What to Cook This Weekend

What to Cook This Weekend: June 21–23

For the first official weekend of summer, pack up this veritable cavalcade of chic picnic favorites and spend as many hours outdoors as you can.
Photo of Creamy Potato Salad with Lemon and Fresh Herbs in a shallow bowl with a spoon and small side plate.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kate Schmidt
    3/11

    Spiked Ginger-Lemonade Soda Can Cocktail

    Served in a soda can, this tart, pleasantly bitter drink is as well-balanced as a complex cocktail. Feel free to make a big batch of the gin, lemon juice, and bitters ahead, then keep it in a cooler and pour into cups topped off with ginger beer as the afternoon moves along.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    4/11

    Cantaloupe and Cucumber Salad

    Toss sweet melon and crisp cukes in a bright coriander-cardamom dressing for a refreshingly delicious summer salad. Keep the herbs in a separate container until you get to the picnic site.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    5/11

    Creamy Potato Salad With Lemon and Fresh Herbs

    Because they are lower in starch than Yukon Golds or russets, baby red potatoes hold their shape when tossed.

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  • Photo by Heami Lee, Food Styling by Victoria Granof, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka
    6/11

    Classic Cheese Ball

    No picnic is complete without a cheese moment. Serve with crackers, crudités, and plenty of cocktails.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    7/11

    3-Ingredient Flaky Flatbread

    If anyone wants to make a sandwich of the picnic wares, these can serve as wraps. If not, they're delicious torn into bite sized pieces and swathed through any accompanying dip.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens
    8/11

    Spiced Quinoa and Chickpea Bites

    Inspired by the flavors of kefta, these protein-packed vegetarian bites are equally good tucked into a pita or served on their own.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Andy Baraghani
    9/11

    Muhammara

    This vibrant dip of toasted walnuts and roasted red peppers pairs perfectly well with fresh flatbread.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    10/11

    Swans Down 1-2-3-4 Pound Cake

    Whether it's your first time trying it or a perennial favorite, the fork-tender cake is unforgettable.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    11/11

    Mediterranean Eggplant and Barley Salad

    The deep flavors in this lush and hearty dish are too good for anyone to pass up. Vegetarians can substitute water for the chicken broth and still enjoy the succulent, melt-in-your-mouth eggplant.

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Following stints at StarChefs and Saveur, Joe joined Epicurious in 2016 where he’s written about how to make the very best biscuits, the singularity of third-culture cooking, and the ultimate cream cheese frosting. Currently, he works across both BA and Epi as the senior SEO editor for cooking stories, which ... Read More
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