BBQ Season

Summer is in full swing--which means it is officially BBQ season! I was brought up with a large appreciation for the charcoal grill and the way it can bring people together on beautiful Summer days!

My one and only complaint (besides the heat) is the clean up, it's never fun, and there's always a lot. Lucky for you and me, some genius' out there came up with easy and impossibly cute ways to serve our favorite foods at a BBQ with less clean up and more time for fun, and all you need are some Mason jars.

Serve Basil, fresh mozzarella, and tomatoes with a homemade vinaigrette!

Layer your favorite baked bean, coleslaw, and pulled pork recipes and serve! No soggy paper plates to deal with, and eco-friendly!

Strawberry Moonshine Julep

Strawberry Moonshine Julep, the perfect drink to cool off with!

Makes 1 cocktail.

What you’ll need:

2 large ripe strawberries, washed, hulled and cut into ¼–inch pieces
2 tsp. sugar
3 leaves fresh mint
2 oz. moonshine or white whiskey, like Original Moonshine
½ oz. lemon juice
Sprig of mint, for garnish

What to do:

1. Combine cut strawberries, sugar, mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Stir and let stand until strawberries are macerated, up to 10 minutes. Add moonshine, lemon juice, and ice to fill the shaker, and shake vigorously for an additional minute. Pour out contents into mason jars, adding more ice as needed. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

 Lemony Spiked Sweet Tea

 Serves 8 to 10

What you’ll need:

• 7 cups water
• 6 orange pekoe tea bags
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/3 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 cup Bacardi 151 or other high-proof golden rum
• Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish

What to do:

1. Bring 4 cups of the water to a boil in a medium saucepan and add the tea bags. Remove the pan from the heat, cover it, and allow the tea bags to steep for 5 minutes.
2. Remove and discard the tea bags. Add the sugar to the saucepan and stir until dissolved. Add the remaining 3 cups water and stir to combine. Transfer the mixture to a pitcher, and add the lemon juice and rum. Chill thoroughly before serving.
3. Serve over ice, in tall glasses garnished with mint sprigs.

Ice cream in Mason jars make for easy desserts!

Peach Cobbler is a must at any BBQ, sweet and delicious, it's the perfect way to end the meal!

Makes 4 individual servings

What you’ll need:
 21 ounces of peach pie filling
1/2 cup bisquick mix
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
pinch salt
1/4 cup butter – melted


What to do:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Place a silpat {or other silicon mat} into a deep sided ovenproof baking dish. Spray 4 – 4 ounce mason jars with cooking spray and place them onto silpat
3. Into a bowl add: bisquick mix, milk, sugar and salt. Stir to combine. Add melted butter. Stir. Set aside.
4. Put approximately 3-4 peach slices/filling into each mason jar. Top with 1-2 tablespoons of batter per jar.
3. Bake for approximately 30-35 or until top is golden and bubbly.
4. Jars should be cool to touch prior to serving.

Don't forget (my favorite) the grilled corn!

XX,

Arielle