Throw the best party on the block

Throw the best party on the block

Nothing brings people together quite like a neighborhood picnic or family celebration. So, gather up neighbors, friends and family for a celebration of great food and fun.

Keep the food simple. Ask everyone to bring a favorite side dish so you need only to grill up the hamburgers and hot dogs.

Of course, you’ll also want to whip up a few special treats.

What could be better than a popcorn bar?

Popcorn is both good and good for you. It’s a whole grain food that is not only low in calories but also makes a great addition to many recipes.

Recipes, including one for Double Chocolate Popcorn Balls (above) on C2.

Simmer sauce

Weekday dinners need not be flavor deficient if you seek out a good simmer sauce, one such as Caramelized Onion & Lemon Tagine Sauce from Williams-Sonoma.

Spices, olives, ginger and preserved lemon capture the classic flavors of the Moroccan stew, delivering a delicious dinner in about an hour.

Whether you use the cone-shaped tagine cooking vessel or not, directions on the jar for a chicken version are simple, produce a deeply flavored stew and need only couscous to complete the meal.

A 16-ounce jar is $12.95; available online at williams-sonoma.com.

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