Grilled Feta

I wanted to make grilled halloumi but couldn't find any, so I bought some feta and found that you can grill it as long as it's in a little tinfoil packet. This is a great appetizer or accompaniment to a light dinner of Greek salad and chicken souvlaki. You can really add in whatever you want for seasoning. I kept it pretty simple with grape tomatoes, herbs de provence, lemon, and garlic, but you could add cooked tomatoes, capers, chilies, olives... The cheese gets hot and melty and it's super tasty, and couldn't be easier.

Summer Party Idea

I love having outdoor parties in the summer. A few weeks ago, we had a birthday party for my friend Bettina in the backyard in Southampton. With a few simple touches, it was super festive. We got 18" white balloons at a party store, ordered wine labels from Pinhole Press, put out tiki torches, and got a fire pit at a yard sale (and Kara brought some adorable hats, the cute white banner, and some sparklers). It was a great success, mostly because of the beautiful night, and all of the rose didn't hurt. I tied these tassels to the balloons to add a little flare. I highly recommend the big, white balloons - so festive!

Grilled Lobster

This is such a great way to do lobster. The cutting them down the middle while they're alive is a little awful/creepy/terrifying. I had Jamie do it, but I think you can ask a fishmonger to do it for you, too. The combination of the herb butter and the smoke of the grill gives the meat an excellent flavor and seems to concentrate the flavor, too. Definitely want to make this again!

Ample Hills

This little ice cream stand in Brooklyn Bridge Park has really fabulous flavors. I am kicking myself for not trying to sooner. (I had my first cone there last week after passing it a million times.) We had their version of cookies and cream, which was incredible. There was some spice in the cookies, maybe marjoram, and the ice cream itself had some salt in it. It was just really, really tasty. Some of the crazier flavor options were stour and pretzel and one that was bourbon flavored with candied bacon. I will definitely be stopping there again after our next BBQ. 

Brooklyn Bridge Park BBQ

If there's anyone who wants to BBQ in the city but doesn't have a yard or roof for it, definitely try out Brooklyn Bridge Park's picnic area. It's amazing! Jamie and I went with a few friends last night and had the best time. There are picnic tables and grills that are first come first serve. I got there around 7pm and got a great table right up against the river and the nearby grill. You just need to bring your own charcoal, and they clean it up in the morning. It's such a beautiful spot to spend the evening. You get an amazing sunset (weather permitting) and once the sun is down, all the lights of lower Manhattan and the bridges are an unbeatable backdrop. I can't wait to do it again!

 Bryce lighting the charcoal

Look at that view! (Jamie had just gotten off the nearby soccer fields in this picture)

Grilled Clams with Herb Butter

These are incredible, and so easy! I made them as a little hors d'oeuvres for a BBQ this past weekend, but I think they were the star. I am looking forward to being back out in Southampton (with a grill) again next weekend so I can make them again! My friend Alice doesn't cook, so to gauge difficulty levels - she said even she could do this. Very simple and so, so tasty!

Ingredients:
A big handful of fresh herbs (I used basil, dill, tarragon, parsley, chives, and thyme from my garden)
1 tsp lemon zest
1/2 stick of butter, softened
big pinch of salt and pepper
2 dozen clams

Directions:
Finely chop up the herbs. Mash into the butter with lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Form into a log on a piece of Saran wrap and put in the fridge for an hour or more so it hardens. (Probably fine to do it right before and not refrigerate too.)