Fresh pineapple and homemade ice cream are two of my summer favorites. So, naturally, combining the two into a batch of sweet and creamy pineapple ice cream was going to happen.

Pineapple Ice Cream

There are a couple of requirements for this ice cream. First, the pineapple must be fresh. And second, it must be sweet. Mediocre “okay” pineapple isn’t going to cut it for this ice cream, because that fresh pineapple carries the flavor here.

If you buy a pineapple and it turns out to be less than amazing, just enjoy it as the refreshing fruit that it is, or try using the pineapple in some pineapple rice, or pineapple jalapeno salsa, or in a smoothie. Wait to make this ice cream when you get your hands on a truly delightful pineapple. It makes a big difference, friends.

The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full directions here!

And for what it’s worth, the same thing goes for most ice creams that include fruit. With baked goods, you can often get away with using less than perfectly sweet fruits, because you’re adding so many other ingredients that bring out the flavors. With ice cream? It’s all about the fruit and the cream, so the fruit’s flavor needs to be strong and sweet.

If you happen to love pineapple and ice cream as much as we do, you’ll want to put this mango pineapple ice cream and this coconut pineapple smoothie on your must-try list as well.

Chilled cubes of watermelon tossed with lemon juice, salt, and a hint of spice are topped with thin ribbons of basil in this watermelon basil salad. Whether you eat it as is or top it with goat cheese or feta, it is destined to be a surefire summer hit!

Watermelon Basil Salad

Packing a surprising amount of flavor, this light and refreshing summer salad is a perfect choice to accompany anything grilled. And since it’s grilling season, this is a salad recipe you want in your back pocket.

This is best the day it’s made, but is still very tasty if eaten within a day or two. Wait to top with cheese right before serving for the best results.

Watermelon salad is mercifully easy to make when you know how to cut watermelon. And if you don’t know, check out that link for easy step-by-step instructions.

Basil is such a great natural pairing with watermelon. Both are fragrant and floral but the basil brings a little peppery zing to complement the sweet melon.

You can choose to scatter a little feta or goat cheese on top of the salad for a little briny deliciousness just before serving, but that’s strictly optional. I love the creamy, saltiness with the sweet watermelon.

Watermelon salads go into heavy rotation around here when it’s wa

Sweet berries, spicy jalapenos, onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime combine to make this strawberry salsa. This comes together in about 15 minutes and the salsa disappears almost faster than that every single time I make it.

Strawberry Salsa

You may be wondering what you serve this with. The truth is that we usually descend on a bowl of this and it never gets eaten with anything other than a handful of tortilla chips.

Each time I make it, I think that strawberry salsa would be awesome on chicken or fish. However, it has never lasted long enough for me to actually test that. Somebody let me know if you try it.

Between this salsa and my pineapple salsa, I just can’t stop making fruit salsas this summer! They’re hard to resist and there’s no good reason to resist them, anyway; they’re great for you!

Strawberry Jalapeno Salsa

To whip up this fantastic fruit salsa, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• strawberries
• jalapenos
• green onions
• cilantro
• limes
• salt
• pepper

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Fresh, juicy peaches are tossed with cinnamon sugar and then baked inside a buttery, flaky crust to make this easy Peach Galette. You only need six ingredients to make it and it never fails to impress.

What is a galette?

The first galette I ever made was peach and I loved it from the first bite. A galette is lighter than a pie, not at all heavy with fruit or overly sweet with sugar. I love this method of baking fruit.

The beauty of a galette is that it doesn’t need to be perfect at all. It’s a simple crust topped with fresh fruit. Fold the sides in to contain the fruit and its juices as it bakes.

Galettes are one of those desserts that we call “rustic” and we get away with making them as messy as we like. No-pressure desserts are my favorite!

Peach Galette

To make this peach galette, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• fresh peaches
• flour
• salt
• butter
• sugar
• cinnamon
• water

Juicy fresh peaches are matched up with spicy jalapenos, fragrant red onions, fresh cilantro, and zesty lime in this utterly irresistible peach salsa. I guarantee you can’t stop at one bite of this beautiful dip!

Peach Salsa

What can you serve this peach salsa with? I think it’s more of a question of what it doesn’t go with.

I could polish off an entire batch of this by myself with a bag of chips (or even by the spoonful), but that’s not all it’s good for.

Spoon it over Pulled Pork Tacos or Sweet and Tangy Pulled Pork on sliders for some serious wow factor. Serve grilled or air-fried salmon over a bed of peach jalapeno salsa.

Or -and this may sound crazy at first, but stick with me- try it scooped over a little of The Best (and Easiest) Ice Cream You’ll Ever Make for a sweet and savory end to a summer meal.

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