It’s Friday!

And you’re throwing a party this weekend … quite possibly the last one of the summer!

Everyone RSVP’d yes so you’re expecting a big crowd.

And even though cooking for large groups can be a challenge, you want a menu that your guests will rave about.

But you want to be able to enjoy the party too!

The key to a stress-free party is to create a menu of items related to one another.

For one, it makes it easy to narrow down the choices, and all of the flavors will go together.

And two, it ensures you won’t have to buy a ton of extra ingredients, since many of the recipes will have ingredients in common.

Well get ready to celebrate, because this summer party “easy button” recipe collection allows you to prepare everything in advance, so that you can kick back and relax with your guests.

It’s a collection of some of my favorite recipes – all of which I’ll be serving this weekend!  Even my husband commented just last night how easy this party seems, despite the large number of guests.

It’s all thanks to the WhatToCookWhen.com Easy Button!

Well that and my awesome friends who always round out the menu with delicious desserts and a few extra appetizers.

So the next time you’re looking to throw and easy summer party, have no fear your “easy button” is here.  You have the perfect recipes for a summer finale guaranteed to ensure you’ll be throwing the party again next year!

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

Summer Party “Easy Button” Recipe Collection

Pulled Pork with Sweet and Tangy Barbeque Sauce

Get ready, because this pulled pork recipe is to die for! And if you like sweet and tangy barbeque sauce, then hold on to your hat cowboy. Because you are never going to want to buy pre-made sauce again. This sauce would rock on ANY meat you pour it on. Brisket, chicken, ribs, whatever.

The Best Baked Beans Recipe Hands Down

You’ve searched for the perfect baked beans recipe before … and now you’ve found it. Beans with the perfect blend of salt and sweet. Not too over-powering. And no one flavor standing out above any others. Not too runny. And just sticky enough, to ever so gently grip the fork.

Broccoli Salad With Bacon & Sunflower Seeds

This salad will be adored by party guests — the guys and gals will equally love it.  (That’s correct guys, it has bacon.)  The broccoli base gives you something a little different than your typical salad, the combination of salty and sweet is perfectly blended, and the crunchy finish ties the perfect little bow on this wonderful package of flavors.

Sweet and Creamy Coleslaw

There are so many great coleslaw recipes out there, ranging from tangy, to tart, and even spicy. But this recipe is for a classic simple and sweet coleslaw. It’s very similar to what you would find in most barbeque restaurants, and therefore pairs perfectly with the strong smokey flavors from the grill.

Here’s to a wonderful (and easy) party!

Ok, so you made pulled pork from scratch, along with my sweet and tangy BBQ sauce.

But you feel like I left you hanging!

You’ve got the meat … you’ve got my baked beans recipe … the cornbread … but what about the coleslaw!?

Not to worry!  As I always promise, I’ve got you covered.

There are so many great coleslaw recipes out there, ranging from tangy, to tart, and even spicy.  But this recipe is for a classic simple and sweet coleslaw.  

Very similar to what you would find in most barbeque restaurants.

So the next time you want to go all out with your barbeque, know that you’re covered.  You have the perfect recipe to round out your menu.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

Sweet and Creamy Coleslaw

Ingredients:

Sweet and Creamy Coleslaw

• 1 (16 oz) Bag Shredded Coleslaw Mix 
• 2/3 Cup Miracle Whip
• 3 Tbs Olive Oil
• 1/2 Cup White Sugar
• 1 Tbs White Vinegar
• 1/4 Tsp Salt
• 1/2 Tsp Poppy Seeds

Directions:

1. Place the coleslaw mix (or else your own shredded cabbage and carrots) into a large bowl.
2. Whisk together the salad dressing, olive oil, sugar, vinegar, salt and poppy seeds in a medium bowl.
3. Pour dressing mixture over coleslaw mix and toss to coat.
4. Chill at least 2 hours before serving to let the flavors meld together.

Tip: Want an easy way to mix the dressing and coleslaw? Check out my video below.  This tip is great for any time you need to mix salad greens with a lot of ingredients.

Memorial Day is around the corner.

This year, you’re having the barbeque at your house. And you’ll probably have a pretty good turnout because the weather has been gorgeous!

So you’ll have a big group to cook for, but really want to spend time enjoying the party rather than …

Warning to Men: Feel free to skip ahead to the recipe at this point. Because you may not like what you’re about to read.

Ok ladies, where were we?

Right. You’d rather spend time enjoying the party than messing with the grill.

It’s supposed to be 98 here in Texas tomorrow. And I’m sorry, but that is just too hot to stand over the grill for an afternoon picnic. I’d much rather spend time laughing and carrying on, enjoying myself with everyone else.

This recipe actually came as a request from Jaclyn, a WhatToCookWhen.com reader. She was specifically looking for a pulled pork recipe, and asked if I could help.

Get ready, because this recipe is to die for! And if you like sweet and tangy barbeque sauce, then hold on to your hat cowboy. Because you are never going to want to buy pre-made sauce again. This sauce would rock on ANY meat you pour it on. Brisket, chicken, ribs, whatever.

IT … ROCKS.

And don’t get overwhelmed by the number of ingredients in the sauce. They’re all spices you should have on hand anyways. You’ll use them in a lot of my recipes. And besides, the sauce is worth it. It’s that good!

So the next time you’re having the gang over for a barbeque, but just don’t want to fire up the grill, open a cold one and enjoy the outdoors. You have the perfect recipe for a barbeque that doesn’t require a single piece of charcoal.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

P.S. Have a recipe request for me? Visit the new recipe request section of the site.

Pulled Pork with Sweet and Tangy Barbeque Sauce

 
Pulled Pork Ingredients:

Sweet and Tangy Pulled Pork

• 6 Pounds Boston Butt Roast
• 4 Cloves Garlic, Minced
• 2 Tsp Seasoning Salt
• 2 Tsp Ground Black Pepper
• 1/8 Tbs Cayenne Pepper
• 1 Onion, Chopped
• 3 Cups Barbecue Sauce (recipe below!)

Pulled Pork Directions:

1. Rub garlic, seasoning salt, pepper and cayenne pepper to taste onto roast.
2. Place roast in a large Dutch oven or pot and fill half way with water add onion.
3. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
4. Reduce heat simmer and let cook until meat falls off the bone. This should take at least 3 to 4 hours depending on the size of the roast.
5. Place hot roast in a serving bowl and pour on your favorite barbecue sauce.
6. Stir until well blended. The meat will literally pull into little pieces as you stir.

Tip: If making this for a smaller group, you can also buy Boston butt boneless country ribs. Just shorten the cooking time to when the meat breaks apart when touched with a fork. For 2 pounds it takes about an hour and 45 minutes.

Sweet and Tangy Barbeque Sauce Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Ketchup
• 2 Cups Tomato Sauce
• 1 1/4 Cups Brown Sugar
• 1 1/4 Cups Red Wine Vinegar
• 1/2 Cup Unsulfured Molasses
• 4 Tsp Hickory-Flavored Liquid Smoke
• 2 Tbs Butter
• 1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Onion Powder
• 1/4 Tsp Chili Powder
• 1 Tsp Paprika
• 1/4 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/2 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
• 1 Tsp Salt
• 1 Tsp Coarsely Ground Black Pepper

Barbeque Sauce Directions:

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, mix together the ketchup, tomato sauce, brown sugar, wine vinegar, molasses, liquid smoke and butter.
2. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, cinnamon, cayenne, salt and pepper.
3. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for up to 20 minutes.
4. For thicker sauce, simmer longer, and for thinner, less time is needed. Sauce can also be thinned using a bit of water if necessary.

Tip: The pulled pork is super tasty, so pair it with a simple green like roasted asparagus. Learn how to easily make some by watching the clip below!

Have you tried this recipe? Or do you have any questions for me?  

I invite you to leave a comment below!

It will come tender, moist and pre-sliced, perfect in every way.

And being that it is the Easter ham, and therefore the center of attention, it will be expecting some sides worthy of sharing the same plate. 

Sure asparagus may work for a vegetable. 

But what about some potatoes? 

Au gratin maybe?

Wait!  Don’t reach for the box!

Instead follow this recipe for creamy au gratin potatoes worthy of a fine ham.

And if you follow the recipe, including the tips, you’ll end up with a side dish that receives its own ooo’s and aaaah’s, despite the attention-seeking ham.

So when you go to pick-up the ham, relax and greet it with a warm smile.  You have the perfect recipe for a side dish worthy of its presence.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes

 
Ingredients:

Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes

• 4 Baking Potatoes, Sliced Into 1/4 Inch Slices
• 1 Onion, Sliced Into Rings
• Salt and Pepper to Taste
• 3 Tbs Butter
• 3 Tbs All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 Tsp Salt
• 2 Cups of Milk
• 2 Cups of Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Butter a one-quart casserole dish.
3. Layer 1/2 of the potatoes into the bottom of a prepared casserole dish.
4. Top with the onion slices.
5. Add the remaining potatoes and season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. In a medium-size saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
7. Mix in a the flour and salt, and stir constantly with a whisk for one minute.
8. Stir in the milk slowly, and keep whisking until all of the milk has been added.
9. Cook until mixture has thickened a bit.
10. Stir in all the cheese at once, and continue stirring until it’s melted (about 30 seconds).
11. Pour cheese sauce over the potatoes.
12. Spray a piece of aluminum foil with cooking spray, and cover the dish.
13. Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes in the preheated oven.
14. Remove the foil and bake for 20 more minutes, or until the top starts to brown.

Cooking Tips: 

To keep lumps from forming in the sauce, add the first 1/2 cup of milk and whisk until the flour mixture has blended in, before adding the rest of the milk.

If doubling the recipe, pour 1/2 of the doubled cheese sauce recipe over the first layer of potatoes and onions, and then the rest over the top.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 Hour 30 minutes
• Serves: 6

Have you tried this recipe? Do you have a question or comment for me?
I invite you to leave it as a comment below!

When you have a house full of guests, and the weather is beautiful, it’s inevitable that a good old-fashioned cookout will take place.

So like any good hostess, you’ll want to plan ahead and find the perfect recipe for baked beans. 

Now if you’ve ever tried to find a good baked bean recipe online before, you inevitably came across hundreds and hundreds of recipes.  And every one claimed to be the best.

Well today is no different!

Today you are going to be introduced to THE recipe. 

The one that perfectly matches the ribs, burgers or hot dogs also on the plate.   

That perfect blend of salt and sweet.

Not too over-powering. And no one flavor standing out above any others.

Not too runny.  And just sticky enough, to ever so gently grip the fork.

So if you’re ready to fire up the grill, and serve up your barbeque fare with a side of smokin beans, look no further.  You have just found the perfect recipe.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

The Best Baked Beans Recipe Hands Down

Ingredients: 

The Perfect Baked Beans

• 2 16 oz Cans of Pork and Beans
• 1/4 Cup of Jack Daniels
• 2 Tbs Liquid Smoke
• 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1 Tsp Dijon Mustard
• 2 Cloves Garlic, Minced
• 2 Tbs Dry Onion Flakes
• 1Tbs Cinder Vinegar
• 2 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 Tsp Lemon Juice

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 350 F.
2. Combine all ingredients in a pan.
3. Bake for one and one half hours, stirring occasionally.

Have you tried this recipe? Do you have a question or comment for me?
I invite you to leave it as a comment below!