For me, it's a time to temporarily put away my hot soups, stews and casserole recipes and to think about some outdoor cooking! I just finished prepping a beautiful cut of Tri-Tip, Santa Maria Style. As I type, the meat is coated with olive oil, lots of freshly minced garlic and some coarse salt. Tomorrow, it will be grilled over coals until it has a beautiful brown crust, with some medium-rare meat. Oh, it's a Carnivore's Delight! I thought I would post some photos and links of a few tried-and-truly delicious summer recipes that my husband and I plan to recreate over the next few months:
Fig-jam makes a beautiful glaze over burgers. In particular....
My husband's all-time favorite-- Slowly grilled pulled pork with homemade BBQ Sauce
We like our pulled pork with slaw on top, rather than on the side. Either way, my Creamy Cole Slaw recipe is a sure winner at any barbecue!
...so moist and lemony delicious!
Giada's Grilled Chicken with Homemade Balsamic Barbecue Sauce. Very easy!
Antipasto Pasta Salad is an America's Test Kitchen success story. The marinated mushrooms are good, all by themselves, by the way.
Just in time for the Memorial Weekend, my husband picked his first bowl of our own homegrown olallieberries. Berry Pie makes my husband weak at the knees. (It's my secret weapon.)
Until I bought this excellent book on grilling, my husband was deathly afraid of trying to grill.
He stressed about it, because he shamelessly admits that he isn't a cook. I bought this book for Craig because it has lots of color step-by-step photos on how to grill. Both of us have learned a lot of very helpful tips on grilling. Craig has become quite the Grill Master!I'm thankful that I can focus on being in the kitchen, while he tends to the main course!
Because I'm thankful for so many things-- that we are blessed with great weather... that our part of our country has been spared natural disasters... that I am thankful for those who gave their lives for our country-- and that is really what Memorial Weekend is all about-- I want to bless someone with a copy of this book.
God Bless America!
Looks like some great eats Debbie - I enjoy my copy of "How to Grill".
ReplyDeleteMy flag is flying, I planted red geraniums, blue daze and white shasta daisies in the pots by my front door. On Sunday I'm grilling PW's marinated flank stake. In addition to that I'm making deviled eggs and a big green salad. I'm proud to be an American.
ReplyDeleteLaura
theenclave@cfl.rr.com
My favourite thing to grill is an antipasto platter with grilled halloumi, and marinated peppers, pattypan squash, asparagus, etc, etc...so good!!!!
ReplyDeleteOoooh everything looks delish! My favorite thing to grill is fresh mahi, with a pressed coconut milk-macademian nuts-bread crumbs-butter-s&p topping. YUMMO. This year on Memorial Day I'll be thinking about how lucky I am to be married to a wonderful military pilot, and how blessed I am that he made it home safely from Iraq, when not everyone else was as fortunate. God bless our troops!
ReplyDeleteDebbie, Everything looks so good here! I can't pick a favorite thing to grill, pork roast, burgers, pizza, Italian sausage, veggies, clams, shrimp, etc! Whatever I'm in the mood for that day. I have that book Deb, so take me out of your giveaway, I just came over to drool!
ReplyDeleteMany choices and all delicious...of that I am certain! I am partial to the pulled pork but I think we are going with the burger on Monday!
ReplyDeleteIt's still pouring buckets in Portland, but God bless my husband for grilling the in the rain! Nothing will stop that man!
ReplyDeletePerfectly grilled tri-tip, or a chicken breast topped with a fun cheese and grilled onions between a bun... those are my grilling faves!
OH! WOW! What beautiful pictures of fantastic food!!!! My very favorite grilled food is bbq pork steak.Slow cooked with a sweet bbq sauce like "Sweet Baby Ray's" - YUM DI YUMMY!!! God Bless America, our Veterans and Armed Forces. Happy Memorial Day!!
ReplyDeleteWith all of these awesome recipes to choose from, it sounds like you guys are going to have a seriously well-fed weekend!
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love grilling corn on the cob! A marinated chicken breast is the next best thing...
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great cookbook. sdbaum2@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI love grilling fruits such as pineapple, peaches and bananas!
ReplyDeleteThose are some pretty good looking pieces of meat!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite thing to grill is corn on the cob. We grill up huge piles of fresh picked ears of corn. We then cover the picnic table with butcher paper and add spray bottles of a butter/ lemon mixture and some salt. Then we ring the bell and all the kids (ours and have the neighbor hood kids) come running. We have a blast!
ReplyDeleteThat first photo was just gorgeous. I want some MEAT NOW. :-) Since we're finally having nice warm weather, I can finally wrap my head around warm weather cooking!
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a great long weekend.
My husband is not much of a griller, god love him, so my eldest son did the honor one evening. I heard a loud woosh, only to find a pale boy holding a box of matches. He had soaked the wood with fire starter fluid, then....turned on the gas, closed the lid and striked the match. Thankful for the good-life...freedom, health, family & friends! They were the yummiest steaks ever and now he is grown and grills for all occasions. Food is the center of our holidays iced with love and accented with tradition. A secret vinegar soaked BBQ chicken is my all time favorite grill recipe!
ReplyDeleteImproving my grilling skills is at the top of my to-do list this summer. I'm going to start with that scrumptious looking tri-tip. You share so many wonderful recipes and grilling tips and you've inspired me to keep at it.
ReplyDeleteNow that's quite a spread of grilled goodies, Deb! You two must really be pros at the grill! This is my husband's forte' and one in which I need to improve greatly!
ReplyDeleteWhat does Memorial Day mean to me? Spending time at the gravesites of my family, being grateful for those who have fought and died for us in this great country . . . all the way back to our young country's FIRST wars for freedom, and lastly, I remember joyful family get-togethers to grill simple burgers and hot dogs. We never did anything fancy and yet we still enjoyed everything and everyone!
Blessings to you Deb and Craig this Memorial Day weekend.
Roz
My favorite thing to grill is hamburgers.
ReplyDeleteI love grilling chicken and fish. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteChris M.
zekks at yahoo dot com
Wow, all those dishes look fantastic. I would never have thought about using fig jam on burgers but can't wait to try. I can tell you're from California because my Santa Barbara friend always talks about tri-tip, but we don't have that cut here in NJ. Happy Memorial Day.
ReplyDeleteI love the smell of grilling meat mixed with garlic bread! It's just sooo delicious! It's especially fun to put together various tasty kabobs.
ReplyDeleteHA we are grillers and smokers from way back! Started with a Webber Kettle and now have the biggest and baddest Webber Barbequeu they make! Tonight we grill Kalbi Ribs!
ReplyDeleteWow! This is an incredibly inspiring bbq post. Thank you and happy Memorial day ;)
ReplyDeleteDebby, jumping off grilling season was right... these grilled bites looks wonderful. I spent Memorial day out with my veteran on the lake and it was beautiful but we missed out on some of those wonderful grilling ideas. We're kicking it up this weekend with a full 9lb. filet mignon tenderloin.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing.
ahealthyjalapeno.com
Laura
Wow, this post is jam-packed with amazing food that screams of summer! I think I'm with your husband because I love a good pulled pork sandwich with some creamy coleslaw on the side. Makes me hungry just thinking about it. I hope you all enjoyed the holiday!
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