Summer Time Recipes

As I promised, here are the recipes I used for my housewarming party.  I hope you use them to spice up your back yard barbeques, pool parties, and other get-togethers this summer! I found them in my treasure trove of magazines and I was very excited to debut them for my party.  Both of these recipes were found in the June 29th, 2007 edition of All You magazine.  www.allyou.com


Garlic Baked Potato Wedges
- 6 baking potatoes (3lbs)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tsp dried rosemary
- 2 small cloves minced garlic
- 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan


1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Scrub potatoes and pat dry.  Carefully cut each into 16 thin wedges.  Place wedges in a large bowl.  Pour olive oil over potatoes.  Add salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary and toss to coat.  Place Parmesan in a large bowl; set aside
2. Arrange potatoes in a flat layer on 2 large rimmed baking sheets.  Bake, turning once or twice until lightly browned and soft in the center, about 30 minutes.
3. Remove potatoes from the oven and immediately toss with Parmesan in a bowl until coated.  Serve hot.


* Seriously these wedges are amazing!  I was really nervous about them because it said to serve hot and since it was an open house, I knew that they would get cold before everybody got a chance to try them.  But they were fantastic at room temperature!  A must for your next party!


Herb-Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
- 3 lbs cherry tomatoes (red and yellow)
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Place tomatoes on a large rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.  Shake baking sheet back and forth a few times to coat tomatoes.
2. Bake, shaking pan once or twice, until tomatoes are softened but not falling apart, 10 to 15 minutes.  Sprinkle with parsley while tomatoes are still warm.  Spoon into a bowl and pour any juices that have accumulated in the bottom of the pan, and serve.  


*Another great recipe that is just fine at room temperature.  I added some locally grown heirloom tomatoes to the red and yellow tomatoes and it made a beautiful, colorful side dish for the picnic!  I hope you are having a fantastic summer!  It always goes by way too fast, so enjoy these summer dishes while the fireflies flit around your friends and family! :) Happy 4th!


Until tomorrow,
~Elise