A perfect menu for cooling things down on a hot summer weekend.

Here is a menu to cool things down on a hot summer weekend. The salad and the ice cream can be made ahead of time and served when you are ready.

Your Menu: Serves 6

Surdyk's Greek Orzo Salad

• Purchased soft bread sticks or dinner rolls

Blueberry Ice Cream

• Homemade lemonade

Test Kitchen Tips:

Test Kitchen Tips: Make a base for the lemonade and keep in the refrigerator to use as you need it. In a saucepan stir together 2-1/2 cups water and 1-1/4 cups sugar and heat and stir to dissolve sugar. Cool and then stir in 1/2 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel and 1-1/4 cups fresh lemon juice. Cover and chill up to 3 days. For each glass of lemonade, combine equal parts base and water. Serve over ice.

One lemon will give about 3 to 4 tablespoons juice, so you will need 5 or 6 lemons to get 1-1/4 cups lemon juice.

Shopping List:

For Salad

• 8 ounces dried orzo
• 8 ounces feta cheese
• 3 roma tomatoes
• 1 container pitted kalamate olives
• 1 bunch fresh basil
• 1 bunch fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley
• 7 lemons
• 1 head garlic
• 1 package fresh oregano
• 1 dozen purchased soft bread sticks or dinner rolls

For Ice cream

• 3 cups fresh blueberries or 1 16-ounce package frozen blueberries
• 1 orange
• 1 quart whipping cream
• 1 quart milk
• 1 dozen eggs
• 1 package pecan or walnut pieces

Pantry Items

For Salad

• olive oil
• salt
• ground black pepper
• granulated sugar

For Ice cream

• granulated sugar
• salt
• all-purpose flour
• vanilla
• ground cardamom or cinnamon

Equipment Needed:

For Salad

• measuring cups and spoons
• cutting board and knife
• kitchen scissors for snipping herb
• juicer
• large pot
• colander
• large bowl
• wooden spoon
• screw-top jar with lid
• microplane
• medium saucepan

For Ice Cream

• measuring cups and spoons
• microplane
• juicer
• cutting board and knife for nuts if using
• medium saucepan
• wooden spoons
• fork
• food processor or blender
• fine mesh sieve
• medium bowl
• large metal spoon
• large saucepan
• plastic wrap
• large mixing bowl
• electric mixer
• rubber spatula
• 4- to 5-quart ice cream freezer

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