A Taste of Summer for Secret Recipe Club

This weekend we got our first glimpse of summer after a long, cold winter and a rainy, cool spring. Yes, this weekend it was warm and sunny, with highs in the mid-70s, puffy-white clouds and a beautiful breeze. As our friend J commented with a contented sigh, "This is San Diego weather." Indeed. Perfect for spending the evening on the front porch sipping a cocktail and enjoying a pre-dinner snack.

And it also happens to be Secret Recipe Club Reveal Day! As luck had it, this month we were assigned the blog Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom by Jamie, where we found some great recipe ideas for dinner, desserts, and breakfasts/sides/snacks. We were tempted to make "Creamy Chicken and Asparagus Pasta," or "Blackberry and Cream Cheese Mini-Turnovers" (and we still may!), but the porch swing beckoned, and we found the perfect pair of recipes to enjoy on it: Microwave Potato Chips and Brazilian Lime Cocktails. Our very own Taste of Summer, courtesy of Jamie! 

Jamie's "Microwave Potato Chips were salty and crunchy, and it was great knowing that they consisted of a mere three simple ingredients - potatoes, olive oil, and salt. We used Malted Vinegar Sea Salt for a little salt-n-vinegar chip flavor. And who would ever have thought to make homemade potato chips in the microwave? Jamie's recipe is brilliant, and perfect for an anytime snack. The Brazilian Lime Cocktail is one of several of Jamie's "Best Tropical Drinks." It's her version of a Caiporoska  - a Caipirinha made with vodka instead of Cachaca. It was tart and refreshing, and reminded us that summer is right around the corner. We added a topper of club soda to give it some fizz.

Microwave Potato Chips

minimally adapted from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom

Ingredients:

2 cups 1/8-inch potato slices

olive oil

Malt Vinegar Sea Salt

Toss potato slices in olive oil. Drizzle additional olive oil on a large microwave-safe plate and arrange the potato slices on the plate in one layer without any overlap. Sprinkle with salt. Microwave on high for 3 minutes, flip, sprinkle again with salt, then microwave on high for an additional 3 minutes, until starting to brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels, and allow to cool slightly as they will become crispier as they cool. 

Brazilian Lime Cocktail

mimimally adapted from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom

Ingredients (per cocktail):

1 lime, cut into 6 wedges

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 ounce vodka

ice

1 ounce club soda

Place lime wedges and sugar into a large glass and muddle limes with sugar to release juice. Stir until sugar dissolves. Add vodka and ice, stir and top with club soda. 

Check out other recipes from today's Reveal Day below, including our black beans (and her own) on From Brazil to You. 

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