The alluring smoky aroma, the sizzle of basting food, and the distinctive look of charred spots and grill marks let you know it’s barbecue time! “Symon’s Dinners Cooking Out” by Michael Symon can help expand your outdoor menu with 100 recipes that also include refreshing cocktails and desserts. Invite some friends over for Symon’s juicy Lucy double cheese and bacon burgers with a side of Old Bay grilled corn, grilled eggplant parmesan, or spicy black cod with grilled lime. As a bonus, taking the party outside will help keep your kitchen cool.
Pool parties, cook outs, family reunions, and movie nights are all fun reasons to gather during the hot months. As a guest, you may ask or be asked to bring a dish. “What Can I Bring?” by Casey Elsass provides 75 recipe ideas for your next casual invite. Some examples are golden ratio guac and seven-onion dip to pair with your favorite chips. Perfect pasta salad can be dressed three ways with a choice of red sauce, oil + vinegar, or pesto. For something sweet without involving an oven, there is mango and sticky rice pudding, plus colorful party krispies.
Summer is the ideal season for simple-to-assemble no-fuss chilled treats. Bobby Lloyd has gathered a delicious collection of cool and creamy confections in her second cookbook, “Magnolia Bakery Icebox Desserts.” A slice of frozen key lime pie with a graham cracker crust might cool the palette after a spicy meal. Other refrigerated delights include Boston cream pie banana pudding layered with fudge icing, Nilla wafers and banana slices, apple or peach crisp ice box bars, and peanut butter whipped cream, and chocolate cookie ice box cake.
~ Diana Lamb, library specialist, and culinary book reviewer extraordinaire! ♥