Grilled Balsamic Mushroom Burgers

mushroom

What You Need:

4 large Portobello mushroom caps
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp parsley
4 slices of Provolone cheese

How to Make It:

Heat the grill to medium high heat and spray the grates with a cooking spray.
Sprinkle all the mushroom caps on both sides with the salt and pepper.
Brush both sides of the mushrooms with the balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with thyme.
Put the mushrooms on the heated grill and cook 3 minutes.
Flip and grill an additional 3 minutes or until tender.
Sprinkle the parsley over the tops of the mushrooms and add a slice of the cheese.
Place a foil tent over the mushrooms and grill for 1 minute or until the cheese melts.
Place on buns and serve with your favorite condiments.

Makes 4 servings

Grilling mushrooms gives them a caramelized taste The vinegar and thyme gives the mushroom burgers their vivacious taste. Serve these burgers with a side salad of all your favorite veggies for a great summertime lunch or dinner.

Preparation Time: approximately 10 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 7 minutes
Total Time: approximately 17 minutes

Grilled Fanned Potatoes

potato

What You Need:

4 baking potatoes
2 onions, halved and sliced thin
4 tbsp of butter, cubed
1/4 C of celery, chopped fine
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper

How to Make It:

Preheat the grill to medium high heat.
Slice the potatoes three quarters of the way through with slices that are 1/2 inch apart.
Fan out the potatoes carefully.
Lay each potato onto a piece of foil that will fold completely around the potato.
Place an onion slice between each slice in the potato.
Add a cube of butter into each potato slice.
Sprinkle the potatoes with the celery, salt, oregano, garlic powder and pepper.
Fold the foil tightly around each of the potatoes.
Lay the wrapped potatoes on the grill and cover the grill.
Grill for 40 minutes or until the potatoes are as tender as you like.

Makes 6 servings

These aren’t your everyday baked potatoes but they taste just as good. It’s the seasonings that makes them so delicious. To speed up the grilling time place the potatoes in the microwave for about 6 minutes to soften them slightly before slicing and adding all the extras.

Grilled Orange Salsa Steak

grilledsteak

What You Need:

1/2 C of soy sauce
1/2 C green onions, chopped and divided
3 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/8 tsp hot sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
2 lbs. boneless sirloin steak, 1 inch thick
2 oranges, peeled, sectioned and chopped
2 tbsp orange juice
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp lemon, chopped
1 tbsp lime, chopped
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp cilantro
1 tsp jalapeno pepper, minced
1/2 tsp lemon peel, grated
1/2 tsp lime peel, grated
1/8 tsp salt

How to Make It:

Put the soy sauce and 1/4 C of the green onions into a large sealable bag.
Add the lime juice, brown sugar, hot sauce and garlic, seal the bag and shake to blend.
Place the steak into the marinade, seal the bag and turn to coat.
Refrigerate at least 2 hours, turning the bag occasionally to keep the meat well covered.
Preheat the grill to medium heat.
Remove the steak from the marinade, place it on the grill and discard the marinade.
Grill the steak for 5 minutes.
Turn the steak and grill for 5 minutes longer or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees for a medium done steak.
Cool the steak and slice across the grain.
Place the remaining ingredients into a mixing bowl and stir until blended together well.
Sever the salsa over the slices of steak.

Makes 4 servings

The citrus salsa adds a little zing to this delicious grilled steak leaving you with no need for that heavy steak sauce. The marinade gives you a steak that is moist and full of flavor. To grill the steak to medium rare the meat thermometer should read 145 degrees and for well done it should read 170 degrees.

All Veggie Sandwich

vegetarian-sandwich

vegetarian-sandwichWhat You Need:

1 eggplant, peeled and sliced 3/8 inch thick
2 tomatoes, sliced 1/3 inch thick
1 onion, quartered
1 baking potato, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
1/3 C extra virgin olive oil
4 slices toasted bread
4 cloves of garlic
1/2 C wheat berries, cooked
1 tbsp fresh dill
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
6 pita pockets
6 lettuce leaves

How to Make It:

Heat the grill to medium temperature.
Using the olive oil brush the eggplant, tomatoes, onion and potatoes evenly.
Put the vegetables on the grill for 12 minutes or until tender, turning occasionally.
In a food processor put the toasted bread and process until it becomes fine crumbs.
Transfer the bread crumbs to a mixing bowl.
Finely chop the garlic in the food processor.
Add the grilled vegetables to the garlic and process until smooth.
Blend the smooth vegetable mixture into the bread crumbs.
Blend in the wheat berries, dill, salt and pepper.
Form into 6 patties and mist both sides of each patty with a non-stick cooking spray.
Grill the burgers 5 minutes per side or until as crisp as you like.
Remove the grilled burgers and place one in each pita pocket and top with a lettuce leaf.

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Rich Pears in Chocolate Sauce

upearr

upearrWhat You Need:

2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
2 tbsp butter
2 C light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 C half and half
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 pears, halved and cored
1/2 C almond slivers

How to Make It:

Melt the chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler over simmering water stirring constantly.
Gently stir in the brown sugar and half and half,
Stirring constantly heat the mixture until very smooth and heated through.
Take the mixture from the heat, stir in the vanilla and cover to keep warm.
The grill is set for low heat.
Place the pears cut side down on the grill rack and grill 10 minutes or until tender.
Lay the grilled pears, cut side up onto a serving platter.
Spoon the warm sauce evenly over the top of the pears,
Sprinkle the top of the pears with the almond slivers before serving.

Roasted Red Pepper Relish Sandwich

red-peppers

red-peppersWhat You Need:

2 red bell peppers
1 onion, quartered
4 cloves of garlic
1/3 C olive oil
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 large loaf of Italian bread, sliced
1 (8 oz.) pkg. soft goat cheese

How to Make It:

The grill is heated to medium high heat.
Place the peppers onto the heated grill grate and roasted 8 minutes, turning often or until charred.
Remove and place in a plastic bag and seal allowing the steam to make the removal of the skins easier.
Thread the onion and garlic onto a skewer.
Brush them well with the olive oil.
Grill for 8 minutes turning often.
Slit each pepper and drain in a bowl reserving the juice.
Peel, remove the seeds and coarsely chop the peppers and place in the bowl with the juice.
Chop the grilled onion and garlic, add to the peppers and mix together well.
Add the vinegar, salt and pepper and blend until all the ingredients are well coated.
Toast the bread slices for 2 minutes then flip and toast additional 2 minutes.
Spread the goat cheese evenly on the toasted bread.
Top the cheese with the red pepper relish.
Top each sandwich with a second slice of bread.
Continue until all the bread has been used.

Grilled Marinated Green Beans and More

greenbeans

greenbeansWhat You Need:

4 oz. fresh green beans, cleaned and cut into 2 inch pieces
1 zucchini, julienne
1 yellow summer squash, julienne
1 small onion, cut into slivers
4 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 C fresh basil, chopped
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 C olive oil
2 red bell peppers
1 pint yellow pear tomatoes, halved
1/2 C oil cured black olives
1 C Parmesan cheese, grated

How to Make It:

In a large bowl mix together the zucchini, squash, onion, green beans and mushrooms.
In a small bowl mix together the garlic, basil, oregano, vinegar, salt and pepper.
Slowly add the oil and whisk until it is well blended in.
Pour the oil mixture over the vegetables and toss to coat well.
Cover and marinate the vegetables for at least 30 minutes.
Set the grill temperature to the medium hot.
Grill the red peppers for 10 minutes or until charred, turning often.
Place the grilled peppers in a sealed plastic bag to let steam 10 minutes.
Place the marinated vegetables on the grill for 7 minutes or until tender, turning often.
Take vegetables from grill and set aside keeping them warm.
Add the pear tomatoes to the marinade and toss to coat well.
Grill the marinated tomatoes 5 minutes or until tender, turning often.
Add the tomatoes in with the other vegetables.
Remove the peppers from the bag, peel and remove the seeds.
Slice the peppers and put in the bowl with the other vegetables.
Toss the olives into the vegetables.
Just before serving sprinkle the Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.

Spicy Black Bean Chimichangas

chimichangas

chimichangasWhat You Need:

3 tbsp canola oil, divided
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp ground cumin
2 (15 oz.) cans black beans, drained
1 1/2 C fresh tomatoes, diced
1 tbsp chipotle, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
8 (10 inch) flour tortillas
1 (8 oz.) pkg. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

How to Make It:

In a skillet over medium heat put 2 tbsp of the oil.
Heat the oil until hot but not smoking then stir in the garlic and cumin.
Stirring constantly cook the mixture 2 minutes.
Stir in the beans and tomatoes.
Cook 10 minutes until the beans are soft.
Mash the beans until the mixture is fairly smooth.
Blend in the chipotle, salt and pepper.
Adjust the heat to medium low.
In a dry skillet warm the tortillas 30 seconds per side.
Sprinkle 1/4 C of the cheese down the middle of each warmed tortilla.
Spread the bean mixture over the top of the cheese on each tortilla.
Fold the sides of each tortilla over to meet in the middle and then roll the tortilla to cover the filling.
Place the tortillas on the prepared grill seam side down.
Grill for 18 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally.

Tasty Marinated Mushrooms

portobello-mushrooms

portobello-mushroomsWhat You Need:

1/3 C dry cooking sherry
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp sherry vinegar
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 lbs fresh mushrooms, trimmed

How to Make It:

In a large mixing bowl whisk together the sherry, oil, vinegar, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper until well blended.
Add the mushrooms to the marinade and stir gently to coat.
Cover the mushrooms and allow to stand at room temperature in the marinade for at least 1 hour or until most of the liquid is absorbed.
Lightly oil the grill grate and preheat the grill to medium hot temperature.
Soak 4 bamboo skewers in water for 1/2 hour or use metal skewers.
Thread the mushrooms on to the skewers until all the skewers are full.
Grill the skewers 10 minutes or until browned, turning frequently.

Peach Short Cake from the Grill

peaches

peaches
What You Need:

16 canned peach halves
1/4 C orange juice
2 tbsp butter, melted
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 loaf pound cake cut in 1 inch slices

How to Make It:

The grill is heated to medium temperature.
Drain the juice well from the peaches and put them in a bowl.
Whisk together the orange juice, butter and maple syrup in a separate bowl.
Brush the mixture onto both sides of the peaches and on each of the cake slices.
Place the peaches and the cake slices onto the grill grate.
The cake slices are grilled for 3 minutes then turned over and grilled an additional 3 minutes or until lightly browned.
The peaches are grilled 5 minutes then turned and grilled 5 minutes longer or until lightly browned.
Arrange the cake pieces in a single layer on a serving platter.
Top the cake slices with the grilled peaches.