[From the 2025 Home & Garden Magazine]
Ideas for relaxed entertaining your guests will love… and you will too!
From Farm to Cocktail Table!
Hi Everyone!
I absolutely love to include fresh, locally produced ingredients in my entertaining recipes, and at this time of year the choices seem endless. For this issue I have put together some delish Farmers’ Market-inspired recipes you can add to your entertaining arsenal. So, grab your shopping basket and come with me for some farm-to-cocktail-table fun!
As you know I believe every party needs a great signature cocktail, so let me introduce my Love in the Garden Cooler. This tall drink is perfect for sipping on a warm sunny day. Strawberry vodka and lemonade are enhanced with elderflower liqueur and sparkling water.
Now for some farm to cocktail table party nibbles. My Fruit Skewers with Honey Vanilla Dipping Sauce is a fun way to serve seasonal fruit at your next get together. Next up are Radish and Scallion Butter Canapes. These little noshes shout spring in a most refined manner. And if you are looking for a tasty way to use up some of that frozen zucchini (before this year’s crop takes over the garden!!) give my Zucchini Tzatziki a try.
As always, I hope you enjoy these recipes. Have fun cooking and making drinks for the people you love, and remember...
It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to taste good!
Love in the Garden Cooler
- 1 & 1/2 ounces of strawberry flavored vodka. I always reach for Pick Six Strawberry Jam Vodka
- 1 ounce of elderflower Liqueur. I like St. Germaine and St. Elder brands
- 2 ounces of best quality lemonade
- Sparkling water
- Lemon and strawberry slices to garnish
Directions: Measure the first three ingredients into an ice filled cocktail shaker, secure the lid and shake it like crazy. Fill a highball or Collins glass 3/4 full with ice, add some strawberry slices and a lemon slice. Strain into the glass and top with sparkling water. Cheers!
Fruit Skewers with Honey Vanilla Dipping Sauce
Honey Vanilla Dipping Sauce
- 1 cup of vanilla flavored
Greek style yogurt - 1/3 cup of honey
- 1 teaspoon of orange zest
Directions: Measure the ingredients into a mixing bowl and stir until the mixture is well combined. Transfer into a small serving bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.
There are no set amounts of fruit to use. Just guestimate how many skewers you will need and count on 4 pieces of fruit for each one.
Gather fresh blackberries, hulled strawberries, (washed and drained on a paper towel covered plate), melon chunks such as honeydew, cantaloupe, or watermelon (drained on a paper towel covered plate). Skewer 4 pieces of mixed fruit onto a long tooth pick and place the skewers on a serving platter. Tuck the bowl of dipping sauce among the skewers or serve beside the platter. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Zucchini Tzatziki
- 1 cup of coarsely shredded zucchini
- 1 & 1/2 cups of non-fat Greek style yogurt
- 2 tablespoons of minced fresh dill
- 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
- a pinch of black pepper
Directions: Wrap the shredded zucchini in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze the excess liquid from it over the sink. In a medium mixing bowl combine the zucchini with the other ingredients and stir until well incorporated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour so the flavors blend. I like to serve this with sturdy wheat crackers like Triscuit or gluten free rice crackers.
Radish & Scallion Butter Canapes
Scallion Butter
- 8 ounces of softened
unsalted butter - 1 tablespoon of minced scallions
- 2 teaspoons of minced
flat-leaf parsley - 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt
- a pinch of black pepper
- Mix the ingredients in a small bowl, season with more salt and black pepper to taste if needed.
- Canapes
- 1 large French baguette cut into 1/4-inch slices and toasted in
a 350-degree oven for about
5 minutes or until golden. Allow to cool. - Scallion Butter
- Thinly sliced fresh radishes
- Additional minced scallions and parsley to garnish.
Directions: Just before serving spread each baguette slice with Scallion Butter and cover with a layer of thinly sliced radishes. Sprinkle with minced scallions and parsley (if desired) but they are just as awesome without any garnish!