Outdoor Dining Areas

OUTDOOR LIVING INVOLVES OUTDOOR EATING AND COOKING

One of the best ways to enjoy the summer season is by spending time in your backyard. Whether you’re hosting a small gathering or simply enjoying a meal with your family, these backyard-friendly recipes are sure to impress: Grilled Steak – Season your favorite cut of steak with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Grill to your desired level of doneness and serve with a side of grilled vegetables for a complete meal. Greek Salad – Combine chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and feta cheese in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and red wine vinegar and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and dried oregano. This refreshing salad pairs well with grilled meats. Grilled Pizza – Make your own pizza dough or use store-bought. Brush with olive oil and top with your favorite toppings such as tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni. Grill until the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted. Lemon Garlic Shrimp – Marinate shrimp in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper for at least 30 minutes. Grill until cooked through and serve with a side of rice or a salad. Grilled Vegetables – Cut your favorite vegetables (such as zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant) into bite-sized pieces. Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper and grill until tender. Serve as a side dish or add to salads and sandwiches. Homemade Lemonade – Combine freshly squeezed lemon juice, sugar, and water in a pitcher. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and serve over ice. Add a sprig of fresh mint or a slice of lemon for extra flavor. These recipes are perfect for backyard barbecues, picnics, or simply enjoying a meal under the sun. So dust off your grill, set up a table, and savor the flavors of summer in your own backyard!

Read More

COOL AS A CUCUMBER – RECIPES FROM YOUR GARDEN

Do you know where the expression “cool as a cucumber comes from? It’s because cucumbers are typically 10 to 20 degrees cooler than the temperature around them. Try inserting a thermometer into one if you need a little proof. Not only do cucumbers have a cool temperature, but cucumbers are also the key ingredient to some of the summer’s best cool down recipes.  There was a time when we only knew two main types of cucumbers – slicing and pickling. But things have changed and there is now a large variety of cucumber types available to gardeners and shoppers. They include Armenian, Diva, English Telegraph, Burpless, Persian, Lemon, Parisian Gherkins, Dasher, Sweet Success and Calypso varieties.

Read More

ADD MORE MAY PEAS TO YOUR MAY: CREAMED MAY PEAS AND NEW POTATOES

One of our favorite vegetables, if not our very favorite, is May peas. I always look forward to the arrival of May and one of the biggest reasons is for the May peas. There are lots of great ways to fix peas, but this is an all time favorite. We like to use the multi-colored fingerling potatoes because they had such an interesting element to the dish. But whatever potatoes you choose to use, the dish may become one of your favorites, too.

Read More

RIPE AND READY. TOMATOES ARE SUMMER’S GIFT. TOMATO PIE RECIPE

Now that July is here, I’m pretty sure (or at least I hope), your tomato plants are now producing those ripe and ready jewels of summer. Hopefully, your crop is handling this heat and lack of rain the past several days, and your crop is looking its best. I’m the first to admit that I love nothing more than a tomato sandwich. Slices of red, ripe and juicy tomatoes, smeared with mayonnaise (has to be Duke’s) and sprinkled with salt and pepper, on some very lightly toasted bread. Nothing beats that first tomato sandwich of the year!

Read More