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.

Recipe: Simply Citrus Grilled Sirloin

This simple, delicious recipe is perfect for your next barbecue! With only a few simple ingredients, and a hot grill, you can make a delicious steak that your guests will be raving about all summer.

This one's about as easy as it gets - just remember to marinate the night before - then you can have a tasty dinner on the grill in no time!

Simply Citrus Sirloin On The Grill
(Serves 4-6.)

Ingredients:

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2 medium lemons, unpeeled, washed and quartered
1 medium orange, unpeeled, washed and quartered
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 minced garlic clove
1 (2-1/2 pound) sirloin steak, thick cut   

Directions:

• In a skillet over medium heat, cook the lemon and orange wedges in oil for about 8 to 12 minutes or until fragrant, stirring often.
• Add garlic and cook about 1 minute longer, stirring constantly. 
• Place the steak in a shallow glass baking dish and pierce meat evenly with a fork. 
• Pour hot citrus mixture over meat and turn to coat the steak evenly.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight, turning three or four times during the total marinating time. Drain and discard the marinade.
• Set the grill on medium-high heat.  Put steak on direct heat for 3 minutes, turn, leave on for 3 minutes, then turn and put on indirect heat and cover grill and cook for 3 minutes, then turn and cook for 3 minutes more.  Remove, and let rest for 3 minutes.
• Adjust cooking times to reach desired doneness.  This timing should give about a medium-well done steak. For a more rare steak, reduce cooking time.

Recipe: Grilled Skirt Steak In Sweet Balsamic Marinade

Sweet and tangy flavors accent this delicious steak for a fast and easy grilled meal that will wow you tastebuds - and your guests! Spice it up with a few red pepper flakes if you like, or serve with grilled onions or shitake mushrooms for a gourmet twist. Either way, you can't go wrong with this simple and versatile recipe.

We hope you've enjoyed the past month of learning and grilling great meals! Be sure to stay tuned throughout the summer for more delicious, fast, fresh and easy summer cooking tips and from-scratch recipes.

Grilled Skirt Steak In Sweet Balsamic Marinade(Serves 2-4.)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp dark brown sugar
1 garlic clove, minced
1 pound skirt steak, trimmed and cut into 4 pieces
salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In a large glass bowl, whisk together the balsamic, Worcestershire, brown sugar, and garlic.
2. Add the skirt steak to the mixture, cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 25 minutes at room temperature. Turn the meat in the bowl several times during the marinating process.
3. Prepare grill to medium-high heat and oil the grate or prepare a grilling pan for the steak.
4. Remove steak from the bowl and discard marinade.
5. Sprinkle both sides of steak with salt and pepper, then place steak on grill, close lid, and cook for just 3 minutes, flip and cook another 3 minutes or until done to your liking.
6. Remove steak from grill and let the steak stand at room temperature for 5 minutes; cover loosely with a foil tent, but do not close tight.
7. Cut steaks into very thin slices on the diagonal and serve immediately.

Recipe: Grilled Sweet Bourbon Tenderloin Steaks

Nothing says American like bourbon and beef! This 4th of July, fire up the grill for this super-simple and incredibly tasty recipe that is soon to become a favorite in your household. The recipe below serves 2, but is easily adjusted for your 4th of July barbecue needs. Once you've tried it, you'll want to repeat it soon as a romantic one-on-one summer evening dinner as well!

Grilled Sweet Bourbon Tenderloin Steaks
(Serves 2.)

Ingredients:

2 beef tenderloin steaks, 1 1/2 inch thick
2 Tbsp Bourbon
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp fresh ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Whisk together the bourbon, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in a bowl, and pour over steaks in a glass dish.  Let sit for 10 minutes.
2. Preheat grill to medium-high.
3. Place steaks on preheated grill and cook for approximately 13 minutes for rare, 17 for medium, or 20 for well done, turning once during cooking time.
4. Remove to a plate and let rest for 3 minutes before cutting.