Weekly grocery lists and thoughtful shopping can make family menu planning a simple task. (see last month’s article on Family Meal Planning). But in the summer months there is one more tool in a cook’s arsenal which makes meal preparation even easier. The outdoor grill. It is truly summertime’s best friend.
Whether you use charcoal or gas, hibachi or Weber, the ease of cooking outdoors makes mealtime fun and easy. The truth is that any type of outdoor grilling saves you time and energy in the kitchen, not to mention keeps the house cool as a cucumber! Planning a meal around the grill means fewer pots to clean, no ovens to heat up and a meal that's more than food - it's an adventure!
For midweek meal planning, keep the meal simple with a meat and vegetable, perhaps some fruit for dessert. For those occasions when you have more time or energy, search around to find something more creative to show off your cooking skills.
Below are some menus to give you an idea of how easy it is to center a meal around the grill. Items which aren't links are ideas I've tossed in to round out the menu. If you'd like more information on one of those, just ask.
Easy Mid-Week Dinner
Grilled Mustard Chicken
Grilled Zucchini Strips
Grilled New Potatoes with Garlic
Your Basic BBQ Feast
Beef and Gorgonzola Burgers
Grilled Vegetable Salad
Grilled Banana Boats with Chocolate Chips
Easy Outdoor Dinner Party
Grilled Salmon Steaks with Lime Butter
Vegetable Kabobs
Grilled Bread with Olive Oil
Grilled Peaches with Port
Sophisticated Outdoor Dinner Party
Grilled Bread with Guacamole Butter
Grilled Swordfish with Fresh Tomato-Herb Salsa
Grilled Portabellas with Blue Cheese
Grilled Fresh Pineapple with Honey Pepper Glaze
Outdoor Pizza Party
Olivada with French Bread
Grilled Pizza with Fresh Corn, Pancetta and Fontina
Fresh Melon and Berries
Vegetarian Burger Feast
Spiced Black Bean Burgers
Grilled Acorn Squash, Mushrooms and Asparagus
Grilled Apple Crisp
Dinner for the Guys
Grilled Spicy Skirt Steak
Peppery Grilled Potatoes
Grilled Red Onions
Peanut Butter S'mores
A note on True BBQ: The above recipes are for the grill, this is not to be confused with True Bar-B-Que, which is an entirely different matter. The true Q-master will use only charcoal perhaps with added wood chips for a smoky flavor. The
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