Strawberries with Toasted Pine Nuts and Honey

I love all the fresh fruit that starts to hit the produce aisle this time of year!  Everything is juicier, sweeter, and more delicious than ever.  So, I like to take advantage of it and use as much fruit as possible, and it's such a natural fit for dessert.

This is a yummy dish that is so simple to make.  Simply pour some pine nuts into a hot and oiled pan and toast on your stovetop for a few minutes.  Remove the pine nuts from the pan and let cool while you slice your strawberries.  Top the berries with the nuts, and finish it off with a drizzle of honey.

Yum!!

Saturday Snapshot:New Orleans Food

Because, let's be honest, food is a way of life in NOLA.  Respect must be paid.

From beignets to pralines, I don't think I've ever eaten so many sweets... and that's saying something!  Three kinds of butter served with dinner, beautiful desserts, seafood mac and cheese from Miss Linda, oysters, waffles as bread... the list goes on and on.  This is my last New Orleans post until I visit again, so I wanted to be sure and highlight all the good eats we had :)

DIY Tassel Sandals

I am loving the tassel trend!  So, I went on the hunt for some sandals with an ankle strap, and I lucked into a pair of $10 Ralph Lauren shoes from TJ Maxx.  I found a string of tassels at Michael's, and sewed them on!

It was so easy!  I made sure to run the needle between the two strips of leather that make up the strap.  This way, if I change my mind about the tassels, they can be removed with no noticeable damage.

What do you think?  What summer trends are you excited about?

Orzo Salad with Peas, Broccoli, Radish, and Havarti

I love a chilled pasta salad when the weather gets nice!  This tasty little dish is so easy to make, and it's full of great flavor.  The sweetness of the peas, the spicy pepper flavor of the radish, and the smooth havarti all blend together so well.  A little acidity from a champagne vinaigrette finishes it off perfectly!

You will need:

• 1/2 box orzo pasta, cooked and run under cold water
• 7 radishes, thinly chopped
• 1 small head of broccoli, broken into small florets
• 10 ounces sugar snap peas, shelled
• 5 slices of havarti cheese, thinly chopped

Mix all of your ingredients together in a large bowl.  Then, in a jar, combine 2 parts olive oil to 1 part champagne vinegar to make your dressing (we used 2 T olive oil and 1 T vinegar).  Shake well and pour over the salad.  Toss to evenly coat the salad.

Enjoy!  Best served outside ;)

What are your favorite summer foods?

Saturday Snapshot: Ruby Red

Okay, I have no idea what this is... but it's so cool looking!  Anyone able to help me ID it??

Beg, Borrow, Steal: Classic Shortbread

I don't know why, but shortbread has always been something that sort of intimidated me.  Something about the pretty shapes, the little holes, it just looked daunting!  Plus, it's so buttery and crumbly, that I figured it was a fine line between doing it right and ending up with a big old mess.

When I found this recipe for shortbread by Add a Pinch on Pinterest, I figured... okay.  I can try this.  And man, it was easy!  There are only four ingredients, and the hands-on time is super minimal.  I was able to do the dishes and get a workout in while I was making these!  The only thing that went "wrong" is how quickly I ate it all... #sorrynotsorry

If you are like me and have been scared to try your hand at shortbread, let me assure you: it couldn't be easier!  In fact, making this was so totally doable that I'll be using this recipe as a base for some fun shortbread flavor combinations.

Vodka Basil Gimlet

I love this time of year!  The weather is warmer, the breezes are beautiful, the trees are leafing out... It's perfect for a cocktail on the patio.  I am loving this drink right now.  The tart lime along with the fresh basil is a perfect compliment to some stoop sitting.

To make your own, you will need:

• 1 1/2 parts vodka
• 1 part Rose's lime juice
• 2-3 basil leaves per drink

Simply muddle one or two basil leaves at the bottom of a glass.  Top with ice, vodka, and lime juice.  Stir gently and garnish with a fresh leaf of basil.

What is your go-to summer drink?