Outdoor Movie Night

Summer movies are a big thing.They could be scary  , romantic or exciting .Unfortunately the era of the drive in is well over with  and with it goes all those fun foods , from ice cream sodas or hamburgers. yet movies can still be projected in our backyards  .with it we can still  have fun foods to enjoy our favorite stars under the stars.

Yes popcorn is a must for any movie indoors and out. The buttered sort is always good except it does become greasy when it's cold.a better idea is popping the kernels in a light olive oil and then seasoning with rosemary and sea salt.it still has a lush flavor but there's no worry of slippery and slimy corn. if you di want a flavored corn then think about cheddar cheese powder to sprinkle on.caramel corn is another fun movie night treat. You can make the caramel by hand, using butter, brown sugar , cream of tartar and baking soda. Light corn syrup is added to give the caramel that silky texture. an easier route is melting Kraft caramels with two to three tablespoons of butter and water. The popcorn is then mixed in to this until every puff is completely coated.Nachos are another much loved movie snack. You can just serve them with hot queso poured on or create a platter of loaded nachos. These are loaded  with ground beef or turkey  and topped with not just queso but also salsa, sour cream and guacamole. sliced olives and jalapenos top it off. It;s usually cut in squares and put on plates.

Of course you could have more sophisticated fare. Charcuterie is an easy and fun way to serve people. There also is a wide variety for guests to choose from. Salami works well along with prosciutto on hot nights. Any other meats may go bad. Don;think of serving a sea-cuterie, full of seafood that could go bad quick. stick to the cold cuts a long with different cheeses like Brie, GOuda and Cheddar along with different crackers. Have rows of wheat Thins and Ritz crackers as well as saltines. Also olive go well here as do Italian and French bread loaves. The last make for easy sandwiches with the cold cuts and cheeses. Have cruets of olive oil and vinegar out too. Grilled food is always welcome. Think hamburgers and hot dogs under the stars. set up a fixings bars for both. Have it loaded with squeezy bottles of ketchup and mustard along with small bowls of pickles and relish. A few squeezy bottles of different barbecue and hot sauces can add some zing. Barbecued chicken wings are also a fun movie night munch, have them plain or with a lemon garlic marinade.Iced cold drinks are needed to wash all of this down. Lemonade and different sodas are a good choice. Mocktails are a fun addition too.

It's outdoor movie season. every film deserves fun snacks. It's the best way to enjoy your favorites in a hot summer night.

A Rainy Day Barbecue

 Can you still have that barbecue on a damp August day? Yes!It's easy to bring the outdoors inside . You cna still have tasty favorites in the comfort of a dry home.

A barbecue starts off with a grill and you can easily buy an indoor one at Target or Walmart.They come either square or round and at a variety of prices too.Invest in one if you like the taste of barbecued meats and veggies all year round. Another easy option is the air fryer. You may not get that smoky  mesquite or hickory taste that cooking over an open flame brings but the food will still be crisp.Try pork ribs with a tangy barbecue sauce. You will have to cut them into smaller pieces to fit your air fryer's basket.It's them marinating them in your favorite sauce and wrapping the pieces in foil. Cook them for thirty minutes at 380 degrees Farenheit. After the half hour unwrap them and  then let them brown in the  air fryer basket for another ten minutes, again at 380 degrees Farenheit. Make sure that the basket is well sprayed with cooking spray. ( use the olive oil flavored spray for this); Hamburgers and hot dogs can also beneft from air fryer cooking. To be honest I think both come out crispier on the outside and juicier on the inside than ones cooked on the grill.

Veggies can also be cooked on an indoor grill or  in the air fryer. Marinated asparagus spears are always a good side. You can also grill tomatoes - perfect on Italian or French bread with a little olive oil and oregano. What about that classic barbecue staple corn? Yes, the ears can be cooked nicely in an air fryer. You may have to cut the ends off the ribs in order to makw them fit but that depends on the size of your basket. Layer them side by side for an  even grill and remember don't stack them on top of each other. Drizzle olive oil or melted butter on top. ( you can add more butter later for a really buttery taste) and air fry for eight minutes at 380 degrees Farenheit. Roll them over halfway through the cooking so they're perfectly roasted and golden all over. As with an outdoor barbecue make sure there are salads too. You can easily whip up a three bean or a tasty pasta salad to go with the main course. For dessert you can still make s'mores but this time use the air fryer (make sure the basket is thoroughly washed out though) . It;s slicing the marshmallows in half , and placing the sticky side on the graham cracker. Make four of these and then place in the air fryer. Cook at 390 degrees Farenheit for five minutes. Add a square of any kind of chocolate and then top with another graham cracker.

Let the summer rains come. YOu can still have a fun barbecue but an indoor one. It's a fun way to chase a rainy day away.

Volunteer Meals

Hurricane Sandy has taught us that volunteer work matters a lot. Helping out anywhere is a plus. If you can cook, that's more of a plus . Fire stations and even senior citizen center kitchens always need an extra hand. Even clean up is most appreciated too.

Most volunteers  usually just help set up food tables and ladle out food .However if you can pitch in with food prep do so. Most firehouses have their own chefs with their own favorite recipes. Some will accept another cook with new dishes. You can make dishes at home and bring them in. Lasagna, baked ziti and any casserole is easily made and transported. Also bringing in hot dogs and hamburgers along with turkey and veggie burgers are another good idea,, if local businesses haven't already donated them. You can make potato salad or baked beans if that's the case.

If your oven is working, then think about baking cookies and muffins for volunteers. Although they may not be nutritionally good, they;re still a rush of much needed sugar for energy. Slice and bake chocolate chips are the easiest to bake en masse. They;re also the easiest to transport too. You can also make slice and bake sugar cookies too. Muffins, whether big or small are great too/ These can be eaten for breakfast too with a hot cup of coffee. You can also vary the recipes for  the large and the mini. Try blueberry or chocolate chip  along with corn and cranberry as well. These , too, can be easily brought to any firehouse or center.

Volunteerism is needed during these tough times. Any way you can, contribute your cooking and baking skills.They will be much appreciated and much needed.