#PartyFood

I realized the other day, when I couldn't bring myself to work on a couple of canvases, that much of my creative energy is spent in the kitchen these days. 

Here are three variations with most of the same ingredients. 

This is one of my favorites. The result of a happy accident. 

Mango Pesto Cucumber Bites

I thought the mango pesto hadn't turned out so great. As it was, it just needed to chill. Don't we all. Such a simple, nearly impossible to destroy, delightful bite. Ingredients: Cucumber, mango pesto, tomato, chopped basil, topped with crushed red pepper. Vegan, gluten-free, whole crowd pleaser. 

Pesto Crostini

There must be a better name for this one, in the meantime it's a perfect snack, no matter its name. More gluten-free bread, pea mint pesto, red lettuce, tomato, sprouts, crushed red pepper, sesame seeds, pine nuts. Yum. Perfect summer party snack food. 

Pesto Bites with Picked Onion and Mint

And then this gem. This time, gluten-free bread, some kind of pesto, tomato, crushed red pepper, sesame seeds, pine nuts, sprouts, chopped mint and pickled onion. 

All three of these could have been an avocado smash. That is a forthcoming blog post. Stay tuned. I love summertime eating and parties! Vegan and Gluten-free sometimes seem like dirty words, but they are in fact the opposite. Everything about these three variations is light, clean and appropriately filling.