Outdoor Menus
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Spanish Sangria Party
Spring is here, and the long-awaited warm weather has finally arrived. What better excuse for an alfresco party? Invite friends over and toast the new season with refreshing sangria, then serve up Spanish-inspired pizzas and flatbread, all cooked to perfection in an outdoor pizza oven.
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Backyard Fiesta
When those first warm, sunny days of spring arrive, celebrate by throwing a spirited fiesta, right in your own backyard. Whip up some icy margaritas and fire up the grill, then cook a meal that’s packed with lively flavors, including cheesy nachos with black beans, chicken and poblano quesadillas and Mexican street corn.
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Coastal Mediterranean Feast
Our bountiful menu will transport you and your guests to the Mediterranean. Gather outdoors and pass platters filled with coastal favorites like grilled whole branzino, fennel and tomatoes on the vine, and crispy smashed potatoes drizzled with a lemon-oregano vinaigrette. Linger at the table long into the afternoon, enjoying the company of friends and the glorious warm weather.
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Casual Alfresco Dinner
Welcome the arrival of spring by hosting a leisurely dinner with friends. Cook the food indoors, then move outside to enjoy the meal. Prep is easy: both the steak and the vegetables are cooked on a stovetop grill pan, so you don’t have to heat up your backyard grill. For an impressive ending to this springtime gathering, serve a warm galette brimming with the season’s first strawberries.
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American Cookout Menu
This easy-going, all-American menu is perfect for kicking off the sunny days of summer. Almost everything can be made on the grill, so you and your guests can make the most of the warm weather outside.
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Spicy Grilled Starters
Relax into a sunny weekend with friends by preparing this easy, festive party menu. Start with a round of refreshing margaritas -- blended or on the rocks -- and enjoy a spread of Latin-inspired appetizers right off the grill.
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Grilled Seafood Celebration
Put a fresh spin on outdoor entertaining with this elegant seafood supper. Classic raw oysters and lobster tails grilled on a cedar plank make any occasion a cause to celebrate -- our recipes and tips will show you how.
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Panini Picnic Menu
The great thing about picnics is you don’t need a lot of food to have a good time. Our sausage and pepper panini tastes fantastic at room temperature, and the fennel and orange salad travels well while retaining the crisp crunch of the fennel. And no picnic is complete without something sweet; our almond tart will arrive at your destination in fine shape.
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Fourth of July Cookout
Celebrate the red, white and blue with this festive menu that features old-fashioned favorites plus fresh new ideas. Baby back ribs, a modern potato salad and a homey blueberry pie share the spotlight with lighter fare, including spicy grilled chicken, a refreshing zucchini salad and a summery corn succotash.
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Garden Cookout
Make the most of the bounty from your garden or local market with a menu that showcases summer's freshest flavors. Fire up the grill to add delicious depth to ripe tomatoes, peaches, peppers and more, then finish with homey cobbler made from sweet, plump berries.
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Labor Day Cookout
What better way to celebrate the end of summer than with an old-fashioned barbecue? Our menu features dry-rubbed baby back ribs cooked on a wood pellet grill for maximum flavor (you can also use an oven and regular grill, if you like). Grilled corn on the cob and baked beans simmered with maple syrup round out the meal. And for dessert, a homey cobbler made with late-summer peaches will be a crowd-pleaser.
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Outdoor Pizza & Wine Party
Pizza takes on an entirely new character when cooked on the grill or in a pizza oven outdoors, with a slightly smoky flavor and crisp, blistered crust. Paired with robust wines on a warm evening, this party menu is satisfying and simple to pull off -- especially if you prep pizza dough and toppings the night before. Set out a simple spread of various antipasti and serve pizzas directly off the pizza peels or on wooden boards for a relaxed feel.
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From Market to Grill
Transform the flavor of summer produce with a quick turn on the grill. Our recipes show you how to bring out the best in eggplant, bell peppers, tomatoes, corn and more.
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Easy Memorial Day Picnic
This do-ahead picnic lunch is the perfect way to welcome summer with family and friends. To satisfy hungry guests as they arrive, offer skewers of fresh mozzarella cheese, tiny tomatoes and basil–our variation on the Italian caprese salad. Chilled cucumber-dill soup and shredded chicken salad can be made in advance and are easy to transport to your picnic site. For dessert, serve rich chocolate brownies laced with raspberry jam; they’re sure to please picnickers of all ages.
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Cookout on Memorial Day
Kick off the summer season with a cookout for family and friends. Mix and match our all-American classics as you please—from ribs and steaks to deviled eggs and baked beans. Make-ahead dishes ensure that the host can sit back and savor those first warm rays of sunshine.
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Backyard Barbecue for Friends
Fire up your grill—this menu is packed with great flavors, from a piquant starter of gazpacho with serrano chilies to a main course of Latin-spiced pork tenderloin. Round out the meal with a quinoa salad and grilled summer squash, and tame the heat with refreshing guava-lime coolers.