Cookout In Style This Memorial Day

Even though the official start of the solstice is still weeks away, Memorial Day is traditionally seen as the kickoff to summer cookouts. People across the country are pulling out their grills, hauling bags of charcoal and getting ready for a day filled with family, friends and cooking up good ole’ American fare. After attending a culinary academy, though, take this opportunity to make your mark on Memorial Day by giving the customary cookout foods a new and exciting twist.

Burgers
The king of all-American foods and an essential for any cookout, the burger is a tried and true favorite for people across the nation. Make your burgers really stand out this year by enhancing their flavors with a homemade coffee rub. Coffee may not be the first thing to come to mind when thinking about burgers, but it will add depth to the spices being used to flavor your patties. Everyone will praise your skills that you learned in online culinary school after tasting this creation. According to Bon Appetit’s recipe, the rub is made of coffee grounds, brown sugar, black pepper, coriander, oregano and sea salt. To complement the flavor of the meat, top with applewood-smoked bacon, tomato, onion and smoked cheeses like provolone, caciocavallo or Gouda.

Hot dogs
Take your frankfurters from ordinary to the best hot dog your guests have ever tasted this year by creating a specialty dog for your friends and family. Treat your guests to a savory dog with everyone’s favorite side: bacon. Slip a bacon strip or two in the bun before adding the dog, jalapeno peppers and cheese. If you really want to impress your guests with a good tasting dog, skip the pre-cooked ones in the vacuum packages from the grocery store and get an order of fresh hot dogs from your local butcher.

Potato salad
Sure, everyone may love Grandma’s potato salad, but you could make that any day. This year, show off with a new potato salad with sausage and grainy mustard dressing. Better Homes and Gardens makes their dressing with coarse-grain mustard, cider vinegar, sugar, vegetable oil, parsley, green onions and dry cured sausage, pepperoni or salami. Boil the potatoes with the cider vinegar and pour the dressing over them once the spuds have been drained and cooled. Serve this fresh new potato salad warm or at room temperature to impress your guests.