The weather is getting warmer and Steve and I are booking our summer RV park reservations. That, of course, gets me thinking about the lazy, hazy days of summer, so I wanted to tell you about a few of my new warm weather favorites.
Don’t you want to dive in? You do. I know you do!!!
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Please note that I’ve linked to these products purely because I recommend them and they are from companies I trust. There is no extra cost to you when you purchase through my links. This item was sent to me to review. But the opinions expressed are 100% my own.
I know that I’ve said this before, but one of the awesome perks of my job is being offered products for review. I only accept samples of items that I’m genuinely interested in trying, And I only write about items that I truly love. I’m a firm believer in the Golden Rule. So, if I don’t have anything nice to say – I won’t say anything at all. That means that when I tell you about something I like/love, I am giving you my absolutely honest opinion!
So thinking about Summer weather I think about the lolling on the beach or by a pool while reading books. And of course, those books are cookbooks. Doesn’t everyone read cookbooks like novels? For me cookbooks are the best non-fiction book ever!!! I also think about all of the great meals that I can make on my grill while keeping the RV nice and cool.
So let’s get to that relatively short list:
New Warm Weather Favorites
Kitchenaid 6-quart Pre-seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven
I have been a huge fan of cast iron cookware for many years. My cast iron skillet lives on my range top because I use it every single day. I have lovingly cared for it and have been paid back with a reliable piece of cooking equipment that is virtually non-stick. I did have to “season” that skillet before its first use.
Cast Iron is perfect for stovetop cooking.
One of the beautiful things about this Dutch oven is that it comes out of the box ready to use! But there is way more to love about it than that alone. This incredibly durable cast iron Dutch oven from KitchenAid (Affiliate Link) brings on super even heat and great heat retention for braises and one pot meals. The lid is self basting due to its dimpled interior which allows the lid to collect and redistribute moisture for rich, delicate, fall off the bone meals. And, as all cast iron, it is extremely versatile because it’s safe to use on the stove top, under the broiler and in the oven at temps up to 500-degrees F. It is also Induction compatible.
It’s also awesome on the grill or coals!
On top of all of those wonderful attributes, Kitchenaid gives you a ONE YEAR, HASSLE FREE GUARANTEE! Chances are that you will never need it. Cast iron lasts several lifetimes if cared for properly. That’s why people pass down their cast iron cookware from generation to generation.
Urban Originals
Whistler Tote from Urban Originals
My New Perfect Beach Bag
Now for lolling by the pool or on the beach… I have been looking for the perfect Beach Bag for a very long time and nothing has seemed to fit the bill. That is until I found this amazing tote on Urban Originals site. Their PR person had asked if I was interested in a sample for review. So after looking at all of their bags, I found Whistler. It looked awesome in the photo and the measurements seemed like the tote would hold quite a bit.
The inside of the Whistler Tote. Look and all of those fabulous compartments!!!
Room for everything in this large tote!
My tote arrived beautifully boxed and when I took it out I was so excited to have found the PERFECT Beach Bag – FINALLY!!! This bag will hold everything I need. There are so many useful pockets that I can keep my bag organized so I’m not fumbling around to find something. There’s even a place to hook your keys. I can easily carry my Kindle, iPad or laptop, business cards, phone, sunscreen and beach towels. Plus the straps are long enough to fit on my shoulder and short enough to hold on my wrist. The Whistler by Urban Originals is my perfect beach tote. But it could also be perfect for a day shopping or a weekend away.
Boards by America’s Test Kitchen
Boards by America’s Test Kitchen
I don’t know about you, but when the days are long and steamy I want food that’s easy and fun to eat. These days, a grazing board is so much more than just cheese and cured meat. It’s an interactive and low-key yet elegant way of presenting food which is perfect for summer. Boards- Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings (Affiliate Link) will help you show off your effortless entertaining style with showstopping conversation-starting spreads that are sure to impress your guests but give you the flexibility to make or buy components as you choose.
Don’t you want to dive in?
In this book, America’s Test Kitchen cast member, and entertaining enthusiast Elle Simone Scott demonstrates her food styling and shares her tips for creating photo-worthy spreads, letting you in on trade secrets ranging from plating techniques to how she keeps things looking fresh on set, or all party long.
A fabulous Chocolate Fondue Board
Boards has tips for hosts to shake up their own popcorn with a Movie Night Board complete with individual paper bags and a variety of sprinkle-on flavorings (ranging from Garlic-Herb to ramen seasoning) plus a DIY soda fountain with seltzer and simple syrups. Or, steps to create a low-lift Tapas Board by making our foolproof spanish tortilla and adding store-bought cheeses, olives, and tinned fish.
One of my favorites is the Chocolate Fondue Board. So to tempt you I’m sharing the Chocolate Fondue Recipe from this new book.
Print
Chocolate Fondue
Dipping an enormous red strawberry into a pot of warm melted chocolate is guaranteed to make just about anybody happy. But despite its short ingredient list, getting chocolate fondue right can take some finessing. Too much chocolate, and the texture is thick and difficult to dip delicious morsels into. Too much cream, and the texture is drippy and the chocolate’s flavor is muted—and I want amped-up chocolatiness, don’t you? The perfect proportion is slightly more chocolate than cream, with a little corn syrup (secret ingredient alert!) for that show stopping glossy finish.
- Total Time: 8 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
Ingredients
12 ounces chocolate, chopped
1 1/3 cups heavy cream
Pinch table salt
1 tablespoon corn syrup
Instructions
1. Place chocolate in bowl. Bring cream and salt just to simmer in small saucepan over medium heat, then pour hot cream over chocolate. Cover bowl and let chocolate soften for 3 minutes. Whisk chocolate mixture until smooth, then add corn syrup and whisk to incorporate.
2. Transfer chocolate mixture to fondue pot, warm pot over Sterno flame for 5 minutes, and serve immediately.
Notes
Variations
Five-Spice Chocolate Fondue
Add 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 5 whole cloves, 1 teaspoon black peppercorns, 2 star anise pods, and two 1/2‑inch pieces fresh ginger to saucepan with cream. Bring mixture to simmer, then cover, remove from heat, and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain mixture through fine-mesh strainer into bowl; discard spices. Return cream to simmer in now-empty saucepan before pouring over chocolate.
Orange Chocolate Fondue
Add 1 tablespoon grated orange zest to saucepan with cream. Bring mixture to simmer, then cover, remove from heat, and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain mixture through fine-mesh strainer into bowl; discard zest. Return cream to simmer in now-empty saucepan before pouring over chocolate. Add 2 tablespoons orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier or Cointreau, with corn syrup.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
50 Things to Bake Before You Die
50 Things to Bake Before You Die
What kind of morbid gal puts baking—the sweetest, the most sublime of life’s pleasures—in the same sentence as death? Can’t we just have our cake without being confronted with our ever-hastening mortality, too?
Dessert-obsessed food writer and restaurant critic Allyson Reedy gets it. She values baked goods and detests the fact that someday she will cease to exist.
This is exactly why her new cookbook is so critical. Introducing 50 Things to Bake Before You Die: The World’s Best Cakes, Pies, Brownies, Cookies, and More from Your Favorite Bakers (Affiliate Link), including Christina Tosi, Joanne Chang, and Dominique Ansel, is a heavenly collection of dessert recipes gifted to us from the greatest bakers and celebrity chefs to small-town café owners and fancy restaurateurs.
“This book is designed for baking mortals like myself,” Reedy says. “I cannot make a perfectly crimped pie crust, and my cakes don’t look like works of art, or even works of a third grader. The point of this book isn’t to make the most beautiful lemon layer cake, but the tastiest, and that should be accessible to all levels of bakers.”
Daniel Boulud’s Madeleines
Written with a fun and friendly tone and featuring easy, step-by-step instructions, 50 Things to Bake Before You Die will make you feel right at home in your kitchen as you bake up these world-class desserts, including Homemade Oreos (from Joanne Chang); Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes (from Georgetown Cupcake); Brown Sugar Peach Cobbler (from Tieghan Gerard); Birthday Layer Cake (from Christina Tosi); Chocolate Babka (from Duff Goldman) and much, much more!
Now I know baking requires turning the oven on, but c’mon. seriously, are you going to deprive yourself and your loved ones of dessert? I think not! Just crank up the AC!!!
The Van Life Cookbook
The Van Life Cookbook by Susan Marque
If you travel during the summer, this last book is perfect. The Van Life Cookbook (Affiliate Link)by Susan Marque is for everyone who cooks in a tiny kitchen. All of the recipes are designed to be able to be prepared with very little counter space.
The book is so cute and tiny, just like Ladybug’s kitchen. So get cooking in your Sprinter van, camper van, or RV with the creative, flavorful recipes especially crafted for making meals in tight spaces while on the road!
Backwoods Miso Soup with Rice Crisps
As you adapt your lifestyle to the open road, you’ll have to do the same with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Van Life Cookbook, a collection of recipes and full-color photographs, celebrates the road trip lifestyle while providing delicious and nutritious meal ideas for modern-day nomads. With meal prep tips, pantry advice, and hacks on cooking in a tiny kitchen, you’ll be whipping up flavor-packed dishes in no time. Plus, with serving sizes catered to one or two people, you’ll never have to worry about leftovers crowding your mini fridge. Discover the joys of cooking on the road with dishes like Breakfast Biscuits on the Burner, Chickpea Avocado Salad, Van Life Summer Rolls, Personal Pizza and Single Serving Dessert Crisp.
I hope you enjoy the warm weather and all of these recommended items!
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