Claps and Apps: Summer Music and Food Pairings

Get small plates recipes to pair with summer music for parties, including Taylor Swift, Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea and Katy Perry.

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When you think about a good party, the first things that come to mind are great food and drinks, but the next-best part is memorable music. There is nothing worse than a dull shindig with no music or an obscure Spotify playlist on in the background, so when you plan your next party, try to match excellent seasonal bites with equally fantastic summer jams.

On the June 24 episode of  Rev Run's Sunday Suppers,  Rev is having a music-centric DJ's dinner, which inspired us to think about what songs — both throwback faves and current hits — would pair well with passed appetizers and small plates. With these six duos, you can dance, drink and eat all at the same time.

Sometimes you just need a dish to Instagram, and these  Deviled Eggs with Candied Bacon are "just so pretty!" This appetizer will be as big of a hit as Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea's song.

Wings Three Ways. Sunny Anderson
Cooking for Real
RE-0306

Wings Three Ways - Honey Barbecue Sauce Wings

Wings Three Ways. Sunny Anderson Cooking for Real RE-0306

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

If you're going to blast a song about it being hot in "herre," you better have spicy food to back it up. Try Sunny Anderson's   Wings 3 Ways for a trio of chicken that ranges from spicy to smoky to zesty.

Chilli Rubbed Steak Tacos

chili-rubbed-steak-tacos-recipe

Chilli Rubbed Steak Tacos

Photo by: Marshall Troy ©2012, Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Marshall Troy, 2012, Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

In Taylor Swift's summer anthem, she sings about getting stabbed in the back. Instead of getting violent, put your knife skills to good use with a chopped avocado-lime salsa on top of mini  steak tacos. The chili seasoning and grilling both represent her fiery "Bad Blood" video, in which she and her femme fatale friends walk through fire and explosions to get revenge on each other.

Mini Man Burgers: Alton Brown

Mini Man Burgers: Alton Brown

Photo by: Tara Donne ©Tara Donne

Tara Donne, Tara Donne

Pair this classic Will Smith jam that waxes poetic about backyard BBQs with simple, delicious mini  burger sliders from Alton Brown.

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Since California girls are "so hot, they'll melt your Popsicle," these are the perfect dessert for your party. Sangria Ice Pops are boozed up for even more fun, and you should make a double batch so you can serve sangria with Popsicles as the ice.

The lyrics to this '90s boy band's song don't make a lot of sense, but you can use one line to make the perfect cocktail: "You come from Georgia where the peaches grow/They drink lemonade and speak real slow" equals Rosemary Peach Lemonade, of course. (And you can spike it, too, if you're feeling like a true Summer Girl.)

If you want to take things to the next level, check out our favorite summer songs about food and try making a themed party dinner around them. The world is your (grilled) oyster.

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