Charcoal Grills and Cheeseburgers
Weekends of berry picking and fireworks; along with our grilling essentials, the perfect pasta salad, and juicy cheeseburgers.
Happy 4th of July for those who celebrate! Our family doesn’t do too much for this holiday, but we love watching fireworks, especially in D.C. despite the enormous crowds. It’s a family tradition of ours to spend the holiday weekend in the city and see the fireworks show. We’re still on the fence about going since I’m about 37 weeks along now, but I would really hate to miss it! Hopefully we can make it this time, but if not we’ll try and find somewhere local.
Did you know July is National Blueberry Month?? This past weekend, our family went to 3 Birds Berry Farm to pick blueberries. The farm has blueberries in abundance all summer long, but they also have blackberries in July and red and gold raspberries from late July to late August. We went early and it was still crowded, but not overwhelmingly so.
This was such a fun and affordable activity that resulted in vibrant, fresh picked berries from a local farm! I can’t wait to use these in recipes, if we manage not to eat them all by the handful. I’ve also heard lavender is lovely to pick this time of year. I love taking advantage of summer produce and flowers.
You all know I love spending time on our patio, and grilling is an excuse to spend even more time outside—plus, you get delicious food at the end. My husband doesn’t cook a lot, but he is great at grilling! Here are some of the tools he uses.
Charcoal Grill: These grills are smaller than their gas counterparts, simple to use, and impart a delicious smoky flavor that is unmatched.
Griddle Insert: If you do have a gas grill like we do, this griddle insert allows for so many grilling possibilities, like fried eggs, stir frys, and smashburgers!
Steel Tongs: These tongs are great for grilling because they’re fully stainless steel, and long enough to pick up food off the grill safely.
Chimney Starter: For charcoal grills. This will make your life so much easier, making lighting your fuel take much less time and effort.
Grilling Gloves: Grilling takes some serious heat, and protecting your hands from burns will give you much more confidence.
Griddle Spatulas: For flipping burgers or even pancakes if you have a griddle insert. Make sure you only use steel spatulas on the grill.
Instant-Read Thermometer: Instead of guessing when your meats are ready and risking drying them out, this thermometer will tell you exactly when they’re at the perfect temp.
Burger Press: A must for smashburgers, whether you’re making them on the grill or stove.
Of course, we can’t let the grillmasters have all the fun. This Summer Pasta Salad is the perfect side for any grilled protein. Here, bright, crunchy, and refreshing produce like cucumber, tomato, and watermelon are complimented by salty feta cheese and a herb-packed lemony dressing. It’s also quite easy to make ahead, and gains flavor as it sits, so it’s perfect to bring to a picnic, potluck, or barbecue!
Of course, please feel free to experiment with various combinations of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and herbs! I find these specific components go beautifully together, but vinaigrette will go with just about anything. Experimenting with different pasta shapes will also give your pasta salad its own flair without changing flavor.
Now, a worldwide favorite for a reason: Double Cheeseburgers! Two beef patties are smashed down and topped with melty American cheese, Caramelized Onions, a homemade Burger Sauce, pickle slices, and fresh lettuce and tomato on toasted buns. I used my burger bun recipe that you can find in my cookbook, if you want to make them extra special.
I’ve prepared these on the stove, but you can make them on the grill with a griddle pan like the one linked in my essentials above!
As you may notice, they’re my homemade take on an In-and-Out Double Double, Animal Style. I, like many of you, don’t live on the West coast of the U.S., so this is a great copycat for those who’d like to try it from the comfort of home (and for my friends on the West coast who want to recreate their favorite). Make sure to save some extra caramelized onions and burger sauce to top your fries with, and serve with pickled peppers on the side for maximum effect.
Let me know what your families like to grill in the summertime, we’re always looking for new ideas. And stay tuned for next week, where we’ll have a baby-themed newsletter to celebrate the rapidly approaching arrival of my baby!
Thank you for the beautiful pics and the yummy recipe. The beauty of America is that each person has the opportunity to celebrate as they choose. The opportunity to not participate in a post, or read a book, or watch a TV show or movie is ours to choose, as well. I choose to enjoy your posts and will continue to do so.
The salad looks delicious! Thank you!