Whether you are hosting a backyard BBQ for coworkers, friends, or just want to enjoy your freshly mowed lawn, we can all agree, summer is for backyards and barbecues. Here at Voss Landscaping, the only thing we might enjoy more than working on yards is enjoying them! The best way to do that? With grilled meat, vegetables, dessert and an ice cold beverage. Here are 9 recipes that are perfect for a mid-Missouri night.

Char-Buffed Chicken Wings

What you need:

Bone-in Chicken Wings

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

Buffalo Sauce

Blue Cheese or Ranch for dipping.

Instructions:

Rinse and dry chicken wings with a paper towel. Drizzle olive oil over wings, salt, and pepper generously, and rub the wings to evenly coat. Turn grill on to medium-high. Once the grill is heated, toss the wings in the buffalo sauce and place on grill. Flip after approximately 5 minutes and baste with more buffalo sauce. Remove once fully cooked and (optional) toss in buffalo sauce one more time. Service with carrots, celery and either ranch, blue cheese or both.

Cilantro-Lime Chicken

What you need:

Olive Oil

2 Limes

3 Cloves of Garlic

Fresh, Chopped Cilantro

Salt

Pepper

Cumin

Chicken (breast or thighs)

Instructions:

In a bowl, mix olive oil, juice of 2 limes, chopped garlic, half cup of chopped cilantro, salt, pepper, and cumin. Whisk and pour over chicken. Let sit to marinate for at least 30 minutes. Heat grill to medium-high and add chicken to direct heat. Flip after approximately 7 minutes. Once cooked through remove and serve with taco or burrito fixings.

Cheese Stuffed Burgers

What you need:

2 pounds of ground beef

Salt

Pepper

Favorite kind of cheese (blue cheese, cheddar, and mozzarella are all good choices).

Hamburger Buns

Lettuce

Onion

Tomato

Pickle

Instructions:

Mix beef, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Make 8 equal sized balls of meat mixture. Press desired cheese into the ball of meat, forming a patty around the cheese. Turn grill on to medium-high heat and grill 4 minutes each side, or until desired doneness. Place cooked patty onto a grilled bun, top with lettuce, tomato and onion and serve! (Careful, the melty cheese will be very hot).

Bacon Wrapped Hotdog

What you need:

6 Hot Dogs

12 slices Bacon

Cheddar Cheese Slices

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Instructions:

Slice into hot dogs lengthwise, though not cutting all the way through. Place cheddar in the hotdog. Wrap cheese stuffed hot dog with bacon, in a spiral so the entire hot dog is covered in bacon. Turn grill onto medium-high heat. Grill 3-4 minutes or until the desired doneness of bacon. Grill hot dog bun, serve with favorite toppings such as onion, jalapeno, catchup, and mustard!

Beef Kabobs

What you need:

Beef (steaks are great for kabobs. Just pick your favorite cut and dice into one-inch sized chunks)

Onion

Bell Peppers (any color(s))

Cherry tomatoes

Mushrooms

Any other vegetable desired

Skewer sticks.

Marinade:

Olive Oil

Salt

Pepper

Onion Powder

Garlic Powder

Worcestershire sauce

Instructions:

If skewer sticks are wooden, soak in water for 5 minutes. Slice meat and vegetables into one-inch pieces if not already. Place meat and vegetables on skewer sticks in desired order. Mix ingredients for marinade and drizzle over kabobs and let marinade for at least 30 minutes. Turn grill onto medium-high heat. Place kabobs on grill and flip every 5 minutes, making sure all sides get a turn facing down. Remove once to the desired doneness. Serve and enjoy!

Pasta Salad

What you need:

1 box tri-colored spiral pasta

6 tablespoons salad seasoning mix

1 bottle Italian-style salad dressing

2 cups cherry tomatoes

1 green bell pepper

1 red bell pepper

1/2 yellow bell pepper

1  can black olives

Instructions:

Fill a pot with water, salt, and bring to boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. Mix Italian dressing and salad seasoning mix. Dice vegetables. In a large bowl, mix pasta, vegetables and add dressing. Mix well and serve!

Deviled Eggs

What you need:

6 eggs

¼ cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon yellow mustard

Salt

Pepper

Smoked paprika

Instructions:

Place eggs in a saucepan, and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and cover, turning the heat to low and cook for one minute. Remove from heat and leave covered for 14 minutes, then rinse under cold water for one minute.

Crack and peel egg shells under running, cool, water. Dry peeled eggs. Cut eggs lengthwise, remove yolks and placing in a mixing bowl. Mash the yolks with a fork, add mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt pepper and mix well.

Evenly disperse the mixture in the egg whites and garnish with smoked paprika.

Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies

What you need:

1 box of fudge brownie mix

¼ cup water

½ cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

¾ cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease bottom of 13×9 pan. In a mixing bowl, mix brownie mix, water, oil, eggs until well blended. Dispense into pan. Microwave peanut butter for 30 seconds on high. drizzle melted peanut butter onto brownie mix in the pan.

Bake according to brownie box instructions, usually 26-28 minutes. Remove from oven once done cooking, slice into squares and serve!

DIY Cherry Lemonade Popsicles

What you need:

1 pound of fresh pitted cherries

2 tablespoons sugar

1 lemon (juiced)

Wood popsicle sticks

Popsicle mold or cup.

Instructions:

Place ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth. Strain puree through a mesh sieve, pressing firmly with the back of a spoon to get as much juice as possible. Fill popsicle mold or plastic cup to almost the top. Place wooden stick into puree (it should be thick enough to stand on its own). Freeze until solid. Remove mold or plastic cup and enjoy!

If you need help getting your yard ready for a big party, or it just needs some summer maintenance, contact us today! We work efficiently, are always on time and very reliable.