Plan a dinner that can be cooked on the grill, then in the late afternoon head over to the local lake for some swimming and a great lakeside grilled dinners. We've chosen some easy recipes. You provide the family and the transportation and we're almost there. I hope you have a lake close by, or a beach, or a pond. If not, your local park should do or you could just head ito your backyard for some great family fun together. If you don't have a lake you can swim in you can still have some water based family fun. Just break out the giant squirt guns or turn on the sprinkler and let the kids enjoy. At our house we have a dozen or so squirt guns that instantly entertain kids from about 2 to 20. We have the rule that you can only squirt someone that has a gun. We made the rule to keep cranky moms from being doused by the kiddos, but it actually made for great strategy for the older kids, because if you are cornered you can always drop your squirt gun and it makes for great sneaking up on other armed people.

We hope you have a lake nearby and can enjoy it's beach. Go swimming, float some rafts or bring out the kayaks or canoes. There are some easy dinner recipes below for your great lakeside grilled supper.

Be sure to review the water safety rules with the kids and make sure that all the swimmers are being watched by a grownup.

Grilled Chicken with Lime Avocado Salsa

Quick, easy, and delicious.

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb Chicken cutlets or chicken breasts - boneless skinless, halved horizontally
2 Tb Olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 Avocados, pitted and diced
2 Tb Lime juice
1/2 C Red onion, diced 1/4 inch
3 Tb Cilantro
1/2 Jalepeno pepper, seeded and chopped (or to taste)

Instructions

Preheat the grill to medium high heat. Drizzle the chicken with olive oil on both sides, and season generously with salt and pepper.

Prepare salsa by combining remaining ingredients.

Grill breasts 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Serve topped with salsa.

Grilled Rosemary Beef

This easy weeknight meal is also good enough for company. Enjoy!

Serves 8

Ingredients

3 lb Eye of round or London Broil
Olive oil
1/4 C Balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper
5 ea Rosemary sprigs, cleaned and finely choppped
1 Tb Flat leaf arsley, chopped
4 Tsp Garlic - minced

Instructions

Heat the grill. Coat the beef with the oil and vinegar; then, sprinkle salt and pepper onto it. Lastly add the rosemary. Cook the beef on the grill to your desired doneness.

Let the meat stand for a few minutes after you take it off the grill. Slice it thin, and drizzle with a little balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with parsley and a little more rosemary, if desired.

Campfire Grilled Garlic Bread

Everybody loves warm, soft, buttery, garlic bread.

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 Loaf French bread
1/4 C Butter
2 Tsp Garlic powder

Instructions

Split loaf in half horizontally, top with butter and garlic powder. Put the top back on and wrap well in foil. Cook on the grill turning periodically until heated through.