! t i l l i Gr Good things come in small (aluminum foil) package
Foil packet meals
Like a smorgasbord wrapped up in a shiny package, foil packet dinners are the bomb for a backyard meal. Start with a protein – hamburger patty, shrimp, kielbasa, small cubes of steak, bite-sized chunks of chicken breast or an impossible burger are popular options. Add any kind of raw vegetable you happen to have on hand – potatoes, carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, zucchini, peppers, celery – and sprinkle on some spices, fresh herbs and a drizzle of oil, wrap it up in a sheet of aluminum foil and plop it on the grill. Assembling the dinners can be good entertainment for young kids who feel like they are “cooking” – and adults who want to experiment with different flavor combinations and show off their artistic flair when designing their dish. Because individual foil packets can be tailored to everyone’s tastes, there are no complaints at the picnic table. I started making foil packets decades ago over campfires. We called them hobos. It was always tricky finding a log that was flat enough to serve as a grilling spot and oftentimes the foil was pierced by a twig, causing the juices to spill out. Sometimes the potatoes on one end of the packet were burned and underdone on the other. It didn’t matter. It was still wonderful. 20
Live it! | Summer 2020
I have to admit, it’s much easier to cook the packets on the grill or even in the 350-degree oven. There’s really no wrong way to assemble the packets, but there are some basic tips to make the process easy and results tasty. • Use heavy-duty aluminum foil, or two sheets of the wimpy foil. You’ll need a sheet about 12 to 14 inches long • Drizzle foil with oil or spread with butter • Raw meat should be thawed • Ground meat cooks fairly quickly; chunks of meat should be cut in small pieces • Slice or chunk raw vegetables; carrots should be cut into smaller pieces but mushrooms could be left whole • Top with pat of butter or oil • Fold the foil like a tent in the middle and then fold the ends to create a tight pouch • Cook about 10 to 15 minutes on each side, flipping occasionally. Cooking time varies. Note: If you’re concerned about having food in direct contact with aluminum foil, you can line the packet with parchment paper before cooking. - Carolyn Lange
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