Grill-tastic Summer Recipes

With summer in full swing, many home cooks are abandoning their stoves and turning to their outdoor grills to sear scrumptious seasonal treats. The following recipes allow you to flex your grilling muscles while adding spice to your nightly meal. Forget about the same ol’ boring hotdogs and chicken, and consider barbequing these unique entrees: MEDITERRANEAN BURGERS Ingredients: 2 pounds lean ground beef 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese 1 teaspoon garlic salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 cup plain yogurt 1 cup sour cream 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice … Continue reading

Easy and Affordable Picnic Recipes

What would Independence Day be without friends, family and great food? If you are planning to celebrate our nation’s birthday with an outdoor meal and fireworks, then don’t forget to pack the following easy and affordable picnic dishes: BABY RED POTATO SALAD Ingredients: 4 pounds baby red potatoes, washed well and cut into quarters 2 teaspoons salt 1 (16-ounce) container sour cream 1 1/2 to 2 cups mayonnaise 1 teaspoon garlic salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 4 stalks celery, diced 4 hard boiled eggs, chopped 4 green onions, chopped 1/4 cup fresh chopped dill 6 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled … Continue reading

Quick and Easy Fourth of July Picnic Foods

With the Fourth of July falling on a Saturday this year you can expect even more company than usual at your local park. Competition for prime fireworks viewing spots will be heated, to say the least, but even if you don’t snag the ultimate seat, you can still have a spectacular Independence Day picnic with the following patriotic recipes: PATRIOTIC PASTA SALAD Ingredients: 1 (16-ounce) package tri-colored spiral pasta, cooked al dente 2 cups fresh broccoli, cut into bite size pieces 2 cups fresh cauliflower, cut into bite size pieces 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced 1/2 cup red onion, … Continue reading

Simple Summer Picnic Recipes

Picnics are an essential part of summer. After all, there’s nothing quite like sharing a great meal in the great outdoors. Picnics can range from extravagant affairs with tents and gourmet selections to simple sandwiches shared in your own backyard. Personally, I prefer the latter, especially if I am the one creating the outdoor feast. If you are looking for some quick and easy items to make for your next summer picnic, consider the following: EASY VEGGIE WRAP Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 2 tablespoons chopped chives 2 tablespoons fresh dill 1 teaspoon garlic salt Spinach tortilla wrap Fresh … Continue reading

Finger Lickin’ Good Summer Recipes

Corn on the cob, watermelon, hamburgers, and hot dogs are some of summer’s tastiest no-utensils-needed foods. The hands-on favorites are simple to eat and make clean up even easier. The following recipes are some of my family’s finger lickin’ favorites. All that’s required to eat them are clean hands and a healthy appetite. EGG IN THE MIDDLE PIZZA Ingredients: 1 (12-inch) unbaked pizza crust 4 ounces shredded Gouda cheese 4 ounces shredded Havarti cheese 4 ounces goat cheese 8 slices of prosciutto 8 fresh morel mushrooms 12 spears fresh asparagus, blanched and grilled 1/2 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved … Continue reading

Patriotic Recipes

Happy Memorial Day! We’ve got one more day of grillin’ and chillin’ before most of us head back to work and school. However, it’s important to remember the reason why we are afforded this break from our daily grind. The Memorial Day holiday is a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by our service men and women, in the pursuit to keep our freedoms secure. So why not commemorate the day by making dishes that feature the colors of our country—-red, white and blue. Here are a few recipes to get you started: FLAG DESSERT Ingredients: 1 tube refrigerated … Continue reading

Great Grilling Recipes

This weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer season, and what better way to celebrate than to get grilling. Grilled dishes can turn an ordinary meal into a gourmet feast. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a top chef to create the following scrumptious recipes. Simply dust off your grills, grab some basic ingredients and get cooking: RED HOT PEPPER BURGERS Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef 1/4 cup your favorite chunky salsa 4 jalapeno peppers 4 hamburger buns, split 1/4 cup chopped fresh tomatoes 2 tablespoons sliced pitted ripe olives Directions: Combine ground beef and 1/4-cup salsa in large … Continue reading

Memorial Day Family Potluck Recipes

Hail, hail the long Memorial Day weekend is finally here. Time to gather the family and celebrate the start of the summer season. If you are hosting a holiday potluck or have scored an invitation to one, then consider the following simple recipes that can be made ahead of time and are tailored to please large groups: BAKED ITALIAN FEAST Ingredients: 1 pound penne, cooked al dente 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, cooked, and crumbled 3 cups heavy cream 2 cups crushed canned tomatoes 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided 1/4 cup Gorgonzola, crumbled 1/2 cup ricotta cheese 4 … Continue reading

Memorial Day Recipes to Feed the Masses

With the economy in the dumpster, many families are choosing to stick close to home this Memorial Day weekend. For some that means hosting relatives and friends at a holiday potluck or simply inviting neighbors over for a casual cookout. If you are opening your door to friends and family this weekend, consider treating them to the following dishes that are tailored to feed the masses: EASY EGG BAKE Ingredients: 1 (32-ounce) package country style hash brown potatoes, thawed slightly 1 pound pork sausage, cooked and crumbled 6 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon … Continue reading

Memorial Day Weekend Burger Bonanza

Ready, set, grill. The start of the Memorial Day holiday weekend is still a couple of days away, but my neighbors are already firing up their grill. The warm weather means more families will be cooking outdoors, grilling up summer favorites, including burgers, brats and steak. If you are planning on doing some grillin’ and chillin’ this long weekend, consider the following fabulous burger recipes: BACON AVOCADO BURGERS Ingredients: 1 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon pepper 2 pounds lean ground beef 6 slices American cheese 2 onions, sliced 2 tomatoes, sliced 12 pieces cooked bacon … Continue reading