Summer Food & Drinks

The summer season comes with its own informal rulebook of unspoken truths. Commit these to memory and you’ll be one step closer to a foolproof and successful summer!

Rule #1: Grill whenever (and whatever) possible. This includes all your favorite meats, proteins, veggies, and whatever else you dare to try!

Rule #2: Make the most of the season’s fresh produce. This can be said of any season, but is especially true of summer’s flavorful fruits and veggies.

Rule #3: Stay hydrated! Beat the heat by sipping on your favorite refreshing iced beverages when outdoors.

Now what if we told you that you can combine all three of these tips into one brilliant summer strategy?

Using creative food and drink pairings, you can incorporate your favorite grilled meats and seasonal fruits and veggies, plus tie in delicious refreshments that perfectly complement each dish.

#1: Strawberry Fields Salad Crouton Cups + Homemade Lemonade

This summer salad is made portable with cute flower-shaped crouton cups made with Martin’s Potato Bread—perfect for backyard picnics and al fresco dining. Fruity flavors like fresh strawberries and dried cranberries, mixed with savory bacon crumbles, sliced red onion, goat cheese, and pecans over a bed of mixed greens, topped with a simple vinaigrette is just what is needed this summer! Pair it with homemade lemonade (recipe follows).

Lemonade and summer go hand-in-hand. This quintessential refreshment is also the perfect companion for a fresh and fruity appetizer like this strawberry fields salad. For an added burst of strawberry flavor, try making a strawberry-lemonade variation (recipe below)!

Simple Lemonade Recipe {Customizable}

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar,
• 2 cups water,
• 1 gallon cold water,
• 2 cups fresh lemon juice,
• 1 lemon, sliced, plus more for garnish,
• Ice.

Flavored Ingredients (such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, basil, mint, or lavender)

Directions

• 1. Prepare a simple syrup by adding 2 cups sugar and 2 cups water to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves; remove from heat and set aside to cool.
2. Add a gallon of cold water and 2 cups lemon juice to a large pitcher. Stir in the simple syrup and lemon slices.
3. Serve over ice, with lemon wedges for garnish.

#2: Sweet Tea Grilled Chicken Sliders + Sweet Tea or Arnold Palmers

If you’re from the South, chances are you are very familiar with sweet tea—a highly sweetened iced tea drink. (In fact, you may even consume it on a regular basis.) Did you know it can also be used as a marinade for meat such as fried or grilled chicken? That—and the fact that it’s a deliciously refreshing summer drink—makes it the perfect pairing for our Grilled Chicken Sliders. If you’re not a fan of sweetened tea, you can also serve your sliders with Arnold Palmer s, a 50/50 blend of iced tea and lemonade. (Find both drink recipes below.)

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