Your New Favorite Cookout Menu

...for Memorial Day and beyond (plus shopping list and game plan)

Welcome to the latest installment of Operation Dinner Party, my mission to convince you to cook for your friends, no matter how little time you have, what level of cook you are, or what state of mess your house is in.

Today’s menu is all about warm-weather eating, namely, grilled everything, fresh spring salads, and crispy cold wine. (No hot dogs, as shown in that 2016 photo up there, but hey, go for it, if that’s your thing.)

As with my my All-Star Pork Ragu Menu, this menu is where my brain goes the second I invite someone over in the spring and summer. All the work (except the actual last-minute grilling) is done in advance, and the menu accommodates vegetarians, vegans, meat-eaters, and the gluten-free set alike. In other words, you will feel like an actual superhero when you serve this dinner. A sweat-free, host-of-the-year superhero.

Below, please find a downloadable game plan (what you have to do when), shopping list, and all the recipes you’ll need, from cocktails to dessert. The only thing you have to do is figure out who to invite.

Without further ado, here is the plan….