It’s summer, which to me equates to MUCH GRILLING. I don’t use gas – I am a charcoal (with no lighter fluid!) girl only. I grab my charcoal chimney starter, some oiled up newspaper, a match, some hickory chips and I am good to go.
My charcoal grilling tends to be creative, if not strange at times. But honestly, I can’t say I’ve ever grilled something that I didn’t like!
This week our favorite was a simple potato dish that tasted heavenly. I took a few potatoes and sliced them thinly. Then I placed them in a single layer on some foil and added olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder. The foil went directly on the grill and stayed until the potatoes were cooked. This resulted in a side of potatoes that included both soft and crispy “chips” that everyone seemed to enjoy.
When you are about to grill, look around your kitchen for anything you can throw on as a side dish. Here are some delicious foods I’ve grilled outside that you can try yourself:
- Slice an onion in half and place it face down on the grill. This will blacken the edges and cook the onion half. You may cut off the dark edges if you choose, or cook the onion over foil on the grill.
- Throw jalepenos directly on your grill. These can be sliced later for burgers, hotdogs or more.
- Place a stack of pineapple rings on your grill. These taste wonderful on a hamburger with grilled jalepenos.
- Cut and clean some leaks. Place them in a bit of water and microwave them until they are soft. Place on foil, dribble with olive oil, salt, pepper and grill.
- Wash a handful of cherries and slice them, removing the pits. Place the cherries on foil and dribble with olive oil. Grill. For a different flavor, sprinkle with sugar, add rosemary or even basil!
- Slice a peach in half and remove the pits. Turn face up and dribble with olive oil and a bit of sugar. Grill.
- Slice a garlic bulb in half. You know the drill, drizzle with olive oil and add salt and pepper. Place on foil and grill.
- Also wonderful? Slice an apple in half, core and put some butter and brown sugar on top. Sprinkle with cinnamon and grill.
- Slice a yellow squash or zuccini lengthwise into several slices. Add cheese to the top, salt and pepper to taste and grill.
- Grab a whole tomato and throw it on the grill – crazy if you don’t!
- Use rosemary sticks to skewer just about anything. This adds a sensational flavor to meats, chicken and seafood.
- Got bananas? Leave the peel on but slice it lengthwise to open it. Cut out a bit of the banana. Add chocolate chips and close up the banana. Wrap in foil and grill. This also tastes good with marshmallows added to the chocolate chips.
There is no limit to what you can grill – although I often find there IS a limit to the space on TOP of my grill!
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11 July 2009, 11:56 am
I’ve grilled lots of things too – some things have been horrible (I tried an apple and didn’t like it – also spinach just burned ha ha). You know what else is really good is toasting bread on the grill with olive oil, garlic and even cheese on top.
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