Nibbles for a Casual Summer Cocktail Hour

What's Going on Today: Fourth of July weekend fun! Friends over for cocktails, evening dinner al fresco.

Naptime Goals: Relax with a good book, whip up onion dip and help Mom with the tomatoes.

Tonight's Cocktail Hour: Tomatoes stuffed with blue cheese or pesto, onion dip with vegetables, cheese plate, assorted nuts.

Parenting Lesson of the Day: Sometimes it's ok to let toddlers eat crackers, carrots and yogurt for dinner. 

Over the holiday weekend we were up in Cooperstown with my parents. On Saturday night we invited our neighbors to come over with their teenage grandchildren for a fun cocktail hour. With such beautiful weather and the garden in full bloom it was the perfect occasion to sit on the porch and catch up. The event was to be completely casual, we all planned on wearing jeans, and the food was to be easy and unfussy.

When my daughter was taking her afternoon nap my husband and I helped my parents get things ready. My husband was in charge of setting up the bar with assorted liquor and garnishes for drinks, while Mom and I tackled the food. Since simple cocktail food shouldn't take long to prepare, we relied on a few old favorites that could be assembled in a snap.

For the two main appetizers we choose to make tomatoes stuffed with pesto or blue cheese with the fresh tomatoes we'd picked up at the farmer's market. Then, I cooked up my favorite onion dip to serve with carrots and fresh cucumbers, also from the farmer's market. To balance out the vegetables, we set out a delicious container of goat cheese with strawberry compote and a nice round of runny Camembert with some buttery crackers. Finally, to include a little salt on the table, we poured two bowls of fancy nuts. All in all it was a simple and delicious menu for a party of eight, plus one toddler. I should mention that she munched on so many vegetables and crackers that all she actually ate for dinner was a container of yogurt. With all of us in summer mode I didn't mind one bit. It was the perfect start to a relaxing weekend.

Casual Summer Cocktail Hour:

Stuffed Tomatoes: Halve and seed cherry tomatoes. Fill with a scoop of fresh pesto or blue cheese. Serve.

Ina Garten's Pan-Friend Onion Dip with Cucumbers and Carrots

Goat Cheese with Strawberries

Camembert, runny

Fancy Nut Assortment

Lillet with Lemon over ice

Prosecco

Sparkling water and Cokes (for the teens)

POM Wonderful Mocktail

Last month a fantastic package of POM Wonderful arrived on my doorstep. I was thrilled to receive a case of one of my most favorite beverages. I like pomegranates, of course, but POM holds a special place in my heart. You see, in 2007 I was pregnant and didn't drink any alcohol for nine months. Obviously I didn't miss wine one bit - I was very happy to follow the guidelines for a healthy pregnancy - but still wanted to enjoying a refreshing drink at the end of the day. In order to satisfy my need for a thirst quenching beverage I experimented with many different flavor combinations until I found one that I loved - a non-alcoholic POM mocktail.


Once I discovered this delicious drink I looked forward to it every evening with dinner. It didn't hurt that because of the POM my drink was filled with fantastic healthful antioxidants, always a welcome addition to any pregnancy diet. So, when the box came to me filled with all of POM's latest varieties I knew it was the perfect opportunity for me to revisit an old favorite. Obviously it was no trouble making this during my daughter's naptime last week. Since there was no alcohol involved I had zero guilt about enjoying it at 3pm. Happily, even with all the fabulous new flavors, it was just as delicious as I remember. Even though I'm not pregnant now, I still love a good flavorful fizzy drink, and this is what hits the spot for me, and I'm sure you will love it, too.

POM Wonderful Mocktail
1 c. plain sparkling water (I use Poland Spring)
1/3 c. POM Wonderful
1 t. fresh lemon juice
A lemon slice for garnish

1. Add all of the liquids into one glass and stir. Add ice if you'd like it extra cold.
2. Place lemon slice on the glass for garnish, serve.