Ummmm, I can smell those burgers now! Fire up that grill a few more times!  Nothing like  casual outdoor get- togethers to summarize summer. Yes, Labor Day has a wacky way of announcing  “that’s it, summer’s over!”. Well, not for this summer loving soul. I stretch it out as long as possible. Luckily warm weather will linger and the “barbee” will see lots of action. I hope yours will too.

They’re so many ways to enjoy casual dining, al fresco. The east coast has clam bakes, lobster boils. The midwest has bar-b-que ribs. The west has,  you name it, anything goes,  including grilled fruit and veggies. The Aussies put shrimp on the barbee (only it’s winter there now). I think anything you cook outdoors just tastes better. It must be that secret ingredient…”oau de outside”.

A fun get together we do every year, is to have a corn roast at the beach. We get friends together and divide up the meat and side dishes.  But, the highlight of the day, is a corn roast. If you haven’t had fresh local sweet corn (picked that day) boiled in salty sea water over an open bonfire at the beach…well, you haven’t lived! It’s great fun, and after your fill of butter bathed corn, pull out the marshmallows, grahams and chocolate for seaside smores. Yum!  After the sun sets,  a roaring bonfire crackles through the sound of the breaking waves, a symphony of calming contrasts.   Yes, the simple things are the best things in life.

We’d love to hear how you hang-out in the summer. Any fun cook-outs you do or have been to?  Any quick and easy recipes or tips for outdoor eating? Here’s a few yummy add-ons to corn on the cob, not that you need any, but sometimes it’s fun to gild-the-lily.

Mix together these things (seperately),  and spread on corn…

• Parmesan cheese and butter
• Garlic salt and butter
• Lemon pepper and butter
• Cayenne pepper, chili powder, salt and butter
• Curry butter
• Wasabi butter
• Italian seasoning and olive oil
• Mrs. Dash and butter
• Guacamole and lime
• Honey, cinnamon butter

Enjoy the rest of the summer…It can continue for as long as you like, even if you’re chillin’ while grillin’!