Gather 'round the grill for an end-of-summer-celebration

As the dog days of summer approach, cool off with family and friends at a get-together around the deck and pool. Before the back-to-school rush, gather everyone together for some easy-going conversation and dining that centers around the barbecue.

When it comes to entertaining outdoors, easy yet flavorful dishes that spotlight the season’s bounty are tasty, nutritious and can keep prep time to a minimum. Plus, they’re sure to please guests’ palates – including those pickier members of your family.

Get the kids to assist

Preparing a meal on the grill can be fun for the whole family. Gather the kids and get them involved in the meal from start to finish for an easy way to spend more quality time together.

Rebecca P. Cohen, author of “15 Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect with Your Kids,” is a big believer in spending time outdoors together as a family. “We make a point of getting outside every day. Spending quality time as a family is important, and centering that time around an outdoor activity like grilling is a great way to do that,” says Cohen.

Cohen offers some tips for enjoying fun outdoor meals with the family.
Create a topping bar: Set out a plastic tablecloth and some kid-friendly dipping sauces, condiments and toppings, such as ketchup, grated cheese, mayonnaise, hummus, and more. Have the kids prepare their favorite dipping sauces and toppings and line them up in colorful bowls.

Make the meal grill-friendly: Look for foods and recipes that can be prepared directly on the grill. This way, you can spend less time inside preparing and more time outside enjoying.

Make it fun: What’s a barbecue without family fun? Make the most of your cook time by incorporating some simple yet fun activities. Try racing with ice cubes on your spoons or tossing a refreshing ice cube back and forth. For more cool fun, freeze fruit juice in ice cube containers with popsicle sticks for a refreshing treat.

Enjoy a grill-side snack: Plan a special late night snack with s’mores on the grill. Try flavored marshmallows like chocolate, strawberry and toasted coconut, or spice up the graham crackers with sprinkled cinnamon and sugar. Try to name the constellations while you enjoy a late night snack together under the stars.

From casual to elegant in a snap

When preparing for your gathering, think about the overall flavors of your meal and look for recipes that incorporate similar ingredients.

If you’re going for a Southwestern theme, look for dishes that call for fresh tomatoes, onions and cilantro. For a Mediterranean or Italian meal, try recipes with onions, garlic and parsley. No matter the occasion, opt for simple, flavorful and quality ingredients to add some extra panache to your favorite dishes.

Remember that while your focus should be on the main dish, providing appetizers that complement the meal can keep guests happy while you finish cooking. And when deciding what to serve, easy crowd favorites are often best.

For example, you can serve a colorful display of sliced celery, carrots, bell peppers and fresh bread with a gourmet cheese spread. The rich flavor and light, spreadable texture will pair nicely with crisp seasonal vegetables for an appetizer that will impress your guests and leave you with plenty of time to focus on the main course.

For an elegant yet casual dinner party, think fish instead of meat for a change of pace. Or do both for your own version of surf and turf. So fire up the grill and add some zest to your guests’ palates with these recipes as a starting point.

Grilled Skirt Steak with Roasted Corn Salad

This quick and easy chipotle marinated grilled skirt steak will spice up any gathering. Pair it with a roasted corn salad that embodies the fresh flavors of the season – a mixture of corn, tomato, red onion, basil, and avocado.

1 1/2 pounds skirt steak, cut into 4-inch pieces
1/3 cup Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 large garlic clove, crushed

In a large bowl, combine chipotle pepper sauce, cumin and garlic; add skirt steaks. Toss to mix well; cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or overnight.

Preheat the grill to high. Grill skirt steak about 5 minutes, or until of desired doneness, turning once. To serve, plate steak with corn salad.

Corn Salad:
4 ears corn on the cob, shucked
2 large tomatoes, chopped
1 small red onion, diced
1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt

To prepare corn salad: Preheat the grill to medium. Grill corn about 5 to 10 minutes, turning frequently, until tender-crisp. When cool enough to handle, cut corn from cob. In medium bowl, combine corn, tomatoes, red onion, avocado, basil, lime juice, olive oil, chipotle pepper sauce to taste, and salt; toss to mix well.

Grilled Salmon and Cucumber Radish Relish

4 8-ounce salmon fillets
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Salt and pepper
1 package (5.2 ounces) Boursin Shallot & Chive Spread

Preheat the grill to high. Sprinkle salmon fillets with lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Grill about 8 minutes. Spoon about 3 tablespoons Boursin on top of each fillet; continue cooking for another 2 minutes, until salmon is cooked through and Boursin has softened.

Serve with Cucumber Radish relish.

Cucumber Radish Relish:
½ cup diced cucumber
¼ cup julienned radish
2 tablespoons each lemon juice
Chopped scallion to taste
Chopped dill or parsley to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

In medium bowl, combine cucumber, radish, lemon juice, scallion and dill. Season with salt and pepper.