Queen of the Grill
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I’m not what one would call “culinarily (hmmm, not a real word) inclined.” One one hand, I can make a few impressive dishes from scratch (apple pie, squash casseroll) and I can rock the socks off a box of Near East… on the other hand, there was that time that I poisoned all of us – The Boom included – with a freakin’ pot roast. I mean, how hard is it to screw up roast in a crockpot?
Rancid Meat Incident aside, when it comes to creating a healthy yet yummy dinner for two, I often find myself at a loss.
So thank gawd for all those Home Depot gift certificates, bequeathed to us by clueless menfolk lacking the gonads to enter Pottery Barn alone! ‘For now we are the proud owners of a legit outdoor grill and 87% of all my cooking foibles have been resolved!
For those of you that don’t have an outdoor grill, I highly recommend (for whatever that’s worth!) investing in one. Don’t get me wrong: I love my George Foreman (still lean and mean after 8 years), as well as our new fancy indoor grill, but there’s just something special about “grilling out”… enjoying the outdoors after a day cooped up inside, the smells, the sizzle, the semi-smokey taste… its the perfect summer culinary experience! Plus, its a breeze to clean up.
Need yet another excuse to take your chef hat into the great outdoors? How about ridiculously simple techniques that minimize fat and calories while maximizing taste?
My favorite grilling accoutrement is any variation on the grilling basket. Flexible flipping varieties like the one immediately below are wonderful for keeping delicate fish intact or toasting buns and bread, while the next two make grilling veggies a snap.
Flexible Grilling Basket – Williams-Sonoma – $39.95
Mesh Grill-Top Chef’s Pan – Williams-Sonoma – $49.95
Handy Grillin’ Basket – Amazon.com – $24.95
Speaking of veggies, grilled produce fresh from the market is my current addiction – think squash, zucchini, peppers, red potatoes, onions, carrots, broccoli, and even tomatoes. After slicing, place in a grill basket, spray with olive oil and sprinkle with a heavy dose of salt and pepper. The dual salt and pepper shaker below is convenient and creates lovely, course flecks, and the Misto olive oil sprayer emits a fine spray, adding flavor without fat (also great for salads!).
Kamenstein Dual Salt & Pepper Grinder – Bed, Bath, & Beyond – $12.99
Misto Olive Oil Sprayer – Bed, Bath, & Beyond – $9.99
Even a self-proclaimed carb-aholic like me can get behind this simple but deliciously satisfying fare. Just slap on your Kiss the Cook apron, grab a spatula, and fire it up outside tonight!
from author’s personal collection
For more great grilling tips and recipes, visit Cooking Light’s Essential Grilling Guide.
Girl, you got me wanting to fire up the grill! Your veggies look delish…have you tried grilling fruits? I love pineapples and peaches on the grill!
That olive oil sprayer is a totally genius contraption! I’ll have to track one down.
I too am a loyal George Forman-ite, but have been converted to the Church of Grilling in my Texas time. Nothing quite like sitting in the backyard with a cold beer as my husband (the cook in the family) grills.
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Must purchase an olive oil sprayer A-SAP. What an awesome invention that I never knew existed but totally need!
oh I want that olive oil sprayer too!
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I love grilling out! It is one of my favorite cooking methods!
ahem…when am i coming over so you can fire up said grill for me?????? those veggies look delicious!
Yum. No dinner here for me (i.e. I was lazy), but you’re making my hungry now!
