Every summer, I say I’m going to throw a Summer Solstice party, and every summer Summer Solstice sneaks up on me and I totally miss it.
Summer flies faster than any other season of the year. Winter tends to crawl along, Spring flows along at a normal pace, Fall kicks in and always seems to short because Winter comes along right after, but summer? Summer goes by at lightening speed and before I know it, all the things I wanted to do with my kids while they are home gets pushed off until next year.
We actually made lists, the kids and I, of all the things we want to do this summer. Guess what one of my list items was? Host a Summer Solstice party and yet, Summer Solstice was yesterday. Oh well… there is always next year, at least I hope!
One thing you don’t want to miss participating in this summer is the Beringer Great Steak Challenge. You have until June 30th to submit your favorite steak recipe to Beringer and you could be chosen as one of the ten finalists to compete in the Finale Great Steak Challenge grill-off held at beautiful Beringer Vineyards in Napa Valley and broadcast on the Fine Living Network. Wouldn’t that be fun? There is nothing quite like grilling up a great steak in the summertime!
Beringer has offered me TEN beautiful Laguiole meat carving sets to give away to Dine & Dish readers. I’m going to give away 4 in relation to a random drawing associated with this post (vist the Beringer Great Steak Challenge Website, leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite thing to grill is by midnight CST on 6/30/2010 and you’ll be entered). I’m going to have mini-Twitter and Facebook giveaways as well. Make sure to follow DineandDish on Twitter and Fan Dine & Dish on Facebook to be alerted of these giveaways popping up! Most of them will be one day or one hour only, so stay tuned for your chance to win.
About the carving sets: The wood grain case provides an elegant display for the stainless steel cutlery at the serving table. The 12″ long utility knife is perfect for cutting poultry and vegetables, and the 5.5″ carving fork holds food steady while carving. Triple-riveted handles provide strength and stability. The legendary Laguiole bee, a symbol of superior craftsmanship, is etched intricately into each knife. Includes wooden case.
Disclaimer: The generous folks at Beringer are supplying the carving sets as well as providing the shipping to all the winners.
I’m not having a summer solstice party this year, but if I were, this is one recipe I’d be serving up. Strawberry Mint Gelato…just like summer in a bowl!
Strawberry Mint Gelato (Adapted from a Strawberry Gelato recipe at The Food Network)
- 12 ounces fresh strawberries (hull removed)
- 3 Tbs finely chopped fresh mint
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
In a blender combine the strawberries, sugar, mint and whole milk and puree until smooth.
Add in the heavy cream and mix just enough to combine (you do not want to whip the cream). Add in the lemon juice. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Refrigerating overnight is best because it will allow the flavor to intensify.
Transfer the mixture into an ice cream machine and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Serve at once with fresh cut strawberries, if desired, or freeze for up to one month.
I love everything grilled! My new favorite grilled item this summer is “grilled scallops”! So simple and soooo delicious. xo barb 🙂
Beautiful !! Nothing says summer better than homemade ice cream!!!
Yummy! Gelato is a favorite and this combo sounds refreshing. Plus, I’ve got a ton of mint to use.
Yum! That gelato sounds amazing. My favorite thing to grill is definitely seafood.
I love grilling shrimp. Just a skewer per person is enough to transform ordinary dinner into something wonderful. But vegetables are a favorite too; zucchini, eggplant, corn on the cob and portabella mushrooms, sweet onions and even thick tomato slices get a turn on the grill. Grilled tomato and onion is wonderful on slices of bruschetta.
This looks so delicious! Love the textures in this photo.
Oh, and I should say – We love grilling lots of things! One of our favorites is fresh halibut. My elderly uncle travels to Alaska every summer to fish. He turned 87 in May and will be making the trip alone this year. Traveling from North Carolina to Alaska is quite a long trip, but he really loves it. We have a shipment of halibut scheduled to be delivered July 23. Simply adding salt, pepper, lemon and butter is wonderful. A side of grilled pineapple, fresh salad, crusty bread and wine makes a first class meal. Maybe a little Strawberry Mint Gelato for desert?
Why am I so hungry all of a sudden?
Oh yummm I have to say steak, because I married a Steak and potatoes man!
Steak or hoisin salmon. And always on the charcoal grill. I love the smokeyness!
Just wanted to let you know I received the apron-it is perfect! Exactly what I wanted-I love it! My favorite thing on the grill is boudin over coals!
PS-love that photo
Thanks for the giveaway….we always like to grill seafood, especially salmon steak which is our favorite…Love to have the meat carving sets!!!
Don’t enter me in the contest … but my favorite thing to grill is DEFINITELY shrimp and potatoes …
YUMMO on the gelato recipe! We just got back from Italy and I tell ya, ice cream just isn’t cutting it anymore! Will try this recipe out this week! Thanks, K!
Those carving sets sound awesome! One thing that I LOVE to grill is eggplant! That smoky flavor it gets is awesome.
That gelato has me swooning. Strawberry is one of my favorite flavors and it pairs so perfectly with mint!
Oh, I was just looking up gelato recipes yesterday! Must make some for when my man comes home… or maybe I should be making it now to make the time go by.
We love grilling brauts and potatoes on the grill. Especially the potatoes. We have found that Yukon Gold potatoes are very creamy. Add real butter, fresh rosemary and garlic salt and let them in foil until the potatoes get slighty crispy on the edges.
I love to grill pineapple. I grilled some last night for our summer solstice party for two! 🙂
This gelato looks so lovely! Yum!
I forgot to answer the giveaway question! I love to grill chicken and hot dogs.
I mostly just grill burgers and chicken but this summer I’m looking to branch out to cedar plank salmon. 🙂
Beautiful picture. My favorite grilled food is Nick’s ribs. Also love a good thick rib-eye steak a la Kert. Ummmm!
I love grilling mushrooms with a thick slice of garlic pressed into the cap and a sprinkle of salt. They come out so jucy and flavorful!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I love to grill chicken kabobs.
This looks great!
My favorite thing to grill is ribeye steak. 🙂
I too, keep saying I’ll have a solstice party. This year I was just planning on sitting out on the patio with the hubby and having a BBQ. Alas, his work got in the way and he didn’t get home until almost8:30! Maybe next year….
I love grilled seafood — salmon in particular but my fave is grilled plums & peaches. I drizzle them with a little bit of honey after grilling and serve them over ice cream.
We must be on the same wavelength. I just posted an ice cream recipe and declared this the “Summer of ice cream.”
Oooh! Love to see the Deen bros. on the website, can I invite them to the grill party? Probably not. I’m boring, I just love to grill burgers. That’s the main thing we do. We’re having a Luau on Saturday, does that count as a summer solstice party? Great giveaway, thanks!
Our favorite thing to grill is flank steak that has been marinated for fajitas. It is so yummy!
MMMMMMM I love to grill! Veggies, chicken, pizza, fruit, lamb chops….Im gettin ghungry = )
My favorite thing to grill would probably be Malaysian style chicken wings. The Southeast Asian spice paste makes everything smell so good while cooking!
My favorite thing to grill is definitely corn on the cob. So delicious!!
The strawberry mint gelato sounds amazing, I have all the ingredients in my fridge and mint in the yard! My favorite thing to grill lately is pizza. We’ve been having fun this summer experimenting with different recipes!
The gelato looks mouth watering! It’s so hot right now I could definitely go for a bowl of that! One of my favorite things to grill is chicken. It’s so versatile depending on what you put on it and you can do so much with it.
Grilled vegetables, particularly squash and fresh corn.
So hard to pick a favorite grilled food – I love to experiment alot. Recent favorite is pizza on the BBQ – so good and the smoky flavour goes right through the pizza.
Ribeye. No, wait, lamb on skewers. Um…and corn. And zucchini.
Ok I must make that gelato recipe! It’s too simple to pass on. My favorite thing to grill is artichokes! I use a delicious olive oil based baste and grill over hot charcoal…super delicious along with beef, chicken, fish or even tofu!
Alas I found a recipe that will use the abundance of mint growing in my garden. It looks delicious! And I love grilling corn and any vegetables, even romaine lettuce. I also love a good BBQ chicken. Mmm.
What a beautiful photograph! I love it! I love everything that can be grilled!
I love to grill pinapple and then have it with raspberry sorbert over the top!
I love to grill shrimp and salmon plus pineapple and peaches
Love homemade ice cream!! Dave would be thrilled with a carving set!
pizza! just grilled it for the first time last night and am ready for another excuse to do it again!
I love grilled teriyaki meat.
Our new favorite thing to grill is lemon marinated shrimp skewered with Andouille sausage and roasted red pepper; your gelato recipe will be perfect with it!
What is the difference between gelato and ice cream? This looks delicious. I like the idea of strawberry and mint. I’ve been thinking about strawberry lavender ice cream…
My favorite thing to grill lately is little patty pan squash and sweet onions. Once they’re grilled, I slice them and dress with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. That’s summer to me.
My favorite thing to grill is kebabs. They’re so versatile; you can put about anything on a stick, grill it, and it’s wonderful! I also love grilled pound cake with fresh fruit and lightly sweetened whipped cream–heavenly! Thanks!
We love pizza on the grill with homemade crust and sauce and lots of veggies!
Love to grill flank steak which has been marinated in one of many yummy marinades…enjoy with red wine and the day is complete!
There’s nothing better than being outdoors in the summer and making dinner on the grill. I wish our Midwest summers were longer!
My favorite thing to grill is salmon. Crispy on the outside and flaky on the inside with just a little lemon butter poured over the top. Perfect!
Ok, this isn’t meat-related, but I LOVE grilled asparagus…out of all the wonderful ways to cook it, my favorite is that perfect taste just off the grill!
Burgers! Thanks for this giveaway. 🙂
I would have to say that our families favorite thing to grill is Tuna Steak…with my favorite Wasabi sauce served with it!!!!
This is an easy one. I love, love, love grilled flank steak that has been marinated in Yoshida’s Gourmet Sauce. It truly is easy and the best thing to eat!
I love grilled fruit, with peaches being my favorite. Take them off the grill and put some honey or a dollop of fresh whipped cream…YUM!
Actually, I am one of the Regional Finalists in the Beringer Great Steak Challenge and I’m competing in Seattle on July 17th. I’m pumped.
My entry is: Filet Mignon with Balsamic Shallot Reduction Sauce…..
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