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| Cooking Out In Style |
by Valerie de Armas The weather is getting warmer and my thoughts are turning toward cooking out. What's better than a steak or hamburger that's been cooked on the grill? Let's do a family dinner eaten outside on the picnic table. This meal will take some preparation, but it will be well worth it. First, the menu: Hamburgers Grilled Corn in the Husk Grilled Onions Watermelon Slices
First, we'll prepare the corn. About 2 hours before you begin to grill, peel the husk down (don't tear it off) and remove the silk from the corn. Wrap the corn back in the husk and secure the end. (Dental floss works well for this). Soak the corn in cold water until you're ready to grill. Make sure the watermelon is in the refrigerator so that it will be chilled well. Cold watermelon is always good on a hot day. Slice the onions in rounds and brush on olive oil. Season as desired. I usually use powdered garlic, salt and pepper, but you could experiment with other spices that you like. Wrap the onions in aluminum foil. Pat out hamburger patties and place on a plate. Try to make them as close to the same size as possible so that they will require the same amount of time to cook. Remember never to place cooked meat on the same plate as cooked meat. Always keep them separate and wash your hands thoroughly after touching raw meat. Place onion package on grill to cook while hamburgers are cooking. Remove when onions are soft. Remove to warm oven until corn is done. After the coals are hot, place the meat on the grill and cook until it is at least medium well done. When the hamburgers are done, place on a pan and wrap in aluminum foil. Place in a warm oven until corn is done. Remove corn from water and place on grill for about 20 minutes. Serve a most wonderful grilled dinner on a picnic table outside covered with a red and white checked cloth and a simple centerpiece of fruit in a glass bowl. The fruit can also be your appetizer while the meal is prepared. Grapes, apples, oranges and bananas are colorful, nutritious and tasty for your fruit bowl. Provide generous size cloth napkins to coordinate with your tablecloth. You can use red, white, or red and white checked napkins and simple wooden napkin rings or simply fold the napkins on top of the plates. Enjoy your cookout and the warm weather! Until next time...  Recommended ReadingHot for your Hibachi, warming up for the Weber? Grilling for Dummies is the perfect guide for the home grillmaster. It doesn't matter if you can't tell a briquette from a Rockette or if you just won your third Michelin star cooking on your grill, this book is one of the best guides available. Like all books in the popular Dummies series, Grilling for Dummies is clear, concise, and thorough. Part reference, part cookbook, and part cooking class, no coal is left unturned. The book covers the gamut with 130 recipes, including everything from the basic burger to wild game to fruit (yes, grilled fruit, and it's not bad). There is an excellent section on vegetables and vegetarian fare, and many ideas and recipes are given for low-fat grilling. Different techniques are presented in depth, including barbecue, smoking, marinades, and rubs. (courtesy: Amazon) |
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About the Author: Valerie de Armas is a work at home mom of 3 who enjoys cooking and family traditions. She has her own business, PartiesPlus, providing themed party supplies, costumes, favors and more for her customers. |
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Happy Halloween
