July is National Grilling Month

Our Community by Sheila Turner-Hilliard

Bring your family and friends together and fire up the grill: July is National Grilling Month! Backyard barbecues, fire pits on the beach and festival parking lots all become places to make delicious meals over a gas grill, coal bed or wood fire. But sometimes the traditional American BBQ fare — burgers and hot dogs — can lose their appeal.

So, how can we liven up our gatherings to offer tasty options? We’ve got some great ideas for impressing your guests along with advice from our Marple Friends & Neighbors Experts and Sponsors.

Let’s talk grills. Scott Magness, Owner of Scott’s Fireplace Products, is an Expert on how to make grilling literally push-button easy.

“Compared to charcoal grills and wood fire pits, gas grills and gas fire pits are not messy," said Scott "And can start with the push of a button.

A variety of foods can easily be prepared on a gas grill because temperatures can be controlled and you can set your grill to have a hot side and a cooler side by simply turning different knobs. Other advantages of gas grills: There’s no messy charcoal or ashes to clean up. And when it's time to call it a night, you just turn the knobs off and that’s it!

Grilled Bananas, Anyone? Yes, that’s right! Fruit on the grill makes a good thing even better. That’s because fruit cooked on the grill gets even juicier and the flavor becomes more intense when the natural sugars caramelize over heat. Give it a try! Grab some peaches, melons, pineapple, avocado and even bananas for your next barbeque bash. You’ll be the talk of the neighborhood!

When selecting fruit to grill, keep in mind that the firmer the fruit, the better it will hold its shape. For moister fruits like strawberries, use a skewer, and cut oranges, lemons and limes into larger pieces so they don’t shrivel up. Try dusting your citrus with sugar before grilling, and serve the slices as a garnish for your summer cocktails.

Instead of burgers and hot dogs this summer, why not literally raise the steaks and grill some filets? When it comes to quality cuts of meat, your local butcher is the place to start. Popular picks for tender, juicy steaks are ribeye, New York strip steak and filet mignon.

Grilling steak doesn’t have to be difficult if you stick to the basics. Heat your grill to high. Brush the steaks on both sides with oil and season liberally with salt and pepper. Place the steaks on the grill and cook until golden brown and slightly charred, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn the steaks over and continue to grill 3 to 5 minutes for medium-rare, 5 to 7 minutes for medium (140 degrees F) or 8 to 10 minutes for medium-well (150 degrees F).

Serve it with some grilled vegetables and your guests will likely invite themselves back for more!

But what if you’re looking for a lighter alternative? Grill some fish like tuna and salmon. For advice on serving up tender, flaky fish, we turned to Chris Posse, Head Chef over at Casey’s Public House.

I like to marinate tuna filets in a little bit of olive oil and vinegar,” said Chris. “Then I’ll heat up the grill to 500° and cook them for three to four minutes on each side and serve them medium-rare.

In the summer, Chris likes to slice the filets and serve them on top of a healthy green salad.

Salmon is a little tricky because it’s much more fragile than tuna,” Chris warned. “Make sure you oil up your grill first so your filets don’t stick.

He explained that he also cooks salmon on a 500° grill, but for one minute longer on each side. Chris said that he loves to serve salmon in the summer with seasonal fruit salsas such as watermelon salsa and pineapple salsa. Sounds delicious!

Here are a few more delicious options for your next barbecue:

• Mushrooms are the new burger. A huge Portobello makes a delicious meat substitute, perfect for the vegetarians in the family. Season each Portobello slice well, and sprinkle some shredded mozzarella cheese on top during the last few minutes of grilling.

• Trade your potato salad for some grilled veggies. The best vegetables for grilling are zucchini, peppers of any variety, corn, asparagus, artichokes and tomatoes.

• Pizza night can be healthy and fun on the grill, too. Oil the grill so the dough doesn't stick. Prepare homemade pizza dough or thaw a premade ball or disc of pizza dough. Roll the dough into a circle as thick or thin as you’d like. Flour both sides lightly so they’re not too sticky. Place the circular dough on a 500° grill and close the lid. Grill for 3–4 minutes or until slightly brown on the bottom. Flip the dough onto a cookie sheet and add ingredients (sauce, cheese, toppings), then return it to the grill. Lower the temperature to 350°, close the lid and grill the pizza for another 2–3 minutes. For a healthier twist, try a whole wheat crust brushed with olive oil.

Your next backyard bash can be fun and healthy, leaving room for the occasional guilty S’more. So, what are you waiting for? Fire up the grill, enjoy some delicious food, great company and get into the true American spirit!