Cookouts & Bonfires
When I think about summer, I think about bonfires and cookouts. I think about sunglasses, suntans, hoodies for cold nights, shorts, flip flops, country music and making memories. I think about the simple things like staring at the stars and listening to the crickets and most importantly, I think about the amazing food! This blog is dedicated to just that… THE FOOD! Here’s to the cookouts and to the bonfires, I couldn’t decide which one reminded me more of summer… probably because cookouts often always lead to bonfires. But like the weather on the day I planned to have the cookout and bonfire, sometimes it rains or pours and bonfires are postponed or cancelled.
Cookouts are generally meals that are served outdoors during the day. During cookouts, attendees usually consume foods like hamburgers, hotdogs and BBQ foods. Bonfires are meals served at night beside a campfire. During bonfires, attendees usually consume foods like s’mores, mountain pies and other foods cooked by the campfire.
When I Planned the Cookout
On April 19, 2015 I held the cookout, and the weather was not on my side. It rained and poured and we had no choice but to eat our cookout food inside. What wonderful yet predictable Southwestern PA weather.
Who Attended
Ages of Attendees
What’s On The Menu
Our menu for the day consisted of Hamburgers, Hotdogs and Ham BBQ for the Entrées. For Sides we made Buffalo Chicken Dip, Macaroni Salad, Wedge Salads, Grilled Potatoes, Marinated Mushrooms and Corn on the Cob. For appetizers we made a vegetable tray, a meat and cheese tray and deviled eggs. For dessert we had a Jell-O based dessert. Now I say we because I had a little help preparing all of the dishes… after all, cookouts are always a family thing.
Favorite Food of Attendees
The Food
Jell-O Dessert
The cookout recipe I would like to highlight is the recipe for Jell-O dessert.
Ingredients:
1 small box of any kind of Jell-O (I used Cherry)
1 tub of cool whip
1 cup of miniature marshmallows.
Directions:
In a large bowl, fold the Jell-O powder with cool whip. Add the miniature marshmallows, mix and place in the fridge for 2-3 hours. Stir before serving
When I made this recipe, I did it in the morning before I did anything else so the ingredients had time to chill and mix before I served the dessert.
Mountain Pies
Although it rained the day of my cookout, I felt it would be best to include a bonfire recipe.
Tools:
1 pie maker
Ingredients:
Cooking Spray
1 Loaf of Bread
Fruit Flavored Pie Filling
OR
Pizza Sauce
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Pepperoni
Directions:
Spray both sides of pie maker with cooking spray. Place a slice of bread on each side of the pie maker, place pie filling (OR) pizza sauce, cheese and pepperoni on one side of the “sandwich”. Close pie maker and put it into the fire for 1 minute. Take the pie maker away from the fire and use caution because it will be hot. Consume once cooled.
Closing
I hope you all have a wonderful summer and use some of these recipes next time your family has a get-together. I know I look forward to when my family spends time together and it’s even a better time when everyone is working together to reach a particular goal like cooking a family dinner.
Thanks for looking at Cooking Up Summer!! **All content used on this site was made by me, for the enjoyment of the public, including photos, videos, and the print story.
-Tori Adams