an end-of-Summer gathering . . . all our Summer favorites

We celebrated the end-of-Summer with a small, casual gathering of friends.

I can't believe how fast our Summer flew by!  

Our 5 and 6-year-old are still enjoying another week and a half of Summer vacation before returning on September 4th. So I couldn't think of a better weekend to gather friends for food and fun. 

We celebrated with all our Summer favorites . . . 

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chili lime corn-on-the-cob

watermelon LOBSTERS

home-grown heirloom tomatoes

Smoked Apple & Chardonnay sausages

Feta, Spinach & Garlic sausages

hot dogs

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home-made blueberry & mint lemonade

Weinhard's Root Beer

lemon crumble cookies

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We gathered in our patio & yard . . . and enjoyed a relaxed setting.

Since we're still picking tomatoes (almost daily), I filled small bowls with these sweet, healthy bites . . . and placed them around for everyone to enjoy.  They are so darn good!

Along with sweet grilled corn, I served a delicious array of flavorful and juicy sausages.

Two of my favorites this Summer were Smoked Apple & Chardonnay  and Feta, Spinach & Garlic. Both are so incredibly good. And for a more casual feel, instead of piling them on a platter, I sliced them  . . . and laid then them on a wooden board as they came off the grill.  They made for great hors devours or a main coarse.

               And as the sun set, I lit small candles for our main table . . . and turned on our globe lights. We relaxed and visited well after the sun set that evening.

The gathering of good food and good friends . . . it's a wonderful way to bring Summer to an end.

 

 

LET'S STAY in touch!

Simply Suzannes at Home

on Facebook

Sharing with . . . .

Stephanie Lynn, Twelve O Eight, Carrie This Home, Cooking for the Seven Dwarves, Huckleberry Love, Dwellings, Smart Party Planning,  The Dedicated House, Mod Vintage Life, Lori's Culinary Creations, Home Stories, StoneGable, An Extraordinary Day, Between Naps on the Front Porch, Rustic Refined,  Tumbleweed Contessa, A Stroll Thru Life,, Elizabeth & Co,  My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, The Recipe Critic, Our Home Away From Home, Janine Huldie,  Fluster Buster   Kitchen Meets Girl,  Craftie Allie,  Wednesday morning The Blissful Bee,  The Newlywed Pilgrimage,  Chic California, Lamberts Lately, Live Laugh Rowe, Sweet Bella Roos, The Charm of Home, From My Front Porch to Yours, I'm Not a Trophy Wife,  Delightsome Life., Posed Perfection, Katherine's Corner, Nancherrow, The Freshman Cook,  Jann Olson, Home  Maid Simple,  Rooted in Thyme, Everyday Enchanted Home, Pure Grace Farms A Dish of Daily Life, Bacon Time, Sunflower Supper Club, Tater Tots and Jello,  Cooking with Curls, Made from Pinterest, Simply Gloria, One More Time Events, 3 Little Greenwoods

watermelon . . . and a lobster!

 

I'm so bummed that it's taken me so long to share this fun and easy Summer food idea with you . . . watermelon lobsters!

I bought a lobster cookie cutter in May, just so that I could use it to cut lobsters out of watermelon rounds . . . and they came out so cute! Kids love them, too. 

I made watermelon lobsters for almost every Summer gathering we hosted this year.

They make a great addition to any picnic or BBQ.

I've served them on a white platter, with a few scattered home-grown strawberries . . . and on a bed of frozen blueberries. Both ways look attractive . . . and are a festive addition to any Summer table!

 

preparation

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Cut watermelon in half, then cut into disks that are at least 1-inch thick

Using cookie cutter, slowly press down through the watermelon to cut out shape.

*The lobster arms tend to be more fragile, so be careful when removing the watermelon from the cookie cutter.

Display on a bed of frozen blueberries, or on a platter. 

Add chocolate chips for eyes (see photo below), optional

Enjoy!

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Cut the extra pieces of watermelon into cubes and serve in a bowl

LET'S STAY in touch!

Simply Suzannes at Home

 on Facebook

.      .      .      .      .

& Pinterest

Thank you so much for stopping by!

I love reading your comments and appreciate them so much!

Sharing with . . . .

Thoughts from Alice, DIY Showoff, Stephanie Lynn, It's Overflowing, Twelve O Eight, Carrie This Home, Huckleberry Love, Dwellings, Smart Party Planning,  The Dedicated House, Mod Vintage Life, Lori's Culinary Creations, Home Stories, StoneGable, An Extraordinary Day, I'm Not a Trophy Wife, Karen's Up on the Hill, Three Kids and a Fish, Between Naps on the Front Porch, Tumbleweed Contessa, A Stroll Thru Life,, Life With Garnish. Elizabeth & Co, Home Remedies, Time Warp Wife,  My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, Just a Girl and Her Blog, The Recipe Critic, Janine Huldie, Carolyn's Homework,  Fluster Buster   Designs by Miss Mandee,  Craftie Allie,  Wednesday morning The Blissful Bee,  The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Lamberts Lately, Live Laugh Rowe, The Charm of Home, From My Front Porch to ours, Delightsome Life., Posed Perfection, Katherine's Corner,Imparting Grace, Nancherrow, The Freshman Cook,  Jann Olson, Home  Maid Simple, Anderson + Grant,  Rooted in Thyme, Shabby Nest Sunflower Supper Club, Blooming Homestead, The Girl Creative, Reasons to Skip the Housework, View from the Fridge, 3 Little Greenwoods

watermelon and rose water

I'm excited to share this simple two ingredient Summer dessert with you.

All you need is one sweet watermelon and a few teaspoons of Rose Water.

 

Have you heard of Rose Water?

It's water scented with rose petals . . . a by-product of steam-distilling the crushed petals of roses.

It has a very distinctive flavor, and is heavily used in Persian and Middle Eastern cooking, especially in sweets like nougat and baklava.

I've seen in it used more and more in flavoring cookies and cakes.

You can find Rose Water in the International aisle of your market; and it costs approximately $3-10 per bottle, depending on where you buy it.

It smells like the sweetest and most fragrant of roses, and gives baked goods a "wow factor." You'll be asked over and over, "I can't figure it out. What is that flavor? It is so good." 

I'm not trying to make watermelon any better than it already is, because let's face it . . . a juicy, sweet watermelon is already amazing.

But if you want to elevate your watermelon to new heights, then try this simple addition . . . sprinkle rose water over your watermelon slices. Yum!

watermelon & rose water

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watermelon, sliced

rose water

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Slice watermelon into triangles or wedges. Spread on a platter.

Using a teaspoon, SPRINKLE (not drizzle) rose water over the watermelon, 

so that several drops of rose water land on each slice of watermelon.

Let sit for 5 minutes, and then ENJOY!

LET'S STAY in touch!

Simply Suzannes at Home 

on Facebook

red, white, and blue(berries)

How fun are these watermelon star cut-outs?

They're so fast and easy to make! All you need is . . . 

a ripe watermelon

star-shaped cookie cutter

paper straws

one plastic straw

and blueberries

Slice the watermelon into 1/2-inch thick rounds, and then use cookie cutter to cut star shapes.

Tips of the trade . . .

I use the end of a plastic straw to punch a hole in the center of the stars, so that I can easily snug a blueberry in the center; 

and you can also use the plastic straw to pre-drill a hole for the paper straw. 

It works like a charm!

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a fun & patriotic treat for kids

festive garnish for drinks 

fruit kabobs

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I'm on the hunt for a crab or lobster shaped cookie cutter.
How cute would it be to cut watermelon into the shapes of crabs & lobsters for Summer entertaining!

Happy Summer, friends!

LET'S STAY in touch!

Simply Suzannes at Home 

on Facebook

Sharing with . . . .

Thoughts from Alice, DIY Showoff, Stephanie Lynn, It's Overflowing, Twelve O Eight, Carrie This Home, Huckleberry Love, Dwellings, Smart Party Planning,  The Dedicated House, Mod Vintage Life, Lori's Culinary Creations, Home Stories, StoneGable, An Extraordinary Day, I'm Not a Trophy Wife, Karen's Up on the Hill, Three Kids and a Fish, Between Naps on the Front Porch, Tumbleweed Contessa, A Stroll Thru Life,, Life With Garnish. Elizabeth & Co, Home Remedies, Time Warp Wife,  My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, Just a Girl and Her Blog, The Recipe Critic, Janine Huldie, Carolyn's Homework,  Fluster Buster   Designs by Miss Mandee,  Craftie Allie,  Wednesday morning The Blissful Bee,  The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Lamberts Lately, Live Laugh Rowe, The Charm of Home, From My Front Porch to ours, Delightsome Life., Posed Perfection, Katherine's Corner,Imparting Grace, Nancherrow, The Freshman Cook,  Jann Olson, Home  Maid Simple, Anderson + Grant,  Rooted in Thyme, Shabby Nest Sunflower Supper Club, Blooming Homestead, The Girl Creative, Reasons to Skip the Housework, View from the Fridge, 3 Little Greenwoods