Summertime is in full swing, and considering that we're having a milder one in this area than the scorcher we had last summer, people are wanting to spend more time in the great outdoors, and we are...but a lot of that time is spent under the old umbrella. It's always a great time for friends and family to gather in the backyard, set up the volleyball net, take a dip in the pool, and of course, eat. If you are invited to a barbecue this year (be it in a backyard, or huddled around a George Foreman grill in someone's cozy, dry kitchen), and you just don't know what to bring, try one of these recipes I got from my mom:
The following isn't your typical creamy, white coleslaw. It's really good, and it looks really pretty!
Marinated Slaw
1 large head red cabbage, shredded
2 onions, sliced in rings
¾ cup sugar
1 cup vinegar
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon mustard seed
1 cup vegetable oil
Alternate layers of cabbage and onions in a serving bowl. Cover with sugar. In a saucepan, combine vinegar, salt, celery seeds, and mustard seeds. Bring to a boil. Add oil, and bring to another boil. Pour mixture over cabbage and onions. Cover, and refrigerate.
And these aren't your typical baked beans!
Calico Beans
1/3 pound ground beef, browned
½ pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup chopped onion
1 large can pork-n-beans
1 can lima beans, drained
1 can kidney beans, drained
½ cup ketchup
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon mustard
2 teaspoons vinegar
Mix all of the ingredients together. Pour into a large casserole dish. Bake at 350* for 40 minutes. Double the recipe for a large crowd.
Have fun outside this summer! Oh!! And don't forget to wear SPF 45, a hat, and sunglasses. Drink at least 64 ounces of water daily. Light citronella candles to avoid mosquitoes possibly carrying the West Nile virus (or some other potentially dangerous affliction). Quickly refrigerate food after serving. Wash your hands before, during, and after all food preparation. Use caution when lighting the grill... Always wear a flotation device when swimming; and for Heaven's sake, get out of the pool if it starts thundering and lightening! :)
Once again, I have to give my mom credit for both recipes. She is an awesome cook!
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