.

August 21, 2012 — 15 Comments

Easy. Healthy. Delicious. And guess what? There’s practically no cooking involved.

Greek {Chicken} Nachos

Summer eating at its finest.

This is … a Greek take on nachos. How fun is that?! I’ve been eyeing this recipe in The Food Matters Cookbook since we began and so I was more than pleased to help fellow member Megan out with her selection when she asked me.

The original recipe is titled Greek “Nachos” with Feta Drizzle, and because I was so into the idea, I stayed pretty true to it. The general theory is that pita chips replace the tortilla chips, and then summer veggies like tomato and cucumber form a salad on top. Mark combines the feta with yogurt to form a drizzle, but instead I opted to melt the feta over the chips with chicken. Hello, store-bought rotisserie chicken! You could brown up some ground lamb instead if you’re feeling extra Greek. And if you want to keep things meatless, add hummus or roasted chickpeas in place of the chicken.

In Food Matters Project, Healthy Eats, Main Dishes cucumbers, feta, greek yogurt, mediterranean, pita bread, rotisserie chicken, salsas + relishes, summer recipes, weeknight fix

loaded {summer vegetable} fried rice.

August 16, 2012 — 5 Comments

I made fried rice once before, and I was very “ehhh” about it.

Loaded {Summer Vegetable} Fried Rice

Now, fried rice is not something to be indifferent about.

No! Fried rice is something to crave. On a bad day, a good day … most definitely a hungover day.

Seriously. This fried rice does it for me. Why? Well, let’s start with the fact that we’re really eating a big bowl of vegetables. I have nothing against eating such things, but other people might – so I know this is a big deal. And as much as I enjoy vegetables, sometimes I’m not exactly satisfied after eating them on their lonesome.

This is a big bowl of vegetables that I’m happy to eat with a hangover. Tell me you’ve got veggies with that going on! No, really – tell me. One can never have too many healthy hangover cures.

In Healthy Eats, Main Dishes, On the Side asian recipes, brown rice, mushrooms, summer recipes, summer squash, zucchini

peach + tomato panzanella.

August 6, 2012 — 8 Comments

One of my favorite things: When I tell Daniel what I’m making and he whines about it … then he eats it, and loses his mind over how delicious it is.

Peach + Tomato Panzanella

How on earth could one whine after being presented to the thought of a luxurious bread salad – packed with fresh summer peaches, tomatoes, arugula, basil, and blue cheese – you ask?

Well, it all started when I explained to him what a panzanella is … Traditionally, it’s an Italian bread and tomato salad where the chunks of stale bread soak up the juices from the tomatoes. From there, anything can be added – more veggies, dressing, etc. But none of that matters because I lost him at the whole bread-soaking-up-tomato-juices thing.

In Salad Bar arugula, basil, blue cheese, main course salads, peaches, side salads, summer recipes, tomatoes

mexican {street} corn chowder.

July 31, 2012 — 7 Comments

I suppose it’s safe to say that this soup comes with a story.

Mexican {Street} Corn Chowder

Weird, I know.

This was the soup that I conjured up to take to my audition for that lil’ cooking show I told you about. You know … the one with Nigella and Anthony. On a major network. Small fries. Small potatoes? Whatevs.

I’m going to tell you the story of that audition, although you won’t be getting the results, because I don’t know them yet myself. Unless someone out there knows something otherwise – we’re in full-on wait-mode right now.

Except I’m not really waiting, because I think the word “waiting” signifies that you’re sitting around, in a state at least somewhat close to inactivity – which clearly, I am not.

Between being engaged – is this a real thing that people already have a gift registry by now, because that scares me – planning an engagement party, going to Key West last weekend which, by the way, I’ve decided is like Vegas in the fact that I shouldn’t be allowed to stay there for a period longer than 3 nights … oh, wait – and that reminds me, I will be in Vegas the weekend after my engagement party for my BFFs bachelorette party, and then there’s another one in the DR and then wedding after wedding after wedding after … and don’t I have my own wedding to plan, or even think about, for that matter?

ANYHOO.

In Main Dishes, Starters chowder, corn, cornbread, cotija cheese, lime, mexican recipes, quick breads, soups, summer recipes

how-to: the perfect burger + super-fast buns.

July 26, 2012 — 5 Comments

I bet you didn’t know that burgers are just full of secrets.

How to Make the Perfect Burger Plus Fast Hamburger Buns

{And not the K-Stew/Robert Pattinson type}

I’ve shared them once before, but just in case you’re more of a visual person – and who isn’t? … I made a video, just for you!

What’s even better is that we’re making homemade buns that’ll be done just in time for the burgers. Are you skeptical? I was, when I first discovered this 40-minute hamburger bun recipe that I used a base to form my own.

If you don’t know much about bread-making – and I won’t pretend to be an expert, either – just know that when you’re messing around with yeast, you usually have to deal with all sorts of rise times and the like. There’s nothing hard about it – it’s can just get time-consuming. With these buns, however, you’re using a lot more yeast than you normally would, so this makes up for the lack of resting/rise time. Don’t ask me why, I’m no scientist – just watch and see!

In Main Dishes, Sassy in the Kitchen burgers, ground beef, homemade bread, summer recipes, whole wheat

frozen peach {basil} sangria.

July 23, 2012 — 10 Comments

Here we go again.

frozen peach {basil} sangria

And by we, I mean me … once again, I’m off making deliciously crafty cocktails that go down way too easily – and if you’re not careful, you’re gonna end up in a state of comatosity.

I’m not kidding – after a nice, healthy pour of this frothy sensation, I was ready for a nap.

But isn’t this what summer’s all about? Sweet peaches, fresh basil, crisp white wine and tequila … it’s starting to look like I took my favorite things about summer and stuffed them all into a blender, isn’t it?

It kinda is what I did, but let me just say, this is one of the best cocktails I’ve ever made. It’s truly unique, yet all of the flavors harmonize perfectly.

In Cocktails, Food Matters Project basil, frozen drinks, limes, peaches, sangria, summer recipes, tequila, white wine

grilled chicken salad + blackberry vinaigrette.

July 12, 2012 — 8 Comments

It’s time to get back into the {salad} swing of things!

Grilled Chicken Salad with Mango, Avocado + Blackberry Vinaigrette

I’m seriously creeped by how long it’s been since I’ve shared one. I’ve had so much going on (just got off the phone with ABC again, NBD) that I’ve been pretty lazy about it. This one‘s been my go-to, because I can toss in a can of tuna and white beans and literally have dinner ready in 5 minutes.

But suddenly, I had a craving for something bigger and better. I’ve been obsessing over blackberries lately, because I’ve had some seriously good batches of them – as opposed to the blueberries I’ve been buying, which have for whatever reason been sour and lame. What’s up with that? For a blueberry-fiend like me, it’s pretty much the worst!

The idea of combining blackberry and mango in a salad just took me over, and from there the avocado was a natural addition. And then, pistachios! My new favorite addition to salads. If you buy them already roasted, shelled, and salted, they’re so easy – and they add the most savory flavor. I especially love them with avocados. Plus, they’re one of the lowest-calorie nuts (they are the lowest, actually, until you get into the roasted/salted world) and they’re super-high in potassium. Love, love, love.

Things didn’t really get good, however, until I decided to turn my happy little carton of berries into a vinaigrette.

In Healthy Eats, Salad Bar avocado, blackberries, dressings + vinaigrettes, main course salads, mango, pistachios, summer recipes

cherry-berry sangria.

July 2, 2012 — 1 Comment

Let’s not get down on the fact that the 4th of July falls smack in the middle of the week this year.

Cherry-Berry Sangria

On the contrary, in fact: This calls for an extra dose of celebratory cheer. Why? Because we now have an excuse to try a fun new sangria recipe … on a Wednesday!

Whip it up tomorrow night, and you’ll be ready for a fun-filled day of red and blue intoxication on Wednesday. It doesn’t sound so bad all of a sudden, right?

In Cocktails 4th of july, blueberries, cherries, honey, rosé wine, sangria, summer recipes

skirt steak + {summer} squash tacos.

June 25, 2012 — 20 Comments

Tacos, allow me to introduce you to the classic Argentinean combination of skirt steak and chimichurri.

Skirt Steak + {Summer} Squash Tacos

This isn’t, however, the traditional chimichurri made with parsley that you might be thinking of. This one’s made with arugula and basil – and it’s pretty divine.

Also – we’ve gone ahead and added grilled summer squash to these beauties, up-ing the health factor, and an easy goat cheese crema – which is really just a fancy term for goat cheese mixed with Greek yogurt.

This is one of my favorite meals I’ve made in a while, and it’s so super-simple – and perfect for summer! Cranking up my good ol’ Griddler to its highest heat got me the grill marks I was looking for, and I didn’t have any pots and pans to dirty up in the process since I used it for the meat, the squash, and even the tortillas.