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Summer of Salads: Grilled Steak With a Pineapple Punch
While it doesn't quite feel like Summer with the Bay Area's cool weather, I still want to enjoy a simple yet delectable salad. Tossing a mildly spicy ginger dressing over grilled flank steak with sweet pineapple, peppery radishes, and refreshing cucumbers proved to be a great sweet-and-salty combination.
The preparation is easy, with only a bit of chopping, a quick dressing, and flank steak that takes no time on grill.
Happy Hour: Gordon's Cup
I am always tempted by cocktails with cucumber in them but often disappointed. Aside from the classically refreshing Pimm's Cup, the cucumber-based recipes I've tried have either been too sweet, not sweet enough, or way too much trouble.
The Gordon's Cup, however, made me giddy, and it wasn't just the 1/4 cup of gin.
Come Party With Me: Bastille Day Lunch — Drinks
Nothing gets the conversation rolling at a party like flowing drinks. For a Bastille Day lunch, serve a refreshingly light apéritif-based cocktail, such as the Lillet-basil concoction seen here. Lillet is a French alcoholic drink made from a blend of wine, brandy, fruits, and herbs.
Happy Hour: Fall Fizz
Recently I attended a female-only cocktail competition hosted by Nirvino. While I've been to many cocktail competitions, I always look forward to Nirvino's monthly contest because the crowd gets to taste each cocktail and ultimately decides the winning drink. Nirvino is an exciting social networking community where drinking is the common denominator.
Happy Hour: Sueño
Cucumber haters beware. This tart yet refreshing cocktail might make you rethink your distaste. When muddled with rosemary, lime juice, and simple syrup, the flavor of the cucumber is subdued, and what remains is the essence of the cool vegetable — well, technically a fruit, but you know what I mean.
Icy, Spicy Cantaloupe and Cucumber Paletas
With the end of Summer fast approaching, I made a Popsicle inspired by Mexican paletas, a mostly pureed frozen fruit dessert that's either ice- or cream-based. After chopping up a cantaloupe last week, I wanted to combine it with a crisp cucumber and spicy jalapeño to create a refreshing yet snappy paleta.Zealous with my jalapeño, I chopped up an entire thing, seeds and all, and threw it in the blender. The result was too spicy for my taste, so I balanced the heat by adding a touch of sugar.
Fast & Easy Dinner: Steak Salad-Stuffed Pockets
This recipe gives the classic steak sandwich a healthy makeover. Broiled steak is tossed with a crunchy cucumber-romaine salad before being stuffed into a whole wheat pita. A simple dressing made with mustard, lemon juice, and olive oil adds a fresh moistness to the sandwich.
'Wich of the Week: Benedictine Cheese Tea Sandwiches
I love the tiny sandwiches, scones, and petit fours served at afternoon tea, but rarely do I make dainty crustless sandwiches at home. So for today's 'Wich of the Week, I used the Kentucky Derby as an excuse to make some teatime treats. These ladylike sandwiches are filled with Benedictine cheese, a creamy cucumber-and-scallion spread that's native to Louisville and often served on Derby Day.
Happy Hour: Cucumber Cocktail
Last week, FabSugar and I went to an Elle party at the new Rugby by Ralph Lauren store. The place was packed and the music was bumping, but most importantly the cocktails were flowing freely. Besides your standard white wine by the glass, pitchers of a cool green cocktail were being poured.
Happy Hour: Cucumber Cocktails
If you are in need of a refreshing, summer cooler for your next barbecue, think about a cucumber cocktail. Light, tasty, and unexpectedly delicious, this recipe is similar to that of a mojito. I first came across it when I was a bartendress — I thought cucumbers were for salads not drinks.
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