picnic

30 Cookout, Grilling, and Party Recipes for Labor Day Weekend

September 2, 2016 by rachelle 10 Comments

30 Cookout, Grilling, and Party Recipes for Labor Day Weekend

We are headed to Hilton Head this weekend for one last beach trip before summer ends – not to worry – the house won’t be vacant. We have a pet sitter coming so the dogs won’t be running amuck and doing water ballet in our living room like in those Farmers Insurance commercials. Hilarious if not in your own house. I thought I’d leave you with a recipe roundup to cover all your cookout, grilling, and party needs for the long weekend. Party on!

APPETIZERS

Stuffed Mushrooms – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

Texas Caviar – The Beach House Kitchen

Smoked Jalapeno Poppers with Bacon, Apple, and Brie – Tasty Ever After (pictured above & photo credit)

Baba Ganoush – Cook With Manali

Fig, Goat Cheese, Bacon + Honey Crostini – Feast and West

Bacon-Wrapped Brats – Spiced Blog (pictured above & photo credit)

SIDES AND SALADS

Bourbon & Brown Sugar Baked Beans with Candied Bacon – No Spoon Necessary (pictured above & photo credit)

Grilled Corn on the Cob with Spicy Lime Seasoned Salt -Ciao Chow Bambina

Peach & Chickpea Salad – Girl Heart Food

Quinoa Spinach Salad with Pesto – Family Food on the Table

Smoked Gouda Mac ‘n Cheese – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

Parmesan and Pea Pasta Salad – Tasty Ever After (pictured above & photo credit)

Grilled Potato Salad with Everything Bagel Seasoning and 7 Minute Eggs – No Spoon Necessary (pictured above & photo credit)

Easy Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint and Balsamic Reduction – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

Easy 7 Layer Salad – Tasty Ever After (pictured above & photo credit)

MEAT DISHES

Sundried Tomato and Gorgonzola Burgers – Spiced Blog (pictured above & photo credit)

Grilled Country Style Pork Shoulder Ribs with Blueberry Peach Salsa – Cooking LSL

Honey Mustard Grilled Salmon – Kevin is Cooking

Roasted Vegetable Grilled Pizza with Garlic Herb Oil – Ciao Chow Bambina

Honey Balsamic Chicken Skewers with Strawberry Kiwi Salsa – No Spoon Necessary (pictured above & photo credit)

Bacon and Feta Stuffed Lamb Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

DESSERTS

Banana Pudding in Jars – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

S’mores in Jars – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

Butterscotch Blondies – Just About Baked

Grilled Pound Cake with Mascarpone Cream and Blueberries – Pumpkin ‘n Spice

Marshmallow Fruity Pebble Bars – Baked by an Introvert

Gluten Free Vegan Peanut Butter Cup Brownies – Beaming Baker

Blueberry Coconut Milk Popsicles – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

Honeydew Kiwi Coconut Popsicles – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

Strawberry Kiwi Coconut Popsicles – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

Boozy Root Beer Float Popsicles – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

Ok. Yes, I know that lawyers can’t do math, but I’m well aware that there are actually 31 recipes in this post of 30 recipes for Labor Day. I just felt like the booze wasn’t well represented, so I had to add that last popsicle.

Y’all have a safe and fantastic Labor Day Weekend! Fingers crossed that we all stay dry on the east coast and this hurricane spins back out to sea!

Easy Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint and Balsamic Reduction

September 1, 2016 by rachelle 10 Comments

Easy Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint and Balsamic Reduction

We’ve been all things fall this week with back to school and football excitement, so it seemed like a good time to remember that we still have watermelon and summer produce for a little while longer. I don’t know about you, but I sure do love some grilled watermelon. Toss in some feta, mint, and balsamic reduction and I’m totally in the middle of summer even though we are staring Labor Day and the beginning of fall right in the face.

Speaking of Labor Day, this Easy Watermelon and Feta Salad would be absolutely perfect to take to the cookout, picnic, or whatever festivities you may have planned to celebrate the holiday and three day weekend! Woot! So, what are you plans this weekend? We decided to take a sort of last minute end of summer trip to the beach. We’re headed to Hilton Head and turning this three day weekend into a five day vacation. Heck yeah! Unlike our last trip to the beach about a month ago, this one will just be the two of us without other family or little people shenanigans. We’re all about the relaxation this time.

Although there might be some boogie board action again. We’ll just have to buy one for Chris, since we don’t have any little people to ~~steal~~ borrow them from this time.

Whether you are going to the beach, a cookout, or having some friends over this weekend, I highly recommend that you make a grilled watermelon and feta salad. You can totally change it up by using mozzarella instead of feta, basil instead of mint, or plain balsamic vinegar without reducing it. You could also just grill a watermelon and call it a day. It would be delicious!

Easy Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint and Balsamic Reduction

Ingredients

1 small seedless watermelon rind removed and sliced into 1/2 - 3/4 inch wedges
4 - 6 ounces crumbled feta cheese
1 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 - 1/2 cup mint or basil leaves

Instructions

In a small sauce pot, bring balsamic vinegar and honey to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until thick and syrupy - 5 - 10 minutes, set aside to cool slightly while you grill the watermelon
Grill watermelon slices over high heat 1 - 2 minutes per side
Arrange watermelon slices on a platter, crumble feta over the top, drizzle with balsamic reduction, top with mint and/or basil leaves

Boozy Red White and Blueberry Limoncello Popsicles

June 30, 2016 by rachelle 8 Comments

I just can’t stop.

Somebody send help because I’m totally addicted to popsicles. It’s been so dang hot here and the berries are everywhere and all up in my face! Farmer’s Market. Publix. The Teeter. They beg me to buy them, throw them into my Vitamix, and make popsicle magic with the gallons of cans of coconut milk currently residing in my pantry.

Just add booze.

Trust me. I know that boozing up my popsicles must come as a terrible shock.

Even though I’m late to the party, I couldn’t forget to come on and ride this red white and blue train because it’s 4th of July already! Whaaaaaat?!?!?!

And I know everyone is lamenting about where in tarnation did the time go, but seriously, where in tarnation did the time go?

I don’t know about you, but I’m so not about dwelling on time passing because that’s totally not my jam. I’m going to keep making popsicles and stuffing them in my face for as long as it makes me happy – even if this sickness turns into peppermint popsicles in December. I’ll own it.

So, I had all kinds of berries in my fridge (see above berry buying problem) and a big bottle of limoncello on hand, so that was enough to make dangerous boozy popsicle magic. Can you seriously complain about a cocktail and a popsicle all in one? I can’t. Have you met me? I’ll own that too.

I’m so glad we had this little talk. I don’t know about you, but I sure do feel better.

Boozy Red White and Blueberry Limoncello Popsicles

Ingredients

1/2 cup limoncello divided
1 pint fresh blueberries
1 pint fresh strawberries
1 can coconut milk full fat and I had about 1/3 cup leftover that I used in smoothies

Instructions

Add blueberries and 1/4 cup limoncello to a high speed blender or food processor and puree until smooth
Pour into popsicle molds 1/3 full
Rinse blender and add strawberries and remaining 1/4 cup limoncello and puree until smooth
Slowly pour coconut milk on top of blueberry popsicle layer to 2/3 full
Slowly pour the strawberry limoncello puree on top of the coconut milk layer to fill the molds
Cover, insert sticks, and freeze overnight

Note: Add 1 -2 tablespoons of agave to each of the fruit layers while pureeing if you have a sweet tooth or your fruit is not as sweet as you want it.

Note: If your pops don’t come out easily run them under some warm water for 15 seconds. If they are still stuck, run them under warm water for another 10 seconds or so.

P.S. Don’t get too aggressive while trying to remove your pops from the molds or you could end up somewhat frustrated

Have a safe and happy 4th, y’all!

picnic

Easy Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint and Balsamic Reduction

Ingredients

Instructions

Boozy Red White and Blueberry Limoncello Popsicles

Ingredients

Instructions

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