A Summer Evening With Friends

A beautiful summer cocktail party with a few friends is worth celebrating but not worth stressing over.

Why not throw an easy cocktail party with delicious appetizers, fresh & fruity margaritas and an old fashioned make ahead dessert?

You can spend less time prepping and more time to enjoy your friends.

On the menu:

Ham and gruyere stuffed pastry

Fried shishito peppers

Mango Margaritas

Chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches

Ham & Gruyere Puff Pastry Recipe ~

One package Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry ( in freezer section)

1/4 pound Black Forest ham

1/4 pound Gruyere cheese, thinly sliced

Dijon mustard

1 beaten egg

Defrost puff pastry according to directions on package, on a board , roll out pastry to a 10 x 12 rectangle. Leaving a 1/4” boarder for egg wash , spread a thin layer of the Dijon mustard. Place ham slices on top, then the Gruyere cheese. Brush the border with the beaten egg. Roll second dough to the same size – 10 x 12 place on top. Cut slits in dough to allow steam to escape. Brush entire pastry with the rest of the beaten egg. Bake at 450 degrees for 25 minutes.

Recipe for Shishito peppers

Shishito peppers

Wash and dry peppers. Heat a cast iron pan and add roughly 1/2 cup of avocado oil ( depending on the size of your pan) Allow to heat to medium high , fry peppers until blistered and browned. Sprinkle with sea salt and cracked black pepper.

Shishito peppers

Fried to a crispy brown

Serve with a simple dipping sauce

Avocado oil

Sea salt & cracked black pepper

I like to serve the peppers with a simple dip. It’s just mayonnaise, whole grain mustard and garlic powder to taste.

Mango Margaritas

For the margaritas, just use your favorite recipe for traditional margaritas ( tequila, triple sec , sours mix (made with fresh squeezed lemons, limes , simple syrup & water) In blender and add peeled & chopped mango , ingredients above & ice.