Summer is coming to a close, so I’m trying to get in all the grilling I can while it’s still light and warm enough! This past weekend, two relatives came over for a nice backyard birthday dinner! Easy meals, but an upgrade from your basic burgers and dogs. We enjoyed Spinach-Artichoke Tartines from Good Housekeeping magazine, Grilled Shrimp Scampi from AllRecipes, an Espresso Chipotle Rub from Women’s Health magazine on a flank steak, some simple grilled corn on the cob, Pineapple-Raspberry Bellinis from Martha Stewart Living, and a Natural Red Velvet Cake from Good Housekeeping UK! See below for the recipes.
Spinach-Artichoke Tartines
Rating: A+
How to make it an A+: Simple and delicious. This gets bonus points for being able to do all the prep ahead of time and just broil at the end!
Grilled Shrimp Scampi
Rating: A+
How to make it an A+: Another quick and flavorful crowd-pleaser!
Espresso Chipotle Rub
Rating: A+
How to make it an A+: Rubs are WAY better than marinades in my opinion. I coated a flank steak about two hours before grilling. I couldn’t find the Spanish Sweet Paprika, such just used regular.
Pineapple-Raspberry Bellini
Rating: B
How to make it an A+: Just eh. This made me realize I do not love pineapple juice, and, despite there being two fruits and some bubbly, I think I would still want a dash of simple syrup and maybe a squeeze of lime!
Natural Red Velvet Cake
Rating: A
How to make it an A+: So beautiful and so moist. It gets points for using beets instead of artificial coloring, but the beet flavor is definitely there. I might add a dash more cocoa or even stir in some chocolate chips to offset the earthiness!
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