Barbeques at Their Best!

It’s simple – summer brings sun, fun and food!  The warm weather inspires us to stay away from the stove and get grilling!  Steering clear of the stove will keep your house cool, save energy and turn you onto new recipe and entertaining ideas.  Though at first, grilling seems like a quick fix for easy summertime meals, it’s not always as easy as 1-2-3.  Luckily, I’ve got some tips that will earn you the title of grill-master, in no time!

-Produce particulars:  Cook fruits & veggies at the outer, cooler edges of the grill, as they tend to both cook and burn, more quickly than meat.

-Cut the fat:  If you enjoy eating leaner, lower fat meats; spray the grill grates with a non-stick cooking oil, prior to heating up the grill.  Meats with less fat content tend to stick easier.

-Turn with care:  Turning food is crucial for even cooking.  But beware; turning too frequently can cause food to become tough and dry.  For best results, turn meats, poultry and fish only once during grilling.

-Skewer it:   I love to cook up kabobs in the summer months.  To prevent bamboo skewers from burning, soak them in water at least 20 minutes before building your kabobs.

-Spice it up: Spice and flavor your foods one or two hours before tossing them on the grill.  This length of time allows the spices to be absorbed and the food to marinate thoroughly.

A few of my favorites – good stuff from the grill:

Grilled Heirloom Tomato and Pesto Pizzas:  http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/3015

Grilled Tuna Kabobs with Peach Mango Salsa:  http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/2165

Grilled Veggie Tostadas with Fresh Salsa: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/1831

And…some of my other healthy BBQ favorites – I made these for a 4^th of July party last weekend.  They were a big hit and made it easy to sneak in some healthy stuff, without skimping on big flavor:

Feta Cheese Stuffed Cucumbers:  http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/39

Tangy Barbeque Baked Beans: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/1221

Strawberry Lemon Soda (substitute sparkling wine for the sparking soda, to make it adult-friendly!):  http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/2948

HAPPY GRILLING!