Summer Appetizer Ideas

Antonis Achilleos, Food Styling: Margaret Dickey, Prop Styling: Missie Crawford

Summer eating is all about sharing and mostly about eating with your hands. Pool parties, cookouts, and picnics fundamentally thrive on communal bites, so make sure you’ve got the best summer appetizers possible. Whether you want to ditch the utensils, take advantage of fresh produce, or just keep your guests coming back for more, these summer-approved appetizers will do the trick and please everyone.

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Potato and Carrot Pancakes with Curry Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Potato and Carrot Pancakes with Curry Sauce Recipe

Carrots bring an earthy sweetness to these crispy, latke-like pancakes. To reheat, place on a baking sheet, and heat in a 325° oven until warmed through.

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Southwestern-Style Meatballs

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Claire Spollen

Southwestern-Style Meatballs Recipe

These meatballs are made with onion, minced garlic, corn tortilla, egg, ground sirloin, and chipotle chile.

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Pulled Pork Barbecue Nachos

Photo: Helen Dujardin; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Pulled Pork Barbecue Nachos Recipe
Brighten up a warm summer evening with these colorful, layered nachos made with our famous pulled pork.

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Tomato, Watermelon, and Feta Skewers with Mint and Lime

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Tomato, Watermelon, and Feta Skewers with Mint and Lime Recipe
No time for skewers? Gently toss the ingredients in a salad bowl, or dice the tomato, watermelon, and cheese into small cubes to serve as a fresh relish for grilled meats.

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Sweet Pea and Avocado Dip with Baked Pita Chips

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Sweet Pea and Avocado Dip with Baked Pita Chips Recipe
Incorporating green peas into this tasty summer snack not only reduces the amount of fat but also adds sweetness and further brightens the green color.

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Cornmeal Thumbprint Cookies with Tomato Jam

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Cornmeal Thumbprint Cookies with Tomato Jam Recipe
This clever take on beloved thumbprint cookies is sweet and savory. Refrigerated dough keeps for days, and the baked cookies freeze well.

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Chile-Lime Watermelon Wedges

Photo: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Chile-Lime Watermelon Wedges Recipe
Covering all the summer flavor bases, Chile-Lime Watermelon Wedges are spicy, sweet, tangy, and super juicy!

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Lobster Roll Cones

Photo: Jonny Valiant; Styling: Linda Hirst

Lobster Roll Cones Recipe
The perfect remaking of the traditional lobster roll, these toasted cones will be the star of your next luncheon or dinner party.

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Smoky Red Pepper Dip with Grilled Crudités

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Smoky Red Pepper Dip with Grilled Crudités Recipe
Step aside, boring crudités--enter deliciously crunchy, lightly charred fennel and broccoli paired with grilled bread and juicy tomatoes.

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Yogurt Cheese with Roasted Beets and Feta

Photo: Thomas J. Story

Yogurt Cheese with Roasted Beets and Feta Recipe

This ultra-creamy, Middle Eastern–style appetizer dip created by cookbook author Janet Fletcher is also excellent with raw cucumbers. If you make your own yogurt cheese, you'll need to start it 24 hours ahead of making this dish.

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Chilled Sweet Pea Soup with Mint and Cream

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Chilled Sweet Pea Soup with Mint and Cream Recipe

We love this bright, minty soup because it adds a pop of spring color to the buffet. Make it up to 48 hours ahead of time.

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Creamy Basil-Black Pepper Cucumbers

Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Creamy Basil-Black Pepper Cucumbers Recipe
Greek yogurt creates a creamy finish with these sliced cucumbers, which are perfect with a salad or simply by themselves.

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Melon, Mozzarella, and Prosciutto Skewers

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Melon, Mozzarella, and Prosciutto Skewers Recipe
Keep entertaining simple with this 4-ingredient appetizer featuring fresh melon, prosciutto, and fresh mozzarella balls.

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Baked Egg Rolls

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Emma Star Jensen

Baked Egg Rolls Recipe
These egg rolls are great for appetizers, alongside Asian cuisine, or just as a hearty afternoon snack.

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Stuffed Peppers with Chèvre, Pecans, and Golden Raisins

Photo: Helen Dujardin; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Stuffed Peppers with Chèvre, Pecans, and Golden Raisins Recipe
"Both sides of my family--the Greeks and the Southerners--love stuffed peppers."

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Blackberry-Brie Pizzettas

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Blackberry-Brie Pizzettas Recipe
At happy hour, pair these appetizer-size pizzas with a chilly glass of rosé. For an entrée, simply roll dough into larger rounds.

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Cucumbers with Ginger, Rice Vinegar, and Mint

Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Cucumbers with Ginger, Rice Vinegar, and Mint Recipe
This refreshing dish features cucumber and mint to keep you cool on those hot summer days.

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Prosciutto-Wrapped Grilled Okra

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Prosciutto-Wrapped Grilled Okra Recipe

A sweet-tangy balsamic glaze makes this summertime appetizer irresistible. Using two skewers for the wrapped okra makes it easier to flip on the grill.

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Cucumber-Tomato Skewers with Dilly Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Paige Hicks

Cucumber-Tomato Skewers with Dilly Sauce Recipe
English or Kirby cucumbers have few seeds and a thin peel. You could also add pieces of fresh bell pepper to the skewers.

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Pan-Fried Beef and Scallion Dumplings

Photo: Gina DeSimone; Food Styling: Paige Grandjean; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Pan-Fried Beef and Scallion Dumplings Recipe
These easy beef dumplings are an excellent use for extra-lean ground beef, and are great served as an appetizer or as a simple entree alongside a couple of vegetable sides

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Seared Halloumi with Cucumbers, Apricots, and Honey

Greg DuPree

Seared Halloumi with Cucumbers, Apricots, and Honey Recipe
The key to this multi-textured meze plate is halloumi, a salty Cyprus grilling cheese, that works wonderfully with ripe figs, summer melon, and all manner of stone fruits.

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Lobster and Corn Quesadillas

Photo: Sara Tane

Lobster and Corn Quesadillas Recipe
Inspired by a simple, classic lobster and corn chowder, these decadent Maine lobster quesadillas can be served family-style as a crowd-pleasing appetizer, or plated with a simple green salad for an exceptional meal. Filled with delicate sweetness and savory richness, this high-low dish is sure to be a dinner party hit.

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Fried Buffalo Oysters

Fried Buffalo Oysters Recipe
Selects are rather large shucked oysters—which makes them the perfect size for battering and deep-frying. A unique twist on the tangy buffalo wing, fried oysters are crispy on the outside and meltingly rich and creamy on the inside. These fiery bites are a bit spicy, so it’s best to have a side of cool ranch or blue cheese and trimmed celery sticks nearby. Serve at your next tailgate party for the ultimate crunchy starter.

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Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos Recipe
From the Kitchen of Julie Hutson, Callahan, Florida. "This is surprisingly yummy to have such simple ingredients."

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Fennel-Tomato Tart

Caitlin Bensel

Fennel-Tomato Tart Recipe
Here, the cheese dough becomes a savory crust for caramelized fennel and tangy tomatoes.

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Rainbow Tomato Bruschetta

Iain Bagwell

Rainbow Tomato Bruschetta Recipe
Linda Wisner of Portland, Oregon uses a mix of heirloom tomato varieties from her garden; heirlooms are available in many farmers' markets. Toast the baguette slices up to 1 day ahead; cool, wrap airtight, and store at room temperature. Prepare tomatoes up to 1 hour ahead; cover and let stand at room temperature.

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Goat Cheese Poppers with Honey

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Linda Hirst

Goat Cheese Poppers with Honey Recipe
In addition to being a delicious appetizer that feels special, these Goat Cheese Poppers with Honey make for extra awesome croutons on salads and as "meat" balls for vegetarian pasta dishes.

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Mini Corn Cakes with Smoked Salmon and Dill Crème Fraîche

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Mini Corn Cakes with Smoked Salmon and Dill Crème Fraîche Recipe
Make these in the morning, and top with salmon and crème fraîche just before your guests arrive. Tight on time? Use store-bought blini instead.

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Muffin Pan Tomato Tarts

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Muffin Pan Tomato Tarts Recipe
Our new twist on the classic summer pie starts with puff pastry sheets.

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Strawberry Bruschetta

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck and Caroline Cunningham

Strawberry Bruschetta Recipe
Usher in the warm days of spring and summer with Strawberry Bruschetta. This refreshing mixture of nectarine, grape tomatoes, strawberries, and basil are served over baguette slices with slatherings of goat cheese.

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Pesto and Corn Crostini

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Pesto and Corn Crostini Recipe
For a summertime spin on a classic crostini, add some fresh summer produce to your toast. Use fresh basil from your garden to whip up a delicious pesto, and top with fresh corn kernels, sugar, and salt.

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Candied Pancetta Stacks

Photography: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Candied Pancetta Stacks Recipe
Here's a fresh take on caprese that invites a meaty, umami burst from pancetta. Serve as an appetizer or dessert (think cheese-and-charcuterie board reinvented) at your next summer soiree for a crowd-pleasing treat.

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Watermelon-Shellfish Ceviche

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Watermelon-Shellfish Ceviche Recipe
Ceviche is a popular Latin American dish that involves marinating chopped raw fish in fresh citrus juice, fresh herbs, and various spices. After a few hours of resting, the acid in the marinade actually "cooks" the fish in a sense. That said, using the freshest seafood you can find is a must for ceviche; in this preparation, the freshest seafood will also be the tastiest. Juicy-sweet summer watermelon and sliced oranges bring an additional level of refreshing brightness to this take on ceviche, featuring shrimp and scallops. The fruit also helps balance the spicy kick delivered by fresh jalapeño.

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Late-Summer Vegetables with Aioli

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Emma Star Jensen

Late-Summer Vegetables with Aioli Recipe
Make use of summer's bounty of vegetables with this stunning salad. Designed to focus on the colors, textures, and flavors of late summer produce, this dish combines raw and cooked veggies for variety.

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Roasted Roma Tomatoes on Toast

James Carrier

Roasted Roma Tomatoes on Toast Recipe
Roasting, an easy technique, leaves tomatoes juicy while intensifying their flavor. Add lemon cheese and place atop olive-oil toast for an elegant starter.

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Roasted Tricolored Peppers and Goat Cheese

Roasted Tricolored Peppers and Goat Cheese Recipe
When making this height-of-summer appetizer, reader Elizabeth Sfatcu suggests roasting extra peppers and saving them in the freezer. "They come in handy for a quick salad," she says. "I'm happy I can skip the roasting and peeling part the second time."

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Grilled Okra and Tomato Skewers

Howard L. Puckett

Grilled Okra and Tomato Skewers Recipe
Feature two summer produce stars—fresh okra and tomatoes—together in this colorful grilled appetizer. This is a great appetizer for entertaining because you can assemble the skewers the night before and brush the oil mixture on just before grilling.

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Grilled Stuffed Jalapeños

Photo: Raymond Hom; Styling: Pamela Duncan Silver

Grilled Stuffed Jalapeños Recipe
The rich and creamy combination of bacon, cream cheese, and cheddar is a nice foil for the muted spice of grilled jalapeño peppers. This recipe is a healthy, fresh alternative to the popular breaded and fried version.

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Summer Fruit Salad

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Summer Fruit Salad Recipe
Turn fruit salad into a first course appetizer by combining fresh fruit with avocado, cilantro and arugula, and serving in small glasses or cups as a portable salad.

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Peach and Prosciutto Canapés

Photo: Dana Gallagher; Styling: Alistair Turnbull

Peach and Prosciutto Canapés Recipe
The elegance of this easy appetizer belies its simplicity. Make-ahead tip: Toast the baguette slices and combine the cheese mixture well in advance, but assemble just before company arrives for the best results; it will all come together in a flash.

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Eggplant Crostini

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Eggplant Crostini Recipe
Top toasted baguette slices with fresh grilled and chopped eggplant, arugula, tomato and fresh mint for a fresh-from-the-garden appetizer.

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Pickled Grapes With Rosemary and Chiles

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Pickled Grapes With Rosemary and Chiles Recipe
Add these gorgeous spicy-tart grapes to an antipasto platter or cheese plate or stir them into a summer salad. Prep is only 10 minutes and the “pickling” happens in the refrigerator in just a few hours.

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Fire-Seared Antipasto Platter

Photo: Randy Mayor; Stylist: Leigh Ann Ross

Fire-Seared Antipasto Platter Recipe
Arrange garden-fresh grilled veggies—eggplant, bell peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, and onion—on a platter alongside an assortment of thinly sliced cheese and meats for an easy, colorful appetizer tray.

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Shrimp-and-Blue Cheese Spread

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Shrimp-and-Blue Cheese Spread Recipe
Make a creamy dip by adding a mixture of blue cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, and cream cheese to chopped fresh shrimp. Serve with an assortment of fresh veggies and baguette slices.

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Roasted Corn Salsa

Roasted Corn Salsa Recipe
Fresh corn, tomatoes, onions, and parsley are tossed with a sweet-hot vinaigrette to make this favorite summertime salsa. Pair with tortilla chips for a colorful appetizer or serve alongside grilled burgers, chicken, or ribs.

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Fresh Summer Appetizers

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Potato and Carrot Pancakes with Curry Sauce

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Southwestern-Style Meatballs

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Pulled Pork Barbecue Nachos

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Tomato, Watermelon, and Feta Skewers with Mint and Lime

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Sweet Pea and Avocado Dip with Baked Pita Chips

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Cornmeal Thumbprint Cookies with Tomato Jam

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Chile-Lime Watermelon Wedges

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Lobster Roll Cones

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Smoky Red Pepper Dip with Grilled Crudités

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Yogurt Cheese with Roasted Beets and Feta

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Chilled Sweet Pea Soup with Mint and Cream

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Creamy Basil-Black Pepper Cucumbers

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Melon, Mozzarella, and Prosciutto Skewers

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Baked Egg Rolls

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Stuffed Peppers with Chèvre, Pecans, and Golden Raisins

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Blackberry-Brie Pizzettas

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Cucumbers with Ginger, Rice Vinegar, and Mint

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Prosciutto-Wrapped Grilled Okra

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Cucumber-Tomato Skewers with Dilly Sauce

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Pan-Fried Beef and Scallion Dumplings

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Seared Halloumi with Cucumbers, Apricots, and Honey

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Lobster and Corn Quesadillas

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Fried Buffalo Oysters

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Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

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Fennel-Tomato Tart

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Rainbow Tomato Bruschetta

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Goat Cheese Poppers with Honey

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Mini Corn Cakes with Smoked Salmon and Dill Crème Fraîche

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Muffin Pan Tomato Tarts

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Strawberry Bruschetta

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Pesto and Corn Crostini

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Candied Pancetta Stacks

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Watermelon-Shellfish Ceviche

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Late-Summer Vegetables with Aioli

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Roasted Roma Tomatoes on Toast

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Roasted Tricolored Peppers and Goat Cheese

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Grilled Okra and Tomato Skewers

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Grilled Stuffed Jalapeños

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Summer Fruit Salad