Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner, and that means it is the official opening of grilling season. At my house we are fair-weather-grillers, so this is a big deal! I know there are some die-hards out there that grill year-round, but we typically keep the grill stowed away for winter. Along with the arrival of spring comes cravings for all of my barbecued favorites.
I am all about grilled vegetables–the more the better. I typically marinate in a homemade dressing of vinegar, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and fresh seasonal herbs (or dried Italian seasoning is great, too!). We have two big grill baskets, so I toss them into the baskets and onto the grill, and serve them with rice or a simple grilled fish. I usually cook without a recipe, but it’s nice to try something different. In honor of the opening of grilling season, our Little Lake County writers are here to share their favorite grill recipes with you.
“You can get creative with fresh grilling recipes! Less mess, AND the family can gather outside and play while the meal cooks. You craft healthy meals and throw whatever is in season on the grill brushed with a little oil and spices, and dinner is served. We eat more fresh produce and lean meats on the grill in the summer and take a break from the comfort food of the colder months.” — Heather, LLC Writer, and blogger at Girl And Her Kitchen
Grilled Chicken with Mango salsa
Perfectly Grilled Barbecue Chicken
“My family likes chicken kabobs marinated in soy sauce, orange juice and cilantro. Very simple, no recipe needed!” — Genevieve
“A sweet summer treat at our house is halved peaches, brushed with honey, then grilled and topped with whip cream.” — Jessica
Mom-in-Chief Melissa shared her recipe for Grilled Peaches (along with some wine pairings and some other simple desserts) with Little Lake County readers last summer.
“I’m so lame! Chicken, burgers, hot dogs, salmon–whatever I grill, I just grab some spices from the cabinet and sprinkle.” — Cheryl
“We grill out A LOT! We have an old house and the AC is not so great. We like to move the cooking outside to keep the house cool. The kids can run around outside while we cook. We do a weekly burger night and try to find new and interesting recipes. My kids LOVE kebobs, and I love grilled vegetables. When I find a large artichoke there is nothing better than grilled artichoke dipped in butter. We have so many grilled favorites, we cook out all summer.“– Melissa
Turkey Cheddar Burgers (approved by Melissa’s kids!)
“We always grill our frozen pizzas in the summer (again–moving the heat outside) and it can make a cheap pizza taste better. Personal pizzas are fun, too. We use Trader Joe’s dough!”-Melissa
Does your family move the cooking outdoors as it warms up, or do you cook out year round? What are your kid-approved, favorite grill recipes?
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