Easy Summer Beach Foods and Refreshing Cocktail Pairings

Summer beach foods and refreshing cocktails are a necessity in the Sunshine State. With a multitude of fun-in-the-sun activities, the last thing Floridians want to do is spend time in front of a hot stove. Tourists and residents are in a let-your-hair-down and party mood and prefer food and drinks that are light and easy to prepare.

Residents of beach towns enjoy sharing summer beach foods and cocktails with friends and neighbors. Drive down any street and you're certain to find a group of people kickin' back and sharing good times. Fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, cheese and deli meat platters are showcased at beach parties throughout Florida's central east coast.

Last summer, my husband and I attended a community block party to meet and mingle with our neighbors. As a semi-retired chef and caterer, I wanted to share foods that would impress the guests and leave them wanting more. I settled on a favorite cheese and deli meat arrangement often served at special events during my days working at a country club.

My favorite meat purveyor is Boar's Head meats. A trip to our local butcher shop, Gaff's Quality Meats and Specialty Foods, yielded everything I needed, except the alcohol. While Boar's Head products are a little pricier than other brands, one way to reduce the cost is to have deli meats sliced very thin. Thin sliced meats work exceptionally well when making the deli platter because meats are wrapped around cheeses, fresh vegetables, pickles and olives.

What I enjoy most about serving cheese and deli meat platters is the ingredients can be changed to suit the occasion. During summer months I use light cheeses such as cream havarti, baby Swiss, white American, mild Cheddar, ButterKäse and Asiago.

Depending on the number of people attending, I purchase 1/2- to 1-pound block of four or five varieties of cheese. Afterward, I cut the cheeses into 1-inch cubes and place a toothpick in the top of each. It's best to use decorative toothpicks for added flair.

The following cheese and deli meat tray serves up to 30 people and takes about 30 minutes to prepare. If you need to transport the tray consider asking your grocer if you can purchase a plastic deli platter with lid. Otherwise, use a large round platter or divide the products amongst smaller plates and place one at each end of the serving table.

Gourmet Deli Meat and Cheese Platter
Serves: 25-30
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Yields: 2 Trays

Ingredients:

1 pound Black Forest Ham, thinly sliced
1 pound Pastrami, thinly sliced
1 pound oven-roasted Turkey, thinly sliced
1 pound Prosciutto, thinly sliced
1 pound mild Cheddar cheese
1 pound white American cheese
1 pound Swiss cheese
1 pound Monterey Jack cheese
2 10-ounce jars stuffed Olives (try garlic stuffed, jalapeno stuffed, or almond stuffed)
2 large cucumbers, sliced diagonally
1 large bag Radishes
1 large bag Baby Carrots
1 container Grape Tomatoes
1 bunch Red or Green leaf Lettuce

Directions:

1. Wash and dry lettuce and separate into individual leaves. Line trays with lettuce leaves; placing larger leaves around the rim and smaller leaves in the center.

2. Roll deli meats into cigar shape and secure with decorative toothpick. Place lengthwise around outer edge of tray, leaving room between each selection to place veggies and olives.

3. Cut cheeses into 1-inch squares. Top cheese cubes with one stuffed olive or grape tomato and secure with a toothpick. Place cubes in the center of the tray.

4. Wash and dry vegetables. Slice cucumbers diagonally. Trim tops from radishes. Place veggies between meats.

If desired, serve with an assortment of breads or crackers or add vegetable dips such as my Beau Monde Cream Cheese dip. Serve dips in stay-cold containers or place a bowl of ice under the dip bowl to keep the product safe. This is particularly important when serving dairy product dips outdoors during summer months.

Another option is to spread a thin layer of cream cheese or spreadable cheeses on deli meats before rolling up. Alouette Cheese offers a great line of spreadable cheeses including: sundried tomato and basil, garlic and herbs, spinach artichoke, pepper medley, peppercorn parmesan, cucumber dill, and crème de brie.

You can also wrap deli meats around pickle spears or cheese slices and top with an olive or grape tomato. I've also used fruits in place of veggies. Good options include watermelon, cantaloupe, mango, papaya, and grapes.

Refreshing Beach Cocktails

In Florida, it seems only fitting that one of our favorite beach drinks is the Hurricane. My first experience with this punch-like drink was at the world famous Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans French Quarter. You can purchase Pat O'Brien's Hurricane drink mix at most grocery and liquor stores or you can try the following Hurricane recipe. I'm not certain of the exact origins of this recipe, but it was given to me by my sister.

Hurricane Cocktail Recipe
Serves 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1 ounce light rum
1 ounce dark rum
2 ounces Pineapple Juice
2 ounces Orange Juice
1/4 ounce Grenadine
Pineapple slice and maraschino cherry, garnish

Directions:

Fill martini shaker with ice. Add ingredients. Shake and strain into glass. Add fruit garnish and enjoy!

If desired, make up a large batch of drink mix and serve over ice in a punch bowl.

Reggae Reefer
Serves 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes

This recipe was served at our community block party and has become one of my favorite beach cocktails. It's very potent and has a tendency to make people a little giddy. Be certain to grab your favorite Bob Marley music before serving this cocktail!

Ingredients:

1 ounce Vodka
1/2 ounce Banana Liqueur
1 ounce Orange Juice
1/2 ounce Grapefruit Juice
1/2 ounce Pineapple Juice
1/2 ounce Grenadine
Dash Orange Bitters
Orange slice and pineapple wedge, garnish

Directions:

Fill martini shaker with crushed iced. Add ingredients. Shake and strain over ice in rocks glass. Garnish.

Sources:

Boar's Head Meats - www.BoarsHead.com
Pat O'Brien's New Orleans French Quarter - www.PatObriens.com
Alouette Cheese - www.AlouetteCheese.com