Deck the Halls with Delicious Holiday Eats: Outdoor Cooking Ideas for Your Gathering
As the holiday season approaches, it's time to start thinking about how to accommodate and entertain your large gathering of family and friends. A great idea is to utilize your outdoor living and cooking area. Whether you have an outdoor grill, griddle, or smoker, there are plenty of ways to cook holiday meals to spread out your company (and cooking space)! If you don't have an outdoor living or cooking area, that's ok - we can help you with that @ Terrace Outdoor Design. If you would like to shop for a new grill or smoker for your holiday cooking look at some of our favorites at Cunningham Living!
To get you started, here are three delicious holiday recipes that are perfect for your outdoor kitchen:
Grilled Rosemary and Garlic Lamb Chops: 4 lamb chops 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary 1 tbsp minced garlic Salt and pepper to taste
Combine the olive oil, rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Brush the mixture onto the lamb chops and let marinate for at least 30 minutes. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and grill the lamb chops for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until cooked to your desired level of doneness. Serve hot.
Chicken and Waffles on the Griddle: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup milk 2 eggs, beaten 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp garlic powder 1/4 tsp onion powder 1/4 tsp paprika 1/4 tsp black pepper 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 cup vegetable oil 2 cups waffle mix 1 1/2 cups water
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, milk, eggs, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper. Dip the chicken breasts in the batter and let any excess batter drip off. Preheat a griddle over medium heat and add the vegetable oil. Add the battered chicken breasts to the griddle and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until cooked through and crispy.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the waffle mix and water until smooth. Pour the batter onto the griddle and cook until the waffles are golden brown and crispy. Serve the chicken and waffles hot, topped with your favorite holiday condiments like maple syrup, cranberry sauce, and stuffing.
Holiday Smoked Prime Rib: 5-6 lb prime rib roast 3 tbsp olive oil 3 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary 3 tbsp minced garlic Salt and pepper to taste
Rub the prime rib roast with the olive oil, rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper. Preheat a smoker to 225-250°F and place the prime rib roast in the smoker. Smoke the prime rib roast for about 4 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 130-135°F for medium-rare. Let the roast rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.
To complete your holiday feast, serve up a refreshing holiday drink like this Cranberry Spritzer:
Cranberry Spritzer: 1 cup cranberry juice 1 cup sparkling water 1/2 cup orange juice 1/4 cup lime juice 1/4 cup cranberry liqueur (optional) 1/4 cup simple syrup Ice
In a large pitcher, combine the cranberry juice, sparkling water, orange juice, lime juice, cranberry liqueur (if using), and simple syrup. Stir to combine and taste, adding more simple syrup if desired. Serve the spritzer over ice and garnish with fresh cranberries and orange slices.
With these delicious holiday recipes, your outdoor cooking area will be the star of the show at your holiday gathering.
