Best Recipes for Entertaining at the Cottage

Lazy cottage afternoons are meant for enjoying snacks and drinks on the dock. Everyone loves creamy, fresh guacamole so it’s the perfect choice for any summer gathering and it’s easy to whip up on a whim.

Elevate simple grilled shrimp with soy sauce, zippy fresh ginger and a sprinkle of nutty, toasted sesame seeds. This is a quick-cooking dish can be prepared outdoors, on an indoor grill pan or in a non-stick skillet in under 20 minutes, leaving you with more time to relax dockside.

Grilling corn brings out the sweetness in the kernels while adding smokiness. So when you have the grill going, throw a few ears of corn on as well to make a picnic-perfect salad. Paired with hearty beans, this satisfying dish makes a tasty side or veggie main that won’t wilt in the summer sun.

This lighter, slow-cooked potato salad swaps the traditional creamy dressing for an apple cider vinegar and grainy mustard-based version. The result is a light and mouthwatering, yet satisfying side dish that won’t weigh you down all afternoon.

Mmmm – who doesn’t love BBQ ribs? But sometimes in the summer, you don’t want to spend hours slowly smoking them on the barbecue, right? Why not go the easy route and make them in the slow cooker? Guaranteed fall-off-the-bone ribs that are sure to impress, with a recipe you can set and forget.

Looking for a fun dessert to prepare and share? How about a giant cookie sundae? Courtesy of the Pioneer Woman, this recipe for a skillet-baked chocolate chip cookie is topped with ice cream and hot fudge. Set it on the table, and hand out spoons for a fun, family-style dessert.

Cottage eats can be healthy eats with this antioxidant-rich salad featuring kale, apple, dates, almonds and pecorino cheese. Nutritious and delicious, it pairs well with grilled meats.

Grilled corn on the cob is a sweet summer delight, and in this recipe it gets a bold hit of flavour from Mexican-inspired spices and lime juice. If you can’t find Cotija cheese for sprinkling on the warm niblets, opt for feta.