_{This post was sponsored by Fresh From Florida as part of Influencer Activation for Influence Central.}

I’m going to be completely honest– summer barbecues are my party planning forte. You can click here and here for my tried-and-true guides to hosting outdoor soirees. As a resident Floridian, hosting a casual outdoor soiree is the absolute best excuse to bask in the outside sunshine, chat for hours with friends, and eat mounds of delicious food simultaneously. Most people don’t realize that we have so much more to offer than just an abundance of (gorgeous) beaches and occasional days off due to hurricanes, but in fact, one of Florida’s most redeeming qualities is that from summer barbecues to spring cookouts, our fresh, locally grown food always hits the spot.

To name a few from Fresh from Florida, some of my home state’s most delicious, seasonally grown ingredients are blueberries, tomatoes, sweet corn, watermelon, and seafood. As you can see from one of my pool party recaps, our local ingredients work great in intricate recipes or as stand-alone snacks, like fresh (and patriotic) watermelon fruit salad, ears of sweet corn, or these delicious caprese bites (recipe below). Keep reading for the world’s easiest tutorial!

How to Make Your Own Caprese Bites

To make your own Fresh from Florida caprese bites, all you need is a handful of tooth picks, some grape tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and fresh basil leaves. Take a toothpick and start skewering away in whatever order tickles your fancy. Drizzle with balsamic dressing, and your caprese bites are ready to enjoy!

Gosh darn, I love my home state– all of our delicious produce included. For another appetizer idea that’s also made with local Florida produce, check out this delicious and patriotic watermelon fruit salad. 

Hope y’all are having a manageable post-Memorial Day work week! Can I get a Hallelujah that it’s FINALLY almost over?! Happy Hump Day!