Cottage Grub

[Jilliebean]

We just booked a week at a cottage for later this summer. I'm so excited that I'm already thinking about what menus to prepare. I'll be 7 1/2 mos pregnant so I won't want dishes that require a load of prep. Just wondering what kinds of food everyone likes to make for a nice afternoon or dinner with friends at the cottage?

[Lisa S]

Congratulations on the baby~ How wonderful!

For really, really easy, I love my old standby. Take a nice pork chop and lightly pepper and garlic the top, and then add a spoon of sour cream. Bake at about 350 (or BBQ) and serve. It's good enough for company and it doesn't get any easier than that!

[PLB]

Many congratulations on the baby, Jellibean!

My favorite summer meal when entertaining a few friends consists of a simple meal of bbq'd flank steak (london broil), a crusty bread with lots butter served on the side for slathering and a large salad. Ice cream or melon for dessert.

I marinade the steak in a ziplock bag over night or for at least four hours before preparing. I sometimes vary the marinade but usually use olive oil, onion that's minced very fine, a little crushed thyme, some cracked black pepper, red wine vinegar or lemon juice and a little brown sugar or honey.

We have a wonderful little bakery here that makes a crusty bread that has whole baked cloves of garlic studded in it. I just wrap it in foil and warm it in the oven while the steak is on the grill. It's to die for!

For the salad I use baby greens with extra baby spinach leaves added to it and thinly sliced red onion. Sometimes I offer salad dressing on the side but usually just toss with an italian dressing before serving. I like to offer a bowl of fresh summer tomatoes that are sliced up on the side as a few of our friends don't care for the taste of tomatoes. Can you imagine that!

Best wishes for much fun at your cottage,
PLB

[sararose]

One of my favorite easy vacation foods is shrimp boiled in beer. I don't think this would hurt your baby, as the alcohol is cooked off and the beer is drained away, but maybe ask your doctor anyhow.

[Jilliebean]

Thank you for the congratulations!

I do like to cook with beer and especially wine and I've never been concerned about the alcohol content because, like you say, it's long gone by the time it hits my mouth. These are all nice ideas. Keep em comin!

[Jenny]

Jillie, I am a big fan of snacky-hors deovre type foods. Crustinis, stuffed mushroom caps, boiled shrimp, wraps sliced to one inch wheels. And what my family calls a relish tray -- it's veggies and dips.

So much can be made ahead of time that this is practically painless. And carries well with conversation or games of cards or pool.

Sounds fun -- and congrats on the new baby -- as I recall 7 1/2 months is a pudgy but comfy time.

Have fun,
Jenny