Nine Favorite Things.

Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.

Hello, all the way from Costa Rica! Well, technically I’m writing this in Colorado, but I’m on my way to Costa Rica tonight, on a red-eye flight. By the time this post goes live, I’ll have spent my first day in the warm tropics of Central America! I can’t wait to have the travel-day (well actually night), behind me, and to see my family in the morning. I’m definitely a nervous traveler, but time with my family is going to be so worth it. I can’t wait to experience a new country!

Coming up this week on HBH, we have a full line-up of new summer recipes. I’ll be kicking the week off with a healthy dinner full of summer produce. Then onto a berry-filled recipe that’s perfect for July through August, the prettiest summer salad, a new salmon recipe (that I am obsessed with), and so much more! It’s going to be a very colorful (summery) recipe kind of week.

And if you’ve been vacationing, be sure to check out last week’s post because I shared some delicious summer recipes. Crispy salt and vinegar smashed potatoes, blackberry lemon tequila cooler, grilled street corn salad with avocado “mayo”, and the 25 most popular summer recipes from year’s past.

Lastly, if you missed anything from the past week, be sure to sign up for our newsletter here. Hope you’re all having the best weekend, and enjoy this Sunday’s Nine Favorite Things!

1. My Ideal Summer Bucket List.

1. bake a few new cherry recipes while they are in season.
2. spend the day in the sun hanging with Asher (hoping to cross this one off this week).
3. delete Instagram from my phone for the day and forget about social for 8 hours (being realistic here).
4. visit a flower farm, and/or produce garden…would be my dream kind of summer day.
5. berry picking + baking these shortcakes, this blueberry galette, and maybe creating a new pie recipe?
6. sunset bike ride through neighborhood streets.
8. take time to just be completely bored, let my mind wander, and be creative…this will be tricky.
9. start planning/prepping for fall because it’s going to be busy.

2. If I were to host a Summer Dinner Party, this would be my Menu. 

Cocktail + Appetizer…

Blackberry Thyme Margarita…

The pitcher version, so I don’t have to worry about mixing drinks all night.

Peach Thyme Tarts

Tip: assemble these ahead of time and bake up as guests arrive. These are delicious warm or at room temperature.

The Main Event…

Basil Chicken Saltimbocca with Marinated Tomatoes and Burrata

Tip: cook the chicken ahead of time, then warm in the oven at 350 for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Pasta Salad.

This is the perfect make-ahead side dish.

Roasted Cauliflower Salad

Tip: pre-roast the cauliflower and serve this salad at room temperature.

And for dessert…

Nonnie’s 6 Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake

I can’t do a summer dinner without this ice cream cake. It’s a favorite.

Peach Ricotta Layer Cake with Browned Butter Buttercream

Because two desserts are better than one, and this just screams summer.

3. Favorites from all the 4th of July Weekend Sales…

4. Questions of the Week: 

q: Best Kitchen item to splurge on?
a: It depends on what kind of person YOU are in the kitchen. If you love to cook, a food processor or blender is a must. If you love to bake a stand mixer and good spatulas. No time at all…or don’t love cooking…an instant pot.

q: Favorite time of year? Favorite Pie?
a: Autumn is my favorite for sure! I love golden September days, cozy October nights, Halloween, and of course, the holidays that follow. My favorite pie is probably chocolate chip cookie…but I need to make some berry pies this summer. I’ve only made a couple!

q: If you could have your dream job, other than HBH, what would it be?
a: I thought about this for a while and I couldn’t think of anything that would be better than HBH. I have so many goals and exciting things I want to do with HBH, it is my dream job! The only thing I’d say that would make it better is adding more lifestyle projects (things like entertaining, tablescapes, and styling), which we are working on!

q: Any tips on cleaning a cast iron pan?
a: I get this question a lot. The great thing about cast iron is that it’s pretty easy to use. Most of the time I just let my skillet cool, then rinse with water, and hand dry. For anything that’s baked on, I soak the pot for a few minutes in hot, soapy water and then use my hands to swish things around.

5. Newest Videos: 

Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Pasta Salad…(almost) no-cook and comes together in minutes.

Herby Everything Cheddar Swirl Buns…perfect for summer BBQ’s.

Chocolate Covered Brown Butter Krispie Treats…sweet, salty, peanutty, chocolatey, and addicting.

6. Summer Binge Watching…

Ahh, nothing here, help! What should I watch? I need a new show to watch while I edit photos. Sadly, I think I’ve actually watched Gilmore Girls + Gossip Girl one too many times…this year anyway.

What are you loving? 

7. A Few Links I Am Loving…

the best small beach towns to escape the crowds…Isle of Palms, South Carolina for me, please.

16 hangover cures to try…in case you’ve had a lot of fun this weekend.

Loro Piana unveils a luxurious update to Lake Como’s Villa d’Este…wow, so pretty.

Vogue’s official guide to the Hamptons…have you been? are you going? the food alone is reason enough.

best hairstyles for when it’s hot…I’m all about that top knot.

14 of the world’s most historic villages you can still live in…my dream little towns. each one is so cute.

30 books that should be on your summer reading list…what are you reading?

from boring to beneficial…how to handle a slow day at work.

exactly how to wear the cutest hair scarves of summer…need all of these scarves.

a Newport, RI travel guide…the ultimate summer destination.

7 stunning edible gardens…I want an edible garden so bad.

the magic trick that removes berry stains instantly…good to know.

how I travel abroad as a vegetarian without losing my mind…a good read if you feel you need to “stress” less.

make this pie…because it’s Sunday, it’s summer, and you just should.

8. Here is what I Packed for Costa Rica…

9. This Week’s Dinners:

Monday: garlic butter creamed corn chicken

Tuesday: opened faced tomato and goat cheese sandwich with hot bacon vinaigrette

Wednesday: 20-minute sesame basil chicken noodles

Thursday: honey ginger cedar plank grilled salmon with avocado salsa

Friday: 3 cheese zucchini “ravioli” with roasted tomato basil sauce

Finally, check out all the past Favorite’s posts here.