Holding On to Summer
I don’t know about you, but I’m over here clutching onto summer with two hands.
I swear it just started, and now I’m already dodging fall decor in store aisles and wondering where the long, slow days went. We’re nearing the end of the season, and I can feel myself wanting to savor everything—especially the food. The fresh fruit, the simple dinners, the low-effort, high-payoff dishes that taste like golden hour and garden blooms.
That’s what this little menu is all about.
I wanted to share two recipes that feel like summer on a plate—easy, beautiful, and full of that sweet-tart balance we crave this time of year. First up? A blackberry goat cheese salad that is peak produce perfection—you get the tangy bite from the goat cheese, juicy blackberries, peppery greens, and a light mustard vinaigrette that ties it all together without weighing it down. It’s one of those salads that feels fancy but takes all of five minutes to throw together.
Then there’s the maple baguette snack—which, let’s be honest, had a moment online for good reason.
It’s sweet, salty, crunchy, and SO ridiculously easy that I almost didn’t post about it … but I’d be doing you a disservice 😉 It’s the kind of thing you whip up when you want a snack that feels special but doesn’t require you to turn on the oven. A drizzle of maple syrup, butter, flakey salt, and boom—you’ve got magic.
Don’t Let These Recipes Slip Away
If you’ve been craving something light but indulgent, these are for you.
Recipes below, and trust me—you’ll want to bookmark these before the season slips away completely.
First Bite: Maple Baguette with Brie
If you’ve been here a while, you know I’m a sucker for anything that feels a little indulgent but takes no effort. And this—this is that girl.
This maple baguette recipe originally came from Amy Thielen (you might know her from Heartland Table), and it’s one of those little discoveries I’ll be grateful for forever. Four ingredients. Four. And yet, it delivers so much flavor and charm … especially as a little pre-dinner bite while everything else is coming together.
Ingredients
- Baguette (grab one that’s not too skinny—more surface area = more crispy maple coating)
- 2–3 tablespoons of butter
- ¼ cup real maple syrup
- Flaky salt (just a pinch)
- Brie
How to Make It
Start by slicing up your baguette. Try thicker slices for this—they soak up more of the maple-butter goodness and hold up better when pan-frying.
Heat a skillet on medium and melt a few tablespoons of butter (don’t be shy, but also don’t let it burn—lower the heat if needed). Once the butter is melted, pour in your maple syrup and add a pinch of salt. Give it a stir and get ready for your kitchen to start smelling insane.
Lay your baguette slices directly into the pan and gently press them down so they soak up all that butter-maple mix. Flip after about a minute and repeat. Keep an eye on them—the syrup can burn quickly, so this is more of a watch-and-feel kind of situation. Add a little more butter and syrup to the pan if it starts to dry up.
Once both sides are golden and caramelized, move the slices to a paper towel to cool slightly.
Then comes the best part: slice up some brie and lay it on top of each piece. The warm bread helps melt the cheese ever so slightly, and honestly, it’s just heaven. These are just as good warm as they are after cooling for a bit—so they’re perfect to make ahead and bring to a gathering, or to snack on while prepping the rest of your meal.
Perfection!
This isn’t the kind of thing you overthink. It’s buttery, sweet, salty, and just a little bit extra in the best way. It always disappears quickly—especially if there’s wine involved.
The Main Event: Blackberry Goat Cheese Salad
There’s something about a salad like this that just hits in summer. It’s creamy, a little tart, has crunch in all the right places, and looks beautiful on the table — without even trying. These are my favorite types of salads—just throw it all together, no stress, no oven, and somehow it feels fancy. This just checks all the boxes.
Ingredients
- 5 ounces arugula (peppery and bright, a go-to base)
- 3–4 ounces goat cheese (you can crumble a little extra on top … no regrets)
- 2 cups fresh ripe blackberries
- ¼ cup salted pistachios, shelled (adds the perfect salty crunch)
- Honey mustard dressing (store-bought is fine, but if you’re feeling up to it, homemade makes it shine)
How to Make It
You can toss everything in a big bowl, or lay it out on a large platter if you want it to feel a little more styled. Just combine the arugula, blackberries, crumbled goat cheese, and pistachios. Drizzle the honey mustard dressing on top, and toss gently. Or, leave it more styled and let everyone serve themselves. Done.
That’s it. Another throw-it-together recipe that looks impressive but takes zero effort.
A Little Note
Sometimes, you want your salad to be the whole meal — this one is great for that. Just grill some chicken (or even toss in leftover rotisserie if you’re short on time) and layer it on top. It turns into the kind of dinner that feels light and fresh but still satisfying.
This is the kind of salad to keep in your back pocket all season long. I bring it to dinner parties, serve it when we’re hosting on the patio, or make it on weeknights when I’m trying to eat something green but still crave flavor. And, let’s be honest: anything with goat cheese is already a win!
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I hope this gave you a little inspo for your next laid-back dinner moment. Whether you’re hosting friends or just want to make something pretty for yourself (because you absolutely should), these dishes are easy to throw together. And, if you try either of them, let me know—tag me, DM me, send a pic. I love seeing what you guys make!
Here’s to more late summer evenings, fresh ingredients, and recipes that don’t require a ton of effort but feel a little special 🤍
Until next time,
xo
Allison
