#ATKRecipeChallenge: Julia's Off-the-Grid Dinner Party

Grilled Steak with Herb Sauce, Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad & Bob Marley [Log In]( [America's Test Kitchen]( [FIND RECIPES]( [START FREE WEB TRIAL]( [Summer Entertaining] [Julia's Off-the-Grid Dinner Party]( This summer we’ve shared a slew of party ideas from ATK cast members and editors complete with recipe pairings, cocktail ideas, tips, and even tunes. While Julia’s great plan may be the last of them, we hope these ideas inspire you to throw a party (the planning’s mostly done!) and to try the recipes yourself. Julia’s recipe picks are from her book Cooking at Home with Bridget and Julia, and are not available on our recipe websites. Order your copy now, see the ad below her party plan for more info. Recipe Illustrations by Emily Phares Julia Collin Davison Host, America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Country [My Theme] The best part of summer for me is going to my family’s quiet cabin in the Berkshires. There’s no electricity (and using a cell phone is highly discouraged), but we have a propane stove and refrigerator for cooking, along with a huge, well-loved [charcoal grill.]( As you’d expect, dinner parties at the cabin are very low-key, with folks of all ages spreading out on the deck and lawn to eat and socialize. We have lots of great neighbors—all are either relatives or old family friends—and dinner usually lasts well into the evening with a large campfire, s’mores, and someone strumming a guitar. [To Eat] Easy Grilled Flank Steak (with Herb Sauce) . There is a terrific farm nearby that specializes in grass-fed beef, and we usually go there to pick up steaks when throwing a party. I love the big, beefy flavor and chew of [flank steak]( plus, it’s easy to grill for a crowd. My mother put in a small herb garden next to the kitchen, so I like to make a simple, fresh herb sauce to serve with the steak. It’s always a real crowd-pleaser. [Grilled Flank Steak] [Tomato and Burrata Salad] Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad with Pangrattato and Basil . There are lots of local farm stands selling funky-looking heirloom tomatoes, so tomato salad is in regular rotation at the cabin. Over the years, this salad has evolved from a tidy plate of sliced tomatoes and fresh mozzarella to large chunks of tomatoes (they’re easier to eat) and fresh local burrata along with a sprinkling of homemade garlicky bread crumbs. It’s very a rustic looking platter, but the flavors are out of this world. Wheat Berry Salad with Blueberries and Goat Cheese. The cabin is surrounded by lots of wild blueberry bushes, so we’re always throwing them into whatever we’re cooking. This wheat berry salad with blueberries and [goat cheese]( is a real stunner, and I like that it doubles as a good vegetarian main course. [To Sip] Part of the reason for the cabin’s herb garden was to grow lots of mint for my father’s famous mojitos. They go with everything. [To Make Life Easier] Over the years, I’ve learned to skip making any formal appetizer or dessert and just focus on making dinner and enjoying the party. For appetizers, I simply put a good hunk of cheese and some sort of cured meat or pâté, along with roasted garlic or fig jam, on a pretty [cutting board.]( For dessert, I like to serve fresh local fruit with either a drizzle of fresh cream or a scoop of local ice cream along with small, crisp (store-bought) cookies. I also like to have a nice tawny port on hand for after dinner. [To Listen To] I always play reggae. It’s my favorite music for cooking, and it’s the perfect mellow background for a laid-back summer party. “Satisfy My Soul” - Bob Marley “Love The Way” - Sevana “Take It Easy” - Hopeton Lewis “You Don’t Love Me” - Dawn Penn “Cool Cool Collie” - Hopeton Lewis “Roller Skates” - Steel Pulse “Zungguzungguguzungguzeng” - Yellowman “I Gotta Keep On Moving” - Bunny Wailer “When the Right Time Come” - The Mighty Diamonds “There for You” - Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley [Cooking at Home with Bridget and Julia]( Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison have put together a truly special book with 150 hand-picked, all-time favorite test kitchen recipes—everything from the weeknight meals they count on as busy working mothers to the celebration-worthy dishes that always grace their holiday tables. You’re guaranteed to discover new favorite recipes to make for your own friends and family. Regular price: $35 Your price: $24.50 [ORDER NOW]( Making a test kitchen recipe for your own party? Share a photo! Social Media: Post with hashtag [#ATKRecipeChallenge]( Email: Send your pictures directly to ATKRecipeChallenge@AmericasTestKitchen.com Miss a menu? Check our ATK Party Planning Roundup [Bridget]( [Bridget →]( [Tucker]( [Tucker →]( [Jack]( [Jack →]( [Becky]( [Becky →]( [Lisa]( [Lisa →]( [Bryan]( [Bryan →]( [Elle]( [Elle →]( [Keith]( [Keith →]( [Dan]( [Dan →]( [PLUS a special bonus party!]( Our family of brands [America's Test Kitchen]( [Cook's Illustrated]( [Cook's Country]( [Cooking School]( America’s Test Kitchen is the home of Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country magazines, America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Country from America’s Test Kitchen public television shows, dozens of best-selling cookbooks, member websites, and the America’s Test Kitchen Cooking School. We have a single mission: to help you succeed every time you cook. 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