Firing up the grill makes every meal with family and friends feel like a celebration.
Fragrant smoke wafting from the fire, juicy steaks sizzling on the grill, friends gathered on the back porch while the cook tends the grill . . . there is just something magical, fun, even primal about meals cooked outdoors over a hot grill.
I have to admit it. I used to be intimidated by the grill.
My childhood memories of grilling involve monstrous grills and smokers used in barbecue contests. When someone hosted a backyard barbecue, it meant they had been out there for hours stoking the fire to have the perfect slow and low flame for crafting smoky, fall-off-the-bone pork and chicken.
That type of “long and slow” grilling works well on weekends, but it is just not practical for weeknight meals.
The backyard barbecue I want to share with you is much more than just burgers and slow-cooked meats. It’s easy, no-fuss grilling. It’s quick-cooking items that you can dress up with a simple sauce or marinade. Recipes like Grilled Tomato and Vidalia Onion Bruschetta, Cedar Plank Salmon with Caper Remoulade, Chile-Rubbed Strip Steak with Lime-Chipotle Sauce, and Grilled Corn and Green Bean Salad that will inspire you to light up your grill, even on the busiest night of the week.
Grilling is deliciously simple. It’s the ideal cooking technique for a wide array of items such as meats, poultry, fish, steaks, vegetables, and even pizzas.
In Simply Grilling, I have compiled my favorite recipes for creating delicious dishes hot off the grill. Versatile dishes—mouthwatering appetizers and entrées, flame-kissed sides and salads, and decadent desserts—offer all the flavor and flair of crowd-pleasing fare without any of the fuss.
And as an added bonus, cleanup after grilling is a lot easier than a dinner that involves breaking out all the pots and pans (and washing them)!
So get out of the kitchen and fire up the grill!