This is an old family favorite that we always make for our summer neighborhood parties. We learned this recipe from college friends, Mike and Marilyn Sadowski and have been making it ever since. This is probably the recipe that Natalie and I, as a couple, have been making for the longest time, even though there are a lot of older traditional family recipes on the site. The recipe has evolved over the years. Basil was not in the original recipe, but the large amount of basil we added, while true to the original recipe, takes it to a new level.
Jeff’s Margaritas
My son, Jeff, came up with this recipe, and everybody that tries it says that it’s the best Margaritas they have ever had. I know, beer in a margarita sounds weird, but try it before you criticize.
Smoked Salmon
When I got my first smoker, probably in the late 1990’s, I went over to see my backyard neighbor, Dudley Welch who had been smoking fish for quite a while. Dudley had a marinade recipe that he swore by, from his son-in-law, Dan Janssen. Dan is a trained Chef and now owner of a Barbecue restaurant in Kansas City, so I figured the recipe must be good. It is. I get lots of requests for my smoked salmon even from people who don’t like salmon.
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Salmon With Mark’s Soon to Be Famous Salsa
I came up with this one a few summers ago when we started cooking salmon on the grill. Natalie likes spicy, and this recipe can be as spicy as you like depending on the amount of jalapenos that you add. It is almost as good prepared in the oven. This works well for a large group and we have done that a couple of times.
Señor Marc’s Gazpacho
This is an end of summer recipe when the garden is yielding more bounty than you know what to do with. It is a great summer meal served with fresh cornbread. I went through many Gazpacho recipes and finally developed this one after lots of experimentation. This is a wonderful way to celebrate the gift of summer and the abundance of the earth with family and friends.