Beer Girl Cooks

Cooking & Craft Beer

watermelon

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

by 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

Stuffed Mushrooms – Beer Girl Cooks (pictured above)

Texas Caviar – The Beach House Kitchen

smokedjalapenopoppersquare

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-Brats3

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

 

SIDES AND SALADS

pinC

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

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

Parmesan-Pea-Pasta-Salad-Pic

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

Grilled-Potato-Salad-short-pin

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

Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint and Balsamic Reduction

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

7layersalad5-main

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

 

MEAT DISHES

Sundried-Tomato-and-Gorgonzola-Burgers1

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-Jalapeno-Salsa-short-pin5

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

Bacon and Feta Stuffed Lamb Burger with Tzatziki

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

 

DESSERTS

Banana Pudding in a Jar Recipe

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

S'mores in Mason Jars

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 Popsicles

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

Honeydew Kiwi Coconut Popsicles

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

Strawberry Kiwi Coconut Popsicles

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

Boozy Root Beer Float Popsicles

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

by 10 Comments

Easy Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint and Balsamic Reduction

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.

Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint and Balsamic Reduction

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.

Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint and Balsamic Reduction

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.

Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint and Balsamic Reduction

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!

Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint and Balsamic Reduction
Print

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

  1. 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
  2. Grill watermelon slices over high heat 1 - 2 minutes per side
  3. Arrange watermelon slices on a platter, crumble feta over the top, drizzle with balsamic reduction, top with mint and/or basil leaves

Grilled Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint and Balsamic Reduction

Grilled Peaches and Watermelon

by 46 Comments

This post is about mistakes.  We all make them, right?

 

DSC_0590_03

 

For instance, this dish?  Was supposed to be a Grilled Watermelon and Grilled  Peach Caprese.  I forgot the cheese.  Oops.

 

DSC_0560

 

I’ve had a lot going on this week. And I love knowing I have all of you, my friends, to talk to. Thank you for being you. I know that every single day I can wake up and talk to all of you. Your blog, my blog, I feel a connection to all of you.

 

DSC_0574

 

I appreciate each and every one of you.

 

DSC_0611_03

 

One of my mistakes: This was supposed to be a Grilled Watermelon and Peach Caprese for Lisa’s Annual Birthday Meat Fest.  I forgot the mozzarella.  Chris called me out on the lack of cheese when I put it on the table.  Lisa gave me a break.  She’s awesome like that.

 

I jack things up like that now and then.  I’m glad I’m forgiven.  XOXOXO

And this is me being honest.  Love y’all!

 

Print

Grilled Peaches and Watermelon

Ingredients

  • 1 watermelon
  • 4 peaches
  • A bunch of basil
  • 1/8 cup balsamic reduction

Instructions

  1. Grill watermelon and peaches about 1-2 minutes each side
  2. Arrange on plattter
  3. Top with basil, mozzarella, and balsamic reduction if desired

Grilled Watermelon Caprese Salad

by 33 Comments

Hello Summer!  I’ve missed you, old friend.

 

DSC_0223_01

 

Nothing says summer more than a caprese salad.  Well, maybe watermelon and grilling.  I had so much watermelon and I already pureed it and added booze so what’s left to do?  Throw it on the grill.

 

DSC_0228

 

Now we all know that I tend to make things janky rustic and that’s the way I’m rolling here.

 

DSC_0218

 

I could have done some precision artistry with my big ole knife and made uniform shapes or some business like that.

 

DSC_0221

 

But I didn’t.  The truth is that I started to and just got over it.  I was ready to get my grill on with this watermelon caprese.

 

DSC_0237

 

And it was time for dinner.

 

Print

Grilled Watermelon Caprese Salad

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 8 or so cups of watermelon pieces
  • salt according to taste
  • 8 ounces mozzarella
  • 15 or so basil leaves

Instructions

  1. Bring balsamic to a boil in a small sauce pan, reduce to medium and reduce by about half and thick
  2. Salt watermelon according to tase - I used about 1/4 teaspoon on all the watermelon and found it to be a bit insufficient
  3. Grill watermelon 2-3 minutes each side - you can do this on a grill or use a grill pan on the stove
  4. While watermelon is grilling, cut up the mozzarella into slices, then quarters
  5. Let the watermelon cool and drain a bit so it doesn't get soggy
  6. Arrange watermelon on a platter, top with mozzarella and basil
  7. Drizzle with balsamic reduction
  8. Serve immediately

Note: I think grilled peaches and/or plums would be a nice addition with the watermelon.