[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 20:42:26 05/26/11
Old Navy is kicking off their "Wish You Were Here" summer road trip...making stops at some of the hottest beaches around the country. Food Network's, Marc Summers has the scoop including his top fav beach foods.
So what is this road trip all about?
Marc: Remember packing up the cooler and loading the wagon with fun eats for the family beach trip? Well Old Navy wanted to bring back that summertime family nostalgia. They've packed up games, giveaways, discount cards, a photo booth and heading across the country inviting consumers to take part. Go to facebook.com/oldnavy or follow Old Navy on Twitter . Search #OLDNAVYROADTRIP.
What are the must-have beach foods this summer and how do we serve them up at home?
Marc: There's nothing like summer fruits. I love to eat fresh watermelon. It's so good for you and refreshing. The best way to serve it is to sprinkle sea salt or balsamic vinegar on it to bring out the flavor. The salt and acids will pull out the sweetness. A quick simple treat...try skewering watermelon, cherry tomatoes and basil and drizzle balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with salt.
I also love Bing cherries. Traditionally from the Northwest, Bings are the most produced variety of sweet cherry. Very high in antioxidants, these are so great because you can actually keep them frozen in your freezer to take out in the summer heat as a cool treat. They'll retain their flavor. To freeze properly, rinse, pat dry and pit them over a bowl or cutting board. Lay them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze overnight. Once completely frozen, place them in an airtight freezer bag and store.
And when it comes to the main course...nothing is better than summer lobster. The best come from Maine. Some tips...if you're going to pick out a live one, it should be feisty. The feistier, the tastier. Don't cook it whole, cut it up. The tail should cook for 3.5-4 minutes while the claws need to cook for 2.5-3 minutes. You don't want the claws to be overdone..
Something a little more mainstream--hot dogs. 38% of the total number of hot dogs are sold between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Americans typically consume 7 billion hot dogs or 818 a second. For the best taste, hot dogs should be grilled. Make sure to buy natural casings so they snap when you bite into them. Some brands use synthetic casings which make the hot dogs mushy.
Another great summer eat is fried dough. Served all over the country in different variations like churros, funnel cakes and elephant ears. Include a topping bar and let your guests help themselves. Cheese, tomato sauce, garlic butter, chocolate sauce, nutella, whipped creme.
Speaking of desserts...saltwater taffy. According to legend, the taffy got its name because the beach flooded so high that salt water got into the candy store. When a little girl asked if she could have some, the proprietors joking response was "sure you can have some saltwater taffy." The little girl apparently like the name so much that it stuck. And contrary to popular belief, the sweet treat contains no saltwater.
And don't forget ices! Whether it's water ice, snow cones or shave ice. They're all refreshing on a hot summer day and can be found all over the country in different variations and flavors.
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