summer picnic menu – In Good Taste

Summer Picnic Potluck Menu

Maris Callahan — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:00:59 +0000

I will be the first person to admit that when I lived in New York, I did not take advantage of the culture that the city had to offer. Though I had friends and coworkers who went to concerts in the park on Wednesday evenings, art museums on the weekends and biking in Central Park during the summer, I was always in Camp Flee The City On Weekends. Now that I live in Chicago, I find myself outdoors a great deal more often, be it on the rooftop pool at my gym, dining out on a patio with friends or more recently, packing a picnic with friends to a free concert in Millennium Park. When you’re packing a picnic to transport, whether it’s a two-mile drive in the backseat of your car or um, a forty-minute haul on public transportation, you’re a little limited as to what you can and should bring with you. I’ve learned a few things during summer picnicking ventures so I feel like it’s my duty to share them with you. Bring a wine opener if you’re planning to drink wine. There is nothing more frustrating than being stuck in the great outdoors with a bottle […]

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Fourth of July Ready: Summer Cookout Menu Ideas

Maris Callahan — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:00:33 +0000

While there are a lot of patriotic holidays throughout the year dedicated to honoring our country and the soldiers that serve us, Fourth of July is undoubtedly my favorite, and not only because it’s a prime opportunity to create a summer cookout menu. While Memorial Day signifies the beginning of the summer, the weather hasn’t always caught up to the calendar. In some parts of the country, the sun shines regardless, but where I’ve lived, Memorial Day can just as easily mean a day indoors on the couch with the heater on. And Labor Day? Well, Labor Day is fine except for the fact that it essentially means summer is over and in just a few short weeks, we’ll be donning sweaters and winter coats. Depending on the summer’s average humidity index I tend to be okay with that, but nonetheless, Labor Day is kind of a bummer, don’t you think? So that leaves us with the Fourth of July. A day for the pool, the beach, barbecues, Popsicles, fireworks and sunburn. And of course, plenty of red, white and blue. Since party planning can be overwhelming no matter how often you entertain, we’ve pulled together some of our favorite […]

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Plan the Perfect Memorial Day Menu

Maris Callahan — Fri, 27 May 2011 01:57:25 +0000

Though it technically does not begin until the end of June, everyone knows that Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer. Which means, it’s almost time to plan that Memorial Day menu. Whether you’re enjoying the inaugural weekend of warm weather and sun with a cookout on the beach, picnic in the park or a simple spread on your two by four balcony, the days ahead of you probably entail celebration in some form. If you don’t have a sprawling beach house to retreat to [and let’s be honest, most of us don’t] all you need is a little bit of green space and some delicious food to enjoy under the sun with your friends, family or special someone. If you’re in charge of planning your Memorial Day menu, all you need is this delicious guide to help you usher in the summer season in a tasty way. From the Grill The next best thing to dining alfresco? Cooking alfresco. If you’re a carnivore, you’ll undoubtedly crave a burger – or one of its distant cousins – on the holiday weekend. With the smell of charcoal permeating the air no matter where you are, it will be hard to […]

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