As soon as peach season hits I can’t get enough of this salad. It’s so simple to make and the payoff is huge. It feels very gourmet and special but it’s just a handful of ingredients and super easy to toss together. When you grill the peaches they get a little caramelization and char and it develops their flavor so much. I love to drizzle them with honey and fill their vessels with a little blue cheese crumbles. I serve this over a bed of arugula that I toss with the zest and juice of one lemon and a little olive oil. It is perfection! Scroll down for the full recipe and watch the video to see how I make it.

Grilled Peach Summer Salad

by @BrandiMilloy

Ingredients

• 3 firm peaches (not too ripe)

• 5 oz. arugula (most bags are 5 oz.)

• 1 lemon

• 3 tbsp. olive oil

• 4 tbsp. of blue cheese crumbles

• honey to taste

Directions

1. Heat a grill pan on medium high heat. Slice peaches in half, removing pit.

2. Once your pan is hot, brush the pan with avocado or olive oil and add your peaches flesh side down. Grill for 3 minutes without disturbing. Try to lift your peach and if it doesn’t budge, give it another minute before flipping. Grill the other side for about a minute to avoid cooking the fruit too long. Remove pan from heat and set aside.

3. Add your arugula to a large bowl or platter. Zest 1 lemon and squeeze out the juice being careful to catch the seeds. Drizzle olive oil on top and gently toss together.

4. Add peaches on top of salad and sprinkle blue cheese on top making sure you get blue cheese inside of each peach vessel. Drizzle peaches with honey, about 2-3 tbsp. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Thank you to the National Honey Board for all you do to support bee health, champion pure honey and nurture the planet. And special thanks for sponsoring this post.

I love any excuse to host a party! But a party with a purpose, now that’s my love language.  We all know bees do a lot for us. But in addition to gathering nectar to produce honey, honey bees perform another vital function - pollination, making them a critical component of our food supply. In fact, about one-third of the human diet is derived from insect-pollinated plants, and honey bees are responsible for 80 percent of this pollination.

June 20-26, 2022 is National Pollinator Week. And especially during this time of the year we really get to enjoy the benefits of pollinators. From the bounties of fresh produce to beautiful flowers, it’s a good reminder how essential pollinators are to our planet.

I can’t think of a better way to honor these amazing creatures than hosting a party to celebrate and spread the word about what you can do to protect them.

Here are my 5 essentials for hosting a dreamy, buzz-worthy soiree!

1. SUSTAINABLE DECOR

Opt to invest in decor pieces that you love instead of “fast disposable partyware”. I’ve had these neutral textiles and platters for years. Instead of a tablecloth, I overlapped cloth napkins together and added some freshly planted bee-friendly, local wildflowers in pots. I love how this really brought a romantic garden vibe to the space.  Lighting is a magical way to add ambiance and mood. I used these single candlesticks and this single beeswax pillar candle was the perfect focal point without being “too theme-y.”

2. FOOD THAT ISN’T FUSSY

Small bites are my go-to menu anytime I host. 90 different crops are reliant on the hard work of beekeepers and honey bees. These crops include a variety of fruits, vegetables, and nuts, so I wanted to feature a few of my favorite pollinator foods. My pear crostinis with mascarpone, thyme & honey are always a hit and so simple to make. Simply grill sliced baguette with a little EVOO, spread on a thin layer of mascarpone and top with sliced pears, a drizzle of honey and a sprig of thyme. I elevated my signature lemon arugula salad by adding grilled peaches topped with blue cheese crumbles and a drizzle of honey too. And a party isn’t a party without a platter of cheese, crackers, fruits and, my favorite, honeycomb!

3. SIGNATURE DRINK

There’s something special that happens when you commit to limited beverage options-your life is easier and you stop playing bartender at your own party! My blackberry, raspberry and honey smash is a light, refreshing beverage that can easily be made alcoholic by adding your favorite liquor. Make a big batch right before your guests arrive and allow them to serve themselves.

4. ACTIVITIES

Encouraging guests to plant their own pollinator plants, like lavender or poppies, is a fun hands-on activity and doubles as a party favor. I picked up these mini pots at my local nursery and found some wildflower seed packs online.

I also set up a honey & cheese pairing with an assortment of different cheeses and delicious honey varietals. Did you know there are more than 300 unique types of honey available in the US alone? I picked up Avocado Blossom, Orange Blossom, Clover, Blueberry and Buckwheat honeys and put them in these little glass honey jars.  It’s so fun to see if folks can guess which is which!

5. USEFUL PARTY FAVORS

For me, party favors are a meaningful way to remind someone (after your party) of your time together. I tied honey sticks and dippers together with twine and included these beeswax candles shaped like a beehive, honeycomb and bees. I also wrapped my honeycomb honey cereal bars in little cello bags for a sweet take home treat too!

This party was so much fun to put together. I hope these ideas give you so much inspiration to plan your own pollinator party. You can learn more about what you can do to protect bees by visiting www.honey.com and then head to my Instagram @BrandiMilloy for more behind the scenes!