This post is sponsored by Hebrew National®.

Fall is right around the corner for most of us, unless of course you live in the South like me; if that's the case then you still have at least two more months of hot weather, which will likely be spent seething in jealousy over all the pictures of Pumpkin Spice Lattes and jeans and boots that are taking over your Instagram feed. Don't worry, I'm right there with you.

So while I'm still grilling more often than I'm not, I'm trying to put a cozier spin on my food--hot coffee in the morning, maybe a crock pot dinner or two, and lots of roasted vegetables, like this lovely broccoli I've paired with my weekly hot dog. Yes, Rob and I eat hot dogs at least once a week (all year 'round). Lately I've been loving them bun-less as usual and topped with some buttery sauteed onions.

I'm sharing my roasted broccoli recipe below. This recipe works with almost any vegetable!

Easy Roasted Broccoli

Ingredients (serves 2):

• One large head of broccoli, chopped
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions: 

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, season broccoli with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
3. Place on a large baking sheet and bake at 400 for about 20 minutes, or until browned and crispy around the edges.

I love making a bunch of broccoli this way and eating it with mayonnaise! It's a great side dish for an easy dinner like grilled hot dogs. Hope you enjoy them while anticipating autumn!

*The combination of franks and these toppings may not be kosher.

What makes a Hebrew National kosher hot dog premium? It's all about what makes the cut (and what doesn't). We're choosy about what goes into our franks--we use only premium cuts of 100% kosher beef from the front half of the cow and then choose the best from that. No artificial flavors, colors, fillers, or by-products. When your hot dog is Kosher, that's a hot dog you can trust! For more summer fun with Hebrew National, visit facebook.com/hebrewnational.

As far as I'm concerned, no party is complete without a big cheese platter! We paired ours with some great La Crema wines and served it at our California brunch party. I thought I'd share some tips for making the perfect cheese plate, no matter what other food you're serving!

• Create a nice variety of cheeses--we served an aged cheddar, cave-aged gouda, and some delicious manchego, which is one of my favorites because it's made with sheep's milk and has less lactose than other cheeses. These all paired really nicely with La Crema's Chardonnay, but wine and cheese tasting should be fun and adventurous, so be sure to experiment a little!
• Make sure to include a softer, creamier cheese as well. Brie is always a great choice, but for this particular menu we went with a soft chèvre that we mixed with some local honey and then served alongside some really tasty and unusual gluten-free beet scones.
• The more crackers, the better! Serve at least two different kinds, and include at least one gluten-free option if one or more of your guests have a gluten intolerance. Everyone should be able to enjoy a cheese platter if they want to!
• Don't forget the fruit! Berries or grapes would be great, but when we went to the market the figs looked incredible so we went with those instead.

For more on our Farm to Table brunch Party, and full recipes, be sure to visit the reset of the posts in this series:

Farm to Table Wine Brunch

Decorating for an Outdoor Brunch Party

Vintage Style Metal Marquee Light Centerpiece

Avocado Toasts

Mastering the Art of a Perfect Cheese Platter

Eggs Benedict for a Crowd

Berries and Creme Anglaise

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of La Crema. The opinions and text are all mine.

Photo credit: Courtney O'Dell of Sweet C's Designs.

This post is brought to you in partnership with Lavazza.

I'm back with another Lavazza giveaway this evening! I have had such a great time working with Lavazza over the past year and I hope you've enjoyed this partnership, as well! 

Lavazza is excited to be the new official coffee of The US Open Tennis Championships:

“Starting this year, tennis enthusiasts who attend the US Open will not only have the chance to watch some exciting tennis featuring the finest players in the world, but also to take an all-Italian break and enjoy a delicious cup of authentic coffee.

The agreement, which forms part of the internationalization strategy pursued by the Italian company and brand, underlines our intention to make the United States our second home and to consolidate the relationship between Lavazza and expressions of excellence the world over.”

— Group Vice President Giuseppe Lavazza.

For the rest of August, Lavazza's Single Origin coffees (pictured in this post) are 20% off. I'm also giving two bags away next week, so enter to win below! To celebrate Lavazza's new partnership with The US Open, the lucky giveaway winner will also receive a copy of The Stylish Life: Tennis, which is a gorgeous coffee table book full of beautiful photos. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway