Cocktails and Outdoor Meals for Summer

Who doesn't love sitting out on a breezy patio with a refreshing cocktail and an outdoor meal to pair? There's a reason why there's a box you can check on yelp for patio dining when searching for your next restaurant/bar to visit. But why bring the party elsewhere? Make your own cocktails and outdoor meals from your kitchen straight to your patio or porch! Embrace the season and ditch the red wine (well, don't throw it away- keep it for fall!) and sip on an aperol spritz with some ceviche. Or indulge in a spicy margarita with some chips and grilled mango salsa. 

Explore your seasonal options from these cookbooks inspired by the warm (and sometimes hot 🔥) weather!

Warm Weather Cocktails:

Cocktails in Color: A Spirited Guide to the Art and Joy of Drinkmaking

by Sammi Katz - Olivia McGiff

An artistic cocktail book that is as beautiful as it is practical. 

Cocktails in Color celebrates the craft of drinkmaking, from raw ingredients to finished, delightful refreshments. Together, Sammi Katz and Olivia McGiff explore the elements, tastes, and techniques of all things drinks to create an accessible, visually delicious new guide to drinking that gives you the tools to design your own cocktails. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a new kid at the bar, Cocktails in Color deserves a spot on your bar cart. Each page is fully illustrated with rich, inspiring gouache paintings, making it a visual delight that stands out from other bartender books. 

Every Cocktail Has a Twist: Master 25 Classic Drinks and Craft More Than 200 Variations

by Carey Jones - John McCarthy

You love your favorite libations, but sometimes you want something different that you know you'll like. Providing all the tools you need to create delicious new concoctions, this comprehensive collection reconfigures 25 timeless tipples, from Bloody Marys, Daiquirís, and Manhattans to Margaritas, Negronis, and Old-Fashioneds.

Forbidden Cocktails: Libations Inspired by the World of Pre-Code Hollywood

by André Darlington - Mark A Vieira

A stunning package for classic film buffs and drinks enthusiasts alike, all the "forbidden" fun of Pre-Code Hollywood and the Prohibition and speakeasy era meet in this stylish cocktail book.

What might Jean Harlow have sipped for Dinner at Eight? What did Barbara Stanwyck take to steel herself in Baby Face? If you're a classic film fan who's ever pondered these questions, or are a bartender or at-home entertainer who adores Prohibition-era cocktails, this guide to mixed drinks inspired by Pre-Code Hollywood is essential reading.

Movie-and-cocktail pairings include: The Divorcee, Hell's Angels,  Dracula, Strangers May Kiss, The Public Enemy, Night Nurse, Shanghai Express, Scarface, One Way Passage, Trouble in Paradise, Call Her Savage, Sign of the Cross, Gold Diggers of 1933,  Flying Down to Rio, It Happened One Night , The Thin Man, Asta

Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs, and Juice: A Cocktail Recipe Book: Cocktails from Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks

by Toni Tipton-Martin

A BEST COOKBOOK OF THE YEAR: The Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, Food Network, Good Housekeeping, Garden & Gun, Epicurious, Vice, Library Journal

Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs, and Juice spotlights the creativity, hospitality, and excellence of Black drinking culture, with classic and modern recipes inspired by formulas found in two centuries' worth of Black cookbooks. From traditional tipples, such as the Absinthe Frappe or the Clover Leaf Cocktail, to new favorites, like the Jerk-Spiced Bloody Mary and the Gin and Juice 3.0, Toni Tipton-Martin shares a variety of recipes that shine a light on her influences, including underheralded early-twentieth-century icons, like Tom Bullock, Julian Anderson, and Atholene Peyton, and modern superstars, such as Snoop Dogg and T-Pain.

Drawing on her expertise, research in historic cookbooks, and personal collection of texts and letters, Toni Tipton-Martin shows how these drinks have evolved over time and shares the stories of how Black mixology came to be--a culmination of generations of practice, skill, intelligence, and taste.

Cookbooks for Outdoor Meals

Cowgirls Cook for the Great Outdoors: More Than 90 Delicious Recipes for Picnics, Potlucks, and Pack Lunches

by Jill Charlotte Stanford - Robin Betty Johnson - Lauralee Northcott

From refreshing beverages to packable stews and casseroles perfect for feeding the crowd on branding days to cast-iron recipes perfect for a pack trip into the mountains, Cowgirls Cook for the Great Outdoors features more than ninety recipes that the modern cowgirl needs to keep her crew fed and her family happy on the trail or around the campfire. Start your day with the Cowgirl's Easy Chicken and Waffles, or Beer Batter Pancakes with Citrus Bourbon Syrup. Fill your backpack with Cowgirl Jill's Beef Jerky or Pack Mule Cookies for a snack on-the-go. And as the sun sets in the west, enjoy a Camp Kebabs, Smokey Beans, or Hearty Dutch Oven Nachos with a cold glass of "moonshine" around the campfire. No matter how you spend the day in the great outdoors, these dishes will fill your belly and feed your soul!

Easy & Tasty Picnic Side Dish Cookbook: Delicious Recipes for Your Next Outdoor Feast

by Sophia Freeman

Looking for the perfect picnic side dish?

Expect to have a tough time, not because there's a shortage of choices, but because there are too many!

One look at these delicious picnic side dishes, and you'd wish you can prepare them all. But don't worry. There's always the next picnic, and you can reserve some of the stellar recipes for next time.

Green Barbecue: Vegan & Vegetarian Recipes to Cook Outdoors & In

by Rukmini Iyer

If you thought "meat-free" and "barbecue" were opposing concepts, think again: Rukmini Iyer's collection of delicious grill recipes is delightfully plant-based. As a vegetarian, Iyer is always crafting knockout veggie-centered dishes that highlight the unique flavors and textures of plant-based cooking. At the grill, her creativity comes to life, from appetizers and salads to hearty mains and sweet treats. Her showstopping vegan and vegetarian BBQ dishes will take any cookout from standard to standout.

Picnic Cookbook: Outdoors is the New Indoors - Enjoyable Picnic Recipes Await You

by Brad Hoskinson

Are you tired of packing the same old boring picnic lunch? With the Picnic Cookbook, you can now plan delicious and unique picnics with ease. From classic favorites to exotic recipes, this cookbook has a wide selection of mouth-watering dishes to make your next picnic special. Impress your friends and family with interesting twists on classics like chicken salad or sandwiches, as well as more adventurous options like noodle salads.