Backyard BBQ Staple: Potato Salad

The ultimate backyard barbecue staple is potato salad. You can make it in advance, chill it, and set it out at the last minute for a huge hit that will fill your crowd's bellies without costing a fortune.

Looking for some inspiration? Try one of our favorite potato salad recipes:

Bacon Potato Salad
Dijon Potato Salad	Yellow and Green Potato Salad	Italian Potato Salad

There's also a growing trend for warm potato salad, so if you want to give that a whirl try one of these:

Hot German Potato Salad

Warm Spring Potato Salad

For more ideas, check out all our easy potato salad recipes!

Patriotic Party!

It's a chore going out and buying decorations for just one day of fun, or maybe even just a few hours. Plus, most of the decorations only get used one time before you have to throw them away. So, this year, keep your money in your wallet and let your food do all the decorating!

Celebrate the 4th of July with this festive, All-American menu featuring all things RED, WHITE, and BLUE!

Patriotic Summer Salad
Red, White & Blue Cookies	Stuffed Strawberries	Patriotic Cheesecake
Patriotic Spritzer	Patriotic Sangria	Patriotic Shooter

Want more? Check out all our easy recipes! Happy 4th of July!

Graduation Party Grub

Throwing a party for a recent grad? Whether it's for a growing teenager or a starving college student, one thing's for sure - these kids want some real food! Serve up platters of Burger Bites with easy sides like Taco Dip (7 layers to fill them up!) and Baked Potato Salad (all the ingredients of a baked potato in potato salad form). Hats off to your simple yet hearty celebration!

Burger Bites
Taco Dip	Baked Potato Salad

For more ideas, check out all our easy party recipes!

Brunch Fit For a Royal

Here's a grand idea: If you have the luxury of a free morning on Friday, April 29, why not gather the girls for brunch and watch the Royal Wedding from this side of the pond? It starts at 5 am ET (yikes!) but televised highlights of the event will run all day. Serve up our classy Artichoke Quiche, Scrumptious Strawberry Salad, and swanky Brunch Mimosas to enjoy a royally decadent brunch!

Artichoke Quiche
Scrumptious Strawberry Salad	Brunch Mimosas

For more ideas, check out all our easy brunch recipes!

Score Big With Seafood

Whether you're observing Lent or hoping your team makes it to the next bracket in March Madness, our easy Crab Rangoon Dip is a surefire hit for your next soiree. Blended together, these simple grocery store ingredients turn your favorite restaurant appetizer into an easy-to-eat (and super easy to make) dip!

And if you're looking for more seafood dishes - for Lent or incredible NCAA madness - check out some of our other faves, like Smoked Salmon Penne, White Bean Tuna Salad, and Rotel Tilapia.

Crab Rangoon Dip
Smoked Salmon Penne	White Bean Tuna Salad	Rotel Tilapia

Can't get enough? Check out all our easy seafood recipes!

Get Your Green On!

I love St. Patrick's Day because it's a great excuse to dye everything green and boast about my Irish heritage (nevermind that I'm likely less than 1/32 Irish). But who cares? The holiday had me at green beer.

If you prefer to indulge in a pint (or three) of Guinness and enjoy the festivities instead of hanging out in the kitchen all day, try our festively simple recipes for St. Patrick's Day:

Guinness Braised Chicken
Cheesy Potato (& Beer!) Soup	Potato Casserole	Beer Bread
Pot O' Gold Cupcakes	Black Velvet	Irish Sunrise

Let the celebration begin! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Screw the Super Bowl

We're bummed our favorite teams didn't make it this year so we're indulging in some totally-bad-for-us, but oh-so-delicious foods to compensate. On the menu: Cheesy Pigs in a Blanket, Chili con Queso, and Hot Pizza Dip. We'll still watch the game, but these dishes will make it much more enjoyable!

Cheesy Pigs in a Blanket

Chili con Queso

Hot Pizza Dip

Since we're trying to stick to our resolutions, we promise to get back on track during the week. Check out the blog on Monday for tips on recovering from party food overload, nursing your hangover & starting the week off right!

What are you waiting for? Check out all our awesome appetizer recipes and start planning your menu now! By the way, who are you rooting for? Share on our Facebook wall and we'll tell you our favorite teams ... and who we're rooting for on Sunday.

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Since They Don't Do Much Sleeping at Sleepovers ...

Planning a sleepover for your kids is easier than you think because let's face it - they want to eat and get back to running wild as soon as possible.

Our solution to keep 'em happy is Farm Rich Pizza Slices. Whip up our tasty Pizza Dipper Party Platter to fuel 'em up for their wild night!

While you're at it, serve up these simple recipes to make the sleepover extra special. Then set out a few flashlights for late-night ghost story telling and you're all set. Have a great party!

The kiddos will need to make a pit-stop so have some Party Mix on hand for refueling. It's an instant energy boost that's super easy to make!

No matter what you feed them the night before, they're sure to wake up hungry. So serve this filling French Toast and Egg Strata for breakfast before sending them home!


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Rock Out on Family Game Night

It's starting to cool off, so bring the kids indoors for game night! Fire up the Wii for a Rock Band concert and see if Dad really is as good at guitar as he claims.

And when the rockstars need a break, keep 'em happy with Farm Rich! Our Cheeseburgers on a Stick use Farm Rich Meatballs, which are made with premium ingredients and are super easy to prepare.


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Football Season is Here

Brett Favre may have a hard time making up his mind (seriously, will he ever really retire?) but deciding what to serve at your football party is easy with Farm Rich!

Cheesy Trio

Pick up some Farm Rich appetizers and pair with these easy dips for a surefire win:

• Cheesy Tomato Dip
• Dip with Zip
• Southwestern Fiesta Dip

Be sure to check out all of our easy Farm Rich recipes!

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Simple Summer Picnics

Summer is (obviously) a great time to get outdoors and enjoy the fabulous weather. And picnics can be an easy way to have inexpensive and fun meals outside. To make sure your picnics stay simple (and don't make you miss the conveniences of home!) try these tips:

FAMILY PICNICS

Food. Keep it easy with this Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad, which you can make in advance and refrigerate. It has all the food groups so you know your family will get a full meal. Bring along some baked potato chips and fresh fruit, like watermelon and apples, and you're set!

Drinks. Fill a cooler with juices boxes for the kiddo and soda, beer, or white wine for the adults, and plenty of water for everyone.

Entertainment. Bring a volleyball net or badminton set if you're going to an area that allows set-up. You can find them pretty inexpensively at your local sporting goods or discount store. Or even just a ball or frisbee to throw around.

Miscellaneous. Bring plenty of napkins and wet wipes - watermelon is great but somehow manages to end up all over the place. Toss in a few paper plates and plastic forks and you're set.

Remember - the goal is to keep it simple! Grab just a few things and head to the beach/park and enjoy a family night out. No need to bring everything from home!

ROMANTIC PICNICS

Food. Grab a selection of gourmet cheeses and sausages at your local wine and cheese shop (or even grocery store), and toss in a baguette as well. Prepare this easy Fruit Pizza in advance for a refreshing dessert. Simple and totally tasty!

Drinks. Grab a bottle (or two) of sparkling wine or white wine. Either is great when enjoyed al fresco. Splurge and bring real champagne/wine glasses on your picnic. If you have a wine chiller, that's ideal. Otherwise, just keep it in your picnic basket out of direct sunlight and drink it fast enough that it doesn't get hot! And don't forget the corkscrew!

Miscellaneous. Little touches like a real knife, a wooden cuttingboard, and a traditional picnic basket really jazz up a romantic picnic while still keeping it simple.

The main thing to remember with picnics is that everything you use, you have to carry. So choose wisely and pick the few things that make it special while leaving everything else at home. And remember - you don't need to eat any more on a picnic than you would at home. No need to bring vats of potato salad or 20 pounds of watermelon - you'll just end up trashing most of it or lugging it home. Keep it simple and enjoy the great outdoors!

Meatless Monday: Summer Bean Salads

Whether you're a vegetarian or not, bean salads are a great side for summer barbecues. Most of our recipes involve opening a few cans, chopping just a few vegetables, and tossing everything together - super SIMPLE! So check out our 2 quick-tips for bean salads and our 6 easy bean salad recipes!

1. Instead of draining the beans using the lid of the can (yes, it's easier but you'll smush your beans!), strain them in a strainer. Your bean salad will look that much nicer when you serve it for guests! It's also not a bad idea to run a little water through the strainer to rinse the beans.


2. If possible, refrigerate your bean salads for at least an hour before serving. The sauce will soak into the beans more and everything will set nicely. An added bonus is that you can get it out of the way well before guests come instead of scrambling last-minute.

Celebrate Meatless Monday (and summer in general!) with one of our top 6 bean salads:

1. Mexicorn Bean Salad: Contributed by Stephanie Ashcraft, author of "101 Things to do with a Salad", this easy bean salad is a surefire hit.







2. Ranch Dressing Bean Salad: The cheesy, creamy goodness of this salad sets it apart from your average bean salad!







3. 4 Bean Salad: If you like vinaigrette dressing, you'll love this four bean salad.








4. Broccoli Bean Salad: Skip the bacon for Meatless Monday or substitute with veggie bacon - either way this salad is fabulous!







5. Best Party Dip Ever: Don't be fooled by the name - yes, it's great for parties but it's not just a dip! It makes for a great side of bean salad as well, so give it a shot at your next BBQ!






6. Light Mexican Bean Salad: Flavored with salsa and light cheese, this is great for people who aren't big on creamy bean salads.

Be sure to check out all our recipes for easy summer barbecues!

We are happy to support the Meatless Monday initiative. Check 'em out for more info!

World Cup and World's Best Dad

The World Cup starts today and Father's Day is just around the corner. With all these hungry guys to feed, try one of our easy, yet manly, party appetizers:

• Pizza Bombs


• Shrimp in a Blanket


• Taco Dip


• BBQ Spring Rolls

See all of our easy snacks!



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Bite into World Cup 2010

"Football", "fútbol", "calcio", "soccer" ... however you say it, the event we await with baited breath for four years has finally arrived and the USA is looking strong this year. Whether you come to cheer the mighty Howard in all his goalie glory or the attacking prowess of Dempsey, Donovan, Findley, and Altidore, you will want to partake in the vibrant World Cup bar scene.

True, the USA is a fledgling soccer country, but our fan base is growing exponentially. Soon we will rival the fervent and aggressive fanaticism of the rest of the world. Gone are the days when people wonder what sport soccer is. Now the city streets across the US are lined with bars boasting World Cup action on big screens, surround sound, and stellar beer and food specials (make sure to take advantage).

Anyone who has spent time in Europe or South America during World Cup frenzy can attest to the energy, whooping, and booing, that permeate the streets. Get a taste of it by enjoying the vibrant social scene of watching a match in a bar in between bites of burger and gulps of Bud. Allow the energy (and a little booze) to influence you to yell at the screen as if it will make a difference.

This weekend, take advantage of bar specials and pair it with a good old fashioned American hamburger and fries or chicken wings. Some bars employ a BYOF (bring your own food) policy, and for you health conscious fans, pack a turkey ranch wrap to eat while watching manly men fake injuries.

BIG GAME OF THE WEEKEND: USA v. ENGLAND Saturday, June 12th, 2PM EST

Stay tuned over the next few weeks for tips on game day food, international food and drinks, and World Cup trivia!

We are happy to have Nola Solomon on board as an intern for FunnySpoon.com. As a French-American, she offers unique culinary insight on how to enjoy your food and efficiently plan for a hectic schedule. Give her recipes and tips a try!