“ Time wasted at the lake is time well spent.”
unknown
We look forward every summer to a very fun family weekend at our dear friends lake house. This past weekend was as wonderful as ever! This amazing weekend consisted of boat rides, lots of games, and fun conversations with all of the kids. The lazy days without a specific plan is what makes these weekends so special and enjoyable for all. Doors are always open and friends are constantly coming and going. Its a mystery to all of how many people will actually be at every meal. However, there is always enough to go around. I am definitely a more the merrier type of person so I love everything about lake life. My friend said she was tired of making the same meals that she had been making all summer while up at the lake and she needed some new ideas. I loved that she asked me to pick some of my favorite recipes and make a meal plan for the weekend!
We decided to have the kids… well, the twenty something year olds be in charge of appetizers for the weekend and we would do the rest. I love that they all enjoy cooking and were up for the task! Our weekend Menu was delicious and enjoyed by all. Several things were made ahead and the others were easy to prepare before each meal. Keep reading to see the amazing weekend menu!
Weekend Menu
Friday
Appetizers – Tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa and roasted red pepper hummus served with carrots and plantain chips
Dinner – Adobo Chicken, Honey garlic salmon, rice , grilled zucchini and salad
Saturday
Breakfast – Scrambles eggs ,bagels ,smoked salmon platter with sliced tomatoes, capers and onions, bowl of fresh berries
Lunch – pulled chicken and brisket sandwiches and quinoa salad
Appetizer – Corn dip with chips
Dinner – Grilled pizza and kale and broccoli slaw salad
Sunday Brunch – Egg and turkey sausage casserole and bagels
Recipes:
Adobo Chicken
2head garlic
4 green chillies -such as serrano or jalapeno
8 bone in skin on chicken thighs
2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups white vinegar
2 cups soy sauce
5-7 bay leaves
2 tbsp brown sugar
fresh ground pepper
2 cups white rice
Without separating or peeling cloves, cut entire head of both garlic in half. Thinly slice 2 green chilis, removing seeds for less heat and slice.
Heat olive oil in a large dutch oven. Add chicken skin side down and cook 7-10 minutes and turn to cook other side 7- 10 minutes. remove chicken to a plate.Add, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, bay leaves, garlic and slice chili’s to pan. bring to a simmer then reduce heat to low, stirring to dissolve sugar. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Return chicken back to pot skin side up. Cover and simmer 35-40 minutes turning occasionally.
While chicken in simmering, cook rice according to package.
Serve chicken and sauce over rice and top with remaining sliced peppers.
Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken
4-5 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp Italian seasoning
2 tbsp oregano
1 bottle of your favorite bar b q sauce
1/2 cup cup bone broth
Place chicken at bottom of slow cooker and pour bone broth over chicken. In a small bowl add all seasoning together and sprinkle on top of chicken. Pour bar b q sauce over top of chicken . Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low 6-7 hrs. Using two fork shred chicken and mix with sauce. Serve with buns and pickles chips.
Brisket
2 -5lb briskets
1 can/bottle of beer
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
Preheat oven to 400 Place briskets fat side up in a roasting pan. Mix beer, ketchup and brown sugar together and pour over brisket. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake at 400 for 20 min then reduce heat to 350 for 3 1/2 hours. let cool and slice with an electric carving knife against the grain and recover with foil . I like to make this the day before I plan to serve it. Day of serving, preheat oven to 325 and cook brisket for 1 more hour.
Serve with sliced Kaiser buns and mustard
Grilled Pizzas
4-5 bags of Trader Joes Pizza dough
2 containers pizza sauce
2 logs sliced fresh mozzarella
parmesan cheese
olive oil
corn meal
I love the Pizza dough from Trader Joes. It comes regular or with herbs and they work really well on the grill!
I like to have a toppings bar put out with all kinds of toppings for everyone to choose from. Some of my families favorites are mushrooms, onion, pepperoni, sliced black olives, capers, anchovies, ground sausage or meatballs, spinach and artichoke hearts. Heat grill to medium heat. Dust a cutting board or pizza stone with corn meal and place dough on board. Start pulling dough out in all directions to make thin and bigger. Shape as best as possible and grill each dough for 1 minute on each side. Take inside and brush generously with olive oil. and a tsp parmesan cheese. Top with sauce and toppings and cheese. Put back on grill, close top, turn grill off and cook for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted to your satisfaction.
Next time you have a weekend planned with family and/or friends whether its at a lake house, or just a weekend at home make sure to come look back at this menu because it sure was a hit with my crew and I have a great feeling it will be with yours too.
