Summertime is the perfect time to fire up the grill and we have Tim Laird, America's CEO Chief Entertaining Officer here with tips and ideas for your next family cookout.
Great Grilling Recipes
Cocktail: Griller Chiller
In a shaker with ice add:
1 ounce Southern Comfort Bold Cherry
2 ounces cranberry juice
Squeeze of lime
Shake and strain into rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a grilled lime wedge.
Grilled Guacamole
4 avocados, ripe but firm, halved, pit removed
Olive oil
1/2 lime, juiced
Kosher salt
Fresh ground pepper
1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped (optional)
2 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped (optional)
Dash of hot sauce (optional)
Tortilla chips
Heat a gas or charcoal grill to medium heat. Lightly brush each avocado half with oil. Grill, cut side down, until marks appear and they are heated through, about 5 minutes. Take off the grill and let cool slightly. Scoop out the insides into a bowl and smash with a fork. Stir in the lime juice and salt and pepper to taste. Add onion, cilantro and hot sauce, if you wish. Serve immediately with chips.
Serves 4 – 6
Grilled Romaine
2 hearts of romaine, rinsed and patted dry
1 tablespoon olive oil
Kosher salt
Ground black pepper
Cut each heart of romaine in half lengthwise, allowing the root end to keep each piece together. Remove any leafy outer leaves. Lightly brush the cut side with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill for about 2 to 3 minutes until the lettuce has begun to wilt and grill marks to appear. Drizzle with your favorite salad dressing and serve.
Serves 4
Grilled Lobster Tail
4 8 -10 ounce lobster tails
8 tablespoons butter
1 lemon, juiced
Salt
Fresh ground pepper
Melt the butter in a small bowl in the microwave, or warm in a small pan and remove from heat. Add 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice and stir.
Using a large knife, cut the tails in half length-wise. Separate the meat from the shell, leaving it attached at the fins. Brush the inside of the shell with the melted butter, replace the meat and baste the flesh side of the tails with more of the butter mixture. Insert a skewer down the length of the tail so it stays straight when cooking.
Heat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat. Baste the lobster tails again and season with salt and pepper. Place the tails flesh side down on the hot grill and cook for 4 - 5 minutes until light grill marks appear. Flip the tails to shell side down and baste with the butter mixture several times during the next 3 - 6 minutes until the lobster meat is firm and opaque in color. Serve with lemon wedges.
Serves 4
Grilled Fruit
Plums
Apricots
Peaches
Pineapple
Sugar
Heat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat. Cut fruit in half or in wedges and sprinkle cut side with sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes then place on the grill, cut side down, for 5 minutes or until grill marks appear and the fruit is soft. Grilled fruit is great in fruit salad, served with ice cream or drizzled with caramel or chocolate syrup.
Grilling Accessories:
Start with the right gadgets and accessories
· Meat thermometer wireless option is great
· Grill thermometer: Can utilize your grill like as an oven and helps you regulate the internal temperature
· Proper utensils:
Sturdy grill brush: Go heavy-duty. The little ones fall apart quickly
Spatula: Go with a large and sturdy spatula
Basting brush: Look for the new silicone bristles. They don't fall apart, hold up to high heat and are dishwasher safe Mister bottle: Always keep on hand for flare-ups
Tongs: These are a necessary tool so you don't pierce meats and lose valuable juices
Fire extinguisher: Better safe than sorry
Grilling Tips
· Bring meat to room temperature then Sear on high to keep the juices in.
· Don't get in a hurry to turn: Once you put something on the grill, leave it alone until it's time to turn it. If you flip, squish, or move the meat too much, you'll push out the juices, making it dry.
· Keep a lid on it: Every time you peak at the food while cooking, you lose heat and smoke which gives your food that grilling flavor.
· Glaze or Sauce a little at a time: You want to layer your glazes and sauces. That creates layers of flavor and not just a thick crust that usually burns.
Great grilling foods you might not think of:
· Avocados (perfect on their own or use for salads or guacamole as an appetizer)
· Grilled lettuce (fantastic flavor and an easy first course)
· Grilled sweet peppers (easy delicious side dish)
· Grilled lobster tails on skewers (great taste and the skewers keep the tails from curling)
· Grilled fruit such as peaches, plums and pineapple (great for dessert)
Touch Test (Area between thumb and index finger)
· Hand open: Rare
· Open circle with thumb touching index finger: Medium
· Closed fist: Well
Grilling Debates:
· Charcoal vs Gas
· Tomato or vinegar based sauces
· Best type of grill and grates: Egg, Weber, Monogram
Finally: To help keep your grates seasoned, brush with oil after each use
