9 Recipes to Make When You're Playing Hooky on Summer Friday
Start the weekend early? Check. Make a cheesy dish to celebrate? Double check.
We all know the sheer build-up of excitement that comes with a little extra freedom. When you were a kid, maybe it was a snowstorm blowing in that lead to this good fortune. Or perhaps, if you were a little bit trickier, an undiagnosable belly ache? No matter the cause, getting to skip out before that math test was ah-mazing.
And for us adults, the equivalent to playing "hooky" would have to be summer Fridays. Starting the weekend early is something we can all get behind — and it gives you extra time to make all the yummy dishes you just can't get to during the week. Maybe you'll finally make that frose you saw on Instagram, or perhaps you've got your eye on on ambititous meal for a Friday night dinner? Whether you are feeling up for a project or just want a cool cocktail to kick off the weekend early — call your boss and let them know we've got you covered!
Tara Donne
Break out your ice cream maker and welcome the weekend a few hours early with a glass of frose. Blend up the rose, strawberries, sugar and a bit of lemon juice before you churn up this adult slushy. Top with some juicy strawberries and raise your glass to a long weekend!
Tara Donne, FOOD NETWORK : 2012, Television Food Network, G.P.
While not everything gets better with age — this sangria certainly does! Rachael Ray's perfect make-ahead summer drink filled with peaches, raspberries and apples takes no time to assemble. Prepare it Friday and allow the fruity flavors to develop overnight — it will be ready when you want to sip pool-side on Saturday.
Prosciutto-wrapped grilled brie with pineapple is an ooey-gooey way to indulge on the weekend. Sandwich golden pineapple slices between the halved wheel of brie before wrapping them in prosciutto. This salty-sweet appetizer is sure to impress all your weekend dinner guests.
Con Poulos
When you have an overabundance of tomatoes from your garden, it can be hard to think of creative ways to use them all. Juicy, heirloom tomatoes are the star of this colorful pie made with a cornmeal crust. Before baking, line the crust with foil and then fill with dried beans. Bake until the edges are golden-brown before removing the foil and beans, continue to bake until golden all over. This creates a crisp crust that won't get soggy when the filling is added later.
Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Bobby Flay makes the surf and ditches the turf for this summertime favorite served up with a lovely basil butter. Use a food processor to cream together your flavored butter before slathering it on your perfectly grilled lobster. Make sure to put on your bib before you get crackin'!
Long weekends give you some extra time to whip up an impressive meal for date night. Marinade the steak and chicken ahead of time, so when your date arrives you can work together to assemble your custom kabobs. Everyone knows the way to anyone's heart is through food!
Turn your farmers market finds into a fruity crostata. Ina Garten recommends making your dough ahead of time and refrigerating for at least one hour prior to assembling this summer crostata. Baked until golden perfection this fruity treat is begging to be made a la mode!
JOHNNY MILLER
We all love just a bit s'more weekend, don’t we? This icebox cake combines fire and ice to create a truly over-the-top cake. Layers of graham crackers, ganache, and marshmallow whipped cream stack up before chilling out for at least 6 hours. A thick layer of ganache and perfectly toasted marshmallows finish off this fun twist on a summertime favorite.
Scoop up your little ones and make these adorable ice cream cone cookies. There's no better way to keep little hands occupied during the long summer months than with an edible art project. They will love piling together the different shapes of sugar cookie dough — and watching as you slice that construction into adorable cones. Not all ice cream melts in the sun, ya know!
