What's everyone doing for the 4th of July? Experimenting with any new recipes? Trying out a signature cocktail? Decorations? Games?

With both sides of the family in town and one doing afternoons and the other evenings holidays are always a pitfall of trying not to eat too much. And also trying to debate on the need to bring something to the family gathering. My side is worse for that as the aunts and uncles seems to bring tons of food and I often debate the need to bring anything and have only a few bites taken because there is so much to choose from. Hubby's family gathering is smaller so it usually depends on who is hosting the party. They more or less choose the menu and the rest of us sign up for a particular thing. Summer parties that means more things like veggies, salads, condiments, drinks or desserts.

Personally I'm dying to try that new raspberry tart recipe in the new issue!

We will be spending the week at the beach with my in-laws for an annual event. I will survive by drinking way too much lite beer and by running more than my knees would prefer. Meals will serve at least 14 this year, half of which are children 9 or under. Each family present will be responsible for one day’s worth of meals. One sibling will order pizza, the other Thai food. Mom-in-law will defrost leftovers from last year to feed the horde on the rest of the days. I typically take our grill and for our meal, feature grilled seafood and flatbread, steamed or grilled veggies, and a huge tossed salad. If things go well (read: If I don’t drink too much beer), grilled fruit for dessert.

Last year, I made EW’s Thai Chicken Satay with (not-so-) Spicy Peanut Sauce for the kids, thinking that the children wouldn’t be thrilled with scallops and shrimp. I grilled the satay first, along with some flatbread, to keep the youngsters happy. Turned out that the adults tore thru the chicken as fast as the kids did, and kids do in fact eat scallops.

I won’t know what this year holds in store until I get there, and find out what the store holds. Other than beer, of course.

Our family makes a really big deal of all summer holidays. We gather at the house with the pool, and the giant smoker is being brought over. One of the inlaws just took a cow in for slaughtering, and I'm sure there will be massive amounts of slow cooked beef.

Side dishes are where the guests are asked to help out. I'm going to make a chickpea dip, herbed bread stuffed tomatoes, and some sort of a dessert featuring fresh berries.

Knees now ache. Skim boarding didn't help. Also decided I was drinking way too much beer, so smartly, I switched to rum . . .

I did get to make several meals this year to alleviate the level of responsibility on my mom in law. Grilled flatbread and lemon-herbed chicken and served with steamed green beans and a big salad. Grilled sweet peppers and chicken-feta burgers served with corn on the cob, steamed asparagus and a big salad. Also grilled a make shift surf and turf with flank steak and shrimp (with EW mojito marinade) served with grilled flatbread, steamed broccoli, and a big salad. Made enuf meat and salad each time so there would be leftovers for lunch the following day.