Supper at Sundown

Low-Key Dinner Menu

It's hot in Texas, but not too hot to embrace the heat and sneak out to the Hill Country for gorgeous vistas and wide-open spaces. Once the sun starts to set, firing up the grill and heading outside for a relaxed dinner with friends is a great way to wind down.

Low-Key Dinner Menu

• Garlic Shrimp
• Grilled Tri-Tip with Citrus-Chile Butter
• Southwest Watermelon Salad
• Lemon-Herb Potatoes
• Sautéed Squash and Tomatoes
• Easy Mocha Mousse

Meet the Chef

After cooking in some of America's toniest restaurants, Chef Shawn Cirkiel moved back to Austin in 2002, where he became the city's youngest ever five-star chef. Wanting to shift gears to a more laid-back setting and approachable menu, he opened Parkside in 2009 on bustling Sixth Street.

"I love cooking out here," Shaws says of the sprawling, longhorn-studded ranch in Willow City. "The timing's not the same. No one gets mad if the food's a few minutes late. It's very low-key."

Garlic Shrimp

Grilled Texas Toast soaks up all the buttery goodness in super-simple Garlic Shrimp.

• Recipe: Garlic Shrimp

Grilled Tri-Tip with Citrus-Chile Butter

Rethink steak night! Serve grilled lean tri-tip with a zesty citrus butter made with lime and lemon zest, fresh thyme, and jalapeño peppers.

• Recipe: Grilled Tri-Tip with Citrus-Chile Butter

Pickled Watermelon Rind

Star anise perks up the flavor of Pickled Watermelon Rind. Use the reserved watermelon flesh from this recipe to make Southwest Watermelon Salad.

• Recipe: Pickled Watermelon Rind

Southwest Watermelon Salad

Colorful watermelon, cilantro, basil, jalapeños, and Cotija cheese are just a few of the ingredients that give this Southwest Watermelon Salad its flavor. You can tone down the heat by omitting the jalapeños.

• Recipe: Southwest Watermelon Salad

Lemon-Herb Potatoes

Assorted herbs, lemon juice, and garlic is all you'll need to make this zippy side dish. It's great served warm, chilled, or at room temperature.

• Recipe: Lemon-Herb Potatoes

Sautéed Squash and Tomatoes

Veggies don't have to be boring! Boost the flavor of sautéed squash and tomatoes with hickory-smoked bacon, red wine vinegar, and fresh herbs.

• Recipe: Sautéed Squash and Tomatoes

Easy Mocha Mousse

Crisp cookies and fresh berries pair nicely with cool-and-creamy Easy Mocha Mousse.

• Recipe: Easy Mocha Mousse

Grilled Baby Onions

Grilling baby onions brings out even more sweetness. Serve alongside the Grilled Tri-Trip with Citrus-Chile Butter.

Keep Cool!

Keeping with the relaxed theme, a galvanized washtub ices down some Texas favorites.

 

Soda Ice Pops

Turn your favorite drinks into frozen pops for an easy, heat-busting treat. Sipper-style molds keep chins and shirts clean, while looped handles are perfect for tiny hands. Acme Sipper Ice Pop Maker and Prepara Volcano Fillable Ice Pops are available at amazon.com.