Summer Cookouts

Jars for grills and picnic tables

Summer cookouts ask a lot from a small group of jars. They sit in the sun, travel in coolers, and get passed from one side of the picnic table to the other while kids run around and the grill smokes in the background. Our Summer Cookouts collection is built with that picture in mind. We focus on sauces, salsas, and pickles that can stand up to heat and conversation without getting fussy, all cooked on our Ohio farm in small batches with help from Amish and family partners.

Smoky and tangy bottles from Barbecue & Specialty Sauces often end up closest to the grill. A smoky sauce brushed over ribs, chicken, or burgers in the last few minutes gives the meat a light gloss that sticks without feeling heavy. Fruit forward sauces and glazes work well on pork chops, grilled shrimp, or skewers, turning simple cuts into something that feels special without extra steps. People can add more at the table, but most find that a careful brush at the grill is enough.

Crunch and brightness usually come from jars in Pickled Vegetables. Bread and butter pickles line up beside potato salad and coleslaw. Spicier pickles and okra sit near hot dogs and sausages, ready for anyone who wants more bite. The brines stay straightforward: vegetables, vinegar, salt, and familiar spices. That keeps them comfortable on both paper plates and real dishes, and makes it easy to bring whatever is left back into weekday sandwiches and salads.

Colorful bowls of salsa have their own spot. Jars from Fruit Salsas pour easily into paper bowls for chips and vegetable sticks, or spoon directly onto grilled corn and tacos. Sweet and tropical styles give kids and cautious eaters a friendly choice, while jars with a bit more heat keep everyone else interested. Because the recipes lean on fruit, peppers, onions, and cider vinegar from Great Lakes and nearby farms, the flavors feel clean even when the plates are full.

For families who like to keep a few dependable bottles on hand all summer long, our BBQ Night Essentials and Grilling Sauces Trio pull together sauces that cover most cookout needs. One jar might lean mild and sweet, another more smoky, a third brighter and sharper. Together they work for everything from chicken and burgers to grilled vegetables and tofu. You can start small with a simple evening by the grill and still be ready when the guest list grows.

When the last spark dies down and the yard gets quiet, these jars are not finished. Leftover sauce heads to the fridge and later finds its way onto sandwiches, grain bowls, or roasted vegetables. Pickles jump into lunchboxes and late night snacks. Salsa tops eggs, quesadillas, or quick quesos pulled together on the stove. In many Ohio homes, that second life is part of the appeal. The same jars that made a Saturday cookout feel full and relaxed carry a bit of that feeling into the week, without asking for much more than a twist of the lid.