Now that the weather is warming up (perhaps a little too warm this year), it’s time to air out the house, mow our lawns, and most importantly: clean our grills.
Besides warmer weather, this sensational season brings out the best in summer cuisine and all the refreshing flavors we’ve been craving during these harsh winter months.
The All-American Cheeseburger
The top of this list is an all time classic. Nothing says summertime like the satisfying sizzle of a classic cheeseburger. But, even the most basic staples should stand tall.
With some ground chuck, onion powder, salt/pepper, and any cheese of your choice. In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients together by hand, but be sure to not overwork the meat. Divide them into equal portions and press them into patties. You can use them the same day or freeze them!
Tuna Deviled Eggs
Yet another classic summer dish with a twist. You still want the typical fixings like hardboiled egg yolks, mayonnaise, dill, and paprika; but this time we’re adding sriracha, dill, Dijon mustard, Greek yogurt, garlic powder, and tuna. You can either combine the tuna into the mix or garnish them on top of the eggs. Either way, this creative twist will pleasantly surprise any guests.
Elotes
Elotes takes the classic corn on the cobb but adds a Hispanic twist. It’s a hugely popular street fare item.
Grilled corn on the cobb, lathered with a mixture of sour cream and mayonnesa (Mexican mayonnaise), seasoned with chili powder, smoked paprika, cilantro, Cojita cheese, then generously topped with queso fresco. It’s just as appetizing to the eyes as it is to the belly.
Jalapeno Cornbread
Cornbread is on the Mount Rushmore of comfort cooking, but by adding a one simple ingredient like jalapeno peppers kicks this classic dish into gears you didn’t know existed.
This recipe uses common pantry items like flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking soda/powder, salt, butter, and eggs. But for this dish we’re adding a bit of cheddar cheese and jalapenos. Mix the ingredients into a batter and bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Make sure to pre-heat the oven with the skillet inside to warmup.
Classic Corndog
This one is fun for the kids. It’s a classic, easy to make, and requires minimal ingredients. All you’ll need is hotdogs, cornmeal, flour, eggs, and a bit of milk.
If you don’t have a deep fryer, no problem! All you need is a skillet, a stove, and a bit of hot oil. After frying them to a golden brown, let them dry and cool on a towel before serving. These are perfect for birthday parties!
Sugar Cookie Smores
I had to include at least one dessert. Honestly, these are making my mouth water just writing about them.
This treat only has 3 ingredients: Marshmallows, Milky Way candy bars, and sugar cookies. On a warmed grill, place the sugar cookies on the rack with 2 candy bars atop of each and heat until they begin to melt. Meanwhile, use tongs to gently toast the marshmallows over the heat until golden brown. Next, bring it all together Next, bring it all together by lying the marshmallow on top of the melted chocolate and sandwich it together with another cookie.
Warning: extreme sweet tooth required.
