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Birthdays, Holidays, Celebrations

Summer Round-up

By July 2, 2014July 10th, 2014168 Comments

We here in the DALS house are going to be traveling a bit over the next week or so, and Iโ€™m not entirely sure how much Iโ€™ll be able to chime in while Iโ€™m away. (I reserve the right to change my mind.) So here is a little round-up to hold you over til we return. Have a great Fourth and Happy Summer!

A guide to 1600 swimminโ€™ holes (dropping the โ€˜gโ€™ is required, says my husband) across the US and Canada.

I made thisย Strawberry Shortcakeย last weekend for guests and it rocked. (If you added some blueberries in there, it would be the perfect red, white, and blue Fourth dessert.)

Is this why Iโ€™ve never liked the word โ€œfoodie?โ€

With this news, Grand Central Terminal, perhaps my most favorite building on earth, just became my favorite-ist to the hundredth power.

Everything tastes better when these string lightsย light up the patio table.

Before I travel to any major city, I pretty much always check the BA Weekender Guides at Bon Appetit โ€” where to eat, stay, visit โ€” and theyโ€™ve never failed me yet.

We are not soda people in general, but if we were, our fridge would be stocked with this all summer long.

Andy has had this onย repeat all week, and as far as I can tell, he shows no signs of letting up any time soon.

Canโ€™t you see these make-aheadย Chocolate Caramel Picnic Puddingsย being the perfect way to end your Fourth celebration? (And if you have time, check out the entireย site,ย masterminded by two supremely talented food-world vets.)

Or as long as weโ€™re on the subject of make-ahead treats: Mollyโ€™s Strawberry-Yogurt Pops. (Scroll down a few posts.)

No such thing as too young when it comes to reading aloud to your kids.

Rose Sangria!

Thanks to everyone who participated in myย Dinner: The Playbookย challenge. Random House helped me put together aย mini-slideshowย of some of our favorite pics (scroll over to see who submitted each one) but you can also just find them on instagram by searching the hashtag #dinnerplaybook. Hope you all had fun. (And thanks Max W. and Maggie O. for all your hard work on this!)

Two Oldies but Goodies for the Grill: Pork with Peaches and Tonyโ€™s Steak.

No doubt youโ€™ll be throwing some dogs on the barbie this holiday weekend. To celebrate this decidedly happy occasion, and to call attention to their โ€œWhatโ€™s in Your Hot Dogโ€ campaign, Applegate has offered to give away โ€œWeinervention Kitsโ€ (hot dogs, buns, relish, grill tools, and everything else) to two lucky DALS readers.

Just leave a comment below to be eligible.ย (It wouldnโ€™t hurt if you shared what youโ€™re grilling for the Fourth โ€” hot dogs or otherwise.)ย Contest ends Saturday, July 5 at noon ET. UPDATE: THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PLAYED!

All photos up top taken at Rye Playland in Rye, NY.ย 

168 Comments

  • Avatar Adrienne says:

    Growing up, we always had Cornell chicken in the summer โ€“ might have to grill some up for the 4th.

  • Avatar christina says:

    My 7 yr old needs a new dog in town โ€” sheโ€™s starting to rebel against the chicken and turkey. As for grilling, we havenโ€™t even started yet this summer โ€” poor showing for us!

  • Avatar Lisa says:

    I donโ€™t know what we are having yet. Yikes!

  • Avatar Liss says:

    Hooray for wieners!

  • Avatar SAC says:

    Smoked pork butt!

  • Avatar RES says:

    Smoked pork roast!

  • Avatar RES says:

    We are smoking a pork roast for pulled pork sandwiches.

  • Avatar Emily says:

    We will be grilling ribs, roasted garlic chicken sausages, bell peppers, onions, and corn on the cob!

  • Avatar Allison says:

    Kind of hot in the AZ sunshine at lunch time so we are making pulled pork in the crockpot with Pioneer Womanโ€™s spicy pasta salad-yum!!! Would love to try the hot dog grilling kit!

  • Avatar Tonpia says:

    Since the 4th also celebrates the birth of my pa, weโ€™ll be celebrating himself with some steaks and some corn. Itโ€™s time for good corn.

  • Avatar Steve Louis says:

    the first thing i ever tried making was chicken and believe me it was fab!!!!

  • Avatar Miche says:

    Iโ€™ll be staying with a friend out of town, so no word yet on what weโ€™re grilling! In my perfect world, itโ€™d be a big batch of hatch chili peppers.

  • Avatar Lori says:

    My husband sure lives his fire! As long as Iโ€™m not cooking, menu is fine with me! I may suggest shrimp or fish, though, and portobellos.

  • Avatar Jodi says:

    Not sure what weโ€™ll be grilling tomorrow โ€“ thatโ€™s the hubbyโ€™s department. But I just read Bittmanโ€™s recipe for the sour cherry old fashioned and it had me thinking at 845 am that it must be 5pm somewhereโ€ฆ.

  • Avatar Maggie says:

    Thanks for the great roundup! Planning to grill St. Louis style pork steaks but that pork and peaches looks good too.

  • Avatar JaxRD says:

    Iโ€™ll be eating a sandwich.. at work (childrenโ€™s hospital).

    Hopefully, will be grilling this weekend though (shrimp! bread! asparagus!), however, Iโ€™m also on call.

    Sick kids donโ€™t take days offโ€ฆ.

  • Avatar Jennyg says:

    Weinerintervention will take place with dogs, brats, and burgers! Some corn will be grilled and put in a salad with cherry tomatoes grilled peppers and a yummy vinaigrette.

  • Avatar Liz R. says:

    No grill (city-dweller), but will certainly be creating some red, white, and blue treats! That strawberry shortcake just might make the cutโ€ฆ

  • Avatar Nicky says:

    Weโ€™ll be putting some chicken and hotdogs on the grill to chow down before the fireworks.

  • Avatar Cathy says:

    Hubs just got a new grill, so itโ€™s dogs and brats tonight, burgers tomorrow. Some sort of slaw and/or pasta salad on the side for both nights. And sโ€™mores, obv.

  • Avatar Jennifer says:

    For Fatherโ€™s Day, I gave my husband a mint condition 1991 cherry red Weber gas grill that I found in a FREE PILE! Woot! Weโ€™ll surely be having dogs on the grill and your eggy potato salad!

  • Lori says:

    Have a great week!!! We will be grilling ribs, chicken and hot dogs. Going to have some lovely deviled eggs too since you reminded me of themโ€ฆ what a forgotten treasure they are. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Avatar betsy says:

    We are in Alaska for the 4th so most likely grilled shrimp and salmon.

  • Avatar Sherri says:

    Weโ€™ll be having smoked ribs for the 4th. Have a great holiday!

  • Avatar cgw says:

    Rye Playland!!!! My husband and I used to live in Harrison, so we know it well. Ahhh, memories. Is that little cafe-diner close by still there?

    Weโ€™ll be grilling various meats and veggies for the adults, and hot dogs for the littlesโ€ฆand some adults, I imagine.

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