Banana boats: slice a banana lengthwise and fill with chopped up peanut butter cups and toasted pecans. Wrap in foil and place over fire for about 8 minutes. Nummmmmm. And maybe a bit healthier than a s’more.
It's hard to go wrong with tasty sammies, fresh salads, and watermelon slices or berries. Heck, both watermelon slices AND berries! All the recipes here make my mouth water :)
I often bring Warm German Potato Salad based on the recipe in the Betty Crocker cook book, though i typically use more bacon and pepper than the recommend..
Chicken spiedies! It’s a central NY dish that I wish was more widely known, but is essentially cubes of marinated meat cooked on a grill on a skewer and then eaten on a buttered sub roll or piece of Italian/potato bread. Simple and delicious. Here’s a recipe for the marinade https://www.healthy-delicious.com/homemade-chicken-spiedie-recipe/
Haha, Mel! Meet your twin! I'm the human barometer! I hate it too! 😂 the Muffaleta salad sounds like giardiniera, that you typically find at holidays on the tables of Italian families.
Syracuse, NY!!! I was born and raised and our north of Syracuse near Watertown. I get so excited when I run into people who are familiar with Central New York and northern New York.
Couscous salad really has no measurements so yummy. Make it according to your liking.
One small box couscous
Orange juice
Chopped green onions
Sliced radishes
Sliced almonds
Golden raisin
Extra-virgin olive oil
Cook the couscous according to directions using orange juice rather than water. Or you can do a mix of orange juice and water but it’s best made using all orange juice. Add in the green onions, radishes, almonds, and raisins and toss well. Drizzle in olive oil to just moisten the salad and let’s set. Oh dear I forgot to mention cherry tomatoes sliced in half.
Key West Chicken
3 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
Mix all ingredients together and pour into a plastic bag with for boneless chicken breast. That marinade 3-5 hours.
Broccoli apple salad
One bag broccoli florettes cut into bite-size pieces
One cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 large onion chopped
To Apple’s paired and chopped
Dressing:
1/4 cup of sugar
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Mix the dressing well and pour over the salad. You may wanna double this.
I live in Phoenix. Summer cookouts aren't really a thing. Who wants to stand over a fire when it's 110 degrees? But...dill pickle pasta salad - so good!
I also abhor humidity. I once vacationed in Palm Springs, CA, at the end of June and realized that I could happily reside in the dry desert air for life!
For cookouts, I always make macaroni salad. I recreated the recipe from my dad’s memory of one his grandmother made. It’s always a hit!
For a cookout dessert, I always make peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, which have been described by family members as “crack cookies”. 😂
In a small pot with lid bring broth to boil w/ olive oil, then turn off heat, stir in couscous, and cover w/ lid. Leave for 7 mins.
In large bowl combine spinach, red pepper, cucumber, onion, toatoe, feta, dill, lemon juice, salt, & pepper, and olive oil. Stir to combine. Add couscous when slightly cooled.
We don't do cookouts much here in Tucson, Arizona (the HEAT this time of year!), but if we did, I'd definitely make that Turkish chopped salad--it's been a favorite of ours for years! I got it from one of Mel's WELL FED cookbooks, and it keeps for several days in the fridge, so it's equally good to make ahead or save as leftovers. I always make it in the summer with the freshest veggies. YUM!
Banana boats: slice a banana lengthwise and fill with chopped up peanut butter cups and toasted pecans. Wrap in foil and place over fire for about 8 minutes. Nummmmmm. And maybe a bit healthier than a s’more.
Hi, everyone! I enjoyed looking at all of the recipes and foods each of you enjoy having at a cookout.
Mel, thoughts on using za’atar spice blend to replace sumac for your Turkish salad recipe. I don’t have sumac but have za’atar. Thanks!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Za'atar will work great! Go for it.
Thanks!
It's hard to go wrong with tasty sammies, fresh salads, and watermelon slices or berries. Heck, both watermelon slices AND berries! All the recipes here make my mouth water :)
I often bring Warm German Potato Salad based on the recipe in the Betty Crocker cook book, though i typically use more bacon and pepper than the recommend..
I know this is so boring but everyone seems to love them and there are never left overs -- Deviled Eggs. Easy to make and to eat!
Absolutely one of my favorite foods! And they’re delicious made in the straightforward classic way OR with any kind of twist.
Chicken spiedies! It’s a central NY dish that I wish was more widely known, but is essentially cubes of marinated meat cooked on a grill on a skewer and then eaten on a buttered sub roll or piece of Italian/potato bread. Simple and delicious. Here’s a recipe for the marinade https://www.healthy-delicious.com/homemade-chicken-spiedie-recipe/
My go to all summer. Penne pasta with basil, mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes. https://lidiasitaly.com/recipes/penne-cherry-tomatoes-basil-mozzarella/
Haha, Mel! Meet your twin! I'm the human barometer! I hate it too! 😂 the Muffaleta salad sounds like giardiniera, that you typically find at holidays on the tables of Italian families.
Me too. I CANNOT STAND humidity - I'm already counting the days until autumn😆
Syracuse, NY!!! I was born and raised and our north of Syracuse near Watertown. I get so excited when I run into people who are familiar with Central New York and northern New York.
Couscous salad really has no measurements so yummy. Make it according to your liking.
One small box couscous
Orange juice
Chopped green onions
Sliced radishes
Sliced almonds
Golden raisin
Extra-virgin olive oil
Cook the couscous according to directions using orange juice rather than water. Or you can do a mix of orange juice and water but it’s best made using all orange juice. Add in the green onions, radishes, almonds, and raisins and toss well. Drizzle in olive oil to just moisten the salad and let’s set. Oh dear I forgot to mention cherry tomatoes sliced in half.
Key West Chicken
3 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
Mix all ingredients together and pour into a plastic bag with for boneless chicken breast. That marinade 3-5 hours.
Broccoli apple salad
One bag broccoli florettes cut into bite-size pieces
One cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 large onion chopped
To Apple’s paired and chopped
Dressing:
1/4 cup of sugar
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Mix the dressing well and pour over the salad. You may wanna double this.
s
Last Saturday we went to a farmers' market in Stratford , Canada and made zucchini blossoms stuffed with brie.
I live in Phoenix. Summer cookouts aren't really a thing. Who wants to stand over a fire when it's 110 degrees? But...dill pickle pasta salad - so good!
https://urls.grow.me/0zI3HrfSGI
Currently my favorite is a refreshing tomato, watermelon, feta & mint salad (add crunchy Persian cucumbers, if available!)
Yes, please! :)
I also abhor humidity. I once vacationed in Palm Springs, CA, at the end of June and realized that I could happily reside in the dry desert air for life!
For cookouts, I always make macaroni salad. I recreated the recipe from my dad’s memory of one his grandmother made. It’s always a hit!
For a cookout dessert, I always make peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, which have been described by family members as “crack cookies”. 😂
I don't bring a lot to cookouts, yet, I have 3 to share:
One I have brought:
https://www.kellygordonmn.com/recipes/spicy-grilled-pineapple
One I'd like to try:
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020335-chickpea-salad-with-fresh-herbs-and-scallions?campaign_id=190&emc=edit_ufn_20250630&instance_id=157559&nl=from-the-times
And one that is good anytime, anywhere:
Couscous Salad:
1-1⁄2 C low sodium chicken broth
1 T olive oil
1 C dry couscous
2 C baby spinach
1⁄2 red bell pepper
1⁄2 cucumber
1⁄4 small red onion
6 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
1⁄4 C feta cheese
1 T fresh dill fine chop
1 T lemon juice
1⁄2 t kosher salt
1⁄4 t black pepper
2 T olive oil
In a small pot with lid bring broth to boil w/ olive oil, then turn off heat, stir in couscous, and cover w/ lid. Leave for 7 mins.
In large bowl combine spinach, red pepper, cucumber, onion, toatoe, feta, dill, lemon juice, salt, & pepper, and olive oil. Stir to combine. Add couscous when slightly cooled.
Any number of black bean salads!
https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/black-bean-salad/#wprm-recipe-container-38886
We don't do cookouts much here in Tucson, Arizona (the HEAT this time of year!), but if we did, I'd definitely make that Turkish chopped salad--it's been a favorite of ours for years! I got it from one of Mel's WELL FED cookbooks, and it keeps for several days in the fridge, so it's equally good to make ahead or save as leftovers. I always make it in the summer with the freshest veggies. YUM!