Meals for Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day
Bourbon & Coca Cola Steaks
Typically, we keep steak preparation simple in our house. A sprinkle of spice rub is often as fancy as it gets. This clever steak marinade, compliments of Michaela Martin Kenkel (who has a delightful blog called An Affair from the Heart), earned points for originality. Until seeing her recipe, I thought of bourbon and Coke as…
Grilled Apricot Shrimp with Harissa Aioli
These flavor-packed shrimp will impress all who try. They’re equally perfect as an entree or appetizer and can be enjoyed hot off the grill or at room temperature. From week to week I toil—probably longer than I should－over which recipes to share on this page. The decision becomes more difficult when a…
Grilled Chicken Kabobs
First, I must apologize to the readers who have subscribed to receive recipe posts via email. Yesterday, I inadvertently sent a draft of this post. Although I am sure to make an occasional ‘woops’ (my family would tease that I make them daily!), it is truly my goal not to send pointless emails. The…
Summer Peach Sangria
A summery spin on the classic sangria, you can use all peaches or mix it up with a combination of fruit, like mangos, cherries, nectarines, plums and/or apples. After living for a short time in Spain, I developed a love of paella, tortillas Españolas, and a certain time-honored, fruit-filled drink. Though my recipe for…
Lemon Chicken, 2 Ways
A reader shared her recipes for two lemony marinades, which are simple to prepare and complement a wide range of seasonal side dishes. We both ran side-by-side taste tests with our families to determine a favorite. Which would you choose? When a reader takes the time to send me a favorite recipe, I am always…
Sesame Soy Salmon (an easy 4-ingredient marinade)
Four simple ingredients come together with ease in this flavor-packed marinade that makes the most of salmon and so much more! I could hardly let a summer pass without sharing some version of my favorite 3-ingredient marinade. This marinade has been quite popular with my family and friends for at least a decade now,…
Classic Peach Jam
Clear, simple instructions make canning your own peach jam a breeze. Perfect for enjoying the sweet taste of summer all year long! There is something special about homemade jam. The smell of fruit cooking is sweet and delicious and the aroma truly takes me back to my grandmother’s kitchen. As someone who lived through…
Blueberry Peach Pound Cake
A handful of basic pantry ingredients and fruit are all you need to whip up this fabulous pound cake. Plus, the flavors improve as the cake sits, so the recipe is ideal when looking for day-ahead preparation. On a recent trip to a local farm stand, a longtime employee mentioned that whenever she sees me,…
Barbecued Bean Salad
A crowd-pleasing, family-friendly alternative to baked beans, this protein-rich salad can be prepared in advance and the flavor improves over time. As I walked to school with my younger son one morning last month, he mentioned that his 6th grade history class’s Colonial unit would be culminating with a special lunch. All students were…
Slow Grilled Baby Back Ribs
The cooking time for these crowd-pleasing ribs is long but the effort is minimal – and the results are nothing short of finger-licking good! Though my husband doesn’t do a lot of cooking, his talents shine bright when it comes to the grill. He has the Midas touch when it comes to tender, juicy chicken…
Giant Chipwich Cake
Get ready to see eyes pop and smiles stretch from ear to ear! As an added bonus, this recipe can be prepared in steps and stored in your freezer until needed. I vividly remember bringing my first baby home from the hospital. That first evening, my husband and I sat in our screen porch…
Big Batch Bacon Horseradish Broccoli Salad
I adore broccoli. It doesn’t even have to be fancy. Simply steamed or raw and dipped in homemade ranch dressing, it’s all good. Where broccoli salad is concerned, I have a special bond. But in order to make me really swoon, this salad must meet high standards! The following recipe is one of a few…
