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I’m a meat eater. I love, love, love me a good beef burger. However, for a variety of reasons, my family and I do try our best to NOT eat meat one day a week at least. As much as we enjoy meat, we enjoy vegetables just as much. I really thrive on creating meatless menu options for our weekly dinners. This Portobello Caprese Burger is a great substitute if you’re wanting to cut back on the meat a bit but still want something hearty and flavorful. It is also a fantastic for a vegetarian burger option at your next cookout! (Just remember to cook BEFORE cooking your meat on the grill so that you’re not giving your vegetarian friend meat drippings on their vegetarian burger!)

Portobello Caprese Burger + Free Printable Food Tray | A Well Crafted Party

Portobello Caprese Burgers | A Well Crafted Party

Portobello Caprese Burgers

Portobello mushrooms are rich and earthy. They are also fairly affordable. I substitute portobello mushrooms for beef often because it creates that bold flavor and bit of chew that beef typically gives a dish. We chose to serve the burgers with a side of grilled zucchini spears. This made for a really tasty and fairly healthy meal!

Serves 6

Ingredients for Balsamic Marinade:

  • Olive Oil (approximately 3 tablespoons)
  • Balsamic Vinegar (approximately 3 tablespoons)
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • salt & pepper

Ingredients for Portobello Caprese Burgers: 

  • Hamburger Buns
  • 6 Portobello Mushroom Caps whole with stem removed
  • 6 slices of mozzarella cheese
  • 6-12 slices of tomato (I did roma tomatoes so the burgers had two slices each, but if you use a bigger tomato then 1 slice would work.)
  • Fresh Basil leaves (you’ll want enough to top each burger)
  • Balsamic Marinade

For Grilled Zucchini Side:

  • 5 medium sized zucchini cut into spears
  • Balsamic Marinade

 

Portobello Caprese Burger + Free Printable Food Tray | A Well Crafted Party

How to Make Portobello Caprese Burgers with Grilled Zucchini Spears:

Directions for Balsamic Marinade: 

  • Mix ingredients together in a large bowl

Directions for Portobello Caprese Burgers:

  • Brush the Balsamic Marinade onto each side of the clean, de-stemmed portobello mushrooms
  • Put on a grill, smooth side down over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until tender
  • While the portobello mushrooms are cooking add mozzarella to your top bun and place your buns on a toasting tray on your grill or above a cooler side of the grill to toast the buns and melt the cheese. Be careful to not burn the buns.
  • OPTIONAL: I chose not to use any condiments on my burger because the mushroom with the balsamic marinade was plenty moist and flavorful and I’m currently watching extra calories. However, if you’d like I’d suggest using a nice garlic aioli or a really good quality mayo on the bottom bun. Topping the burger with a balsamic glaze would also be delish!
  • Top your bottom bun with a few basil leaves, the portobello mushroom, slices of tomato, and a few more basil leaves. Top with the mozzarella covered bun. ENJOY!

Directions for Grilled Zucchini Spears: 

  • Toss your raw zucchini spears in the leftover balsamic marinade. If you use all of your marinade up brushing them on the mushrooms then go ahead and make some more marinade. Also, you’re going to have some seriously tasty mushrooms! 😉
  • Put in a grilling basket or on top of a foil lined grill. Grill until tender, approximately 6-8 minutes. (We grilled our mushrooms and zucchini at the same time and everything was ready to go around the same time.)
  • Serve alongside the burger. Add an optional dipping sauce of garlic aioli for a nice flavor punch.

 

Portobello Caprese Burger + Free Printable Food Tray | A Well Crafted Party

We served these tasty little burgers with some of the Julian Hard Cider that I shared yesterday. The portobello was especially nice with the Cherry Bomb cider!

 

Portobello Caprese Burger + Free Printable Food Tray | A Well Crafted Party

4th of July Free Printable Food Tray

I of course had to serve up my Portobello Caprese Burgers in something fun for the holiday. I created these fun stars and striped food trays to make serving these burgers a little more festive.

Directions for Use:

  • Click on file and save to computer
  • Print on white cardstock in full color
  • Cut around the outside of the food tray and on the dotted lines
  • Fold where there are white solid lines.
  • Glue the tabs into the panel directly to the right of the tab you are gluing.
  • Once complete, line your food tray with wax paper and top with food. The heavier the weight of your card stock the more sturdy these food trays will be.

Free Printable 4th of July Food Tray | A Well Crafted Party

Download your Free Printable 4th of July Food Tray

 

Have a fantastic 4th of July holiday tomorrow! Stay safe and have fun.

 

 

 

To me there is an art to pairing drinks with meals. However, I’m pretty easy when it comes to drinks too. I enjoy a lot of different items and a lot of different pairings. Some of my favorite types of beverages to serve happen to be beverages that pair well with many different foods and are pretty friendly. Hard Cider is one of those types of beverages. Every year I head out to the Portland Apple Festival mainly for the opportunity to taste a bunch of local and delicious ciders. I tend to think of Hard Cider in the fall, but was pleasantly surprised at how summer-friendly they can be when Julian Hard Cider sent me an array of ciders to try out for the upcoming 4th of July holiday.

This post is in partnership with Julian Hard Ciders. All opinions are my own. For more information about sponsorships on this blog visit my policies page

4th of July Drinks with Julian Hard Cider | A Well Crafted Party

4th of July Drink Ideas

With names like “Cherry Bomb” and “Apple Pie” these hard ciders were pretty much made for an Independence Day celebration, don’t you think? But, even if the names weren’t perfect for a 4th of July party then the sweet and tart flavors make for a refreshing and easy to pair beverage solution. The ciders are made without added sugar and are sweetened with 100% juice.

The Julian Hard Cider flavors include: Cherry Bomb, Apple Pie, Harvest Apple, Black and Blue, Pearanormal, and Razzmatazz.

My three favorites for 4th of July pairings include the Cherry Bomb, Apple Pie, and Black and Blue for refreshingly sweet pairs to some of my favorite foods to eat at an outdoor BBQ.

 

4th of July Drinks with Julian Hard Cider | A Well Crafted Party 4th of July Drinks with Julian Hard Cider | A Well Crafted Party

Julian Hard Cider: Cherry Bomb

The Cherry Bomb was sweet and tart both with BIG notes of cherries. This was my favorite of the ciders mostly because I’m obsessed with cherries this time of year. It is made with the traditional apple cider and Montmorency Cherry juice. I think this cider would pair nicely with some BBQ ribs or brisket. It could even be paired well with a juicy burger topped with a roasted red pepper and garlic aioli.

Julian Hard Cider: Apple Pie

The Apple Pie hard cider tastes just like fall to me. The crisp bite of a juicy apple with notes of cinnamon, brown sugar, and nutmeg. Why do I like it for 4th of July if it tastes like fall you ask? Well, easy… is there anything more American than apple pie!? This would pair well with a hot dog piled high with sauerkraut or grilled onions. I’m personally going to serve the apple cider with our yearly Crab Boil. I think it will be great with the flavors of crab, sausage, and corn on the cob!

Julian Hard Cider: Black and Blue

Blackberries and blueberries make this cider fruity and bold. Maybe it is the name of this cider… but, I’d pair this with a big burger topped high with bacon and blue cheese. Blueberries and blue cheese just belong together. I’d also pair this one with steak. Mmmm… grilled steak.

 

4th of July Drinks with Julian Hard Cider | A Well Crafted Party

 

Other ideas for 4th of July Beverages:

Spiked Ice Cream | A Well Crafted Party Spiked Cherry Limeade | A Well Crafted Party

Cherry Sangria - a sweet & sour sangria | A Well Crafted Party

Need some other beverages to serve alongside your hard cider this holiday? My favorite summer cocktails include:

Of course, you don’t want to serve only alcoholic beverages. Make sure you have some infused waters on hand to keep everyone hydrated!

Summer is here and as the temps are starting to increase, the parties are beginning to move outdoors! I personally love outdoor entertaining as it usually allows more guests to participate than my home does. Outdoor entertaining does come with its own special challenges including hot temps, bugs, and limited access to running water. Throwing a successful outdoor party just requires a little forethought and preparation.

Recently I visited Afternoon Live and shared my outdoor BBQ tips. The short segment didn’t quite cover all of my favorite outdoor entertaining tips. As I explored my past 700+ blog posts I realized that while I have shared several outdoor entertaining parties and tips, they have never been all in one place. See the segment below and read on for some outdoor entertaining tips that will make all of your summer parties safe and fun!

 

 

Outdoor Entertaining Tips:

One of the things that the show’s host, Tra’Renee asked me was how do I come up with my ideas, “Do you just sit around all day thinking of parties?” And, while that isn’t too far off from the truth, I do also work three jobs and have two kids! So, my party thoughts happen usually as I am doing something else. Like most of you, some of the ideas that I get stem off of something I’ve seen or read on blogs, sourced through Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. However, some of my ideas come from the action of throwing a lot of parties and finding solutions to problems that myself or my guests may have. Outdoor entertaining has a LOT of problems to solve which makes it even more fun to create ideas to solve those problems and make it look like part of the party!

Outdoor Entertaining Tip: Keep your outdoor entertaining supplies at your fingertips and in sight! It will inspire many more parties. | A Well Crafted Party

Get your summer entertaining supplies in sight and ready for use!

Part of the fun of summer for me is the ability to host a small soiree at the drop of a hat. Inviting my friends over for a quick Friday night meal or Saturday BBQ often happens around Thursday evening as I get off work. In order to host your own outdoor parties with ease and often, prepare your summer porch for entertaining or create an ‘outdoor entertaining space’ in your pantry to supply all the items you’ll need to host an impromptu summer get-together. I like to keep my outdoor dinnerware, citronella candles, and other such items together on a shelf or in a bin. Back when I had a covered outdoor porch I placed them all up on the shelves so I could see them and want to use them. Now I live in a smaller space and keep them in a tub on a shelf in my pantry. When the summer is over I’ll store them in my outdoor storage, but right now I want to see them front and center!

Sunscreen & Bug Spray Station | A Well Crafted Party

Make a Sunscreen & Bug Repellent Station for Guests

I don’t know about you, but sunburns and bug bites can ruin my outdoor fun. If I’m being totally honest with myself, I often don’t even think to grab my sunscreen and bug spray when heading out to a party. Since my skin cancer diagnosis I’ve been better about brining sunscreen, but even then I’ve forgotten at times! Having a station of bug repellent and sun screen for guests to use as they need it takes one more thing off of your guests ‘to remember’ plate and really allows them to have a good time. Usually, when I am hosting an event, I’ll also add a package of baby wipes for guests to clean their hands after applying sunscreen or bug repellent. I typically keep a variety of types of sunscreen and bug repellent so guests may have a choice, but feel fine with simply having one brand on hand. (Print off my free Sunscreen & Bug Repellent printables and set up your protectant station today!)


Favorite sunscreens: 

(The following links are affiliate links. Purchasing through these links does not cost you extra, but does provide this website with a small portion of the sale. Than you for supporting A Well Crafted Party!)

  • Coola Suncare Sunscreen Spray in Pina Colada Scent: This sunscreen goes on light and not-too-oily. It smells AMAZING and it lasts a long time. Better yet, the Coola brand rated well on the EWG’s Best Sunscreen List.  (This Coola Travel Kit is on my summer must-buy list.)
  • Mineral Fusion Brush on Sun Defense: I hate putting on sunscreen AFTER I’ve put on my makeup. During the summer I put a base of sunscreen on before applying makeup. But, when it is time to reapply I don’t really feel like ruining my makeup. (Not a problem when swimming or hiking, but certainly a problem when outdoors for a work event.) This Brush on Sunscreen applies a thin layer of transparent powdered sun protection!
  • Natures Gate Face Sunscreen: I love spray sunscreen for getting my legs, arms, and hard to reach back area. However, I do NOT use spray sunscreen on my face. I use the Natures Gate Face Sunscreen because it goes on thick, but isn’t oily. I feel like I have a good layer of protection. It also rates well on the EWG’s Best Sunscreen List.
  • Babyganics Sunscreen for Baby: I like to use this brand for the kiddo as I’m not super confident that he isn’t breathing in the spray sunscreens. This one is the one we typically use and it also scored well on the EWG’s Best Sunscreen list.

Outdoor Entertaining Tip: Keep Cold Foods Cold and Hot Foods Hot! | A Well Crafted Party

Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold

I worked many, many years in the food industry. During my time I trained servers on many different topics including the importance of food safety. There is a phrase that is used a lot in the service industry called the “danger zone.” The danger zone refers to the temperatures that food-borne bacteria can grow. To keep everyone at your party safe you’ll want to really pay attention to how long food is sitting out and the temperature that the food is being stored at. The danger zone is in between 40 Degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit (or 4 Degrees Celsius to 60 Degrees Celsius).

Tips to keep foods at optimum temperatures:

  • Serve cold foods on ice! You don’t want the ice to melt and get your food items all wet, so nest bowls or trays into a slightly larger bowl or tray that is filled with ice. In the bowls above I used two nesting pyrex dishes with the bottom bowl filled with an ice bowl. One cool trick is to put a little water in the larger bowl and freeze. Once frozen fill the bowl with more water, place the smaller bowl inside and then freeze again.
  • Cover food when not being served. This will help to maintain the temperature better than uncovered food.
  • Use inexpensive, but awfully handy, chafing dishes to keep your hot food hot. A chafing dish utilizes a water pan and can of sterno to help maintain the proper food temperature without cooking your food more than you’d like.


outdoor entertaining made easy | A Well Crafted Party

Make it easy for guests to gather and eat food

When eating at an outdoors BBQ event I often opt for lightweight dishware. Sometimes I’ll go the reusable route and use melamine dishware. Other times, especially when there is a larger party, I’ll use disposable products. When I want something a little different I’ll print off some food tray designs and fold up some custom food trays to serve hot dogs, sandwiches, burgers, etc.

Glass is basically a no-go at outdoor events now that I have kiddos. One broken glass and the party is basically over as everyone is on the ground picking up small shards to protect little feet.

What outdoor entertainment tips am I missing? What is your hard-fast rule for creating a great outdoor party? Comment below!