Oh, summer nights in Texas are unbeatable. Yes, at times the nights are terribly hot, sticky, or both, but my heart still smiles upon summer evenings.
The summer is such a happy season. It brings pool parties, cookouts, long walks, the lake, outdoor concerts, wild flowers, arboretum, picnics, hot tan, Bud Light lime, country music, Ritas, yummy food, weddings, annnnnnnd awesome thunderstorms!
Oh, I L.O.V.E the summer time.
I was corrected by my hottie that summer does not technically begin until late June. But, let’s be honest with one another, the summer has made its appearance in the good ol’ state of TEXAS about two months ago. Amen?
So, to get this summer party started, my hubs decided it was time to get the Big Green Egg a smokin’. In my opinion, he is The Master of the grill.
The menu: Semi-Homemade Grilled Pizza
Toppings: All fresh ingredients and many from my Granddad’s garden.
Tomato, mushroom, purple onion, jalapeno, big jim, Habanero, and basil
Mozzarella and tomato sauce.
We didn’t get too fancy with this. Keep it simple.
Pizza number one. The smoky flavors from the Big Green Egg made this pizza A-MA-ZING. The crust was crunchy and thin. Mmm, mmm, good.
We learned that when you cook fresh jalapeno peppers, the spice explodes. Let’s just say the jalapeno brought the HEAT last night. Whew! Sorry to our sweet friends that lost their taste buds due to the killer jalapenos.
My gluten-free pizza! It was FAB-U-LOUS.
Homemade Rita’s in the Big O glass. Shew–one more of these and I would be down for the count.
Ingredients: Fresh squeezed lime juice, triple sec, tequilla, and a little bit of sugar 
”Poor some sugar on me!!”
Our cheese plate was simple and sweet.
Garlic and herb goat cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, rice nut thins, poppy-seed crackers, and grapes.
For dessert: Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies.
You can’t go wrong with these. Always a winner
On another note, I’ve been busy with XOXO sweet creations. This week I made over 100 monogrammed Longhorn cookies for a rehearsal dinner. It was a sweet honor to add some sweetness to a beautiful celebration.
My kitchen becomes a “danger zone” when I’m baking up a storm.
Each cookie had an E and J for Elizabeth and Jeff.
Each longhorn was individually wrapped with raffia and a precious tag that combined Texas and NY.
Congratulations Elizabeth and Jeff!!!!! May your marriage be filled with love, joy, and much laughter.
XOXOXO
The grilled pizza looks and sounds delicious! Yum-Yum:)