THINGS WE'RE LOVING THIS SUMMER
Including Pan con Tomate! 🍅🥖
Contrary to the Fall-pushers of the world, in our book, Summer lasts through September (and frankly, well into October!). So get the PSL’s outta here, and how very dare you for stocking the shelves with Halloween candy already.
This week we’re rounding up all the things we’ve been loving and using this Summer. We may earn a small (and we mean SMALL) commission on certain items purchased through the links we provide, but at the end of the day, these are just products we reach for time and time again, and that’s why we’re including them in this list!
FOR THE BEACH:
AU: I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it here, but let the Summer of 2024 go down in herstory as the Summer we became beach people! All it took was living in LA for 7 years before visiting the beach. Now, I realize how lucky we are to have the Pacific Ocean just 30 mins away from our house! And Elizabeth is even closer!!
EK: The Atlantic Ocean is 10 minutes from my house and I am lucky enough to go for early morning walks on the beach every week!
AU: If you’re going to be a beach person, you’ve gotta have the right equipment. There is a TON of it out there, and I can honestly say the following items have made going to the beach easy and streamlined. It doesn’t have to be a horrible schlep, y’all!! **Special shout out to our friends Patrick & Evan who both inspired our beach person journey, and also recommended some of these items!**
Tommy Bahama Deluxe Backpack Chairs - $90
These are lightweight, you wear them as a backpack (so free hands to carry other things), they have handles everywhere you need ‘em, and the two pouches on the back are clutch! We use one for dry goods and sunscreen, etc and the other is insulated, so we throw in our canned bevvies with some ice packs. The insulated pouch is no Yeti, but it still works great. Plus, there are two pouches built into the armrest—a cup holder and a pouch for your phone, sunscreen, etc.
Ocoopa Extra Large Beach Blanket -$29
AU: The Ocoopa comes in three different sizes; we got the XL, which is about 9’x7’. It’s a good size to fit four grown-ass men on it. What’s great is that sand doesn’t stick to it, and it all compresses into a little pouch. It comes with 4 stakes (for when you’re using it on grass), and there are little integrated pockets in the corners that you fill with sand, so it doesn’t blow away. It’s a smart little blanky!
EK: I just bought one of the Ocoopa Extra Large Beach Blankets for my trips to the beach. I love that it is made from parachute material and comes with stakes to keep it from moving around.
Sand Cloud Turkish Beach Towels - $48 - $78
These towels aren’t cheap, but they’re so functional. Amazon has some cheaper ones that I haven’t tried, but I’ve been very happy with our Sand Clouds (as seen on Shark Tank!). They are lightweight, absorbent, easy to pack, and sand falls right off of them. The only thing I’ve noticed is the color bleeds in the wash, so be cautious with other clothing, towels, etc.
Tommy Bahama Easy-Set-Up Umbrella with ANCHORX™ - $90
You can find cheaper umbrellas out there, but this one is worth its weight in gold. After seeing so many people struggling to set up their own umbrellas (and keeping them from blowing away!), it’s clear this is the winner. It has a corkscrew base that you screw into the sand, then there’s a collapsible platform that expands for you to pile sand onto to weight it down. Boom! You’re in business. And it’s just as easy to break down and tote home.
Vacation Chardonnay Oil SPF 30 - $23
Vacation is a fun new brand that has gone viral several times, thanks to its nostalgic-yet-innovative products. If rubbing oil all over your body to lay in the sun evokes memories of suntanning in your backyard, this is the SPF for you. And it works so well!! The oil does take a bit of time to soak in, but it feels great on your skin, gives you a cute sheen (but not too much), and is water-resistant SPF 30 for up to 90 minutes. We love being nostalgic and sun smart!
FOR THE GRILL:
EK: A great grill cover can make or break your outdoor décor and protect your grill from the elements. Finally, there is a grill cover that is as stunning as the food you are cooking up! Brass Ring Covers are top-quality, custom-designed covers made with premium fabrics that add charm and elegance to your outdoor space—from a city balcony to a beachside backyard.
The design features solid brass rings—thus the name—for ease of lifting on and off the grill, and even comes with a brass hook for hanging to keep your area tidy while you are busy at the grill. Check them out www.brassringcovers.com
After you remove your grill cover, it’s time to preheat your grill. Preheat with all the burners on high, then it’s time to clean the cooking grates with some elbow grease and a good grill brush. My favorite brush is the Weber 18-inch Three-Sided Grill Brush ($19). I like the triangular shape because I can get into the small spaces with the short sides and clear a nice wide path with the front section. The short circular stainless-steel wires clean the hot cooking grates quickly and efficiently and leave the grates clear of any stuck-on food from the last cook-out. And, remember, the food is always easier to brush off once it’s burned off by the preheating time.
AU: That’s so true. If you have trouble cleaning your grill, you probably aren’t trying to clean it AFTER you’ve preheated (and thus, burned off any remaining food from the grates).
EK: When I am ready to cook, 90% of the time, I take 3 things with me—two pairs of 12-inch tongs, a quarter-sheet pan, and an instant-read meat thermometer. My favs are the OXO locking chef tongs ($13) which last forever, lock well, are comfortable to hold and clean up like new in the dishwasher.
Everyone knows about the workhorse of the kitchen, the sheet pan, but the lesser known quarter sheet pan ($20 for two) is my go-to for the grill and you need at least 2 of them. I generally buy the Nordic Ware sheet pans, but I like the ones by USA Pan and Made In Cookware, as well.
For the grill, I use my quarter pans to bring both raw food to the grill and a second one for the cooked food. Anthony streamlines things by covering one pan with foil when the food is raw, and removing it and tossing it, so that he can use the same pan for the cooked food without any cross-contamination. They are also handy for carrying pizza toppings, EVOO and salt, sauces and any supplies you need to the the grill.
Finally, a good instant-read meat thermometer is essential for whole chickens, pork shoulder or loins, brisket, beef tenderloin and any bigger piece of meat that you cook by the indirect method. These days there are so many great thermometers. We like the instant-reads by ThermoWorks, Maverick and the wireless thermometers from ChefIQ and Meater.
FOR THE KITCHEN:
AU: While these might not all be sexiest kitchen gadgets, they’re ones we find infinitely useful. Here are just a few of the items we reach for every day…
Duralex Nesting Mixing Bowls - $85 for 10-piece set
Chances are you’ve sipped from a Duralex Picardie Tumbler at some point in your life—I use them to serve everything from casual table wine or water to ice cream for dessert. Duralex is a French brand that has been churning out their shock-resistent, impact-resistent, extremely durable glassware since 1945. It’s no wonder their set of nesting bowls—another kitchen workhorse—are something I reach for every single day. They’re microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe.
Joyce Chen Kitchen Scissors - $16
I don’t know how to explain it, but the scissors just make cutting enjoyable. Maybe it’s the full-sized handles with the shorter blades? You can easily get enough torque to cut through chicken bones (to spatchcock a chicken) and parchment paper alike. Elizabeth doesn’t stop there—she’s got a pair in every room of her house!
Oxo Vegetable Peeler - $16
EK: This is the product that literally launched the company! The founder, Sam Farber, was inspired to create a better vegetable peeler for his wife who suffered from arthritis. He made a new peeler with a soft-grip handle and a “swivel peeler” blade that easily glides over the curved and bumpy surfaces of fruit, veggies—or a block of hard cheese—that you need to “peel.” The design revolutionized the “peeler” category and set the stage for a growing line of “better mousetrap” gadgets. It’s even been part of an exhibit at the Smithsonian. We love it because it works so effortlessly and stays sharp for years and years even after hundreds of trips in the dishwasher!
Microplane Box Grater - $43
There is an updated version of this box grater available at Williams-Sonoma, which I haven’t tried, but I think this version is pretty hard to beat. I’ve had my Microplane box grater since my wedding 13 years ago, and she’s still kickin’! I love that it is sturdy and has four different grating styles (from coarse to fine). It’s the perfect tool to make one of my all-time favorite dishes, ever…
PAN CON TOMATE 🍅🥖
AU: I could eat Pan con Tomate every single day of my life. As someone who has an affinity for both bread and tomatoes, this really is a perfect food.
EK: Me too! I want to dive into that plate! Your new way of making Pan con Tomate is so much easier and frankly, better! Plus it’s another reason to use my beloved Microplane Box Grater that I’ve had for about the same amount of time as you have…
AU: Traditionally, one would grill bread, and then rub a garlic clove on the bread while it’s still hot, followed by rubbing the bread with the cut side of a tomato. That’s great if you’re camping and don’t want to pack extra utensils/tools, but for most of us in a home kitchen setting, here’s a much easier way to do it with less food waste/mess (plus, you can make the tomato mixture ahead of time!).
AU: All you’re going to do is slice a tomato in half. Using the large holes of the box grater set inside a mixing bowl, grate the tomato, leaving the skin behind. Then, using the tiny microplane holes of the box grater, grate in one peeled garlic clove. Add a tablespoon or two of really good olive oil and mix together. Once you’ve grilled or toasted your bread, simply spoon the tomato mixture onto it. Drizzle with more olive oil, and then sprinkle generously with flaky sea salt.
AU: Pan con Tomate is truly the best expression of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts! Especially served alongside some Jamón Serrano or Iberico!!