Inspiration & Recipes Archives - Page 7 of 12

Tips for Fall Entertaining

With the holidays approaching, you’ll want to be fully prepared for your guests. That includes everything from your home décor to family activities and menus. We’ve created a list of suggestions to spark your imagination as you plan for entertaining.

An autumn-themed gathering is perfect for making caramel apples, painting pumpkins, or carving jack-o-lanterns. The weather this time of year can still be mild enough for outdoor fun. Halloween doesn’t have to be all about candy and costumes. Make a pre-trick or treating celebration more fun for family and friends with a corn hole tournament or more sophisticated with a hard cider tasting. We sell many types of hard cider to satisfy all tastes. A fire pit or some warm blankets on the deck add a nice touch while extending a New England afternoon.

If you want to give guests a little something extra to take home, party favors such as dry hot cocoa & mini marshmallows in a mason jar, a small painted pumpkin, or a dressed-up bag of caramel popcorn are simple and memorable.

Hosting Thanksgiving provides an opportunity for creativity with indoor decorations. Pumpkins, apples and leaves are basic common themes, but there are many possibilities for how you decide to display them.

Make tea light holders out of fresh apples in a variety of colors. Use gourds of different shapes and sizes on the mantle, or to create a centerpiece, place card settings, serving bowls, or even luminaries. Take advantage of the foliage and flowers of the season by adding varying hues of mums and leaves.

Your fall theme can also inspire the featured cocktail of the day, perhaps something apple, cinnamon, or pumpkin flavored.

What will you serve on your autumn party or holiday menu? We’ve discovered some tasty appetizers that bring out the best flavors of the season. Try bacon-wrapped Brussels sprouts, cranberry chicken salad on apple slices, or pear, brie, and caramelized onion quesadillas.

For dinner, this one pan autumn chicken dinner is easy to prepare and will serve your entire party. A good chili or pot roast are great for feeding a crowd. Our experts can help you choose the best cut of beef and ideal size for your anticipated number of guests. For a smaller gathering, impress with fall-inspired stuffed pork chops.

Don’t forget about a warm fall dessert such as roasted pears. These are simple and delicious – baked in the oven, then topped with brown sugar and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Even better, take the burden off your time and kitchen by coming to our bakery to pick up a fresh pie or two.

Already anticipating Thanksgiving Day? Stay tuned for our Thanksgiving checklist, publishing next month, that will help you simplify holiday shopping and cooking.

For more fun ideas for entertaining, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.

Falling in Love with Squash

It’s that time of year when fall and winter squash abounds, and the possibilities are endless. Not only is it a tasty option for cooking and eating, but squash is great for inspiring seasonal creativity.

Visit the produce section of our store for the best fresh varieties. Select squash that is firm and store it in at home in a dry, cool place – but not the refrigerator – and be sure to use it within a month or so.

Squash pairs very well with a roast or grilled steak. Whether you grill it, mash it, or roast it, the slightly sweet flavor of squash makes for a delicious side dish or complement to the main attraction. Try this recipe for roasted acorn squash with honey ginger pork and it could make a regular appearance on your fall or winter dinner menus.

Squash can also play more of a starring role in something like stuffed acorn squash. Let us help you with flavor combinations. Ask our meat clerk to choose the sausage or chicken that will work best for various recipes.

Preparing spaghetti squash is also an easy way to add more vegetables and decrease carbs at the dinner table. Grill some steak to go with your spaghetti squash and you have a delicious dinner for the entire family.

Having trouble convincing your kids to eat squash? There are a few ways to incorporate squash into the menu that will have them coming back for seconds. Well- seasoned butternut squash fries are sure to please younger palates and they are a healthier alternative to the traditional potato counterpart.

Squash can even offer a nutritious dessert. The hubbard squash, rich in vitamin A and iron, is popular for mashing or pureeing. We found a sweet hubbard squash custard pie recipe that promises to rival the tastiest pumpkin pie.

For additional ideas, revisit the recipes we’ve shared before for fall-themed squash and pumpkin dinners.

You can even decorate your house for the season with these versatile gourds. Try painting some pumpkins white or gold for a stylish way to celebrate the season. Wrap and glue some twine to the top of your acorn squash to make it look like acorns. With a little felt and creativity, turning a butternut squash into a moose for your decorations will be quite the conversation piece that’s easy for the kids to help create. Or simply cut the tops off small gourds and mini pumpkins, place some tea lights in them or flowers, and you have a beautiful centerpiece.

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Ease into Fall

Labor Day is only the unofficial end to summer. The beach vacation is over and the kids are back in school, but you can still take advantage of the beautiful evenings and weekends. There are a few ways to ease into fall without leaving all of summer behind at once.

Plan to continue spending time outside on the deck or patio. When the sun goes down, a heating lamp or fire pit work well for staying warm on chillier nights. Cozy throw blankets are a comfortable choice, too.

For sports fans, this is the time of year when baseball and football seasons collide. You can watch a Red Sox game one day and cheer on the Patriots the next. You could even host a game-day party in your home. Be sure to visit our prepared foods department for all the snacks and appetizers you may want to serve. Why fry your wings when you can grill them and get some outdoor time before kickoff? Check out this simple guide to grilling chicken wings.

Days sunning at the beach and lake are traded in for trips to the apple orchard and mountain hikes. When the foliage starts to pop, you’ll be glad you took the drive to enjoy the New England outdoors. Cape Cod is extra beautiful when the traffic quiets down as visitors head back to school and work. Take a day trip or overnight adventure to walk the beaches and do some shopping in the local shops. There are also fall fairs and festivals, like the ones at Smolak Farms. Check out their calendar of events!

Now is a great time to move from summer to autumn fruits and veggies in your recipes. If you’re looking for some culinary inspiration to get into the spirit of the new season, try some of these delicious dinners we love. How about a wine-marinated pot roast? Let us help you choose just the right cut of beef which, along with a bold red wine sauce highlighting sweet root vegetables, mushrooms and onion. For something sweet, try a spiced pear and cranberry cobbler. Whatever is on your fall menu, remember to check out the fresh marinades and dry rubs we offer.

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Low-Stress School Lunches

The start of the school year is invigorating. Motivated by fresh notebooks, new pens, and clean lunch boxes, the first couple of weeks of school are often organized and ambitious. That includes sending the kids to school with creative, nutritious lunches every day.

Inevitably, life’s busy and over-scheduled routine sets in, leaving us without the time or energy to keep up the perfect lunch pace. But hope isn’t lost for the next eight months! We have some tips on how to make school lunches stress-free and delicious for everyone in your family.

Try to take some time on Sunday afternoons or evenings to plan ahead. Package up weekend leftovers into lunch-sized portions that the kids won’t mind eating cold: pasta with pesto, salad with a few extra toppings like cheese and dried cranberries, beef skewers or sausage kebabs, or homemade pizza with veggies.

Hard boil a few extra eggs while making breakfast. It’s a great protein and convenient to grab from the fridge on a busy morning. For snacks, cut up fruit and raw vegetables that can be stored in baggies to throw into lunch boxes. Do your kids like dips? Pack a small container of ranch dressing or hummus to go with the fruits and veggies. Those are delicious with pretzels and crackers, too.

You’ve shopped our specialty meats for grilling and entertaining, but what about our deli? We have a variety of cold cuts, cheeses and breads to choose from so no one will suffer from sandwich boredom. No bread? No problem. Simply roll up slices of roast beef, turkey or ham together with cheese.

We also offer prepared meals, sides, and salads to go. One prep-free option is our precooked, shredded rotisserie chicken that can easily be put into sandwiches and tossed into salads. Put a simple soup into a thermos and add the chicken for extra substance.

Looking for additional inspiration? Check out more of our perfect lunch ideas and recipes. And sign up for our newsletter to get meal tips delivered right to your inbox.

Less Work, More Play for Your Labor Day Weekend Cookout

It’s time to plan for summer’s last hurrah. If you’ll be entertaining friends and family over Labor Day weekend, we have some ideas for making sure your guests are well-fed and entertained.

The Menu

Have you been able to practice our fool-proof tips for perfect steak on the grill? Or maybe you have favorites you’ve cooked already this summer, like those we suggested for the Fourth of July. Visit our store for the best ground beef for your homemade burgers, a variety of quality sausage, and flavorful marinated chicken or beef tips.

Take advantage of late summer veggies such as corn and tomatoes for a fresh salad. Or a twist on traditional antipasto. Both will add color to your outdoor buffet table. Don’t forget to see what produce we offer to inspire other side dish or main course ideas.

The Vibe

Freshen up the backyard landscape with pretty potted flowers or plants.

When the sun goes down, give your summer send-off a bit of creative lighting or put up a few tiki torches. Tiki torches can perform double-duty as mosquito repellent. Other ideas to keep the bugs at bay are citronella candles or essential oils

The Fun

Lawn games are almost always a hit with a crowd. Form teams for corn hole, bocce, or wiffleball. For more laughs, host your own field day events for kids and adults, complete with a three-legged race, an obstacle course, and relays.

If you really want to surprise your guests by thinking outside the game box, try a do-it-yourself version of Twister. Use yard paint to spray red, yellow, green, and blue circles on the grass. Add as many rows as you want so that even more players can join in on the game of physical balance and skill.

For nighttime entertainment, rent or borrow a projector for your own backyard movie. Lawn chairs, blankets, and snacks are all you need for a relaxing “drive-in” experience.

Cheers to the beginning of fall! Watch for more tips and guides inspired by the new season. Want them delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Butcher Boy’s email newsletter.

Back to School – Easy Weeknight Meals for the Whole Family

Back to school means back to busy routines that might make you wish there were more hours in the day. No more leisurely dinners after work or time to even prepare a good meal without watching the clock. But in between the after-school activities, sports, and homework demands, it is possible to enjoy dinner on the run. We’ve got some ideas for meals you can prep ahead of time to make weeknight dinners simple as your family gets back into the school year routine – even if you have to eat it in the car.

1) Buy rotisserie chickens on Sunday and cut it up for the week. Use the meat for sandwiches, toss it into salads, or make quick quesadillas.

2) Roast and sauté enough vegetables to last a few days. At Butcher Boy, we even have chopped veggies to make it easier on you. Mix them into some of that rotisserie chicken, pasta, or use them as side dishes with different main courses.

3) You can also get in your daily servings of vegetables by prepping and portioning some fixings for salads that you can pull out of the fridge for eating at home or packing it to go. We have your favorite lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrots and other produce available.

4) If you have time to fire up the grill over the weekend, cook a lot of chicken and beef at once. You’ll have it ready to make several different meals and you can give each one a new taste by using our various marinades. Or grill a London broil large enough for two dinners. Use any leftovers to make tacos, sandwiches, and wraps.

5) The Crock Pot isn’t just for cold weather comfort food. Slow cooking is a great way to prepare a meal ready to eat any time you walk in the door. Serve it in heat resistant containers the kids can take along to practice or lessons, or eat as a family if it’s not too late when the day is done. Try one of our pork roasts or brisket, which you can shred for easy barbeque sandwiches.

6) When you just need a snack, hard boiled eggs are a great protein on the go, and pre-cut fruit or raw veggies can take the edge off until you get home for dinner.

With a bit of planning, you can survive the transition from summer to fall. For the rare night the game is rained out or you just happen to be unscheduled, be sure to visit our wine aisle and pick out a bottle to enjoy at home. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest for more tips and resources you need.

Make No Mis-Steak With Your Grill

We like to share recipes with our customers. It’s fun to try new combinations of flavors or prepare our specialty meats in different ways. But when it comes to grilling steak, a recipe is only a winner if the steak is cooked just the way you — or your guests — like it. If you’re unsure about the general rules for cooking times of various cuts of steak, we’ve put together this helpful Steak Grilling Guide.

Keep in mind that cooking times are based on:

the cut of meat
the thickness of the meat
desired doneness

That’s why you can’t grill different types of steak for the same amount of time and expect the same taste and texture. The guide chart is customized to give you the best results for each cut of steak.

Universal tips for grilling the perfect steak:

Don’t take the steak out of the fridge and throw it directly on the grill. To make sure the meat cooks evenly, let it come to room temperature first.
Oil the grill grates. When it’s time to flip the steak, it will turn easily and not stick.
Be patient and let the steak cook on one side for the full recommended time before turning it. Flipping a steak too often will disrupt the grilling time and dry it out.
Searing a steak creates tremendous flavor. After you get a good crust on steak thicker than an inch, grill it over indirect heat so that it won’t burn before it finishes cooking on the inside.
Don’t be afraid to use a digital thermometer to keep a more accurate eye on your steak.
Always let your steak rest for about five minutes after you take it off the grill and don’t cut into it before.

About those grill marks…

Have you figured out the technique for creating those criss-crossed grill marks on steaks? Place the steak at a 45-degree angle on the grill. Flip it at the same angle. Turn the steak over a second time, rotating it 90 degrees. One last flip for a quick sear at the same angle will give you that familiar diamond pattern.

For more information about cooking all types of beef, check out our Beef Roasting Guide. You can also revisit similar guides for roasting pork, ham and turkey. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!

Make July 4th a Real Blast

The most American of holidays is upon us. You could celebrate our nation’s independence with a basic cookout or picnic of burgers and hot dogs…but why not kick it up a notch or two with some of these recipe suggestions that will impress everyone on your guest list?

Spicy Grilled Chicken with Lemon and Parsley

Skin on and bone-in, this grilled chicken is a true summertime favorite. Brown the chicken on direct heat first before cooking thoroughly on indirect heat without burning it. If you don’t have smoked Spanish paprika, no problem! Create the desired smoky flavor yourself by adding a dash of cumin or one of these other alternatives to regular paprika. View recipe here.

Bourbon-Glazed Baby Back Ribs

Low and slow is the key to fall-off-the-bone ribs. This easy recipe starts off with the ribs in the oven, then browning them on the grill and basting with glaze. The chili paste adds heat to the sweet bourbon, but there are a few good spicy substitutes to consider if you don’t have it on hand. View recipe here.

Smoked Chicken Wings

When you want to add some finger food to the grill menu, this is one to go for. Switch up the barbeque sauce for a homemade marinade. Or, check out Butcher’s Boy’s selection of marinated chicken that you can just toss onto the grill. Satisfy multiple preferences by cooking up a variety of flavors! View recipe here.

Porterhouse Steak with Summer Vegetables

Season this cut of beef liberally and make sure you bring the steak up to room temperature before putting it on the grill. A porterhouse is thick, and that will ensure even cooking. When it’s just the way you like it, carve the steaks off the bone, then slice the strip and the tenderloin into 1/4-inch slices for the crowd to share. View recipe here.

Grilled Filet Mignon with Brandy Mustard Sauce

This recipe will give your 4th of July party a more upscale taste. The sauce ingredients are easy enough to throw together in a skillet. You can finish it off while the steaks are resting off the grill. View recipe here.

Looking for some ideas more suited to honoring the red, white and blue of the occasion? Revisit our 5 Patriotic Dishes suggestions to celebrate America. If a side dish is what you need to round out the main courses, try Mexican grilled corn, a delicious alternative to basic steamed or boiled corn on the cob.

Have a safe, fun and happy 4th of July!

Keepin’ it Cool for Summer

Planning day trips or weekends away this summer? Chances are, a cooler is one of the things on your list to bring to the beach, mountains, lake or campsite. How do you keep the items in it cold and dry? Throwing everything in a basic plastic cooler and covering it with ice only leads to spoiled and soggy food. That can be enough to ruin any appetite not to mention the hassle of clean up. Here are some clever cooler hacks that will help to preserve your food and keep a smile on your face.

Be sure your cooler is up to the task.

If you’ve got one you’ve used for a long time, it might be time to upgrade to a better cooler that is well insulated and seals in the cold. Among the top-of-the-line options is the Yeti. You’ve probably heard of — and maybe even own — the Yeti travel mug tumblers, known for keeping beverages ice cold or piping hot for hours. The company also offers a line of hard and soft coolers of all sizes. They’re durable enough to get you through the most active of adventures.

Pre-chill your cooler.

Common sense would tell you not to start out with a cooler that’s been sitting in the sun or a hot garage. At the very least, make sure your cooler is at room temperature before you fill it. You can also give your cooler a boost by filling it with cold water and ice hours ahead of time. Dump it out when it’s time to pack the cooler with food and drink.

Prep your food ahead of time to save time and space.

It’s also a good idea to make sure everything going into the cooler is already chilled. Even room temperature items will melt the ice more quickly than if they were cold. Portion out your food and condiments into smaller leak-proof containers. You may even want to freeze some of your food items prior to packing them to allow them to thaw throughout your trip. Frozen water bottles are great for keeping your cooler cold and keeping you hydrated once they thaw out.

Mix up your ice choices, and use plenty of it.

Blocks of ice and large cubes are preferable to shaved ice or chips.The recommended amount is one pound of ice for every quart your cooler holds. For a large cooler that you’re using to hold mostly drinks, cubes are the best way to pack everything in and keep it cold. If they won’t take up too much space, use ice packs in combination with traditional ice. They will help keep the ice from melting. You can make your own ice block by freezing water inside an airtight plastic food storage container. Pack food and other perishable items around it in the bottom of the cooler. Another idea is to fill water balloons and freeze them and then place them around your items. Then when they thaw, you can start an epic water balloon fight.

Pack your cooler strategically.

Place ice blocks or cubed ice at the bottom with any bulky containers. Find something to create a metal shelf — the cooling racks you use for freshly baked cookies will work just fine — to place on top to create a dry zone for loose food items or cartons you don’t want to become wet. Fill in any extra space with cubed ice. Make sure the cooler is the last thing you load into the car to keep it as cool as possible.

Keep it closed.

Always remember to keep the lid latched and store it in the shade. Try to open it as infrequently as possible to avoid letting cold air out. When you have a big group, expect that people will be reaching for drinks often. That’s why separate coolers for beverages and food is a good idea. Place some glow sticks inside the coolers so you can see what’s inside once the sun goes down and you won’t be wasting time — and cold air — looking for something.

Don’t drain the meltwater.

Believe it or not, water from melted ice will preserve the leftover ice, and it’s actually better to leave the water in there to keep things cold than to dump the water. Empty air in the cooler will only warm things up.

Do you have any of your own smart tips for packing a cooler? Share them with us! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. Be sure to bring that ice-cold cooler with you to Butcher Boy Market so you can stock up on everything you need for the weekend away!

Fire Up the Grill for Father’s Day

The day to celebrate Fathers is coming, and while you might think about taking your Dad to his favorite steakhouse for a special meal, a homemade version can be even better and tastier. If Dad is the grillmaster of the household, you don’t have to feel intimidated by taking over. Use some of our tricks for grilling a perfect steak every time and you’ll be sure to impress him. We’ve also got some great ideas for Father’s Day steaks to satisfy any appetite.

Grilled Filet Mignon with Herb Butter

Indulge without the guilt. This recipe from Eating Well is one of the most flavorful we’ve seen with a total of only 303 calories and 14 grams of fat. The herb butter and seasoning rub are the star of this dish, giving the tender steak a powerful flavor.

Simple London Broil

Grilled London Broil — via Hey Grill Hey

Don’t let the name of this one fool you — simple doesn’t mean ordinary. This London broil recipe from Hey Grill Hey enhances the beef flavor with a basic marinade made up of garlic, red wine vinegar and Worcestershire. We like a good London broil to serve a large family. Serve it thinly sliced and enjoy!

Marinated Delmonico Steak

Grilled Delmonico Steak — via allrecipes

Named for a famous restaurant in New York, Delmonico steaks are often included on the menus of the fanciest steakhouses around. Generally, a Delmonico steak is a thick cut boneless ribeye of the highest quality. It’s also one of the most tender. Impress Dad with the flavor from a marinade that combines soy sauce, steak sauce, garlic, and other tasty ingredients.

Porterhouse Steak with Paprika-Parmesan Butter

Grilled Porter House Steak — via Genius Kitchen

If dad is a true steak-lover, this is the cut for him. Think of it as two delicious steaks in one — a New York strip and filet mignon together. Genius Kitchen’s recipe recommends serving it sliced, but the porterhouse can be served whole as well for very hearty appetites! Topping it with the paprika-parmesan butter gives it an extra richness.

With your main entree taken care of, how about a side dish? Choose one from this list of 5 surprising foods that are delicious on the grill to help complete your meal.

Need more tips? Here is another one of our favorite guides for cooking steak, just in time for Father’s Day. Check out our meat cut selections for inspiration or stop by our store in North Andover. We’re always here to answer your questions and give you suggestions.