*CTSB* - Summer Recipes from Ask Anna...

Cure the Summertime Blues with some {De-licious} Summer Recipes

Hey there!  I'm Anna from Ask Anna.  I'm here today to share with you a few of my favorite summer recipes.  One is an old favorite and two of them are new summer favorites!

Let's start with the main dish. 
Summer is a time for light meals that don't take a lot of effort.
That is why I LOVE this Basil Pesto Pasta.

Ingredients:
1 Large package Cheese Tortellini
1 6oz jar Basil Pesto (you can use fresh or store bought, I'm lazy so I buy it)
8-10 Grape or cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup Pine nuts, toasted
1 1/2 cups Feta Cheese
5 Large Basil leave

Directions:
Preheat oven broiler.
1. Cook tortellini according to package directions
2. While it's cooking spread pine nuts on a cookie sheet and place them in the oven to broil.  Remove them from the oven when they are lightly toasted.
3. Cut tomatoes in half and slice basil into thin strips.
4. Toss all ingredients together and serve.

And now for dessert. 
We all love dessert, which is why I'm including two dessert recipes. :)  These are both new recipes that I discovered this summer but both of them are so delicious and will definitely become summer staples in our house!

The first recipe is for Lemon Ice Cream. 
This is not lemon sorbet, this is creamy, rich, oh-so-yummy ice cream. 
It's honestly the best ice cream I've ever had, and I'm so excited to share it with you!

Here's what you need:

Homemade ice cream maker (electric type, its so much easier)
3 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs beaten (beat them in a separate dish and then pour in the mixture)
1 tsp vanilla
1 quart whipping cream
2 quarts half and half
1 1/2--1oz bottles lemon extract

Mix together. Fill to fill line in the ice cream maker, if doesn't quite reach the fill line, use regular whole milk to make up difference. If there is no fill line, fill to about 4-6 inches below top of the canister. (Don't fill past that point because the ice cream will expand and make a big mess).

Surround the ice cream maker alternating ice and rock salt.  Make sure to end up with ice at the top  (otherwise the salt spills over when you open the lid and it will make your ice cream taste like salt). Let the ice cream maker mix until it starts to bog down.  Keep adding ice and salt as it churns.  Once the ice maker has finished churning place the tub of ice cream in the freezer for 2-3 hours.

And last, but certainly not least, is a fun twist on an old favorite:
Chocolate Covered S'mores
Yes, they are just as good as they sound!!!
I made these for the 4th of July this year and they were a huge hit!
These taste amazing and they are super easy to make, even the kids can help you make them.

Here's what you need: 

Graham crackers

Marshmallows (you can buy flat ones at Target)

Chocolate for the s'mores

Chocolate for melting and dipping

Popsicle sticks

Sprinkles (optional)

Start by making the s'mores: graham cracker, chocolate, marshmallow, graham cracker.  Next melt them in the microwave for about 25 seconds. Then stick them in the freezer for about 10 minutes. After they have hardened a little remove them from the freezer and insert a popsicle stick.  I bought the larger sticks because I didn't want any of the younger kids to hurt themselves with the smaller ones.

Then place the s'mores in the freezer for about 30 minutes. While you are waiting for them to freeze, melt the remainder of the chocolate in a large bowl for dipping.

Take them out of the freezer and dip them in the the melted chocolate.  Once they are dipped place them on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  Sprinkle with sprinkles, if desired.  Put them back in the freezer until the chocolate has cooled.

I hope you enjoy these summer recipes and that they can become summer favorites in your home too!  Thanks for stopping by for Cure the Summertime Blues!  I hope to see you over at Ask Anna sometime.

 

Wow - don't those look amazing? Especially that Lemon Ice Cream - yum!

Hope everyone has a great weekend - see you back on  Monday with Beverly from Flamingo Toes!

xoxo

jessica