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Summer Fun - A fresh take on 5 condiments
- Food ideas for every holiday plan!
- 8 Life Hacks to Keep Summer Simple
- 8 Delicious Campfire Recipes
- Best of BBQ
- Healthy Summer
- Best of Summer
- 5 Ideas Worthy of a Food Truck!
- 6 Flavours That Will Transform Your Corn Roasts
- A Chic White Dinner Menu
- Pasta That Tastes Like Summer
- 4 Ice Pops to Brighten Up Your Summer
- Lobster Appeal
- Entertaining Vegan and Vegetarian Friends
- 5 flavoured butters to serve with shellfish
- Trends for entertaining this summer
- Freakshakes: 3 tasty ideas for you to try
- Fun and healthy snacks
- Summer skewers with an unexpected twist
- Delicious summer snacks
TopThe Art of Summer Entertaining
An afternoon at the pool that turns into a spontaneous cocktail hour, a fun supper with friends, family get-togethers… Summer is the perfect time to share great meals with the people you love. Here are a few tips to cook up some simple and delicious dishes—no matter how much time you have to prepare!
A Few Weeks Ahead of Time
Even if you have lots of time to set the menu and buy your ingredients, the simplest way to entertain guests is with a picnic feast. Just pile your table full of delicious dishes so guests can help themselves. Unlike in winter, when you take more time to set the table and prepare, summertime means guests are happy to just stand around and eat.
Try making ribs, beef tournedos with blue cheese, or European sausages with polenta. Why not try a recipe for beer-can chicken? Serve with a side of potato salad, grilled corn, and tortillas dipped in spicy bacon guacamole. Your guests will be licking their fingers!
A Few Days Ahead of Time
Check your fridge for ingredients and head to the grocery store for whatever you still need. Not only are BBQs great for grilling veggies and meat, they’re also perfect for cooking whatever else you have on hand, like pizza cooked on a stone or tile, mussels wrapped in aluminum foil, Romaine lettuce hearts, fennel bulbs, soft cheese in a brie baker, and more. Try something new!
You can also use the BBQ to make dessert, from grilling pineapple to heating up fruit pie. Tempt guests with a sweet tooth with fruit brochettes marinated in honey and rum. Thread peach quarters, thick slices of banana, and halved strawberries onto wood skewers, then marinate for an hour in a mixture of honey, rum, brown sugar, and cardamom. Grill on aluminum foil, rotating from time to time. Simply divine!
Expert Tip!
Feel like cooking salmon or halibut steaks on the BBQ? Keep your fish from sticking to the grill by adding lemon slices first and placing your steaks on top. Not only will your fish retain its form, but it’ll also be infused with a delicate citrus flavour!
A Few Hours Ahead of Time
As the saying goes, keep it simple. Remove chicken from the freezer, make your brochettes, brush with a homemade herb marinade, and grill on the BBQ. Need inspiration? Try merguez hotdogs topped with onion confit and Swiss cheese. Your Metro baker can also help you pick the perfect bread! All that’s left to prepare is a crisp side salad and you’re all set to go!
Try making ribs, beef tournedos with blue cheese, or European sausages with polenta. Why not try a recipe for beer-can chicken? Serve with a side of potato salad, grilled corn, and tortillas dipped in spicy bacon guacamole. Your guests will be licking their fingers!
5 Minutes Ahead of Time
Forget spending hours in the kitchen or cooking up complex recipes. Look for a quick way to put a meal on the table–without compromising on taste. The trick is to pick foods that are in season.
Place your ingredients right on the table: a deli plate, olives, pickles, crackers, a selection of melon, sliced tomatoes with basil leaves and bocconcini, a vegetable platter with peppers, radish, carrots, asparagus, mushrooms, celery hearts… Then everyone can just pick what they like, buffet-style!
Want to end your informal evening on a sweet note? Try a seasonal parfait! Place a few pieces of ripe fruit at the bottom of a tall glass, then add a splash of lemon juice, a squeeze of honey, and a few basil or mint leaves. Top with rich Greek yogurt and some whipped cream. A delicious dessert you can whip up in no time!
A List of Must-haves
With these essential ingredients on hand, you’ll never be caught unprepared:
In the Fridge
- Feta or bocconcini cheese
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Hot or honey mustard
- Hummus
- Olives, pickles, marinated peppers
- Tapenade and pesto
- Lemons and limes
- Tomatoes
- Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, dill, basil, and coriander
- Fresh, seasonal vegetables like asparagus, peppers, zucchini, carrots, and lettuce
- Fresh, seasonal fruit like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, and mango
In the Pantry
- A variety of crackers
- Nuts and dried fruit
- Corn tortillas
- Different oils
- Different vinegars
- Lentils
- Pasta, rice, couscous, quinoa
- Canned crab and salmon
- Onions
- Garlic
In the Freezer
- Chicken breasts
- Smoked salmon
- Beef tournedos
- Different-sized rolls
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