Happy Fourth of July

Thursday Foodday

So yeah, it's not Friday. But tomorrow I'm hoping you'll be enjoying BBQ and not reading this blog. So now we have some great holiday recipes.

American Beauty
c/o Drink of the Week

Ingredients

2 oz Bluecoat gin

1 oz fresh-lemon juice

¾ oz simple syrup

3 fresh raspberry and 3 fresh blueberries

4–6 mint leaves

Directions

Add lemon juice, mint and berries into mixing glass and lightly muddle. Add the remaining ingredients into mixing glass along with ice and shake vigorously. Fine-strain over the rocks into a double old-fashioned glass and top with a splash of soda. Garnish with lemon wheel and one raspberry.

Cajun Andouille Hot Dog

c/o Country Cleaver

Ingredients

4 Hot Dog Buns
4 Andouille Sausages
1 cup Celery, finely chopped
1/2 cup Green Bell Peppers, Chopped
1/2 cup Roasted Red Bell Pepper, chopped
1/4 cup Red Onion, chopped
1 jar Pickled Jalapeno Slices
1 cup White Cheddar Cheese

Directions

Preheat grill. Cook andouille sausages until heated through. Remove from grill, cover and let rest.
Toast hot dog buns until golden brown. Top bun with Andouille sausage. Divide celery, green bell peppers, roasted red bell pepper, red onion, red onion and jalapenos amongst the four sausages. Top with shredded white cheddar cheese. Devour immediately.

Strawberry Pie with Whipped Cream

c/o Epiciurious

Ingredients

For crust:

• 1 (5-ounce) package shortbread cookies
• 2 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

For filling:

• 2 pounds (1 1/2-inch) strawberries, hulled (see cooks' note, below)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin (2 1/4 teaspoons)

Accompaniment:

• lightly sweetened whipped cream

Directions

Make crust:
Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.

Pulse cookies in a food processor to fine crumbs, then pulse in sugar and butter until combined. Press crumb mixture evenly onto bottom and up side of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.

Prepare filling and assemble pie:
Select 20 large strawberries as close to same size as possible and set aside. Cut remaining berries into 1/4-inch dice and toss with sugar and lemon juice. Let stand, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Drain berries in a sieve set into a large glass measuring cup. Add enough water to measure 2 cups. Transfer liquid to a medium saucepan and reserve berries.

Sprinkle gelatin over strawberry liquid and let soften 1 minute. Bring to a bare simmer, stirring until gelatin has dissolved. Add diced berries, then transfer to a metal bowl set into an ice bath and stir frequently until mixture begins to mound, 20 to 30 minutes.

Spoon 1/2 cup filling into pie crust and arrange reserved whole berries, stem ends down, on filling. Spoon remaining filling over and between berries. Chill pie until filling is set, at least 4 hours.

Picnic Perfect

Summer means many things: BBQ, late nights, sundresses and sandals. Another thing that also reminds me of summer is gingham. Gingham is the quintessential summer pattern, but we also think of gingham as a button down shirt. Let's expand what you know about gingham with picks that are anything but ordinary.

Gap, Gingham Oxford Shirtdress, $59

I really love this mint dress. It's an unexpected light color and you can swap out the belt with your own neon pop of color.

Shopbop, Joa Gingham Skirt, $66

How sweet is this mini? It's just screaming for an espadrille and a pastel purse.

Loft, Gingham Seersucker Cropped Pants in Julie Fit, $69

A nice hook and eye closure makes these crops better than your average. They have a defined waistband with a great pattern. 

Anthropologie, Gingham Pumps, $99

Picnic perfect heels. Also comes in red.

Gingham is not always your standard button down. Enjoy it on dresses, skirts, shoes, you name it! It screams summer.

Be fabulous today!

Hard Stacked Metal

A beautiful stacked heel is perfect for a playful summer shoe. It's less dramatic than your standard stiletto and much easier to walk in. Today we're looking at some stacked heel metallic sandals that will go with anything in your closet.

Coach, Lexey Heel, $99

Yes that Coach. Run, don't walk. Go get these designer sandals.

Zara, Block Heel Sandal, $39

A sassy and short gold option with a nice ankle strap.

Asos, Hamilton Heeled Sandals, $76

These are my favorite of the bunch. Oh this heel is perfect. And the slope of that sandal. Yes. Just yes. It's part designer, part Studio 54, all fabulous.

Piperlime, Report Adelina, $99

These have a gladiator look to them that I love. You can pair these with a sundress of cut off denim shorts.

A great stacked heel sandal is perfect for summer and there are so many styles to choose from. I love the metallic options because they go with everything.

Be fabulous today!