Summer on a stick

Something about summer just calls for food on a stick. Maybe it’s all of the fairs and festivals that try to outdo each other in novelty foods: deep fried butter on a stick and hot dish on a stick. Or perhaps it’s because we spend a lot of time cooking and eating outdoors and want to minimize the use of utensils. Whatever the reason, food on sticks or skewers is fun and goes well beyond succulent kabobs on the grill.

Whole cookbooks have been written on the subject, including the highly-rated Bits on Sticks by John McLeay, On a Stick! by Matt Armendariz, and POP Bakery: 25 Cakes on Sticks and Other Tempting Delights by Clare O’Connell. Since we just mentioned the grill, let’s look at the hundreds of recipes in the EYB Library for skewered meats, seafood, and vegetables. Popular recipes include chicken skewers with coriander marinade and lemon salsa, garlicky cashew pork and pineapple skewers, and Portuguese skewers (Seafood espetada).

If you are looking to escape the summer heat, you can’t beat frozen foods on a stick. Homemade popsicles come in a variety of flavors, with dairy or without, including these cherry limeade popsicles; a creamy Earl Grey, cardamom & pistachio version; and for the adults, blackberry & Prosecco.  Popsicles are a fun activity for bored children (with appropriate supervision, naturally).

Fried food on a stick isn’t just for the fair – you can make churros on a stick, deep fried cupcakes on a stick, or just plain ol’ corn dogs. Finally, you don’t have to cook or freeze to enjoy food on a stick, you can make rainbow fruit skewers with a yogurt fruit dip. And in honor of Canada Day today, here are some skewers that use maple syrup.

Enjoy your summer on a stick, and let us know your favorites in the comments.

Photos from the EYB Library of chicken skewers by Adam Rapaport and blackberry Prosecco popsicles from Endless Simmer