The best summer recipes for a long weekend

Make the most of Labor Day with the best summer recipes for a long weekend!

It's the last big hurrah of summer. Three days to feast, play, meet friends and enjoy the last bit of summer before fall. While a record number of people are planning to travel, many are out in nature or meeting friends… and food is definitely part of the plan. Try the best summer recipes for a long weekend and delight your friends.

Fresh and flavorful dishes are perfect for this occasion. These include simple ones that can be prepared in minutes and taste delicious. They also make great gifts for an outdoor concert, picnic or group gathering.

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Spicy hummus



Hummus is a great dip for large groups, and each of these four varieties is suitable for different occasions. A classic spicy hummus dip is a snap to make, while a more elaborate Italian hummus requires more ingredients, time, and effort. And the upside is that eating something spicy might make you feel hot at first, but the spices make people sweat, and then the sweat evaporates, cooling the body.

Chicken skewers are perfect for all kinds of barbecues and add a new dimension to the otherwise predictable tasting chicken. The charred flavor that only a grill can provide makes for a meal that is easy to prepare and fun to make. Who needs cutlery when you're grilling?

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Combining the subtle flavors of apple butter, chicken, and (not so subtle) bacon, these skewers are a real hit. Find the full recipe here.

Texas Mary Drink

There's hardly a drink that's better suited to a barbecue than a Bloody Mary. A cool drink with lots of vegetables is exactly what you need when you're standing in the sun for hours. For this simple recipe, you'll need a Bloody Mary mix that you can spice up to your own level of spiciness.

Ingredients:

• Bloody Mary Mix 1 cup
• Hot sauce “Texas Pete” 2 teaspoons
• Ice ¼ cup
• Vodka 1 ½ oz
• Texas Pete Dust/Tajin Spice Blend 50/50 Dust
• Shrimp skewer, optional
• Celery sticks, optional

Create:

• Mix the first 4 ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake
• Brush the rim of the glass with lime juice or water and dip it in the dust mixture
• Pour drink into glass and garnish

Lemony pasta salad with green beans

This filling and fresh salad is suitable as a side dish or as a main dish. Although this recipe is very simple, it is also tasty and contains many different layers that blend perfectly together. The recipe contains almonds, feta cheese and whole wheat pasta, which are also healthy and do not leave you feeling too heavy.

Ingredients

• 1/2 Pound whole wheat pasta (or pasta of your choice)
• 2 –3 cups of cleaned green beans
• 1/2 large red onion, thinly sliced
• 2 ounces crumbled feta
• 1/2 cup Fisher Walnut Halves & Pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon oil
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse lemon pepper seasoning
• Juice from 1 Lemon, 1/4 cup
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup oil
• coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Create

1. Cook pasta according to instructions. Drain and set aside to cool
2. Steam green beans until al dente, about 4-5 minutes
3. Lemon Pepper Seasoned Walnuts: In a small bowl, toss walnuts with oil, lemon pepper seasoning, and a pinch of coarse salt. Place in a preheated dry skillet over medium heat. Heat walnuts in skillet for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and toasted.
4. Vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, vinegar, Dijon mustard and oil. Season with coarse salt and pepper.
5. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta and green beans and mix to combine. Add red onion, walnuts and feta along with dressing and mix until well combined.
6. Season with salt and pepper, add more seasoning if necessary

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Fresh peach cake

Dessert is often forgotten when it comes to barbecues, but this simple peach pie is something special, especially in the summer when peach season is around.

Ingredients

• 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
• 2 extra large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 large, ripe peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Create

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
2. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and 1 cup of sugar on medium-high speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, one at a time, then the sour cream and vanilla, and beat until the batter is smooth.
4. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until well combined.
5. In a small bowl, mix the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and the cinnamon
6. Spread half of the batter evenly in the pan. Place half of the peaches on top, then sprinkle two-thirds of the sugar mixture on top. Spread the remaining batter on top, top with the remaining peaches, and sprinkle with the remaining sugar mixture and pecans.
7. Bake the cake for 45 to 55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
8. Serve warm or at room temperature with or without ice.

We hope these best summer recipes for a long weekend please your stomach and your taste buds this Labor Day!