recipes for summer

(Family Features) Summer is all about enjoying the warm weather with family and friends, but even with the longer summer days, the season can feel short for many. That’s why it’s important to make the most of summer by maximizing your fun in the sun with some of the best memories being made while entertaining al fresco.

For a fun-filled, yet relaxing summer, it’s important to keep the essentials on-hand for easy entertaining. From bright decor to refreshing drinks and fresh ingredients, party prep ensures you save time and money, and are always ready to wine and dine your guests. And nowadays, shopping for anything involving party prep, from party decor to ingredients and food can be purchased online and had delivered to your doorstep. For your convenience (and some potential discounts), you can choose to shop online with Click Marketplace or other similar e-commerce stores.

Nevertheless, no matter the occasion, a store like ALDI can be your guide to summer entertaining with everything you need to celebrate the season, including high-quality and affordable ingredients for this summer’s must-have recipes.

A fresh and easy recipe to try this summer is Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Skewers with Lemon-Cucumber Salsa. This entree pairs perfectly with a crisp, fruit-forward wine like Exquisite Collection Sauvignon Blanc or Trestoria RosÈ from ALDI. When there’s a crowd to serve, consider mixing up a pitcher of Citrus Ginger RosÈ Punch.

Find more seasonal recipe ideas to celebrate summer at ALDI.us.

Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Skewers with Lemon-Cucumber Salsa
Recipe courtesy of Chef Alyssa, ALDI Test Kitchen

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4

  • 8 skewers1
  • pineapple2 tablespoons Carlini Vege
  • table Oil1/2 teaspoon Stonemill Iodized Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Stonemill Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 3/4 pounds Never Any! Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, diced into 1-inch pieces

Lemon-Cucumber Salsa:

  • 1 lemon, supremed
  • 1 cucumber, diced
  • 1/2 red onion, diced
  • 1 tablespoon SimplyNature Organic Wildflower Honey
  • 1 teaspoon Stonemill Ground Black Pepper

Soak wooden skewers for 15 minutes prior to grilling.

Heat grill to medium-high heat.

Remove rind from pineapple and dice into 1-inch pieces.

In small bowl, combine oil, salt and pepper. Add chicken and pineapple; toss to coat.

Alternating chicken and pineapple, pierce onto skewers.

Grill skewers 8 minutes each side, or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.

To make Lemon-Cucumber Salsa: In medium bowl, combine lemon, cucumber, onion, honey and pepper.

Serve lemon-cucumber salsa over cooked chicken skewers.

Tip: Supreme citrus fruit by cutting off top and bottom of fruit then cut away peel and pith, leaving no white on outside of fruit. Slice each segment into wedges by cutting toward center of fruit along membrane.

recipes for summer -drinks

Citrus Ginger RosÈ Punch
Recipe courtesy of Chef Leigh An, ALDI Test Kitchen

  • 1/2 cup minced ginger
  • 1 cup Baker’s Corner Granulated Sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 bottles (750 milliliters each) Trestoria RosÈ, chilled
  • 5 cans (12 ounces each) PurAqua Belle Vie Grapefruit Sparkling Water, chilled
  • 2 cans (12 ounces each) PurAqua Belle Vie Lemon Sparkling Water, chilled

In small pot, combine ginger, sugar and water to make simple syrup. Bring to boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely in refrigerator.

Strain simple syrup and discard ginger.

In large punch bowl or pitcher, combine rosÈ, grapefruit sparkling water and lemon sparkling water. Add simple syrup.

Serve in chilled glasses.

Tip: Freeze lemon slices in ice cube trays or silicone muffin trays and add them to punch for pop of color.

Source: ALDI