Mint Pesto Potato Salad with Cherry Tomatos

Last week my parents hosted a summer dinner party at their house in Sonoma County. It was such a warm night that we wanted to eat outside, however we had to stay under the netting canopy to avoid mosquitos! Dad BBQed chicken and we made lots of salads with goods from the garden. This Mint Pesto Potato Salad was a hit! Just make pesto as usual, but use mint instead of basil. Any kind of nuts would work, but we used walnuts. You can boil or roast the potatoes and you may need a touch more olive oil and a pinch of sea salt when mixing it all up in the bowl. It’s great warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!

By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast

Watermelon Bruschetta

We just spent the last week at my parents’ cabin in the woods in Sonoma County (I guess you know where I get it!).  I love late summer there when the blackberries are ripe and the evenings are warm and golden. We picked vegetables from my Mom’s garden to cook dinner with and ate outdoors.  This Watermelon Bruschetta was a delicious appetizer one night before dinner with cold white wine.

By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast

The Fritz

My husband’s uncle had a big birthday bash at Red Rooster in Harlem over the weekend and we were so sad to miss it! In his honor, I created an illustration with a recipe for his favorite drink, the Fritz. Equal parts gin and vodka with cocktail onions- this guy doesn’t mess around! The drink recipe was displayed on the bar for guests to try and printed out as a party favor. Red Rooster is such a fun New York spot. I have had the honor of photographing Marcus and his delicious food a few times. Above is a photo I took of him at The James Beard House back in 2009. Cheers and Happy Birthday, Uncle Fred!

By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast

Eggplant "Tacos" with Cilantro & Brie

These eggplant “tacos” are a tasty appetizer… It’s basically just a little round of baked eggplant with brie and cilantro in the middle, folded up like a mini taco! You could also serve them alongside a main course as a vegetable. I bake/roast the eggplant rounds on a greased cookie sheet, drizzled with olive oil (generously) plus a bit of sea salt if you wish. If you flip the eggplant half way through, it’ll get brown on both sides. About 8 minutes on each side worked for me- but watch them closely- if some slices are thinner, they’ll cook faster.

I could eat a whole plate of these….Enjoy!

Watermelon Salad

Nothing says summer like watermelon! Slice watermelon into approx 1 inch rings, then remove the rind from each slice with a small knife. Place one watermelon “round” onto each salad plate, then top with a layer of thinly sliced fresh mozzarella (5 pieces?), followed by a layer of finely chopped mint, basil (approx ¼ c each) and a sprinkling of nuts (I used almonds and walnuts, but you can use any kind). Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and sea salt before serving. Enjoy with a fork and knife- a light yet filling salad!

By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast