Delish Summer Spreads! (2025)
Dear friends,
In this week’s Instagram posts, I’ve featured two spreads that I served to a group of lovely women who participated in my 30 Days to Effortless Entertaining workshop in person with me.
Now … back to the spreads in this week’s Instagram posts. Although I have given you these recipes in previous newsletters, they are worth repeating in case you missed them. I’m also including the Cucumber Dip, which is also a summer fave. All three are super simple and easy — whip them up in minutes — and they all scream summer! An added bonus, they keep well for a few days.
I often return over and over again to tried and true favorites that my guests love. We really don’t have to reinvent the wheel! 😊
Let the summer fun begin … from our family to yours!
Cucumber Spread
A summer spread that doubles as a dip!
INGREDIENTS
2 cups unpeeled, chopped Persian cucumbers*
¼ cup finely chopped red onion
3 ½ tsp chopped fresh dill
3 tsp dried mint
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp white wine vinegar
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients.
To serve, spread on crostini or white bread rounds with tomatoes and garnished with fresh dill or use as spread with tomato or turkey sandwiches.
DEEDEE’S NOTES
-
I recommend Persian cucumbers, which are small, thin, and usually sold packaged, vs. loose, in your produce section. They’re also firm, crisp, and taste amazing. The skin is edible, not like the thick, waxy skin on your standard variety.
Watch the Instagram post featuring Cucumber Spread!
Cucumber Dip
SERVES 8–10 Adapted from Charlotte Cooks Again, Charlotte Latin School
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
Mix all ingredients.
DEEDEE’S NOTES
-
Recipe may be prepared earlier in the day. Cover and chill.
-
Serve with crisp crackers.
Layered Hummus
SERVES 8–10 Anne Cochran and Julie Hammond
INGREDIENTS
8 oz plain hummus
1 English cucumber, seeded,
finely chopped
1 sweet orange pepper, chopped
1½ cups grape tomatoes, halved
1 bunch green onions, or less, chopped
1 4-oz jar mild banana pepper rings
Feta, crumbled
DIRECTIONS
Spread lemon hummus and plain hummus in layers on serving platter.
Add remaining ingredients on top of hummus. Drizzle a small amount of the juice from the banana peppers on top.
Serve with crackers.
DEEDEE’S NOTES
-
Vegetables may be prepped earlier in the day. Assemble just prior to serving.
Watch the Instagram post featuring Layered Hummus!
Printer-Friendly Recipes:
Cucumber Spread Recipe | Cucumber Dip Recipe | Layered Hummus Recipe
TIPS & QUIPS
Persian Cucumber
Persian Cucumbers are small, thin, and usually sold packaged, vs. loose, in your produce section. They’re also firm, crisp, and taste amazing. The skin is edible, not like the thick, waxy skin on your standard variety.
Triscuits!
For Pimento Cheese, rather than buying pre-packaged grated, which comes with additives to keep it from clumping, grate your own. Two ideas to make this easier. If using a box grater, be sure to use steel mesh gloves. If you’re making a double batch, use a food processor with the grater disc and this step will take no time at all. You don’t even need to wash between the two types of cheeses because they will be mixed together anyway!
