Friday Fun - Memorial Weekend Edition

[Jonny Adams]

In the USA, 'nine to fivers' are already watching the clock for quitting time and the beginning of a three day weekend. On Monday we honor soldiers from past and present on Memorial Day. We also tend to have big cookouts, picnics, or barbeques and, for me and my friends, we typically hangout near a large body of water (I'm actually typing this with my toes in the sand on Orange Beach, Alabama).
Last night we grilled some ribeyes, roasted corn on the cob, stuffed jalapenos with cheese and wrapped them in bacon, and washed it all down with margaritas.
What is your go-to picnic/cookout meal and beverage of choice during the "barbeque season"?

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Smoked roasted corn on the cob works for me

Then I skewer whatever vegetables I can find and roast them with large slabs of halloumi which then goes into a wrap or pitta with chilli hummus.  

Washed down with chilled craft beer.

(I'm one of those "difficult to cook for gits" sometimes called "vegetarians")

[Jonny Adams]

@Nic Brough -Adaptavist- I don't think I've ever smoked corn, but now it's on the to do list!

[Matt Doar]

Hard to get it to light?

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

There are times when I love the curious twists of the English language :-)

For my distant youth, after I stopped eating meat, corn on the cob was often the only thing I could get at a barbeque, and everyone who cooked it wrapped it in aluminium foil, so it was basically baked.  This works absolutely fine.

Then I went to one where the cook did it without foil, on a grill over hot coals which he threw a load of hickory and herbs onto and put a lid on it, so the smoke lingered while the corn cooked.  This works VERY well.

Now, smoke me a gorilla, I'll be back for Christmas

[Bridget]

@Nic Brough -Adaptavist- I'm also veg! BBQs once equated to BYO for me, but then I moved to San Francisco. Now, it's hard to find a BBQ without grilled portobellos or tofu ;). But a delicious wrap + chilled craft beer = is music to my ears! 

[BiancaE]

@Nic Brough -Adaptavist- yes! I'd never had smoked corn before this year, but my partner does it by soaking corn in the full husk in water for a few hours, and then placing them on the grill for a juicy, smokey finish.

[LeKisha Boswell]

@BiancaE, that's exactly how I cook my corn.....it's so yummy. Try adding chili powder, feta, cilantro and garlic for a Mexican inspired recipe.  

[Grigory Salnikov]

Sausages in bacon, grilled vegetables, ribs and chicken :) Everything goes. 

I enjoy the process as much as the result.

Living in a big city, you start to appretiate these moments of nature even more.

[Jonny Adams]

@Grigory Salnikov we are big believers in plenty of pork for a cookout. At my last one I smoked a pork shoulder and had a cousin show up with a bean dish that had 5 pork cuts in it. 

Hanging around the smoker/grill on a nice day is a piece of paradise.

[Thomas Schlegel]

We have a barbecue a few times in the summer, sitting on the terrace with friends, enjoying our garden and the landscape:

Have a nice long weekend and enjoy your barbecue!

[Grigory Salnikov]

You too :)

[Jonny Adams]

Looks wonderful @Thomas Schlegel. Hope your weekend is nice as well.

[Erica Moss]

@Thomas Schlegel That looks so relaxing!

[Thomas Schlegel]

@Erica Moss thank you - it‘s not as exciting as New York, but there are times when you are looking for some „slowness“ in your life - and the theatres of Hamburg are just half an hour away 

[Erica Moss]

@Thomas Schlegel Yes!

[carolyn french]

Happy Memorial Day, @Jonny Adams and enjoy all that delicious food you are planning! Steak on the grill is always a favorite for me, and skewers of veggies (zucchini, summer squash, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc) is also a must. I love all the ideas for corn on the grill in this thread...must steal... Watermelon juice is my beverage of choice for the heat.

[Jonny Adams]

Thank you, @carolyn french. I also love grilling zucchini. I cut them into spears, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle liberally with salt/pepper/garlic powder.

[BiancaE]

Later in the summer, I LOVE grilled peaches! The soft, tender, juicy peaches, with the sweetness slightly caramelized from the flames. YUM. Sometimes I top it off with goat cheese and balsamic reduction. I wish I had some right now...

[Erica Moss]

I must try this.

[Jonny Adams]

That sounds amazing @BiancaE.

[Carol Jones]

I've never even heard of grilled peaches before, I'm going to have to try this!  Do you have a specific method you've found works best, or just chop them up and throw them in a grill basket?

[BiancaE]

I usually just cut them in half and remove the pit! I try to find sweet, ripe, but still firm ones, otherwise they can get too mushy and fall through the grate. 

[LeKisha Boswell]

Yum....definitely will be a treat at my next cookout!

[Erica Moss]

Hot dogs are my #1 choice when it comes to grilling, but this weekend was all about the ice cream (it was downright soupy in New York). This particular cone has dulce de leche, salt & vanilla soft serve.

[Bridget]

BRB having icecream for lunch

[Erica Moss]

@Bridget Full support.

[BiancaE]

 I want to eat this.

[Jonny Adams]

Now I am going to be on high alert for the siren song of the ice cream truck all day.

@Erica Moss how do you dress your hotdog?

[Erica Moss]

@Jonny Adams I'm a simple gal — just ketchup & mustard for me!

[LeKisha Boswell]

I'm such a foodie and cookouts are my favorite when eating with large groups or celebrating any occasion.

Smoked corn, asparagus and potatoes are delicious but are more complete with a steak (preferably a ribeye or t-bone) and a slice of watermelon. Ice water infused with melons or lemon is a nice treat in the heat otherwise a good cold Coke always suffices.

Geesh...anyone hungry???

[Heth Siemer]

Being from Texas originally, my dad makes some bomb brisket and pulled pork. But for memorial day this year instead of barbequeing we decided to build a porch. So yeah.