Well, folks, the dogdays of summer are officially here, which means there is a good chance you have been uninspired by your go-to summer drink or dinner recipe as of late. The August humidity has descended upon us here at the Wine365 Headquarters and we have desperately been searching for some much-needed mid-season refreshers. We’ve turned to our favorite food and lifestyle experts for help.
Here are six easy and cooling ‘Instagram Reel’ recipes and activities that are a cinch to put together and will fuel you up in the lightest way possible.
Summer Activities
Let’s start with a couple of affordable picnic ideas to upgrade your August.
Sunset Rosé Picnic
Looking for an affordable activity to do tonight? Emily Croslin (@helloemilyerin) has an idea for you that is completely free (besides the bottle of rosé and fruit, of course) – watching the sunset! All you need is a bottle (or two) of Caposaldo Rosé, fresh fruit (look out for those fresh peaches, cherries, and watermelon that are in season this month), a picnic blanket, and you’re off! The trick is seeking out your favorite “sunset-watching-spot.” We recommend alcohol-friendly beaches or parks. And don’t forget to check what time the sun is setting, which you can easily do by checking your weather app on your phone or Weather.com for the approximate time.
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Indoor Picnic
If the weather is less than ideal for watching the sunset—and let’s face it, August weather tends to keep us on our toes—Rubaina and Rachit Misra (@miscgyan) suggest setting up a picnic inside and adding candles and a good book to your set-up.
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Summer Cocktail Recipes
Because nothing makes a summer barbecue more fun than a couple of cool new cocktails.
Strawberry Mango Rosé Sangria
Aryanna Harrel (@roseandchambray) shares her famous Strawberry Mango Rosé Sangria recipe which went viral on Pinterest and has been viewed over 50,000 times on the blog!
Ingredients for Strawberry Mango Rosé Sangria
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1 mango, chopped
1 large orange, sliced into rounds
1 lemon or lime, juiced
1 bottle Rosé, such as Caposaldo
1 bottle Poema Rosé Cava
1 cup vodka
2 cups mango juice
4-6 tbsp homemade simple syrup (or agave, honey, sugar, etc.) or until sweet enough
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Peach Sangria
If you are a Pinot Grigio lover, Rubaina and Rachit Misra’s Peach sangria recipe is the one for you, featuring The Seeker Pinot Grigio.
Ingredients for Peach Sangria
1 cup chopped peaches
1 cup chopped mango
1 cup chopped strawberries
1 cup peach schnapps
1 ounce simple syrup
3 cups Pinot Grigio
2 cups sparkling water
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Summer Dinner Recipes
Best enjoyed al-fresco.
Grilled Pork Chops with Peaches, Jalapeño, and Honey
August IS peach season, after all. Take advantage of August’s bounty with Leigh Andersons’ (@craving_california) quick and easy pork chop recipe, best enjoyed with a glass of Cakebread’s Sauvignon Blanc. Her favorite thing about this recipe is that you can grill the pork chops on whatever type of grill you have: gas, charcoal, or a stove-top grill pan.
Ingredients for Grilled Pork Chops with Peaches, Jalapeño, and Honey
Peaches
Shallots
Tomatoes
Jalapeño
Honey
Cilantro
Olive Oil
Pork Chops
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Savory Coq Au Vin
Rachel Fricke ‘s (@roots_and_rosemary) French-inspired dinner recipe is perfect for any date night. The chicken recipe calls for The Seeker Riesling, but be sure to pour yourself a glass to pair alongside your meal, too.
Ingredients for Savory Coq Au Vin
Bacon
Chicken Thighs
Onion
Garlic
Carrots
Celery
Flour
Chicken Broth
Tomato Paste
Riesling
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Enjoy the dogdays of summer and re-energize with these simple food and drinks recipes!
