It’s September! Even though it’s roaring in like a furnace (95° today), I am so excited because the nights and mornings are cooler. And for me, it’s the unofficial start of Fall (22 days), one of my favorite seasons!
Here in the US, we celebrate Labor Day this weekend, which for most of us means a long holiday weekend, end-of-summer cookouts, pool parties, and potlucks.
So today’s newsletter is chock-full of great barbecue recipes, sides, salads, and more! Be sure to use the table of contents to jump to the recipe you are interested in.
Favorite Summer Grill Recipes
As you fired up the grill, consider a few of these favorites.
Best Smash Burger Recipe with Onions
Delicious Smashburger Recipe: Juicy patties sizzling on a Blackstone griddle, topped with caramelized onions. Your taste buds will thank you!
The Best Bison Burger Recipe with Caramelized Onions
Juicy, tasty, flavorful, healthier bison burger, loaded with caramelized onions on a salty pretzel bun! (Or easily convert to beef, chicken or turkey), using pantry staples!
Easy Hibachi Steak and Shrimp Recipe with Fried Rice
Easy Hibachi Steak and Shrimp Recipe. Buttery shrimp and tender steak marinated in soy sauce, accompanied by crisp hibachi vegetables, served on perfectly-fried rice, and topped with creamy Yum Yum sauce!
Shish Kebabs {Beef or Chicken Marinade}
An amazingly simple but delicious marinade for beef, pork or chicken. Skewer it up with your favorite veggies and you've got dinner with these summertime shish kebabs.
Famous Flank Steak Marinade
This is our family’s favorite way to enjoy flank steak! A quick and saucy Asian marinade, grill it up, slice it and enjoy!
Best Chicken Marinade | Coconut Lime Chicken
Moist, bursting with flavor, this grilled coconut lime chicken is sure to please. Freezer and kid friendly, perfect for your next BBQ. Whole30, Paleo, Keto, Gluten & Dairy Free!
Oven Baked Barbecue Beef Brisket
Barbecue beef brisket; tender brisket, thinly sliced, richly spiced, swimming in a rich, smokey barbecue sauce.
Simple Starters
Cowboy Crack Dip Recipe (Hot or Cold)
Not your average Philadelphia cream cheese dip recipe. Cowboy Crack Dip is cheesy, creamy, savory, and fresh — the perfect appetizer. This Crack Dip recipe is a classic appetizer ideal for your next party; like the big game, holiday get-togethers, a clear party favorite!
Best Crudite Dip Recipe for Veggie Platters
This is the best Crudite dip recipe you'll ever make! Throw together the ingredients in minutes, then serve with crisp raw vegetables, chips, or crackers. The perfect recipe for parties and potlucks, the dip that will have everyone begging for the recipe.
Easy Pesto Appetizer Recipe with Burrata and Roasted Tomatoes
This Easy Pesto Appetizer Recipe with Burrata and Roasted Tomatoes is gorgeous, versatile and delicious! This recipe includes fresh roasted cherry tomatoes, delicate burrata cheese, and warm and crispy baguette crostini topped with a pop of green with fresh basil pesto.
Charcuterie Cups – How to Pack a Perfect Charcuterie Board to Go
These individual charcuterie cups are everything you love about charcuterie boards but loads more fun! I'll show you how to pack a charcuterie board to go. These tasty single–serve treats are easy to make, portable, and perfect for gatherings large and small.
Zucchini Corn Fritters
Enjoy the bounty of summer veggies with this scrumptious appetizer for Zucchini Corn Fritters. These sweet corn fritters are loaded with healthy, fresh vegetables, in a simple buttermilk batter, briefly fried and finished in the oven. They are light, easy and you can make them gluten free. These Zucchini Corn Fritters are chock full of
Heirloom Tomato Pie
This delicious Heirloom Tomato Pie recipe features caramelized onions, goat cheese, fresh basil and bacon! A hearty appetizer, perfect for summer entertaining, this tomato pie highlights summers freshest produce! Easily make gluten free or omit the bacon for a vegetarian dish.
Seasonal Salads, Dressings and Sauces
Best Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad recipe is loaded with chicken, bacon, vegetables, ranch dressing, and perfectly cooked farfalle pasta.
Easy Mexican Street Corn Rice Bowls Recipe
Make these easy Mexican Street Corn Rice Bowls today! Crispy corn and fluffy rice are coated in a creamy elotes-inspired sauce and topped with delicious cotija cheese for added flavor. The best Mexican corn rice recipe.
Best Healthy Mexican Chopped Salad with Lime Dressing
A Healthy Mexican Chopped Salad recipe with honey lime dressing full of fresh corn, creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, jicama, and black beans.
Best Steakhouse Wedge Salad Recipe (with Romaine)
Healthier Romaine wedge salad is topped with creamy blue cheese dressing, bacon bits, blue cheese crumbles, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and candied pecans; the best Steakhouse wedge salad.
Best Italian Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes
All the right flavors, bright and colorful, packed into this beautiful pasta salad. Great for a crowd or your family, the leftovers are even better!
Best Easy Italian Chopped Salad Recipe
Loaded Italian chopped salad with fresh veggies, salami, provolone, kalamata olives, and homemade Italian vinaigrette. A light and delicious meal that will make you love salads!
Quick Dressings and Sauces
- Whip up this easy Smash Burger Sauce or this Yum Yum Sauce for your burgers, stir-fries and more!
- Spruce up your favorite salad with homemade zesty Italian dressing, chunky blue cheese, creamy and cool Ranch dressing or this honey lime dressing.
- How about this Rocky Mountain Barbeque sauce, this Carrabba’s Seasoning (great on everything from meat to seafood to veggies) or this homemade honey Teriyaki sauce.
Summer sides that will wow friends and family
Crockpot Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole Recipe
Crockpot Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole is rich, cheesy, and the ultimate comfort food! It's almost effortless, made with frozen hashbrowns, butter, and sour cream all tossed into the slow cooker, for the easiest side dish ever!
Easy Corn Casserole without Jiffy
Easy corn casserole without Jiffy is so simple, using everyday, all-natural ingredients. This corn pudding recipe, simply put — is the best corn side dish. Plus easily adapt this recipe to be gluten-free.
Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe with Corn Flakes
Cheesy potato casserole topped with buttery corn flakes, creamy, cheesy, easy with no canned soup. The best potluck and holiday dish ever. Make ahead and gluten free option.
Best Ever Cowboy Baked Beans
BEST EVER Cowboy Baked Beans are the perfect hearty side dish for your summer BBQ, Father’s Day, Picnic or July 4th celebration!
Drool-worthy Desserts
From recipes featuring fresh summer fruits to your favorite ice cream, check out all of my dessert recipes. Below are the most popular desserts on the blog!
Best Peach Cobbler Pound Cake Recipe
An easy show-stopping peach cobbler pound cake recipe. Who doesn’t love peach pound cake? Plus easy adjustments for high altitude, this peach cobbler cake comes together in minutes but looks fancy.
The Best Key Lime Pie | A Traditional Key Lime Pie Recipe
This is the BEST Key Lime Pie, so easy too! A traditional Key Lime pie recipe that is, citrusy, sweet-tart — the perfect sweet to-pucker ratio; light and bright with a crisp not-to-sweet graham cracker crust! Award winning!
Best Oreo Dessert Pudding (Oreo Delight)
My Oreo dessert pudding recipe features one delicious, indulgent layer after the next. A buttery Oreo cookie crust, a pillowy whipped cream and cream cheese layer, and rich, thick chocolate pudding all come together for an absolutely heavenly dessert!
Easy Strawberry Shortcake Cookie Recipe
This strawberry season, you are going to fall in love with this Old-Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake recipe. Really it's a strawberry shortcake cookie recipe, buttery, rich, nutty; this will become your new favorite homemade shortcake recipe.
Best Mud Pie Recipe (Ice Cream Cake)
Outrageously delicious & easy! Mile High Mud Pie is layers of creamy ice, fudge and whatever you want to put between with a rich oreo cookie crust.
Easy Fresh Peach Dump Cake Recipe
My Fresh Peach Dump Cake Recipe is just the right combination of fresh peach fruity flavor with that buttery, crunchy good streusel topping. I'll teach you how to make peach cobbler with cake mix making it a delicious dessert perfect for summertime.
Easy Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe (no eggs)
Five ingredients — that's it, just five simple and basic ingredients to this AMAZING, creamy, no-cook, old-fashioned homemade chocolate ice cream, no eggs! Keep it basic or get creative with your mix-ins, regardless this is an amazing ice cream.
Lemon Dump Cake Recipe
Filled with tangy lemon curd, fluffy cake mix, and yummy cream cheese, my lemon dump cake recipe is the ultimate! This is one of those easy dessert recipes that comes together with just 15-minutes of prep time! Also called lemon cream cheese dump cake.
The Best Easy No Bake Banana Pudding Recipe (Magnolia Banana Pudding)
Magnolia Banana Pudding recipe is an old-fashioned Nilla wafer banana pudding recipe (no bake) made from scratch. Thick, creamy and easy homemade banana pudding is made using sweetened condensed milk, and then folded into thick whipped cream, layered with Nilla wafers and sliced bananas for a truly old fashioned banana pudding!
Best Copycat Crumbl Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
This classic Crumbl chocolate chip cookie recipe is a perfect copycat of the real thing. Packed with milk chocolate chips, this no-chill copycat Crumbl cookie recipe will become a family favorite. Learn how to make these incredibly popular cookies right at home!
Summer Sips (with and without alcohol)
Almost all of my cocktails can be made into mocktails, so if something hits your taste buds, be sure to look for how to make it into a mocktail if that is your preference.
Best Pink Lemonade Vodka Cocktail Recipe (+ Mocktail)
A simple, 5-minute pink lemonade vodka cocktail! With a few simple ingredients, this fresh and all-natural pink lemonade vodka drink will become a summer favorite! This easy cocktail recipe can be made by the glass or pitcher! Mocktail instructions too!
Blueberry Gin Fizz Cocktail (Empress Gin Cocktail)
Learn how to make this gorgeous, Blueberry Gin Cocktail or Blueberry Gin Fizz. Layered with blueberry syrup, spicy ginger beer, and Empress gin. Follow my easy steps to create this lovely ombré layered look by a simple “float” process.
Hibiscus Dark and Stormy Drink Recipe
This Hibiscus Dark and Stormy recipe is just the vibrant burst of tropical sunshine we need! Dark rum, spicy, floral hibiscus ginger beer and fresh lime juice is all it takes!
Cherry Bomb Recipe | Cherry Bourbon Smash
Cherry Bomb recipe, a fresh cocktail or mocktail made with fresh (or frozen) cherries muddled with bourbon, vanilla, maple syrup, lemon and club soda.
Easy Frozen Paloma Cocktail
Try our Frozen Paloma recipe made with grapefruit juice, lime juice, and simple syrup! This tangy and sweet drink is perfect for any occasion, and the frozen twist adds a unique touch to the classic Paloma. Don’t miss out on this crowd-pleaser!
Watermelon Slush
Juicy, ripe red watermelon, frozen and blended into this refreshing, delicious and healthy watermelon slush! With just 3 main ingredients, this all natural, no sugar slushie recipe is the essential cool summer drink!
Easy Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
There is nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than a tall glass of iced peach green tea lemonade. This copycat Starbucks version is a bit lighter, using all natural flavor, no sugar, fresh peach juice, light lemonade and Jade Citrus Mint Tea, a flavorful green tea.
How to Make a Homemade Strawberry Refresher
The Strawberry Refresher is a light non-alcoholic drink made with summer fresh strawberry syrup, lime juice and your favorite mixer. Perfect for a warm spring or summer day, refreshing and delicious.
Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail
This Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail recipe will warm your soul on these chilly autumn evenings. Fresh apple butter, classic apple cider, rich vanilla, and orange flavors beautifully blend with bourbon's sweet and bitter notes.
In the here and now | Real-life stories
I hope you have some non-laborious plans for your Labor Day weekend! We are grateful to be heading to the mountains with friends and out of the heat for the long weekend.
Main Floor Remodel Update | Week 8
The changes this week were small but mighty; my hubby and our contractor hung our TV, and he got all of the baseboards cut; he just needs to stain them and nail them in. He installed the rest of the doors and is putting the finishing touches on the powder room.
Love this TV mount, Full Motion TV Mount with Articulating Arm, plus it has a hidden rack to suspend the sound bar with.
What Caught My Eye | Sales and Deals
Check out all of my Amazon, etc. finds HERE! Plus, previous week’s finds!
- If you look closely on the coffee table on the above picture, you can see these cute fall vases!
- I am waiting for this pretty floral dress to arrive for a bridal shower I’m going to, I will probably wear a camisole or bralette with it since it’s lower cut than I usually wear.
- This Bose Soundbar is on sale this weekend on Amazon – might get it as a surprise for my hubby!
- Watch for Lightening Deals for Labor Day; for instance, I bought a couple of sets of my favorite measuring spoons at 46% off! Magnetic, and the oval side fits nicely into spice jars!
- This is the book we’re reading for book club in September — have you read it? It’s by the author of The Martian, my oldest son’s favorite books and movies.
- I bought this slipcover to try and get another 6 months out of our tired old couch, I’ll let you know!
- Not a Prime Member — discover the benefits.
Weekly Inspiration | God Isn’t Asking You to Hold It All Together
I loved this encouraging article this week.
If there is one thing that makes me uncomfortable, it’s uncertainty.
When faced with uncertain situations, I tighten my grip on anything I can, just trying to hold all the pieces together. If I can keep things under control, maybe I can keep things from falling apart.
The problem is: The more I realize all that is outside my control, the more panicked I become.
As a Christian, I want to trust God wholeheartedly. I want to surrender into His capable hands my desperate desire for control. But if I’m honest, the minute things feel uncertain, I’m more propelled to feel scared than I am to remember God’s sovereignty.
Can you relate? Read more
From Proverbs31 by Dr. Joel Muddamalle
Are you battling sickness? God is near. Hope is near.
Are you riddled with fear and anxiety? God is near. Hope is near.
Are you in a tough parenting season? God is near. Hope is near.
Are you waiting for a prayer to be answered? God is near. Hope is near.
I pray you have a “lingering” kind of weekend! Thank you for stopping by today and for supporting The Fresh Cooky.
P.S. If you missed last week’s Fresh Fridays, recipes, sales, tips, ideas, and more!
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