Last Chance: Our Best Summer Food Tips

We aim to write about things that are very specific to Cranford, but this weekend we're making an exception. It's Labor Day, so we're pulling together the best of our summer food stories from all of our Patch sites to give you some fresh ideas for the last big cookout weekend of the year.

Start out with this guide to what meat to cook and how to grill it, plus some ideas for pasta, dessert and recipes from some of Scotch Plains and Fanwood's favorite joints.

While it's now possible to pick up Southern-style barbecue at Ribs by Rufus on Springfield Avenue in Maplewood, if you don't want to fire up the grill yourself, try these tips from South Orange's Ben Salmon: plank-grilled halibut topped with a pineapple blueberry salsa,or an entire meal prepared on bamboo skewers.

And for sides, how about creamy olive and tomato pasta salad, , or cheesy cornbread?

Want something different to take to the party (and also need to get rid of all that zucchini bulging in your garden)? Try this recipe for zucchini bread. Or if it's tomatoes that are overflowing the backyard, check out these succulent possibilities.

Finally, about those drinks... If beer is not your thing, what about the perfect martini? Or margaritas made from scratch?