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Memorial Day: Celebrate, Remember and Honor

It’s here … the unofficial start to summer and the time that all of us in the Northeast eagerly await. More importantly however, it honors the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. We are forever indebted to them.

 

Enjoy this holiday of remembrance by spending time with loved ones. Whether you gather together for a backyard barbecue or a picnic by the lake, we have some recipe favorites to make it great!

Summer Salads

Salads are the perfect sides for all your summer get-togethers. When warm weather hits, we crave the delicious freshness of the season. 

Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad

Fresh and flavorful, this simple recipe is the perfect main dish or a fabulous side dish to bring along to any get together:


8 oz. bowtie pasta, cooked according to package directions

2 cups asparagus, steamed tender crisp

3 cups diced cooked chicken

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

½ cup chopped red onion

¼ cup sliced black olives

¾ cup pesto sauce (homemade or store-bought)

3 tbsp grated Parmesan


Combine pasta and asparagus in a large bowl. Stir in chicken, tomatoes, onion and olives. Add pesto sauce and grated Parm. Toss gently. Serves 6.

Greek Pasta Salad

July 12, 2022
INGREDIENTS Dressing ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil ⅓ cup red wine vinegar 2 T. fresh lemon juice 1 tsp. Dijon mustard 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tsp. dried oregano salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste Salad 1 lb. rotini, farfalle or penne pasta 1 large yellow pepper, diced 1 seedless cucumber, diced 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved 1 cup cubed feta cheese ¾ cup halved and pitted Kalamata olives ½ cup finely chopped red onion ½ cup chopped parsley INSTRUCTIONS Add all the dressing ingredients to a glass jar, and shake vigorously to combine. Use a spoon to stir if Dijon mustard is sticking to the bottom. Refrigerate until ready to use. Shake dressing again right before adding to the salad. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Rinse under cold water until the pasta is cool to the touch. In a large bowl, combine the pasta, peppers, cucumber, tomatoes, feta, olives, onion and parsley. Drizzle dressing in small increments over the over salad, and toss, adding more dressing as needed. Chill for 1--2 hours before serving. Serves 12.

Green Bean Salad

April 7, 2022
INGREDIENTS 2 lbs. fresh green beans, cleaned and trimmed 1 ½ tbsp salt 1 medium red onion, sliced 6 Roma tomatoes, each cut into 6 sections, lengthwise 2 tsp minced garlic 1 tsp sugar 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar Salt and pepper to taste INSTRUCTIONS Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add salt. Drop beans into water and blanch for 2-3 minutes. Remove beans from hot water and place immediately into cold water until completely cold. Drain beans well. Combine beans, red onion, tomatoes, garlic, sugar, olive oil and balsamic vinegar in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for several hours.  Mix thoroughly prior to serving. Serves 8.

Broccoli Salad

August 19, 2021
INGREDIENTS 2-3 large heads broccoli, chopped 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 6-8 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled ½ cup diced red onion ½ cup craisins ½ cup sunflower seeds INSTRUCTIONS Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl, and combine. Dressing 1 cup mayonnaise ¼ cup sugar 2 tbsp white vinegar Prepare the dressing by whisking all the ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth. Pour dressing over broccoli salad, add salt and pepper if desired and mix well. Refrigerate for several hours before serving to allow flavors to marry. Can be made a day ahead.

Loaded Baked Potato Salad

July 28, 2021
Serves: 6-8

Main Fare

While everyone loves traditional cookout foods, it’s always a good idea to introduce some new ones for variety and to keep the menu interesting:

New England Style Clambake

August 26, 2021
INGREDIENTS 1 ½ lbs. seaweed 4 chorizo or other sausage links 2 sweet onions, cut into wedges 1 ½ lbs. small new potatoes, scrubbed 4 ears corn, shucked 4 lobsters (approximately 1 ¼ lbs. each) 4 dozen littleneck clams, scrubbed 2 cups dry white wine or beer 4 sprigs fresh thyme 4-6 lemon wedges, quartered or halved 2 sticks unsalted butter, melted INSTRUCTIONS Preheat gas grill to medium-high heat or if using a charcoal grill, light briquettes. Coals are ready to cook on when covered with light gray ash. Place half of the seaweed in the bottom of a 16-quart (or larger) pot. Add chorizo or sausage followed by onions, then potatoes. Stand corn along the edge of the pot, stem side down. Add thyme sprigs and pepper. Add the lobsters followed by the clams, tied loosely in cheesecloth. Pour in wine or beer. Place the remaining seaweed on top and cover with lid. Place the pot on a preheated grill or on the stove over high heat. Cook until steam starts to escape, approximately 35 minutes on the grill and 12 minutes on the stove. If cooking on the stove, reduce heat to medium-high and begin timing. Steam cook for approximately 15 minutes or just until the lobsters are bright red. Be sure to discard any clams that may not have opened. Serve it up outside on tables covered with lots of newspaper, and for a beachy feel, put out small pails to discard the shells in. Don’t waste that flavorful cooking broth! Provide everyone with a small cup and let them enjoy soaking it up with warm, crusty bread.

Mango BBQ Chicken Thighs

August 5, 2021
INGREDIENTS 2 mangoes, peeled, pitted and chopped 1/2 cup barbecue sauce 1 tbsp fresh lime juice 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 1/4 cup tightly packed fresh cilantro sprigs plus additional chopped for garnish (optional) 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds) 4 bottles (12 ounces each) Goose Island Beer Company® Lost Palate Hazy IPA INSTRUCTIONS 1. In blender, purée mangoes, barbecue sauce, lime juice, salt and pepper on high until smooth; add cilantro and purée 15 seconds or until cilantro is chopped. Makes about 2 1/3 cups. 2. Place chicken in large zip-top plastic bag; pour 1 1/2 cups mango mixture over chicken. Seal bag, pressing out excess air. Massage chicken in bag; refrigerate at least 4 or up to 8 hours. 3. Prepare outdoor grill for direct grilling over medium heat; let chicken stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade. Place chicken, skin side up, on hot grill rack; cover and cook 20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°, brushing chicken with remaining 3/4 cup mango mixture and turning every 5 minutes. 4. Serve chicken sprinkled with cilantro, if desired, paired with Goose Island Lost Palate Hazy IPA. Approximate nutritional values per serving (1 chicken thigh, 1 beer): 582 Calories, 20g Fat, 5g Saturated Fat, 173mg Cholesterol, 459mg Sodium, 37g Carbohydrates, 1g Fiber, 17g Sugars, 7g Added Sugars, 31g Protein.

Grilled St. Louis Style Pork Spareribs

June 7, 2021
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Avocado Bacon Barbecue Burger

June 4, 2021
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Grilled Balsamic Steak & Gorgonzola Pizza

February 10, 2021
Prep 15 minutes · Grill 30 minutes · Serves 4

Mexican Street Corn Brats

February 10, 2021
Prep 15 minutes · Grill 27 minutes · Serves 4

Sweet Endings

Warmer weather calls for no-bake desserts, and these are some of our favorites! 

Banana Split Pie

Be forewarned- this classic dessert with its creamy filling and luscious layers will be requested again and again!

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Fruit Pizza

This recipe quickly became an office favorite when a teammate treated us to it. One bite, and we were hooked!

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No-Bake Oreo Mousse Cake

Decadent and delicious, this extra special no-bake cake is perfect for your Memorial Day gathering!

Get Recipe

Mocktails and Cocktails

Whether you're in the mood for a non-alcoholic beverage or an alcoholic one, here’s a few options to choose from:

Blueberry Lemon Breeze

July 27, 2022
INGREDIENTS 10 blueberries Lemon slice ½ tsp. superfine sugar Ice 2 oz. blueberry vodka Club soda Lemon wedge for garnish INSTRUCTIONS Middle 6 or 7 blueberries, lemon slice and sugar together in a cocktail shaker or glass. Add ice, vodka and shake. Strain into a glass filled with ice and top with club. Garnish with remaining blueberries and lemon wedge.

Sparkling Summer Sangria

July 8, 2021
Crisp, light, and fruity, this sparkling white sangria contains less alcohol than most traditional sangrias, making it a refreshing choice when you want some alcohol but not too much.

Moscow Mule Mocktail

July 8, 2021
No one will miss the vodka in this booze-free version of the popular cocktail!

Spa Spritzer

July 8, 2021
If you love cucumber, you’ll love this light drink that’s reminiscent of infused water found at a spa.

Sweet-tart blueberries and sour lemon are the ultimate flavor combination!

Mix up a pitcher of this light and fruity sangria. It’s the perfect drink to serve or sip on at backyard barbecues.

No vodka needed to enjoy this non-alcoholic version of this trendy cocktail!

You may not be at a spa, but it sure will feel like it with this sparkling non-alcoholic beverage. 

Enjoy any one of these refreshing beverages wherever your celebration, and remember to raise a glass to remember the fallen soldiers that gave their all to protect our freedoms.

Please remember to both serve and drink alcohol responsibly!

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