What REALLY makes a summer BBQ party a success? THE FOOD! Ambience is important, but when growling tummies prevail, you want to serve food that satisfies. No doubt you have family favourites that everybody loves, but if you want to try something different, here are a couple of favourites from our family here at Stoney Creek Furniture. BON APPETIT!

Asparagus and Tomato Salad (Serves 4)

Ingredients

8 oz./225 g. asparagus spears

1 lamb’s lettuce or Boston lettuce, washed and torn

A handful of arugula leaves

1 lb./450 g. ripe tomatoes, sliced

12 black olives, pitted and chopped

1 tbsp. toasted pine nuts

Dressing

1 tsp. lemon oil

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 tsp. whole grain mustard

2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper

Method

Steam the asparagus spears for 8 minutes or until tender. Rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cut into 2 inch pieces.

Arrange lettuce and arugula around a salad platter to form the base of the salad. Place the sliced tomatoes in a circle on the top and the asparagus in the centre.

Sprinkle the olives and pine nuts over the top. Put the lemon oil, olive oil, mustard and vinegar in a secure jar and add salt and pepper to taste. Shake vigorously and drizzle over the salad.

Owner’s Pick!! Dennis Novosel’s Favourite Pork Chop Marinade

(Remember, guys like to keep things simple!)

Ingredients

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup honey

Pinch of salt

Pinch of ground pepper

Method

Slightly beat the meat with fist to tenderize it and use fingers to rub salt and ground pepper into it. Combine soy sauce and honey until the mix is smooth and marinate the meat for around an hour. BBQ and serve.

Dalmatian Bars (Makes 2 dozen)

Cookies are a great dessert choice for an outdoor party because they are so easy to serve. Guests can help themselves – no fuss!

Ingredients

5 oz. bittersweet chocolate

¾ cup sweet butter

4 eggs

1 ¾ cups superfine sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 ¼ cups all purpose flour, sifted

1 tsp. baking powder, sifted

¼ tsp. salt

1 cup macadamia nuts

1 ½ cups white chocolate chips

Method

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Grease and line a 9” x 13” pan with parchment.

Melt the chocolate and the butter together. Beat the eggs and the sugar with the vanilla and stir into the chocolate mixture. Stir in the dry ingredients, and lastly, stir in the macadamia nuts and three-quarters of the chocolate chips.

Spoon into the prepared pan, level the surface and sprinkle with the remaining chocolate chips. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until firm. Cool in the pan and cut into bars.

Can be stored in an airtight container up to 5 days.

Cheers! Here’s to a great summertime party! Hope to see you back here soon.

Tags: entertaining, recipes