Grill
Warm summer months are ideal for hosting BBQ parties. Gather a group of friends or family and fire up the grill; things always seem to taste better when cooked outdoors. Delight both your meat-eating and vegetarian friends alike by serving hamburgers as well as soy-based treats, such as veggie burgers. Don't forget to provide plenty of traditional side dishes, such as potato salad and baked beans. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Grilled Portobello Mushroom Caps
Portobello caps are hearty enough to satisfy meat-eaters and hold up well when cooked on a hot grill. Plan on serving one portobello cap per guest. Marinate the caps in a vinegar and olive oil mixture prior to grilling to add flavor and to prevent them from sticking to the grate.
Shrimp and Pineapple Skewers
Delight guests with exotic grilled shrimp and pineapple skewers. If you are using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for one hour prior to grilling. Marinate 1 lb. of fresh, peeled and deveined shrimp in a mixture of 1/2 can of pineapple juice and 3 tbsp. of soy sauce and place in the refrigerator for one-half hour. Thread alternating pieces of pineapple chunks and marinated shrimp onto the bamboo skewers. Grill over medium heat for 10 minutes, turning the skewers once.
Watermelon Salad
Watermelon, a summertime favorite, gets a surprising twist with feta cheese and mint. To make this refreshing salad, mix 1 1/2 qt. of seeded watermelon cubes with 3/4 cup of thinly sliced red onion, 1 tbsp. of fresh lime juice, 1 cup of chopped fresh mint, 1/2 cup of Kalamata olives and 3/4 cup of crumbled feta cheese. Drizzle the salad with olive oil and serve in a hollowed-out watermelon rind for a summery presentation.
Sorbet
Sorbet makes an excellent light dessert on hot days or warm nights. Serve flavors such as strawberry, lemon, lime and mango in colorful goblets; top each with a sprig of fresh mint. Make your own sorbet or buy it in your grocery store's frozen section.
Tags: bamboo skewers, feta cheese, fresh mint, prior grilling, when cooked