Barbecue Recipes

Salads, Side Dishes

Crunchy Chicken Poppy Seed Slaw

We’re gearing up for our first graduation around here!  That on the heels of last weekend’s big garden tour — over 500 people came to our home over the course of the weekend.  (Major props to our sons who couldn’t shoot hoops or do much of anything else in our yard on the first sunny…

Salads, Side Dishes

Avocado, Watermelon & Mint Salad with Feta Cheese

Bursting with flavor and color, this light summer salad complements grilled chicken, fish, and steak beautifully. The simple prep makes it perfect for effortless weeknight meals and casual entertaining alike. My paternal grandmother and my mother shared an extraordinary knowledge of flowers, an ability to use them in artistic ways, and a general love of…

Side Dishes

Baked Potato Wedges

A versatile side dish that complements nearly any protein, Baked Potato Wedges are an economical addition to the weekly dinner rotation. A special trick makes them extra crisp.   They’re not exactly French fries, but these simple baked wedges are always a hit in our house. I often fall back on this tasty side dish…

Pastas, Salads, Side Dishes

BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado

In recent weeks, I’ve heard from many readers who offered kind praise for my Mexican Street Corn Salad recipe. Many noted the big flavor punch delivered by the small amount of lime juice that’s added to the mayo.  The bright, fresh taste it delivers happens to be my favorite part of the salad, too. In the following…

Appetizers, Side Dishes, Snacks

Grilled Shishito Peppers

Serve these sweet and (almost always!) mild Japanese peppers as a quick, easy, and surprisingly popular appetizer or side dish.   Have you ever heard of chili peppers that are mild…most of the time? Such is the case with the shishito pepper, a small, slender sweet pepper that originated in Asia. A year or two…

Salads

Grilled Caesar Salads… with easy options for a complete meal and a bonus recipe for watercress

Grilled Caesar salads are a summertime classic and can be a quick, well-rounded meal. This bright-tasting dressing is easy to prepare—no need for a blender or food processor—and is egg and anchovy free. Anchovy fans may absolutely serve them alongside, of course, and I’ve included my favorite ways to turn the salad into a complete…

Appetizers

Snappy Honey Grilled Shrimp

Have you ever wondered what food item is most commonly stolen from grocery stores worldwide?  (Stick with me here…I’m going somewhere with this.) The answer surprised me.  It’s cheese.  In the United States, cheese actually ranks fourth behind meat, candy, and baby formula. (France skewed the global figures.)  These stats are one more reason the following…

Pastas, Salads, Side Dishes

Greek Pasta Salad

Bursting with flavor and easy to transform into a complete meal, this versatile pasta salad is equally perfect for busy weeknights and casual entertaining.    When I was pondering what to say about this light-but-satisfying, Mediterranean-style salad, four simple words came to mind: low effort, high reward. It’s a bowlful of flavor that everyone seems…

Salads, Side Dishes

Abby’s Watermelon Salad

A little sweet, a little salty…  this quick-to-assemble salad is perfect on a summer night paired with something off the grill.   Though we only attended the same school for one year and weren’t even in the same grade, my friend Abby and I have a unique history and never fail to relive old memories…

Main Dishes

Chili Lime Chicken

Add memorable flavor to basic chicken with a blend of spices you likely have on hand. Perfect as is and in burrito bowls, with or without the optional sauce. When it comes to food preparation, I sometimes worry that I do too much for my kids. Most mornings, I have breakfast ready for them instead…

Condiments, Side Dishes

Dinner (and leftovers) out of one 3-ingredient marinade

Minimal ingredients come together with flavor-packed ease in this wholesome, all-in-one meal that can be customized to taste. Effortless summer cooking at its best!    So, I did what I have been strictly avoiding for a very long time. I cooked on live TV.   The thought of preparing something delicious in two to three…

Salads, Side Dishes

Southwestern Confetti Coleslaw (no mayo)

Classic, creamy coleslaw is a perennial picnic and cookout favorite. Like potato salad and baked beans, coleslaw plays a popular supporting role on any plate starring fried chicken or barbecued ribs. While I adore a thick slaw with a hearty dose of mayonnaise, many people prefer a lighter vinegar base. Smoky cumin, tangy lime and…

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