The Perfect Watermelon Salad

Nothing says summer quite like watermelon and, here at the Perfect P, we have watermelon on the brain! Our newest kid tee will be a sweet watermelon color and available soon, but until then, we wanted to share this delicious salad that is perfect for summer. I absolutely love fruit in salad and I think it really brings delicious color, texture and taste. Remember to choose organic veggies and fruit whenever possible,this recipe is easy to make and easy to eat.

Refreshing Watermelon Salad

The Goods:

1/4 large organic watermelon cut into 1 inch cubes

1 organic cucumber, peeled, halfed and sliced

1 medium organic red onion, sliced in half, sliced thinly

1 quarter cup cashews or candied pecans

1 bunch of fresh chopped mint

Combine the first four 'goods' (ok it's just a clever way to say ingredients) in a large wood bowl and sprinkle the mint on top. Pour dressing over the salad right before serving. Inside tip -- my Italian father loved making our salad dressing every night and he was a big believer in never soaking your salad with dressing before you were ready to serve it.

For Dressing:

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/8 cup red wine or balsamic vinegar (depends upon personal taste)

salt and pepper to taste

1 dash of organic worcestershire sauce

Mangia bene!

Perfect Champagne Cocktails

July 4th weekend is here and it's time to celebrate! These two festive and fun sparkling cocktails are a perfect way to sparkle up any bbq or picnic.

Either champagne or sparkling wine is refreshing but if you haven't tried a lot of sparkling wines you are missing out and should give it a try! For sparkling wine, i love Gloria Ferrer Brut from Sonoma, I had my wedding reception there and it is a delicious wine. I also love Roederer Estate Brut, from the Anderson Valley, it is crisp, and refreshing and a lovely wine. Cheers!

Summer Fizz (pictured center) - Champagne or Sparkling Wine and a splash of St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur with a Lemon Twist Garnish

Pomegranate Splash (far left) - Champagne or Sparkling Wine and splash of Pama Pomegranate Liqueur

with Fresh Pomegranate Seeds

Thank you to Mixologist Miguel Vera of the Belle Haven Club for the cocktails, and photographer Kyle Norton

The Perfect Dijon Chicken

Fresh Rosemary is easy to grow, wonderful to smell, and packed with vitamins and minerals.

The Perfect Dijon Roast Chicken

Did you know that when you place an order with The Perfect P, you get a couple of surprises as well? One of them is a recipe of one of our favorite dishes. It's all about sharing and living delicious -- I have been making The Perfect Dijon Roast Chicken for more than 15 years and it is one of my all time favorites! Here is a sneak peak at the ingredients, place an order and receive the full recipe! All of the products available online are just a preview of what is to come and don't forget, 20% of our Smile More Collection products benefit Operation Smile - do well. shop well. eat well. Enjoy!

The Goods

1 (5 to 6 pound) Organic Roasting Chicken

(remove from refrigerator 30 mins before cooking) ¾ teaspoon Kosher or Sea Salt

¾ teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper 2 Large Bunches Fresh Thyme or Rosemary

1 Fresh Lemon, halved

3 Garlic Cloves, split in half

Perfect Provenance Twine (which comes with your Smile More Tee)

¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic

1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard

#smilemore

The Perfect Zucchini and Sweet Corn Fritters

Here at the Perfect P, we love food! Every week we will be unveiling our favorite recipes to share with you. Let us know which ones you love and pass along to friends - this week's recipe is from Mara Ossorio, a delicious fritter recipe that you will gobble up! They are unbelievably easy to make and the perfect way to sneak in some veggies!

The Perfect Zucchini and Sweet Corn Fritters

The Goods

1 ½ pounds of organic zucchini, grated

1 tsp. sea salt

2 ears of organic fresh corn, cut from the cob

¼ cup organic unbleached flour

¼ cup parmesan reggiano, grated

2 cloves garlic

2 large organic brown eggs, beaten

Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

2 tblsp. extra virgin olive oil

Place grated zucchini in a colander over the sink. Add the tsp. of sea salt and gently toss to combine. Let sit for 10 minutes. Using a clean dish towel or cheesecloth, squeeze the remaining moisture from the zucchini completely.

In a large bowl, combine the zucchini, corn, flour, parmesan, garlic, egg and season with salt and pepper.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Scoop tblsp. of batter for each fritter, flattening with a spatula, and cook until the underside is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side, about 1-2 minutes longer.

Serve Immediately…

For a delicious topping, mix 2 tblsp. of soft goat cheese with ½ cup sour cream for a dollop of WOW!

The Perfect Brownie Pie

Look, I love brownies. It's no secret. I actually announce it when I write on my personal blog or for the Huffington Post or if I give a speech. Why? Well, brownies are yummy for one, but you know that. But to me, brownies speak to the kid in each of us. It's not formal like cake or too sugary like candy. It is a classic American dessert made popular at the turn of the century by a woman named Fanny Farmer (who knew?) and there are so many varieties today, anyone can put their twist on it. Mara Ossorio made this delicious version of brownie pie that looks, well good enough to eat! I will be sharing some of my personal faves in the weeks to come but trust me, this one is a keeper.

And, in case you forget (it's my handle and I'm stickin with it), I am a mother, wife, writer, brownie eater and founder The Perfect Provenance #smilemore, Lisa Lori

The Perfect Brownie Pie

The Goods

1 ½ cups Granulated Sugar

½ cup Organic Unbleached Flour

1/3 cup Dark Chocolate Cocoa

1/2 cup Organic Butter, softened

3 Large Organic Eggs

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1/8 teaspoon Sea Salt

½ cup Dark Chocolate or Semi Sweet Chocolate Morsels

½ cup Chopped Walnuts (optional)

1 cup Freshly Whipped Organic Cream (optional)

The Method

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Generously grease a 9 inch pie plate.

Combine Sugar, Butter, Eggs, Vanilla and Salt in a mixing bowl and beat at medium speed with and electric mixer. Beat in flour and cocoa. Stir in chocolate morsels and walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 40 -50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. :et cool at least 30 minutes before slicing. Serve topped with a dollop of Fresh Whipped Cream.

#SureToMakeYouSmileMore

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