Gazpacho Shooters - the perfect amuse bouche!

Gazpacho is easy to make, easpecially in the summer when all of the veggies and herbs are fresh

Gazpacho is a Spanish soup, served cold, because it was created in Andalusia which is a very hot region in Spain.  It is a refreshing soup to cool you down during intense summer heat.

There are a variety of ways to make this but this is a simple recipe, omitting olive oil.  I wanted to make 4 small "shooters" as an amuse bouche before dinner.

These are the veggies I had on hand:  2 tomatoes, 4 slices of an Eng cucumber, green pepper, red onion, a mini carrot and a 1/2 celery stalk.

I bended all the veggies in a mini food processor If it's too thick you can drizzle in a bit of olive oil. 

 

Then I added herbs, spices and seasonings for flavor:

I strained it through a sieve:

(all the "meaty" mixture was set aside to add to homemade tomato sauce)

This made the perfect amount for 4 "shooters:

Just enough to wet the palate before dinner!

Find the MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check Shot Glass here

Thanks for stopping by, Patti

Graphics by Susan Branch

MacKenzie-Childs affilate link 

Fall is for Footbal

Fall is certainly for football fans.....

This table is set for burgers and chips and a relaxing day by the lake to watch football.

We have a store nearby called Mystery Bins and I bought all of the paper goods (plates, cups and napkins for 20) for only $2.  I cut 4 rectangles of brown paper for placemats.  The center tray is an enamel MacKenzie-Childs Emerald Check Tray.  An old milk glass vase holds the flag as a simple centerpiece.

What's in the little canvas bags?

These were freebies at the NYS Fair last week!

Cute wooden flatware!

This was a last minute table setting and quite inexpensive, too!

Williams Park, in Cicero, NY, is the perfect place for a picnic and only a few miles away.  The view of Oneida Lake is lovely, there are small covered pavilions to reserve, grills, a gazebo, a splash pad, a beach and a playground.

Let's grill some hamburgers and have "football brownies" for dessert.  Bring your iPads so we can watch the game.

Are you ready to cheer on your team this season?

I hope your team wins!

This tray is perfect for serving hamburgers or appetizers for football games: MacKenzie-Childs Emerald Check Round Tray

Rita @ Panoply is always our "hostess with the mostess" - I hope she feels better soon!

Check out these other fall tablescapes:

Panoply - Tobacco Leaf Fall Tablescape

Everyday Living - Welcoming Autumn, My Favorite Season! 

Hyacinths for the Soul - Rocky Mountain Vibes ~ Welcome Autumn Tablescape 

The Cat's Whiskerz - Transitioning into Fall with Pumpkins and Pomegranates 

Me and My Captain - Autumn! Kansas Fowl And The Milo Fields!

Life and Linda - Cinderella - A Table Fit For A Princess

My Thrift Store Addiction - Vintage Harvest Time - Thrifted Autumn Table Setting

The Bookish Dilettante - Welcome Fall Tablescape: Plum Assignment

Mantel and Table - A Beautiful Fall Table Setting to Welcome the Season

Thrifting Wonderland - Celebrate Autumn with a Cozy Fall Tablescape

Corner of Plaid and Paisley - Autumn Table in Hues of Brown

Dinner at Eight - Colorful Orchard Tablesetting Celebrates Fall's Arrival

Pandora's Box - Fall is for Football. You are here!

Red Cottage Chronicles - Fall Tablescape Ideas: Nancy Meyers meets English Cottage

Thanks for stopping by, Patti

Tomato-Peach Salad

Here's an easy delicious fruit salad recipe - perfect for breakfast or lunch or as a side dish.

Tomato-Peach Salad

Mix together:

1 Roma tomato, diced

1 ripe peach, diced

2 T chopped pecans

2 T chopped red onion

Add dressing:

1T Balsamic vinegar

1/2 T olive oil

1/2 t honey

Garnish with basil ribbons

Serves 2

Find the MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check Ceramic Fluted Bowl here!

Thanks for stopping by, Patti

Recipe Card:

Easy Bruschetta...

Here's a quick and easy "pick me up" snack for an afternoon break:

I whipped up a little batch of salsa with what i had available.  This one has tomatoes, green pepper, radish and a dash of salt, pepper and balsamic!

I gathered some large crostini, Boursin cheese, Sweet Fire Mango Jack cheese (any cheddar or mozzarella will do) and the salsa.

Be creative with how you make this - every time i make it is different, it always is whatever is in the fridge or garden!

Because the crostini is large, you need some "glue", so when you bite into it it doesn't fall apart.  The Boursin holds everything together!

Spread a layer of Boursin on the crostini and top with salsa and then some shredded cheese (this holds everything in place)

Put in under the broiler until shredded cheese melts and garnish with fresh basil ribbons:

This is so easy to make for a crowd, too.  Mix up the salsa the day before so that flavors meld together, buy crostini at the grocery market, grate cheese ahead of time and assemble before guests arrive - - Broil at the last minute!

Be creative, add red onion, minced garlic, chopped zucchini or cucumber, celery and so on!  Here are other ways I have made bruschetta: here and here and here.

Enjoy it with a glass of wine!

These were made a few days later with homemade peach salsa:

Find the appetizer plates here:

These MacKenzie-Childs Emerald Check Appetizer Plates  are on sale!

MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check Appetizer Plates

Thanks for stopping by, Patti

Word graphics by Susan Branch

Affiliate link to Mackenzie-Childs