7. Summer Fruit Sangria: Mix together cold white wine with ice, fresh lemon juice, mint, orange liqueur and fresh summer fruit like pineapple, cantaloupe and mangoes. You can easily incorporate summer flavors into this traditional drink.

6. Homemade Margaritas: What's better than a margarita? Homemade margaritas. Make a fresh and delicious margarita mix with tequila, fresh lime juice, simple syrup and a splash of orange liqueur poured into a glass with a salted rim.

5. Grilled Bratwurst: My dad always loves having bratwursts during the summertime. Grill several brats and serve with baked beans, potato salad and watermelon for a perfect summertime meal.

4. Grilled Corn on the Cob: Upgrade this classic summer side dish by grilling the corn on the cob in the husks for a smoky twist.

3. Fried Green Tomatoes: Coat sliced green tomatoes in a bread-crumb or Panko bread-crumb batter, then fry to perfection. Top with fresh lump crabmeat for a fancier take on this classic.

2. S'mores: It isn't summer if you don't make s'mores by the fire. Spice things up by adding creamy peanut butter to the graham crackers, or make your own graham crackers instead of store-bought ones.

1. Miniature Fruit Pies: Let everyone have his or her favorite pie with miniature fruit pies. Make a simple crust and fill each shell with any fruit -- cherry, strawberry, apple, blackberry or blueberry. Top with vanilla ice cream for the perfect finishing touch to this sweet treat.