Snake Dogs

By Andrew Hunter

Stretching for miles in a sprawling Los Angeles canyon is Griffith Park. We love Griffith because there’s an observatory, museums, hiking, biking, swimming, horseback riding, a working historic train, and a multitude of snack shops that keep us well nourished and hydrated during our strenuous weekend activity.

The crown jewel of snack shops is “The Trails,” a shack built to blend into the landscape. It’s the California hippie version of Manhattan’s Shake Shack. If you’re in Griffith and can’t find “The Trails,” just look for the long line of people waiting for a slice of pie, a lavender cookie, a sprout sandwich, or if you’re Ben and Nick, a Snake Dog.

Snake Dogs are like pigs in a blanket, only much cooler – a frankfurter wrapped in a coil of puff pastry, then baked so it looks like a snake slithering across the picnic table. We’ve started making Snake Dogs at home. Here’s a recipe so you can pack Snake Dogs in the picnic basket for your next trip to the Griffith Park where you live.

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Wild Blueberry Season

By Lori Powell

I have the pleasure of staying in Maine for at least a week on the coast every year, usually in August. Wild Maine blueberries, if I am lucky, are still around for me to enjoy for breakfast, a snack, a smoothie or in a dessert. However this year, given how warm it has been, I suspect the height of the season will come too early and I will miss out on one of my favorite foods of summer.

All is not lost, however, as I came across wild blueberries at the Kingston Farmers’ market this past weekend in Upstate New York. If you have never tried these jewels, seek them out at your local farmers’ market since they are sooo different from the regular cultivated kind. In both size (half pint size) and taste (superior). Kind of like little pellets of the best blueberry jam you have ever encountered, but are so naturally sweet and just oh so good! No need for added sugar here.

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Grilled Potato Salad: An Easy and Versatile Summer Side

By Katie Barreira

Potato salad is an iconic summer side dish that rounds out any picnic plate. Whether you crave buttery Yukon Golds coated with creamy mayo or delicate baby reds tossed in a light and tangy vinaigrette, there’s a potato salad for you.

But why boil water for spuds if you’re going to fire up the grill for your main dish? Keep it cool in the kitchen. Just slice potatoes into grill-friendly planks, brush with oil and set directly onto the hot grates next to your burgers, dogs or tofu pups.

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Coleslaw – Less Fat, More Flavor

By Sandy Hu

Growing up, my mom used to make a tart and sweet coleslaw with lemon juice and sugar, but I prefer the creamy kind made with mayonnaise. Still, I’m concerned about the fat – especially with all the rich fixings that tend to accompany coleslaw as part of the typical barbecue meal.

In the current issue of Bon Appétit, a recipe for coleslaw calls for two parts of nonfat Greek yogurt to one part of mayo. What a great solution! I tried out the idea for our Fourth of July barbecue and loved the results.

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Poached Shrimp with Aioli

By Jennifer Knapp

As a caterer, I’m often asked to prepare shrimp for my clients. It’s always one of the most popular items on the menu, and most guests gravitate towards the shrimp on the buffet table or as a passed appetizer. Kids and adults seem to love it equally. Versatile and fast-cooking, shrimp is delicious on its own or served with any number of sauces. It can be prepared in several ways such as sautéing, broiling, grilling and poaching.

Poaching is one of the easiest ways to prepare shrimp and it requires no added fat. Poaching is also a great cooking technique because it results in a nice, moist texture.

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