The thrill of the grill!
Its Memorial Day weekend! The official "kids are out of school", start of summer. In addition to enjoying the tasty vittles at the Taste of Cincinnati, you may be planning a cook-out with friends or family. And by the looks of the Kroger parking lot, my guess, is YES. It is time for the thrill of the grill!My husband (like many men) is in charge of the fire. It may be sexist, but truth be told, I prefer to be in my air-conditioned kitchen preparing the side dishes. If you plan your meals around the meat, here are a few simple grilling tips:1. Clean the grill. While this may seem like a silly suggestion, think of all that burnt char you’ll be eating if you don’t. ICK. Invest in a good grill brush and use it every time you grill.2. Lean in. If you’re going for lower fat burgers, don’t just grab turkey burgers. Read the label and look for turkey that is 90% lean or more. Meat is sold by weight with the higher fat grades being 10% fat or higher. This goes for turkey, too. If you buy turkey burgers marked 85/15, the fat content is the same as 85/15 ground beef. Turkey breast is the leanest meat at 99/1. It’s also the driest, so use it in dishes that require liquid such as chili, spaghetti sauce or soup. It will make a highly disappointing burger!3. Marinate for 15. Grilling or cooking meat at high temps (like frying) increases the production of HCA (heterocyclic amines), which are cancer causing chemicals. Marinating your chicken, fish, pork or steak in an acidic medium like salad dressing for just 15 minutes reduces the production of HCAs. Citrus juice (lemon, lime, orange) or any vinegar will do the same.4. Grill vegetables, too! If you’ve never tried grilled corn, asparagus or squash, now’s the time. A brush of olive oil and dusting of salt and pepper is all you need to transform the taste of these summer favorites. Grilled peaches, pineapple or nectarines are delicious, too with a pinch of brown sugar and cinnamon.5. Serve your grilled food over salad or grains. Grilled fish or chicken is great with a side of veggies or grain, but for a prettier presentation, serve the meat on top of quinoa, farrow or brown rice. Remember- you eat with your eyes, first.