If I were doing my job properly, I’d be sitting here writing a blog post of such perfect wit and brilliance that you’d drop everything and run right out to buy six or eight copies of my books, Trouble, Risk, and Just About Sex.
Unfortunately, it’s summer and my brain, which is a little dicey on the best of days, keeps thinking about only one thing: sangria, the perfect summer treat.
Martha Stewart has a recipe for the best sangria ever. Here’s a link:
http://www.marthastewart.com
Feel like sharing? Please tell me about some of your favorite summer recipes and, if the mood strikes, send us a link. I’ll pick a random commenter at the end of the day to win a $25 gift certificate to Williams-Sonoma, where I’m sure they have beautiful sangria pitchers.
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Fresh Spring Rolls: *have all ingredients ready before rolling.
1 cucumber cut into matchstick like pieces
1 carrot cut into matchstick like pieces
cooked and shredded chicken or other meat
fresh basil leaves
fresh mint leaves
fresh coriander sprigs
torn green lettuce that is not stiff
cooked rice vermicelli
rice paper wrappers
Dip rice paper wrapper in a shallow plate containing hot water. Remove wrapper and place a bit of each filling ingredient. Wrap. Set aside and repeat with rest. Enjoy with a mild sweet and sour fish sauce/vinegar/ or lime dip with a bit of chopped garlic and red chilli. Very fresh tasting and light for an informal summer dinner where guests can roll their own.
by Little Lamb Lost
on June 7th, 2007 at 8:05 am
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Cuban Mojito recipe
1 teaspoon powdered sugar
Juice from 1 lime (2 ounces)
4 mint leaves
1 sprig of mint
Havana Club white Rum (2 ounces)
2 ounces club soda
Place the mint leaves into a long mojito glass and squeeze the juice from a cut lime over it. You’ll want about two ounces of lime juice, so it may not require all of the juice from a single lime. Add the powdered sugar, then gently smash the mint into the lime juice and sugar with a muddler (a long wooden device pictured below, though you can also use the back of a fork or spoon if one isn’t available). Add ice (preferably crushed) then add the rum and stir, and top off with the club soda. Garnish with a mint sprig and it’s ready to drink.
Recipe obtain from-http://www.tasteofcuba.com
by barbara
on June 7th, 2007 at 8:48 am
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QUICK CHEESECAKE
1 - 8 0z. Block Lite Cream Cheese
1 Can 15 0z. - sweetened condensed milk
1/3 c. lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ready crust
Mix cream cheese and condensed milk until smooth. mix in Lemon juice and vanilla. Pour mixture over crust. Refrigerate until it sets.
by anne
on June 7th, 2007 at 10:05 am
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My favorite summer drink is Peach Tea. I know that it is not exciting, but I love to lie by the pool with a large glass that has frozen peaches in it instead of ice. Yummy.
Anne I bought your book Trouble at the booksigning during the Lori Foster Get Together, but when I went to find you to sign it, you were no where to be found. LOL. Oh well, I am sure I will enjoy the book, even without an autograph. 
by Patty L.
on June 7th, 2007 at 10:06 am
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Key Lime Bars
Crust
2 Cups Gingersnaps crumbs
2 Tablespoons Sugar
7 Tablespoons melted butter
Preheat over to 350. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and press into a 9 x 13 baking dish lined with foil. Bake 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven.
Lime Filling
1 Large Egg
4 Large egg yolks
2 - 15 0z. cans sweetened condensed milk
1 c. bottled key lime juice
Beat all ingredients together with a mixer. Pour over the prepared crust. Bake 20 minutes in a 325 oven. Cool mixture. Then refrigerate for 2 hours. Cut into bars.
by ellie
on June 7th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
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An easy favorite of my family is marinated london broil done on the grill. The marinade is just 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, 1/4 cup olive oil, 3 tablespoons water and 1 tablespoon Montreal Steak Seasoning. Marinade it for several hours, up to one day.
by Maureen
on June 7th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
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One of my favorite summer dishes is:
Tricolor Pasta Salad
1 box of tricolor pasta
1 small bottle of zesty Italian dressing
Cubed cucumber and tomatoes
Diced black olives
Pepperoni slices
Cook pasta, drain and rinse with cold water. Stir in cucumber, tomatoes, black olives and pepperoni slices. Add Italian dressing and combine.
Great for bbqs. 
by Crystal B.
on June 7th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
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Rotini pasta cooked
Cheddar cheese cubed
Peas cooked
Chunks of cooked chicken or canned shrimp
Celery chunks/tomatoes
Add the dressing which consists of:
Cucumber salad dressing/Miracle Whip/pinch of dried dill weed
Pour dressing over and mix well and enjoy.
by RobynL
on June 7th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
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This one is a great refreshing desert:
Lime Delicious
one 13 oz. can evaporated milk
one 3 oz. lime jello
1 3/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup lime juice
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup sugar
2 cups chocolate wafers (crumbled up)
1/3 cup melted butter
Chill evaporated milk in freezer until icy cold.
Dissolve jello in hot water. Chill until partially set. Whip until fluffy.
Stir in lime juice and lemon juice and sugar.
Whip evaporated milk and fold into jello.
Press wafer crumbs and butter into bottom of 13×9 pan.
Pour in jello mixture.
Top with shaves of semi-sweet chocolate.
Chill until firm.
Cut into squares.
My grandmother made us this dessert everytime we went to visit. It is light and fluffy and very good!
by Sandra M
on June 7th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
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Hello Ann,
Great topic. I got a few cold drinks for this type of weather Here are some I want to share with you & any one else who wants to try them
Cranberry Cooler
4 cups cranberry, cranberry-apple or cranberry-grape juice
2 1/2 cups club soda
ice cubes
Preparation -
Mix together. Fill a glass with ice cubes. Pour juice over ice and serve.
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Orangeade
2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
Preparation -
Combine ingredients and stir. Pour over cracked ice in tall glasses. Garnish with fresh oranges slices.
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Colada Cooler
1 can frozen pina cola concentrate - partially thawed
1 can frozen white grape juice concentrate - partially thawed
3 cups cold water
3 cans lemon-lime soda
Preparation -
In a large pitcher, mix both cans of concentrate with water and stir. Add lemon-lime soda. Stir; Serve chilled over ice. Garnish with fruit if desired.
Here is the link for these recipe’s and more. http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art10600.asp
Hugssss
LindaH
by Linda
on June 7th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
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Well since I am not much of a cook, pefer making mixed drinks! Here are a few of my favorites.
Malibu Bay Breeze
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Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Malibu rum
2 oz Cranberry juice
2 oz Pineapple juice
Mixing instructions:
Mix ingredients and serve over ice.
Banana Colada
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Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Light rum
1/2 Banana
1 scoop Vanilla ice-cream
1 tsp crushed Pineapple
1 1/2 oz Pina colada mix
Ice
Mixing instructions:
Combine All Ingredents in a blender except for the ice and blend. Then add Ice until the drink begins to thicken then serve.
Banana Dream
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Ingredients:
1 shot Vodka (Banff)
1 shot Banana liqueur
250 ml Orange juice
50 ml Cream
Mixing instructions:
Pour all ingredients into a glass and stir well. Much better if mixed with a blender, but a stir stick will do.
by RachaelfromNJ
on June 7th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
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Hello Ann,
It’s me again I came up with a few more good ones
Apple Strawberry Smoothie
Gala or yellow delicious apples will add just the right amount of sweetness to this refreshing fruit smoothie with very little added sugar or sweetener needed.
1 Gala or Golden Delicious apple - washed, peeled, cored and sliced
1 pint fresh strawberries, washed and hulled, or 1 (6 oz.) pkg. frozen strawberries
1 cup strawberry yogurt, regular or low-fat
2 T. sugar or Splenda®
6 to 8 ice cubes
Preparation -
Place all the ingredients, except the ice, in the blender container. Process on high speed until the fruit is pureed and the ingredients are well-blended. Add the ice cubes and process on high speed until the ice is completely crushed and the drink is very smooth and creamy. Makes two servings.
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Strawberry, Pineapple, & Banana Smoothie
Make a healthy and delicious smoothie with this popular three fruit combination.
1/2 cup strawberries
1 can (8 oz.) crushed pineapple, undrained
1 medium size ripe banana
1 cup milk - whole milk or 2% milk
6 to 8 ice cubes
Preparation -
Place all the ingredients in a blender container. Process on high speed until the ingredients are well blended, the ice is completely crushed and the drink is smooth and creamy.
Hugssss
LindaH
by Linda
on June 7th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
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BLUEBERRY CRUMBLE
3 pints blueberries
3/4 c. sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Zest of 1 Lemon
1/1/2 c. flour
2/3 c. light brown sugar
8 tablespoons butter
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Combine berries, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and zest. toss gently. Spoon fruit mixture into a greased 2-quart casserole dish.
3. Combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle over fruit.
4. Bake until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbly in center. About 45 minutes.
by diane
on June 7th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
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Wow, commenters! I go away for a few hours, and I come back to a whole cookbook’s worth of great recipes! Can you hear my printer whirring nonstop?
Ellie, I have this key lime pie recipe, only I use graham crax for the crust. But I think gingersnaps would be better.
Patty L., I’m sorry I missed you! Thanks for picking up the book!
Ann
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Since we have a few people who like key lime pies besides me, here’s a great recipe for key lime cheesecake ala Cheesecake Factory.
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,196,144160-235205,00.html
Ann 
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Coconut Sherbet
2 egg yolks
1 cup hot milk
1½ cups sugar
½ tsp. salt
1 cup cold milk
2 cups coconut milk
Beat the yolks and sugar. Add hot milk and salt. Cook this over low heat until it thickens a bit. Add cold milk and coconut milk. Freeze in ice cream freezer or - as they do in Puerto Rico - freeze in a bowl or ice cube trays.
by Maria
on June 7th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
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A fun recipe that I have seen, but have not yet tried, is actually making holes at the top of a whole watermelon and then pooring rum over it. The rum should soak into the watermelon and then the watermelon should be placed into the refrigerator to chill and merinade. This is definitely a grown up summer treat!
by Kathleen
on June 7th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
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Great key lime recipes! One of my favorite desserts!
by Kathleen
on June 7th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
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Here is a yummy puch that you can make with or without booze.
half gallon of vanilla icecream or multi flavored sherbet
large bottle of ginger ale
1 large can of pineapple juice
some fresh strawberries
(add more ginger ale or pineapple juice if needed)
Put liquids in punch bowl, add the block of ice cream and strawberries and enjoy. Great for a shower.
by Pat L
on June 7th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
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Thank you, everyone, for all the fabulous recipes–I can’t wait to start trying them!
Diane, I’ve randomly chosen you to win the Williams-Sonoma gift cert. Please send your address to me at ann@annchristopher.com.
Have a great night! See you next time–
Ann
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YaY! Congrad’s Diane
Hugssss
LindaH
by Linda
on June 7th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
