You don’t have to wait until November to fill your heart and your belly with the happiness of friends, family, and feasting! There’s a summer version of Thanksgiving known as Summersgiving, and we think it’s serious cause for celebration! Summersgiving is technically the second Saturday after the summer solstice, but we say if you can make Thanksgiving in June there are no rules. Celebrate with this fun theme anytime this summer. We’ve got our top picks for recipes to bring to the table, along with their perfect wine pairing.
Rainbow Fruit Kabobs
Rainbow Fruit Kabobs make an easy summer breakfast or lunch, but we love them as a Summersgiving appetizer. Plus, you can enlist the kids to help craft kabobs while you’re busy cooking the other goodies. Choose from a tropical fruit theme, or traditional berries and bananas. Add a sweet yogurt dip on the side for a little extra flair. Done and done, and bursting with summer spirit. Pair with a crisp semi-sweet white wine.
Our wine pick: Caballeria de Luna White Wine | Spain
Slow Cooker Kielbasa
Hands-free cooking is the best in the summer, and that goes for summer celebrations big time. Prep summer sausage, corn, and potatoes, and let the slow cooker do the rest. Satisfying potatoes and the punch of spice sausage will be a crowd pleaser. Here’s a recipe from 365 Days of Crockpot that will make your meal feel like a traditional backyard boil! When it’s time to serve, transfer to a large tin serving dish or relocate the slow cooker outside. Add crusty rolls on the side for your sandwich lovers! Choose a food friendly red blend and remember to chill gently for 20 minutes.
Our wine pick: Cucharón Red Blend | Argentina
Macaroni Salad
Is it even a summer get together without macaroni salad on the table? That was rhetorical! Summer Macaroni Salad is cool, creamy, and a great place to hide extra veggies. We love this recipe by SkinnyTaste featuring grape tomatoes, zucchini, and Greek yogurt. Want to make it a bit heartier? Chop up some Swiss cheese (or your favorite cheese) and add it to the macaroni mix. Boom, magic. A medium-bodied white wine will provide just the right balance for this starch staple.
Our wine pick: La Screaming Goat Gewürztraminer | France
Strawberry Rhubarb Dump Cake
Cake should always be this easy! Especially when you need it for a crowd. Strawberry Rhubarb Dump Cake is all about dumping in the fruit goodness and letting the oven do the rest. We chose this recipe featured on Betty Crocker because we love a good short cut, and a box of yellow cake mix saves you from having to dig in the cabinet for vanilla from last fall. As for the strawberry and rhubarb, well, basically you either love this combo or you haven’t tried it yet. If you like to add a homemade touch, add fresh whipped cream. Although, vanilla ice cream might be an even better choice. You saw strawberries, we say sweet wine for the perfect finish.
Our wine pick: Fissata Red
Chocolate Trifle
You can’t forget the chocolate lovers! A quick and easy Chocolate Trifle, like this one we found from Taste of Home, will satisfy the sweet tooths in attendance. It’s meant to be served nice and cool, so you can make it the night before and chill it in the fridge. What’s fun about a trifle is you can easily make it your own. Add a layer of your favorite crushed up cookies or candy bars, or even a fruit layer. Hey, this is your party. Don’t have a trifle dish? Make individual cups or dig out those unused flower vases (give them a scrub) and make a layered dessert in an even more unique way. Just make sure you have a long serving spoon handy. And don’t forget the wine. Your red lovers will be delighted at how well a Cabernet pairs with chocolate. Yum!
Our wine pick: Rayado Cabernet Sauvignon | Chile
Ready to celebrate Summersgiving? We hope you will invite our amazing wines to the table, and share your pics on Instagram using the #travelingvineyard hashtag.