Recipe: Maple Dressed Grilled Sweet Potatoes

Mmmm...this tasty grilled dessert-like dish is simple to make, and full of fiber and vitamins - plus delicious flavors. You may never have thought of putting sweet potatoes on the grill before, but once you try this, it just may become your favorite way to make sweet potatoes!

Maple Dressed Grilled Sweet Potatoes
(Serves 4-6.)

Ingredients:

4 large sweet potatoes
2 tbsp cooking oil (or melted coconut oil - my favorite)
4 tbsp butter, melted
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp brown sugar
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

• Peel sweet potatoes and cut into thin slices lengthwise.
• Place potatoes in a bowl and pour oil in and rub all over so all pieces are well coated.
• Oil the grill grate and preheat grill to medium-low. Arrange the potatoes on the grates in the center of the grill, away from direct flame. 
• Cover grill and cook sweet potatoes until good grill marks appear, then flip and continue cooking; total time about 12 to 15 minutes depending on thickness of potatoes.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients.
• When sweet potatoes are tender all the way through, remove to the bowl with maple syrup mixture and toss to coat well.
• Add more salt and pepper to taste if desired and serve immediately.

Recipe: Midwest Steak And Shrimp Kabobs

Kabobs are great for the grill, as you can be as creative as you want, mixing and matching different meats, vegetables, and seafood. They're also relatively quick to grill, and it's fun to try different marinades and combinations of foods on the skewers.

Of course you've got to make sure items that are on the same skewer together cook in approximately the same time frame, but if you're grilling foods of various types together, you can also help even out the grilling time by cutting longer-cooking foods in smaller pieces.

This tasty recipe is a twist on the "surf & turf" concept, combining juicy sirloin steak with shrimp and veggies for a whole meal on a stick!

Midwest Steak And Shrimp Kabobs
(Serves 4.)

Ingredients:

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1 pkg dry onion soup mix
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup honey
1/2 lb medium size shrimp, peeled and deveined, uncooked
1/2 lb boneless sirloin steak, cubed in about 1-inch pieces
16 cherry tomatoes
2 cups medium mushroom caps
1 green bell pepper, cut in chunks

Directions:

• In a 9x13 inch glass baking dish, whisk together the soup mix, soy sauce, lemon juice, olive oil, and honey; set aside.
• Put on skewers the shrimp, tomatoes, mushrooms, steak, and green pepper alternating. 
• Set skewers into baking dish with prepared marinade and turn to coat evenly.
• Cover with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator for at least 2 hours, turning several times and re-covering with plastic before returning to refrigerator.
• To prepare: remove skewers from baking pan; save marinade sauce.
• Preheat grill or broiler to medium-hot and cook, turning several times and basting as you go with the reserved marinade sauce.
• You'll know when the kabobs are done when the shrimp has turned pink.
• Remove and serve with a side dish of flavored rice.

Fire Up The Grill For Glamorous Gourmet Fruit Salads

Nothing says summer like a fresh salad, and although we've been talking about grilling a lot lately, you may not think of a salad as a grilled food. But if you're thinking that grilling is all about heavy meals of barbecued meats, you'll be surprised what other foods actually are perfect for the grill!

Setting the Stage for Grilled Fruit Salads

Grilled Shrimp and Fruit Salad (Photo credit: Dalboz17)

If you're mixing your grilled fruit in a green salad, be sure to choose your salad green carefully.  Grilling adds a deeper flavor to fruit, so something hearty like arugula, romaine, watercress, or a mix of colorful greens might be best to form the bed of the salad and to compliment.

A grilled fruit salad also does well with a light vinaigrette dressing, made from basic ingredients like olive oil, salt and pepper, and your choice of vinegar.  However, you might enjoy a creamy salad dressing made with honey and yogurt. Or perhaps a mixture of brown sugar, heavy cream, and red wine vinegar sounds tasty to you. There are plenty of possibilities to compliment your grilled fruit salad.

Choose Fruit that Suits the Grill

Once you've got the stage set, then it's a matter of choosing fruits that grill well. Apricot halves are first up, combined with toasted nuts and thin slices of  bacon, this makes a delightful gourmet twist with any salad green. Try grilling pineapple and mango slices, garnish with fresh mint leaves, and mix with crunchy cold butter lettuce for a surprising salad that will really please your dinner guests or family.

Even fruits like plums, watermelon, peaches, and nectarines are good to grill for salads and it doesn't have to be a large salad of greens, either. For instance, cut watermelon into four inch squares and grill quickly on one side, flip and grill on the other side until you see grill marks form. Then serve on a bed of arugula and top with feta cheese, and drizzle balsamic vinaigrette over. You now have a gourmet salad with just a few ingredients. Grilling the watermelon makes all the difference.

A grilled fruit salad could also be exclusively made with grilled fruit. Try grilling a whole pineapple, cut lengthwise in half, treating the pineapple as the fruit bowl. Top with small pieces of fruit such as red pears, kiwi, bananas, or cactus fruit and set the grill on high, grilling just until the pineapple chars a little. Remove from the grill and serve as is or with a dollop of Greek yogurt. Both halves of the pineapple becomes the salad itself.

Grilled Pineapple (Photo credit: Another Pint Please...)

Mixing up Main Dishes With Grilled Fruit

For a heartier main dish, try putting chunks of fruit on a kabob skewer alternating with firm pieces of fish like halibut, swordfish, or salmon, or shrimp, scallops, or even pieces of chicken. Grill until everything chars a bit, then serve over brown rice. Most people expect kabobs to have vegetables, so the grilled fruit makes a nice surprise. Of course, some vegetables compliment certain fruit, as well. Sweet onion on the kabob adds a nice flavor contrast to pineapple, for instance. Just use your creativity when you put your fruit kabobs together for the grill.

Grilled fruit can also be a garnish for beef, chicken, fish, or even ham. Cut wedges of papaya, mango, pineapple, and maybe a red pepper and sweet onion, and grill until slightly charred. Then cool and cut into small pieces and toss together with a light vinaigrette. This grilled 'fruit salsa' makes a perfect garnish. Make it spicy or savory if you wish by adding hot sauce, a bit of cayenne pepper, or some fresh herbs.

Don't Forget Grilled Fruit Desserts

A variety of fruits can be grilled to produce a tasty topping for ice cream, pound cake, or other treats. Grilled bananas topped with ice cream and caramel sauce is a favorite that comes to mind immediately. You can even put chunks of chocolate on while the bananas grill to create another layer of flavor.

Fruit compote made on the grill is another twist on a favorite. Rather than just boil or bake fruit pieces in a pan with a liquid, put the fruit on the grill on high heat, quickly grilling until you have grill marks and the fruit is softened. Move the fruit onto a piece of heavy duty foil, top with a mixture of brown sugar, butter, and honey. Then seal the foil into pouches and continue cooking on the grill until fruit is very soft. The grilling adds a whole new flavor to your traditional compote.

If you have never considered putting fruit on your grill, this is your chance to experiment. It's surprising how many fruits cook up so well on the open pit. Once you have your fruit grilled, you'll find all sorts of ways to enjoy them. You may become so hooked on grilling fruit that now find it will be hard to make room for the barbecued meat!

Unique Grilled Foods – Unlikely Candidates Bring Big Flavor

The staples of the grilling world, like steak, chicken, and hamburgers are great, but there are some less common foods that make for amazing meals. These are ingredients and dishes you may not have thought of, but should.  Real grillers want to throw everything on the grill they can find.  And guess what?  They can!  Nothing should be off limits.  Let's take a look at some uncommon grilling fare that will tantalize your taste buds this summer!

Cedar Plank Salmon

Fish, grilled on a cedar plank. (Photo credit: woodleywonderworks)

If you want an amazingly romantic dish for your significant other with all the “manly-man” feel of grilling out, try cedar plank salmon. You start with a cedar plank, which is simply a piece of wood, that is soaked in either water or apple cider vinegar. Then you marinate a whole salmon fillet, with the skin on, in a blend of olive oil, lemon juice, and capers. The longer you marinate, the better it will be; six hours is ideal.

Set your grill on medium-low and once it gets hot, place the wet cedar plank on the grill and place the salmon skin side down on the plank. Spoon a little of the excess marinade, including the capers, onto the salmon and then close the grill cover and cook until the salmon is cooked through. The time will depend on the size of the salmon, but you are probably going to cook it for about 25 to 35 minutes. This dish is not only delicious, the presentation is gorgeous; rugged yet romantic. Perfect combination.

Green Tomatoes

Fried Green Tomatoes are a great classic. So, why not try grilled green tomatoes instead? You can grill them healthier than frying them, especially if you leave off the breading. They also will not be in a pan with oil.  Keep the slices thick to help hold the tomatoes together.  You don't want all the juicy parts to disappear down the grates.  Just salt and pepper and place the tomatoes directly on the grill grates or on a grilling tray.  If you cut them thick enough, you may also be able to use a grilling basket that squeezes shut and holds them steady. This is a homey appetizer with great appeal. Serve with a nice dip for a complete appetizer, side dish, or snack.

Grapes on the Side

Fruit on the grill is an incredible treat. If you have ever had grilled mango or grilled pineapple, then you know exactly what we are talking about. But grapes? Sure, they are filled with natural sugars that help to caramelize nicely on the grill. A little bit of oil and a bunch of red grapes makes a great compliment to your grilled steak. Try green grapes as a side with grilled fish.  You'll need a grilling basket to toss the grapes around until they soften and start to brown.  A touch of salt will bring out the sweet. These are pretty, delicious, and quite unusual.

Cover via Amazon

Sausage Fruit Kebabs

When you think of sausages, thoughts of smoky flavored goodness served in a bun may come to mind. This is a great application, but does yet another sandwich seem boring? Then what do you do? You cut the sausage into chunks, add some fruit, a couple nice pieces of bell pepper, stick it all on a skewer and put it on the grill for a delicious kebab. Now that simple sausage is a beautiful dinner.  You can expand on the theme by making a little sauce out of fruit juice and soy sauce, reduced down in a saucepan. All these flavors blend well. With the salty sausage and the sweet fruit, you've got a perfect combination.

Outside dining does not have to be the same old thing every time you fire up the grill.  By playing around with a few new ingredients, you can come up with some amazing recipes. Surprise yourself and impress your family and guests with outrageously delicious dishes, hot off the grill!

Recipe: Mini Pot Roast Packets On The Grill

Enjoy the rich flavors of pot roast, without having to heat up the house cooking for hours. Try this tasty and simple recipe on the grill for a quick dinner that is sure to please everyone - especially the person who normally has to scrub out the pot roast pan! This grilled meal offers great taste and minimal work, plus easy cleanup - it's a winner all around!

Mini Pot Roast Packets On The Grill
(Serves 4.)

Ingredients:

1 lb. beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch pieces
4 green onions, chopped
2 Yukon gold potatoes, diced small
1 regular carrot, diced small
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp butter, melted
2 Tbsp water

Directions:

• Prepare the grill to medium-high heat.
• Tear off 4 large sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil.
• Divide the beef and all the vegetables evenly between the 4 sheets of foil; fold the sides up but leave unsealed for now.
• Whisk together the Worcestershire sauce, butter, and water, then pour carefully into the contents of the packets.  
• Fold up the sides and tightly seal into a packet, leaving a little air space at the top.
• Set on grill on indirect heat, close cover, and cook for 35 to 40 minutes, spinning packets around once or twice during the cooking time.
• Cook until meat and vegetables are tender and cooked to your liking.
• Remove and let rest for a few minutes then carefully open packets and serve.

Full Meal Deal – Make It All Right On Your Grill

Grilled meals are usually pieced together with only a portion of the meal made on the grill while the rest is cooked indoors and then served together. But who wants to be the one stuck in the kitchen while the fun is happening outside around the grill?

Today, we have so many gadgets and gizmos on our grills there is no reason we are not able to fix all of our meal on the grill itself. Let's take a look at four complete meals that are made on the grill in the same amount of time, or less, than you would make indoors.

Grilled Stir Fry

(Photo credit: batigolix)

Stir-fry is usually made in a wok or a deep pan on the stove. Been there, done that. You add a bunch of spices and liquids to season it up. Why not develop flavor while you are cooking the vegetables and meat instead of at the end?  By grilling the vegetables, you bring out the hidden sweetness trapped inside as the outside is caramelized over the fire. The meat also takes on the flavors of the grill, so when they are all combined, all you need to add is a little soy sauce at the most and dinner is ready to enjoy. Pick a protein and a few veggies or even fruit and give it a shot tonight.

Grilled Picnic

Picnics were made so you can enjoy the outdoors. Why coop yourself up in the house to cook for the great outdoors? Grilling is a perfect option for picnics. Think about grilled potato salad, or perhaps a hot grilled cabbage salad with spicy vinaigrette dressing. And grilled sandwiches are a no-brainer.  So, why not invite your grill to the picnic?

Grilled Pot Pie

One great benefit of the grill is that it has a cover. This cover can be lowered or raised to adjust the temperature. When the cover is closed, a grill acts a lot like an oven, which means that pot pies are fair game. A pot pie cooked on the grill not only has all the delicious ingredients that you are used to, but if you cook it on a charcoal grill with a little cherry or oak wood thrown in for kindling, you get a flavor you never would have expected. If you want to take pot pies to a new level, cook them on the grill.

Grill packet ready to cook.(Photo credit: sporkist)

Grilled Packets

One of the easiest ways to make a full meal on a grill is to enclose it in a foil packet. Just about anything goes with this kind of technique. The trick is to combine ingredients that taste good together as well as cooks at the same rate. Fish is an easy choice. Take a nice salmon fillet, put it over a bed of kale, top it with a big wedge of lemon and some sweet onion, and you have one amazing dinner. Cut up a sweet Italian sausage and combine with parboiled potato wedges and bell pepper strips.  Seal the packets well and you can even add a little butter or olive oil.  Be sure to cook with the cover closed and turn the packets around a few times during the cooking time.  This is the perfect way to make individual servings at the same time.  You can even customize each individual packet to suit your guests.

Your grill is a great place to create easy meals.  Don't limit your grilling experience to hamburgers and hotdogs, or even steak and chicken.  Imagine full meals coming off your grill so you can grill more frequently, preparing delicious treats for your family. Why not try something new tonight and take your whole meal outdoors!