Summer Simple Do Ahead

MENUS | AUGUST 2020

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SUMMER SIMPLE

FRESH SEAFOOD & SUMMER VEGETABLES

 
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Advanced Preparation for Easy Service

My Summer Simple menus are designed with advanced, easy preparation in mind. They require less last minute cooking and time management after your guests arrive.  All you have to do is to assemble, warm or quick grill. These menus are forgiving with simple preparations and cooking methods with absolutely no compromises in flavor or presentation.  These dishes are bursting with flavor, color and a bit of fun. There is no better time than now to create small safe gatherings that take advantage of beautiful summer nights celebrating life outside with family and friends at home. These dishes focus on the freshest seafood and and bright summer vegetables.

 
 
Featured
Lobster, Shrimp & Scallop Salad Niçoise
Starter / Appetizer
Lobster, Shrimp & Scallop Salad Niçoise
Starter / Appetizer

The well known Nicoise Salad, or Salade Niçoise in French; is a delicious, refreshing and traditional salad from France in which fresh market produce are complimented by typical Provencal seasonings. Too often however the version you find on menus is prepared with canned tuna which is not my favorite. I do have a few recipes in which I utilize canned tuna but never in this salad. My version using more delicate fresh shellfish is heavenly. I use two of my artSAVOR blends to add layers of savory deliciousness. I had great fun creating the elevated seafood marinade with artSAVOR 75 and the vinaigrette for the vegetables with artSAVOR 30. Plating this ahead of time and covering in the refrigerator, makes last minute service incredibly easy. Served right from the refrigerator at room temperature made my duties light and contributed to a more spontaneous and easy summer night dining al fresco.

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Starter / Appetizer
Herbed 4-Cheese Pizza with Summer Garden Vegetables
Starter / Appetizer
Herbed 4-Cheese Pizza with Summer Garden Vegetables
Starter / Appetizer

My idea of a perfect pizza is a crispy, but chewy toothsome crust covered in fresh, bright crunchy toppings. Honestly, I can’t create a summer menu without a pizza course! But that is really almost true year-round. I challenge myself to keep it new and different, despite that I have made countless pizzas in every variation you can imagine from different crusts to unusual toppings. Lately I have been using artSAVOR blends to create more subtle and unexpected flavors. As pleasant evenings abound during the summer in Southern California, I am using the outdoor grill as often as possible. This incredibly simple and rustic pizza benefits from the summer herb garden plus artSAVOR 30 to elevate four kinds of cheese melted into deliciousness on the artisan crust topped with crunchy summer vegetables. This is all the best of summer brought together in a pizza!

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Starter / Appetizer
Homeira’s Shrimp & Vegetable Summer Rolls
Starter / Appetizer
Homeira’s Shrimp & Vegetable Summer Rolls
Starter / Appetizer

I fell in love with summer rolls many years ago at a small Vietnamese restaurant. Light, fresh, healthy, versatile so and easy to make, they remind me of a very simple Persian appetizer called “Noon o Sabzi” (bread and greens). This Persian treat is a platter of fresh herbs, peppery greens, radishes, onion and cheese served with thin lavash bread. The diner chooses a selection of herbs to roll in the lavash like a summer roll. My shrimp and vegetable summer rolls add the perfect fresh starter to my summery menu. I love creating with rice papers as they provide a perfect background to deliver everything from beef, seafood, poultry to vegetarian. For this recipe I am using artSAVOR 75 for the dip to creating all many levels of flavor deliver savory deliciousness in every bite.

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Starter / Appetizer
Jalapeño Cheddar Beef Kabob with Sumac over Basmati Rice
Entrée
Jalapeño Cheddar Beef Kabob with Sumac over Basmati Rice
Entrée

For me summertime is about my love affair with the outdoor barbeque and kabobs. The aroma that emanates is so divine, alluring and inviting. This recipe affords the easiest preparation requiring little cooking time, yet the result is so versatile and can be presented in numerous ways. Of course, I start with my artSAVOR 20 and then layer in additional flavor with fresh jalapeño, cheddar cheese and freshly ground sumac. This is a WOW-worthy presentation to boot!

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Entrée
Homeira's Tart Cherry Chocolate Fudge Brownie with Caramelized Bananas
Sweet Endings
Homeira's Tart Cherry Chocolate Fudge Brownie with Caramelized Bananas
Sweet Endings

As you may have guessed, I am not a “dessert lover!” When it comes to creating sweet endings for a menu, I always try to find a quick and easy solution that says “made from scratch” but is just mostly! Everyone loves a fudgy, chocolate brownie. My version is made better with walnuts and fresh tart cherries stirred through the batter. The cherries have been cooked down with a bit of sugar and Grand Marnier. It is finished off with layer of brown sugar caramelized bananas.

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Sweet Endings
Layered Strawberry & Lime Frozen Wine Cocktail
Cocktails & Beverages
Layered Strawberry & Lime Frozen Wine Cocktail
Cocktails & Beverages

Part of my shopping joy is the discovery of new products that pique my curiosity. Recently I came across wine-based margarita cocktails. The bright colors grabbed my attention, so I decided to give these beautiful strawberry red and vivid lime color libations a try. I chose to spin these up in the blender with some ice into a lightly frozen refreshing cocktail which lowers the alcohol content. This is the perfect welcoming aperitif with to serve your guests on a summer night!

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Cocktails & Beverages
 
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