Monday, July 19, 2010
Meatloaf with Sauce
I tried this reader's recipe for a potluck lunch and it turned out really well. I also added about 1/2-1 Cup pureed spinach to the meatloaf. I topped it with the sauce from the beginning of cooking time and it turned out well.
Yummy Meatloaf with Sauce
Ravioli and Peas
Try this easy pasta dish for dinner. I substituted tortellini for ravioli because that is what I had on hand.
Ravioli and peas
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Beef Gyro Sandwich
Super easy recipe you can use this summer for the grill or baked in the oven.
Beef gyro pita sandwich
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Five Cool Snack Ideas for Kids
Got kids? Got kids that get bored, hungry and hot in the summertime? If you do have kids you know all of those things go together whether we want them to or not, right? Do you get tired of hearing, “but I don’t like THAT mom” or other complaints when you offer them a quick snack? Are you looking for some healthy, delicious, “cool” (as in refreshing AND neat) treats to satisfy kids of all ages? Then look no further! Here are five treats your kids will love and ask for over and over. Not only will your kids love them but so will you because they are easy to make, delicious and healthy. Who could ask for anything more?
Fruit Pizza:
Delicious and oh so easy to make; fruit pizza will please every person in your household and it will help get your kids (and hubby) to eat more fruit.
The ingredients:
• 1 pkg. refrigerated sugar cookie dough mix
• 1-8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 4 cups assorted fruits, sliced (strawberries, bananas, oranges, blueberries, etc.), you can throw these together in a bowl if you wish.
Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees Celsius). Roll cookie dough into a ball and place in the center of a pizza pan and spread evenly over pizza pan, into a 12 inch circle. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Mix the sugar and cream cheese together and spread over the cookie crust. Top with the fruit and then sprinkle the lemon juice over the fruit (this helps to keep it from turning brown). Refrigerate. Slice into 12 pizza wedges and serve. Refrigerate any leftovers. This is also a great treat to serve at a birthday party. Kids and adults love it!
Fruit Juice Spritzer
Do your kids like soda, but you hate for them to have it all the time? One of my favorite beverages any time of the year is a fruit juice spritzer. It’s refreshing, cool and tasty. Plus it has the added benefit of fruit juice so you can count is as a fruit serving for the day! I prefer using 100% Juicy Juice, being that it’s, well, 100% all natural juice. But you can use any juice you prefer. You’re kids will love it and it’s a cool, easy to serve beverage made of ingredients you probably already have. It’s also healthier than letting them have a full glass of soda.
It’s so easy. All you do is pour about 1/2 a glass of juice in a cup over ice and fill the rest of the glass with 7UP or Sprite. Voila! You have a Fruit Juice Spritzer. It’s better than a full glass of soda and your kids get the fruit serving they need. You can vary the amounts of course; a little more juice or a little less, depending on your taste, but don’t defeat the purpose of cutting down on the soda.
For an added treat you could blend the juice with some ice in the blender and make “slushies.” Just fill the glass with the slushie mix and pour the soda over the icy juice.
Homemade Juice or Kool-Aid popsicles
One of my kid’s favorite treats growing up was homemade popsicles. They loved helping make them and of course eating them. Plus they are super easy to make and oh so handy when your kids need a quick snack to tide them over until dinner.
Ingredients:
• Pitcher of Kool-Aid or other drink mix, prepared. You can also make juicy pops using your favorite fruit juice, but mix with water first, 5 parts water to 1 part juice.
• Freezer pop molds. If you don’t have them, just use ice cube trays.
Pour the prepared drink mix or Kool-Aid into freezer molds or ice cube trays and freeze. If you want to put a popsicle stick into the ice cubed pops, freeze slightly first, and then insert in the middle of the ice cube pop so it will stand up.
Voila! Easy, handy, yummy and cool! You’re kids will think you’re the best mom ever.
Ice Cream Float
Who doesn’t love ice cream? What better summertime treats than a delicious ice cream float? It’s so quick, easy and refreshing. Here’s a neat twist on the traditional float:
Using your choice of ice cream put two scoops in a dessert or tall glass. Break up your favorite candy bar into pieces and place in glass. Fill with your favorite soda, like root beer or cola.
Yogurt and Fruit Lollies
When I was a kid I loved having something I could grab and go outside with my friends. (Where have those days gone?) Better yet, I loved having a treat I could share with my friends. These yummy yogurt and fruit lollies are the perfect summertime treat. They are cool, refreshing, healthy and easy to take on the go.
What you need:
• Popsicle molds with sticks, preferably the flat molds
• A container of flavored yogurt, preferably a fruit flavor
• Sliced fruit
How you make it:
Fill the molds with the yogurt, insert stick and place fruit on the top. Freeze. Place mold in warm water to remove the lolly when ready to eat.
Healthy, delicious, and handy all wrapped up into one! Every mother’s dream and every kid’s treat. Making kids happy and keeping them healthy doesn’t have to be a huge chore, nor does it have to taste bad. Using these simple ideas will serve both purposes, quick, easily and efficiently. Your kids will thank you for it.
Fruit Pizza:
Delicious and oh so easy to make; fruit pizza will please every person in your household and it will help get your kids (and hubby) to eat more fruit.
The ingredients:
• 1 pkg. refrigerated sugar cookie dough mix
• 1-8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 4 cups assorted fruits, sliced (strawberries, bananas, oranges, blueberries, etc.), you can throw these together in a bowl if you wish.
Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees Celsius). Roll cookie dough into a ball and place in the center of a pizza pan and spread evenly over pizza pan, into a 12 inch circle. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Mix the sugar and cream cheese together and spread over the cookie crust. Top with the fruit and then sprinkle the lemon juice over the fruit (this helps to keep it from turning brown). Refrigerate. Slice into 12 pizza wedges and serve. Refrigerate any leftovers. This is also a great treat to serve at a birthday party. Kids and adults love it!
Fruit Juice Spritzer
Do your kids like soda, but you hate for them to have it all the time? One of my favorite beverages any time of the year is a fruit juice spritzer. It’s refreshing, cool and tasty. Plus it has the added benefit of fruit juice so you can count is as a fruit serving for the day! I prefer using 100% Juicy Juice, being that it’s, well, 100% all natural juice. But you can use any juice you prefer. You’re kids will love it and it’s a cool, easy to serve beverage made of ingredients you probably already have. It’s also healthier than letting them have a full glass of soda.
It’s so easy. All you do is pour about 1/2 a glass of juice in a cup over ice and fill the rest of the glass with 7UP or Sprite. Voila! You have a Fruit Juice Spritzer. It’s better than a full glass of soda and your kids get the fruit serving they need. You can vary the amounts of course; a little more juice or a little less, depending on your taste, but don’t defeat the purpose of cutting down on the soda.
For an added treat you could blend the juice with some ice in the blender and make “slushies.” Just fill the glass with the slushie mix and pour the soda over the icy juice.
Homemade Juice or Kool-Aid popsicles
One of my kid’s favorite treats growing up was homemade popsicles. They loved helping make them and of course eating them. Plus they are super easy to make and oh so handy when your kids need a quick snack to tide them over until dinner.
Ingredients:
• Pitcher of Kool-Aid or other drink mix, prepared. You can also make juicy pops using your favorite fruit juice, but mix with water first, 5 parts water to 1 part juice.
• Freezer pop molds. If you don’t have them, just use ice cube trays.
Pour the prepared drink mix or Kool-Aid into freezer molds or ice cube trays and freeze. If you want to put a popsicle stick into the ice cubed pops, freeze slightly first, and then insert in the middle of the ice cube pop so it will stand up.
Voila! Easy, handy, yummy and cool! You’re kids will think you’re the best mom ever.
Ice Cream Float
Who doesn’t love ice cream? What better summertime treats than a delicious ice cream float? It’s so quick, easy and refreshing. Here’s a neat twist on the traditional float:
Using your choice of ice cream put two scoops in a dessert or tall glass. Break up your favorite candy bar into pieces and place in glass. Fill with your favorite soda, like root beer or cola.
Yogurt and Fruit Lollies
When I was a kid I loved having something I could grab and go outside with my friends. (Where have those days gone?) Better yet, I loved having a treat I could share with my friends. These yummy yogurt and fruit lollies are the perfect summertime treat. They are cool, refreshing, healthy and easy to take on the go.
What you need:
• Popsicle molds with sticks, preferably the flat molds
• A container of flavored yogurt, preferably a fruit flavor
• Sliced fruit
How you make it:
Fill the molds with the yogurt, insert stick and place fruit on the top. Freeze. Place mold in warm water to remove the lolly when ready to eat.
Healthy, delicious, and handy all wrapped up into one! Every mother’s dream and every kid’s treat. Making kids happy and keeping them healthy doesn’t have to be a huge chore, nor does it have to taste bad. Using these simple ideas will serve both purposes, quick, easily and efficiently. Your kids will thank you for it.
Delicious Meals You Can Make without Turning on the Stove
Oh the dreaded thought of turning on the stove when it’s 90+F outside. There’s got to be some other way to make delicious, satisfying meals for your family without slaving over a hot stove! There are! I’m going to give you some delicious meal ideas for dinner that will not only keep you out of the kitchen, but will satisfy just about every appetite.
Summer is the time for grilling. (Unless you live in the Northern Hemisphere and fall in with those of us who tend to grill year ‘round, in the snow…but that’s another story.) There is nothing like a lip-smacking grilled steak, grilled chicken breast or grilled hamburger. They are delicious and better for you than cooking inside because the fat and grease is allowed to drain off, where when cooked in a pan, the meat soaks up all that fat and grease. Yuk! While grilling up your favorite meat, here are some unique side dishes you can grill alongside the meat that your family will love and ask for over and over again.
The number one side dish in our family when we grill is grilled potatoes. They are easy, yet oh so delicious.
Grilled Potatoes
What you need:
• Obviously potatoes, cut into bit size pieces. I use one medium potato per person. I usually make a couple extra for leftovers. (My hubby is the leftover king; he takes them to work in his lunch which means we don’t waste much.) We leave the skin on, but you can peel them if you so choose.
• Aluminum foil: Tear off 6 inch rectangles, large enough to make a nice envelope for the potatoes.
• Garlic Powder and pepper: I sprinkle some over each potato, but you can season to your taste though.
• Butter: 2 pats of butter for each envelope or a 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil
• Onion: Chopped, enough to flavor each potato envelope (optional).
• Any other seasonings or vegetables you prefer.
How to prepare:
Like I said above, but will repeat in case you didn’t catch it, cut the potatoes into bite size pieces, placing 1 cut up potato on 1 piece of aluminum foil. (If you have small potatoes, you can use two per one piece of aluminum foil). Add the onion. Sprinkle with your favorite seasonings and top with 2 pats of butter or the olive oil. Fold the aluminum foil over to make a nice envelope around them so it won’t open on the grill.
The potatoes usually take about 15 minutes longer than the meat so prepare them first and get them going and then grill your meat.
You can use this same type of recipe for just about any of your favorite veggies like a delicious yellow or zucchini squash, red, green or yellow peppers and so on. Use your imagination. You can mix up as many different types of veggies as you want.
Not your typical corn on the cob – I’m sure most of you have heard of or even eaten grilled corn on the cob. This is another family favorite of ours. How about a little twist on the traditional grilled corn on the cob? Here’s a delicious recipe that is sure to please.
You need:
• Corn on the cob, in the husks
• Butter, softened
• Bacon bits
• Chopped chives
How to make it:
• Pull back the husks from the corn, but do not remove completely. Remove the silk and soak in cold water for about 30 minutes.
• Brush on butter over the corn and replace the husks around the buttered corn
• Grill, turning frequently to avoid burning, about 5 to 7 minutes
• Serve with the bacon bits and chives.
Veggie Kabobs - Veggie kabobs are fun, colorful and delicious and healthy. They are also a great way to get your kids to eat more veggies because they come on a stick. I don’t know why kids like to eat things on a stick but they do so what better way to get some veggies in them.
There are a variety of veggies you can use for veggie kabobs, so choose your favorites, or veggies you’ve been trying to get your kids to eat! Some suggestions are:
• Tomatoes: cut into quarters
• Cucumbers: sliced into one inch thick pieces
• Mushrooms: whole
• Onions: cut into quarters
• Peppers, green, red or yellow: Slice the pepper into quarters and remove the seeds
• Zucchini squash: sliced into one inch thick pieces
• Yellow squash: sliced into one inch thick pieces
• Broccoli: Use pieces big enough to stay on the stick
• Cauliflower: Again, you will need to use pieces that won’t break when you put them on the stick.
• Carrots: baby carrots work great or slice regular size carrots into one inch size pieces
Put the veggies on the stick by inserting the stick in the center. For crispier veggies you will need to be more careful when inserting the stick into it so they won’t break. Alternate veggies as you place them on the sticks. You can have any variety of veggies you like in any order you like. I like to put a piece of onion in between each veggie piece for flavor, but that’s me, I like onions. Some like a piece of pepper between each, which is good too. Use your imagination; use a variety of color like green, red and orange. This will entice your kids even more.
Brush each veggie with olive oil before placing on the grill and be sure to leave enough room on the stick for handling! When grilling, turn frequently to prevent burning. I prefer a little burnt flavor around the edges, but again, that’s me! Grill them to your families taste.
Veggie kabobs are a great side dish for any meat including steak, chicken and hamburgers; they brighten up a plate and are full of flavor and yummy healthiness.
So, besides grilling what else could you make that doesn’t require a stove, oven or grill? Oh, I know, how about an easy recipes you can microwave?
One of our favorites is “Chips and Cheese” as my husband calls it. Most people call them nachos. We usually serve them as a snack when they don’t have any meat on them. If you have any leftover taco meat, you can add it to them for a yummy, easy to make, dinner everyone will love.
All you do is:
• Spread some tortilla chips on a plate
• If adding leftover taco meat, do it here
• Sprinkle shredded cheese over each chip
• Microwave for 30 to 45 seconds
• Top with your favorite nacho toppings like salsa, sour cream, olives, tomatoes, lettuce and jalapenos.
These are an easy, delicious and great way to use leftover taco meat, if you decide to do that. They are great no matter which way you choose to go.
Another summertime meal idea is to serve salad as a main dish! You can use your favorite veggies and top with a piece of that grilled chicken or steak, cut into slices. It’s common for some to eat this when trying to shed some pounds too. Not only is it great for staying out of the kitchen on a hot summer’s day, but it’s also a healthy, high protein meal.
Summer is the time for grilling. (Unless you live in the Northern Hemisphere and fall in with those of us who tend to grill year ‘round, in the snow…but that’s another story.) There is nothing like a lip-smacking grilled steak, grilled chicken breast or grilled hamburger. They are delicious and better for you than cooking inside because the fat and grease is allowed to drain off, where when cooked in a pan, the meat soaks up all that fat and grease. Yuk! While grilling up your favorite meat, here are some unique side dishes you can grill alongside the meat that your family will love and ask for over and over again.
The number one side dish in our family when we grill is grilled potatoes. They are easy, yet oh so delicious.
Grilled Potatoes
What you need:
• Obviously potatoes, cut into bit size pieces. I use one medium potato per person. I usually make a couple extra for leftovers. (My hubby is the leftover king; he takes them to work in his lunch which means we don’t waste much.) We leave the skin on, but you can peel them if you so choose.
• Aluminum foil: Tear off 6 inch rectangles, large enough to make a nice envelope for the potatoes.
• Garlic Powder and pepper: I sprinkle some over each potato, but you can season to your taste though.
• Butter: 2 pats of butter for each envelope or a 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil
• Onion: Chopped, enough to flavor each potato envelope (optional).
• Any other seasonings or vegetables you prefer.
How to prepare:
Like I said above, but will repeat in case you didn’t catch it, cut the potatoes into bite size pieces, placing 1 cut up potato on 1 piece of aluminum foil. (If you have small potatoes, you can use two per one piece of aluminum foil). Add the onion. Sprinkle with your favorite seasonings and top with 2 pats of butter or the olive oil. Fold the aluminum foil over to make a nice envelope around them so it won’t open on the grill.
The potatoes usually take about 15 minutes longer than the meat so prepare them first and get them going and then grill your meat.
You can use this same type of recipe for just about any of your favorite veggies like a delicious yellow or zucchini squash, red, green or yellow peppers and so on. Use your imagination. You can mix up as many different types of veggies as you want.
Not your typical corn on the cob – I’m sure most of you have heard of or even eaten grilled corn on the cob. This is another family favorite of ours. How about a little twist on the traditional grilled corn on the cob? Here’s a delicious recipe that is sure to please.
You need:
• Corn on the cob, in the husks
• Butter, softened
• Bacon bits
• Chopped chives
How to make it:
• Pull back the husks from the corn, but do not remove completely. Remove the silk and soak in cold water for about 30 minutes.
• Brush on butter over the corn and replace the husks around the buttered corn
• Grill, turning frequently to avoid burning, about 5 to 7 minutes
• Serve with the bacon bits and chives.
Veggie Kabobs - Veggie kabobs are fun, colorful and delicious and healthy. They are also a great way to get your kids to eat more veggies because they come on a stick. I don’t know why kids like to eat things on a stick but they do so what better way to get some veggies in them.
There are a variety of veggies you can use for veggie kabobs, so choose your favorites, or veggies you’ve been trying to get your kids to eat! Some suggestions are:
• Tomatoes: cut into quarters
• Cucumbers: sliced into one inch thick pieces
• Mushrooms: whole
• Onions: cut into quarters
• Peppers, green, red or yellow: Slice the pepper into quarters and remove the seeds
• Zucchini squash: sliced into one inch thick pieces
• Yellow squash: sliced into one inch thick pieces
• Broccoli: Use pieces big enough to stay on the stick
• Cauliflower: Again, you will need to use pieces that won’t break when you put them on the stick.
• Carrots: baby carrots work great or slice regular size carrots into one inch size pieces
Put the veggies on the stick by inserting the stick in the center. For crispier veggies you will need to be more careful when inserting the stick into it so they won’t break. Alternate veggies as you place them on the sticks. You can have any variety of veggies you like in any order you like. I like to put a piece of onion in between each veggie piece for flavor, but that’s me, I like onions. Some like a piece of pepper between each, which is good too. Use your imagination; use a variety of color like green, red and orange. This will entice your kids even more.
Brush each veggie with olive oil before placing on the grill and be sure to leave enough room on the stick for handling! When grilling, turn frequently to prevent burning. I prefer a little burnt flavor around the edges, but again, that’s me! Grill them to your families taste.
Veggie kabobs are a great side dish for any meat including steak, chicken and hamburgers; they brighten up a plate and are full of flavor and yummy healthiness.
So, besides grilling what else could you make that doesn’t require a stove, oven or grill? Oh, I know, how about an easy recipes you can microwave?
One of our favorites is “Chips and Cheese” as my husband calls it. Most people call them nachos. We usually serve them as a snack when they don’t have any meat on them. If you have any leftover taco meat, you can add it to them for a yummy, easy to make, dinner everyone will love.
All you do is:
• Spread some tortilla chips on a plate
• If adding leftover taco meat, do it here
• Sprinkle shredded cheese over each chip
• Microwave for 30 to 45 seconds
• Top with your favorite nacho toppings like salsa, sour cream, olives, tomatoes, lettuce and jalapenos.
These are an easy, delicious and great way to use leftover taco meat, if you decide to do that. They are great no matter which way you choose to go.
Another summertime meal idea is to serve salad as a main dish! You can use your favorite veggies and top with a piece of that grilled chicken or steak, cut into slices. It’s common for some to eat this when trying to shed some pounds too. Not only is it great for staying out of the kitchen on a hot summer’s day, but it’s also a healthy, high protein meal.
What to Make for Dinner When It’s Too Hot to Cook
What is worse than the dreaded question, “What’s for dinner mom”? In the summer, it’s the thought of turning on the stove or oven to make dinner. I thought it would be good to share some great summertime dinners, everyone in your family will love. Not only do they not require any cooking, but they are healthy and delicious as well.
In the summer many families enjoy some wonderful salads. Here are a few of favorites. Of course you can incorporate whatever ingredients your family prefers.
Not your traditional tossed salad: A traditional tossed salad is awesome and easy to make, but sometimes as a standalone meal, it may not fully satisfy those hungry appetites at dinner. To enhance a traditional tossed salad try adding some of the following ingredients for extra flavor and protein:
• Chunks of cubed cheddar cheese
• Slices of lunchmeat, like turkey, chicken breast or ham
• Leftover chicken breast
• Zucchini squash slices
• Yellow squash slices
• Crumble some leftover taco meat, tortilla chips and Catalina dressing for a taco salad
Chef’s salad: Basically a chef’s salad is an upgraded tossed salad. Just add hardboiled eggs, chunks of cheese and sliced ham, turkey, chicken breast and roast beef and voila, you have a chef’s salad. Hearty and yummy!
Spinach salad: Made with yummy spinach leaves or baby spinach leaves, a spinach salad is cool, refreshing and yummy! I like to add shredded cheese, slices of ham, turkey and roast beef, cucumbers, pickles, black olives and for added zest some jalapenos! I top mine with an Italian dressing or balsamic vinaigrette.
Sandwiches: Another great meal idea you can create without cooking is sandwiches. Yes, sandwiches for dinner. When it’s too hot to cook, some cool sandwiches are the ticket. Not only are they easy and heat free, but they are also less filling than a big huge dinner! Some great summer sandwiches are:
Chicken salad: I love chicken salad and love to have a batch made up for last minute, easy on the go meals. Serve some on a pita or flat bread, in a tortilla or in a croissant to change things up a bit.
Deli style sandwiches: I love to sink my teeth into a yummy, thick sandwich filled with all of the fixings of a deli. Pile on the meats, cheeses, and veggies! Some of my favorites are:
• Ham
• Turkey
• Roast Beef
• Chicken Breast
• Corned Beef
• Salami
• Pepperoni
• Bacon
• Alfalfa or Bean Sprouts
• Cucumbers
• Pickles
• Tomatoes
• Romaine or leaf lettuce
• Green Peppers
Serve on thick bread with brown mustard, if you like, and mayonnaise.
Dinner doesn’t always have to be a huge 3 or 4 course cooked or baked meal. A hearty salad or sandwich will satisfy your kids, hubby and guests, while keeping you cool at the same time.
In the summer many families enjoy some wonderful salads. Here are a few of favorites. Of course you can incorporate whatever ingredients your family prefers.
Not your traditional tossed salad: A traditional tossed salad is awesome and easy to make, but sometimes as a standalone meal, it may not fully satisfy those hungry appetites at dinner. To enhance a traditional tossed salad try adding some of the following ingredients for extra flavor and protein:
• Chunks of cubed cheddar cheese
• Slices of lunchmeat, like turkey, chicken breast or ham
• Leftover chicken breast
• Zucchini squash slices
• Yellow squash slices
• Crumble some leftover taco meat, tortilla chips and Catalina dressing for a taco salad
Chef’s salad: Basically a chef’s salad is an upgraded tossed salad. Just add hardboiled eggs, chunks of cheese and sliced ham, turkey, chicken breast and roast beef and voila, you have a chef’s salad. Hearty and yummy!
Spinach salad: Made with yummy spinach leaves or baby spinach leaves, a spinach salad is cool, refreshing and yummy! I like to add shredded cheese, slices of ham, turkey and roast beef, cucumbers, pickles, black olives and for added zest some jalapenos! I top mine with an Italian dressing or balsamic vinaigrette.
Sandwiches: Another great meal idea you can create without cooking is sandwiches. Yes, sandwiches for dinner. When it’s too hot to cook, some cool sandwiches are the ticket. Not only are they easy and heat free, but they are also less filling than a big huge dinner! Some great summer sandwiches are:
Chicken salad: I love chicken salad and love to have a batch made up for last minute, easy on the go meals. Serve some on a pita or flat bread, in a tortilla or in a croissant to change things up a bit.
Deli style sandwiches: I love to sink my teeth into a yummy, thick sandwich filled with all of the fixings of a deli. Pile on the meats, cheeses, and veggies! Some of my favorites are:
• Ham
• Turkey
• Roast Beef
• Chicken Breast
• Corned Beef
• Salami
• Pepperoni
• Bacon
• Alfalfa or Bean Sprouts
• Cucumbers
• Pickles
• Tomatoes
• Romaine or leaf lettuce
• Green Peppers
Serve on thick bread with brown mustard, if you like, and mayonnaise.
Dinner doesn’t always have to be a huge 3 or 4 course cooked or baked meal. A hearty salad or sandwich will satisfy your kids, hubby and guests, while keeping you cool at the same time.
Summer Grilling Tips
Grilling food is actually better for you than one would think. This is not dependent on the type of grill you have it is the grilling process. Here are some ways to make your next grilling adventure a healthy one for the family.
Start with your cuts of meat. Cut off the excess fat when working with chicken. If you aren’t the type who likes to mess with chicken parts, buy them already skinned and boneless. Usually all traces of fat have been removed in the store before packaging.
Steaks are a bit different. Outer fat on the steaks should be cut away but it is okay to have the marbled effect within the meat. Do the same for pork. A butcher can guide you to the right cuts of meat for grilling if you ask them. They deal with meat everyday and have a good deal of expert knowledge on the subject.
Another reason to remove the fat is that it eliminates the cancer causing char and smoke. We have heard that char is not good for us and it is not. Fat falling in the fire can initiate flare-ups that will burn the meat and char it in places. If this does occur, remove the charred part.
Steam your vegetables on the grill. You are cooking the meat on there, why not the rest of the meal? Spray a piece of aluminum foil with non-stick cooking spray and then wrap your sliced vegetables in it. The heat from the grill will create convection current inside the foil. Make sure that you tent the foil so that the air can move among the vegetables.
Fish is a healthy alternative to other meats. Fattier fish like salmon are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Fish is tasty and tender when cooked on the grill. Fillets of fish crumble up easy so put them in foil just like the vegetables to keep them together during grilling. Fish steaks are better for direct grill cooking than fillets. They are thick but will cook quicker than other meats so don't turn your back on them.
Instead of using salt on grilled foods, experiment with other seasonings. The process sears the outside and the seasonings that you have applied. Combined with the succulent juices that will once the meat is cut, these seasonings will add flavor to your meal.
To grill healthy doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor or your favorite meats. The fat that is in the meat will all drip away as it cooks leaving you with a tender and heart-friendly main course.
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