Tastefully Tuesday – 5 Grilling Ideas for Dinner

The weather is warming up and you know what that means – it’s time to fire up the grill! There are so many benefits to grilling, that it is hard to list them all. However here are some of the more important ones along with some grilling ideas for dinner.

Healthy, Affordable, Convenient Cooking for Every Family

One of the benefits of grilling that my family enjoys is that it’s convenient. We like to stock up on food when it is on sale – especially meats, now that we have an extra freezer. In the morning we pull out whatever we plan to have for dinner and put it on a shelf in the fridge. Late in the afternoon we’ll throw on some marinade and by early evening it’s ready for the grill.

Another benefit of grilling is that it keeps the utility bills down. We aren’t using the stove, which runs off electricity. And because the stove isn’t heating up the kitchen, the air conditioner doesn’t kick on as often. The supplies that it takes for grilling (either charcoal or filling the propane tank with gas) are much more economical than indoor cooking.

Don’t forget the health benefits of grilling! Here are three of the more important ones:

1. Excess fats drip off meat leaving less fat inside the meals you prepare
2. Vegetables that are grilled retain more vitamins and nutrients
3. The high heat seals in moisture which requires you to use fewer condiments

Everybody wants to live healthier, but taking that first step can seem pretty daunting. And I don’t know anybody who wants to spend their summer evenings slaving over a host stove in a sweltering kitchen. Sometimes it’s hotter in the kitchen than it is outside!

5 Easy Recipes

While not everything is healthy just because it was cooked on the grill, there are things you can do to help keep calorie content low and nutritional content high. For example, limit toppings like high-calorie sauces, butter, and sour cream, or use lean meats and other ingredients that are healthy from the start. Here are some fabulous grilling ideas for dinner that your family is sure to enjoy!

• Barbecue Chicken – In your blender mix together 6 Roma tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, 1 clove of garlic (peeled), 2 tablespoons of yellow mustard, 1/4 cup of light brown sugar, 1/4 cup of pure, local honey, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil until it is as near to liquid as possible.
  
  Place 2 pounds of chicken in a large dish and pour the sauce over it, marinating for at least an hour prior to grilling. Save a little sauce and heat it in a pan to drizzle over the chicken when it’s done, just before serving.
  
  Pair with: devilled eggs, salad, and strawberry shortcake for dessert.
  
  
• Grilled Pizza – This is so easy! Use your blender to mix up 1/2 cup of sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed) with a little oil from the jar (just a few tablespoons). This is your sauce! Spread evenly over pita bread. (You’ll have enough sauce to make several!)
  
  Add some scallions and some low-sodium turkey. Top with low-fat ricotta cheese and grill until the cheese is melted.
  
  Pair with: veggie kebabs and then fruit salad for dessert.
  
  
• Garlic Ribs – Mix together 2 tablespoons of oil, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/4 cup of white wine vinegar, and 3 tablespoons of fresh thyme leaves (chopped). Use this to marinate your ribs for an hour or so before cooking, and then grill until the meat is cooked through.
  
  Pairs with: macaroni & cheese, baby carrots, and grilled cantaloupe slices for dessert.
  
  
• Portobello Burgers – Vegetarian? No problem! Whisk up 1/4 cup each of olive oil and balsamic vinegar of choice. Add in a couple of minced garlic cloves. Put this in a gallon-sized Ziploc freezer bag and add 8 Portobello mushrooms. Let this sit for about half an hour, but you’re also safe doing this the night before to save time.
  
  Grill for about 3 minutes per side and put on a hamburger bun. Top with fresh veggies like green pepper rings and onion slices. And don’t hold the mustard!
  
  Pairs with: corn on the cob, potato salad, and homemade fruit sorbet for dessert.
  
  
• Orange Shrimp – Cancel that order of Chinese takeout! This marinade will cover about 24 large shrimp (peeled and deveined, tails left on) which makes about 8 servings if you’re dong appetizers.
  
  In a mixing bowl combine shrimp with 2 teaspoons of grated orange zest (lime is a great alternative for this recipe), 1 minced garlic clove, 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon of freshly chopped thyme. Let sit for about half an hour, and then add three shrimp per skewer. Grill about 4 minutes per side, or until the shrimp are opaque throughout.
  
  Pairs with: fried rice, asparagus, and of course fortune cookies for dessert!

Cooking Gourmet on the Go!

Whether you are using the above grilling ideas for dinner or want to enjoy freshly-grilled brats for breakfast while camping, Weber’s Go-Anywhere charcoal grill lets you take the fun of grilling anywhere that you go. Use it for tailgate parties, camping, or on your back porch.

Click the picture above to visit Amazon where you can get this shipped to your house within the next couple of days! If you are a member of Amazon Prime, then as always you can enjoy free shipping. Right now they are also offering a discounted price, so don’t wait – order your Weber Go-Anywhere charcoal grill now!