Labor-less Labor Day Eats x Atlanta Plugged In

Summer isn't over yet!! I want to (air) scream this every time I cite a mention of Fall food and flavors these days.  Don't get me wrong, I loveeee the Fall.  It's my favorite season, in fact, but I'm all about celebrating each season to its fullest--and that means relishing the final days of Summer.

Just as Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of Summer, Labor Day tends to mark the unofficial end of this sultry time of year.  And with Labor Day in mind (and on the horizon), I have to share a few, fun recipes to make your entertaining over the long weekend anything but laborious.  Think effortless!

If you follow me on social media (I'd love it if you did--see the easy 'connect' buttons in the right margin. Shameless plug. ;-) ), then you're likely aware that I had the awesome privilege of returning to my favorite, Atlanta Plugged In, earlier this week to share my tips and recipes for making the most of the holiday.

WATCH ME HERE

Now that you've watched the segment, I hope you're inspired to try these easy, delicious, and, yes, healthy dishes.  Win, win, win.

And to tie it all together with a big bow on top, I'm sharing a bonus "recipe" in the way of a super fun and effortless sip.  Because there's so much to cheers to and be thankful for.

Enjoy a delicious, effortless, and safe holiday weekend.

Happy Eating!

Peach Caprese Bites
Ingredients:
Fresh peaches, sliced into rounds
Fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
Prosciutto, thinly sliced
Basil leaves
Flaked sea salt (optional)
Balsamic syrup, for garnish, (optional)

Method:
Arrange peaches, mozzarella, basil and prosciutto in stacks.  Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and drizzle balsalmic, if using.  Enjoy!

Roasted Shrimp and Pineapple Skewers
Ingredients:
Shrimp, peeled and deveined
Fresh pineapple
Old Bay Seasoning
Kosher Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Olive Oil  
Brown sugar 
Cilantro
Fresh limes  

Method:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

On a baking sheet, toss together shrimp, seasoning, a light sprinkling of salt, freshly ground pepper and olive oil.  Roast in preheated oven for 5-6 minutes.  Set aside.

On a separate baking sheet, toss together pineapple, brown sugar, salt, pepper and olive oil.  Roast for 15 minutes in preheated oven. (*Cook's Note: Shrimp and pineapple can be prepared a day ahead and served at room temperature, if preferred.)

Add roasted shrimp, pineapple and cilantro to skewers.  Garnish with more chopped cilantro and fresh lime juice.  Enjoy!

Watermelon with Chili-Spiced Salt
Ingredients:
Fresh watermelon slices or chunks
1 tablespoon kosher salt 
1/2 teaspoon chili powder 
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or less, to taste)

Method:
Add salt and spices to a dish and stir well to combine.  Sprinkle over melon, serve and enjoy! (*Cook's Note: leftover salt can be stored in an airtight container in your pantry.)

Cotton Candy Sparkler
Ingredients:
Cotton candy
Sparkling drink of choice (cider, prosecco, champagne, etc.)

Method:
Pour sparkling beverage in glasses.  Top with cotton candy.  Toast and enjoy!     
   

Toast With This!: Watermelon Agua Fresca

Holding onto Summer until the very end (and possibly beyond) means I'm making the most of the late-season ingredients I have on hand, like luscious, sweet watermelon.  I never need a recipe to indulge (straight from the rind will do just fine), but on a recent occasion I decided to turn it into something extra special--and supremely delicious.  A refreshing, summer-y, mocktail of sorts: Watermelon Agua Fresca.  Because that's what you do with leftover melon, right?

Anyway, it couldn't be simpler--or more perfect--to toast the final week or so of the official season.  So here's to late summer indulgence in all its glory and to...

Happy Sipping!

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Ingredients:
Halved watermelon, cubed and seeds removed
Mint simple syrup (recipe follows)
Juice of 1 1/2 to 2 limes

Method:
Add watermelon to a blender and puree until smooth.  Add in 3 tablespoons to 1/4 cup simple syrup and lime juice and blend to combine.  Check mixture for flavor and add more syrup or lime juice, to taste.

Strain mixture through a sieve and chill.  Serve over ice and enjoy!

Mint Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
Fresh mint leaves

Method:
Add sugar and water to a small saucepan over medium heat.  Allow sugar to fully dissolve and remove from the heat.  Add mint leaves to the syrup and steep for at least 15 minutes.  Strain syrup into a container and discard mint.   
  

Link Love: A Southern Living Summer

While visiting my mom for Mother's Day weekend, I indulged in my usual habit of leafing through her decor and lifestyle magazines.  At some point along the way, I landed on a Southern Living issue that seemed to transport me right into the middle of Summer -- a scrumptious, mouth-watering, refreshing Summer to be exact.  

It's true that we eat with our eyes first. (At least that's true for me.)  And page after page presented recipes that spawned an inner excitement followed by the exclamation, "Oooh, I'm going to make that!"  It's the raw inspiration that keeps me excited about the joys of cooking and eating.

To make sure I could follow through on my new found excitement, I asked my mom if I could "borrow" her magazine and bring it home with me. :)  She graciously obliged and as the days of Summer unfold, I look forward to making many of the vibrant dishes that will make this one of the tastiest seasons yet.

While I have my mom's August 2012 hard copy edition on hand, I wanted to share the love with these links to some of my favorite recipes from that issue via SouthernLiving.com.

Here's to a Summer of Happy Eating...Southern Living Style!

Sip:
Iced Hibiscus Sweet Tea 

Nibble:
Chipotle Shrimp Cocktail 

Grilled Watermelon with Blue Cheese and Prosciutto 

Salad:
Three Sisters Salad

Main Dish:
Chicken Enchiladas 

Beef-and-Watermelon Stir-Fry

Sweets:
Icebox Butter Cookies

Mexican Chocolate Ice-cream Pie

Photo Credit

HOW TO EAT: Watermelon

Juicy, sweet, refreshing (and figure-friendly).  Add these tags and more to the yumminess that we call watermelon.  As versatile as it is delectable, watermelon is one of my favorite fruits for everything from salads to drinks to plain 'ole snacking.


As the Labor Day weekend kicks off, you may already be thinking what I'm thinking:  bring on the melon!  So to give a boost to your eating on this front, check out my latest "how to eat" tutorial.


And as always, Happy Eating!




Eating Watermelon:

Eat with a fork unless cubed.  Eat with a spoon when cut into small pieces and served in a dish.  Use a fork and knife when served with the rind attached.  Drop seeds into your cupped hand and place them on the side of your plate.