Two Cheese Sweet Onion Pizza

onion

onionWhat You Need:

3 C white bread flour
1 pkg. quick rising yeast
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1 C of water
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 lb. fresh spinach, trimmed
2 tbsp minced garlic
1/2 C Parmesan cheese, grated
1 (8 oz.) pkg. feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 C sweet Vidalia onion, sliced thin

How to Make It:

In a mixing bowl blend together the flour, yeast, salt and sugar.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the water and 2 tbsp of the olive oil 5 minutes or until a thermometer reads 130 degrees.
Pour the heated water over the flour mixture and mixed until the dough forms a ball.
Knead the dough with your hands 10 times.
Place the dough on a lightly floured surface, cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 30 minutes.
Set the grill to preheat to medium hot temperature.
Over high heat in a sauce pan cover the spinach with water and bring to a roiling boil.
Cover the pan, adjust the heat to low and cook 3 minutes or until the spinach is wilted.
Drain and cool the spinach then squeeze out any extra water.
Coarsely chop the spinach.
Separate the dough into two pieces.
Spray the grill rack lightly with a non stick cooking spray.
Stretch one piece of the dough out over the grill rack.
Cook the dough covered for 5 minutes or until the bottom is browned.
Brush the top side of the dough with 1/2 tbsp of the olive oil.
Carefully flip the dough and the other side is brushed wit 1/2 tbsp of the olive oil.
Use 1 tbsp of the minced garlic and sprinkle evenly over the crust.
Half of the spinach is spread over the top of the garlic.
Half of the Parmesan cheese and half of the feta cheese are sprinkled over the spinach.
Half of the onion is placed on top.
Cover and cook the above 8 minutes being sure to check after 5 minute to make sure it is not over cooking before the cheese has melted.
If cooking too quickly move the pizza to the side away from the intense heat or lower the temperature.
Once the cheese has melted remove the pizza and keep warm while grilling the second pizza in the same manner as above.

Colorful Vegetable on Sticks

veggiemarket

veggiemarketWhat You Need:

1 lb extra firm tofu
1 head of broccoli cut in bite size pieces
2 tbsp sesame seed oil
1 tbsp canola oil
1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 C tamari
1/4 C dry cooking sherry
3 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp lime juice
1/4 C pineapple juice
1 tbsp cornstarch
4 oz. snow peas
1 red bell pepper, cubed
4 oz. button mushrooms, trimmed

How to Make It:

Wrap the tofu in a clean kitchen towel and place a heavy object is set on top of the tofu.
Allow the tofu to rest for at least 30 minutes so that any excess water can drain.
Unwrap the tofu and cut into cubes.
In a saucepan over high heat cover the broccoli with water and bring the water to a boil.
Reduce the heat to medium and steam the broccoli 2 minutes or until crisp tender.
Plunge the broccoli into cold water to stop the cooking process and then drain.
Set the grill to medium high temperature.
Put in a saucepan over medium heat both of the oils, garlic and ginger and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Stir in the tamari, sherry, brown sugar and lime juice and bring to a rolling boil.
Mix in the pineapple juice and cornstarch to form a smooth paste.
Stir the mixture into the saucepan and cook 5 minutes or until thick.
Set the sauce aside to cool slightly.
When cooled pour half of the sauce into a shallow bowl.
Add the tofu, broccoli, snow peas, pepper and mushrooms and coat well with the sauce.
Thread the vegetables onto the bamboo skewers and baste with the remaining sauce.
Grill for 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are done, turning occasionally and basting with every turn.

Fiesta Flavored Sweet Potatoes

sweetpotato

sweetpotatoWhat You Need:

4 sweet potatoes
1 jalapeno pepper
4 scallions, trimmed
1 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 C Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

How to Make It:

The grill is preheated to medium hot temperature.
Scrub the potatoes and wrap tightly with foil.
Place the potatoes on the grill, close the lid and grill for 45 minutes or until tender being sure to turn them occasionally for even cooking
Grill the peppers 10 minutes or until blackened.
Remove the peppers and allow them to steam in a sealed plastic bag for 10 minutes.
Brush the scallions with the oil and grill for 8 minutes, turning often, or until tender.
Take the peppers from the bag, peel and remove the seeds.
In a small bowl finely chop the peppers and scallions and mix to combine.
Unwrap the potatoes partially and cut a large slit in each potato.
With a fork fluff the potato flesh.
Add 1 tbsp butter, 1/8 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper to each potato.
Fill each potato with the pepper scallion mixture.
Place 1/8 C of the cheese on top of each of the potatoes.
Return the potatoes to the grill for 15 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Super Squash Chips

squash

squashWhat You Need:

2 lbs. summer squash, sliced 3/8 inch thick
4 cloves of garlic
1/8 tsp parsley
1/8 tsp basil
1/8 tsp oregano
1/8 tsp lemon thyme
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
4 tbsp olive oil

How to Make It:

Heat the grill to medium hot temperature.
In a large mixing bowl put the squash, garlic, parsley, basil, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper.
Pour the oil over the above ingredients and toss to coat well.
Grill the coated squash slices 5 minutes, then flip and cook an additional 3 minutes or until tender.

Healthy Grilled Bean Burgers

mixed-beans

mixed-beansWhat You Need:

2/3 C uncooked bulgur
1 1/3 C of boiling water
4 slices whole wheat bread, toasted
1 (15 oz.) can kidney beans, drained
1/4 C fresh parsley
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 large egg
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
8 whole wheat rolls, cut in half

How to Make It:

In a mixing bowl put the bulgur and the boiling water.
Place a tight fitting lid on the bowl and set aside for 10 minutes.
Process the toasted bread in the food processor until you have 1/2 C of crumbs then set them aside.
The beans, parsley and garlic are added to the food processor and processed until the mixture is very smooth.
Drain the bulgur and stir it into the bean mixture.
Blend in the bread crumbs, egg, tomato paste and soy sauce.
Stir in the chili powder, salt and pepper.
Cover and set aside for 30 minutes to thicken.
The grill is set to medium heat and lightly oil the grill rack.
Form the thickened bean mixture into 8 patties.
Lightly mist both sides of each patty with a non stick cooking spray.
The burgers are put on the grill for 5 minutes then flipped over and grilled for another 5 minutes or until cooked the way you like.
Toast the rolls on the grill for 1 minute.
Place the burgers on the toasted rolls and add your favorite condiments.

Grilled Mixed Fruit Compote

plums

plumsWhat You Need:

4 plums, sliced thin
2 nectarines, sliced thin
1 C of fresh blackberries
1/4 C orange juice
1 tbsp sugar

How to Make It:

The grill is set for low temperature.
Divide the fruit between 2 large pieces of foil placing it in the middle of each piece.
1/8 C of the orange juice is drizzled over each packet of fruit.
Seal the fruit into the packets tightly so the juice does not run out.
Put the packets on the grill for 18 minutes or until the fruit has softened, turning once.
Open the packets carefully over a bowl so the syrup will drain in the bowl.
Place the fruit into the bowl, sprinkle with the sugar and toss gently.

Spicy Cheese Potatoes in a Shell

potatoesbowlcounter1

potatoesbowlcounter1What You Need:

3 large baking potatoes
1 green bell pepper cut in half and seeds removed
2 jalapeno peppers
1 C sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
12 (6 inch) corn tortillas
1 tbsp olive oil

How to Make It:

Heat the grill to medium temperature.
Prick each potato several times with a fork and wrap individually in foil.
Transfer the potatoes, green peppers and jalapeno pepper to the grill grate.
Turning often roast the vegetables for 10 minutes or until both peppers are charred.
Take the peppers off the grill and place in plastic bags, seal and steam for 10 minutes.
Close the grill lid and continue roasting the potatoes 40 minutes, or until tender turning every 10 minutes.
Remove the peels from the peppers and any discard any remaining seeds.
Finely chop the peppers and place them in a bowl.
Take the potatoes from the grill and allow them to cool enough to handle.
Unwrap each potato and cut in half, scooping out the potato pulp.
Stir the pulp in with the peppers.
Stir the cheese, egg and cilantro into the potato mixture.
Sprinkle the salt and pepper over the mixture and blend it in well.
Fill each corn tortilla with 2 tbsp of the potato mixture.
Brush the outside of the shells with the olive oil.
Grill the tortillas for 3 minutes per side or until crispy being carefully not to lose any of the filling while turning.

Barbecue Mushroom Sandwich

mushrooms

mushroomsWhat You Need:

1/4 C ketchup
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp soy sauce
4 garlic cloves
1 tbsp onion, minced
2 tsp ground cumin
8 large Portobello mushrooms, sliced 1/2 inch thick
4 onion slices, 1/2 inch thick
8 slices whole wheat bread

How to Make It:

Heat the grill to medium temperature.
In a small mixing bowl whisk together the ketchup and brown sugar until the brown sugar has dissolved.
Mix in the soy sauce, garlic, onion, and cumin.
Evenly brush the mushrooms and onion slices with the barbecue sauce.
Grill the mushrooms and onions 10 minutes or until tender, turning often.
Toast the bread slices on the grill 2 minutes per side.
Brush a little of the remaining barbecue sauce onto one side of each slice of toasted bread.
Arrange a slice of mushroom and a slice of onion onto four slices of bread.
Place the remaining 4 slices of toasted bread on top to complete the sandwiches.

Easy Eggplant Steaks

eggplant

eggplantWhat You Need:

1 eggplant, peeled and sliced into 3/8 inch slices
1 bottle Italian dressing

How to Make It:

Heat the grill to medium hot temperature.
Place the eggplant slices into a shallow bowl and cover with the dressing.
Turn the eggplant to coat well with the dressing.
Let the eggplant stand in the dressing for at least 15 minutes allowing the slices to absorb the dressing.
Grill 8 minutes or until crispy on the outside but still soft in the middle, turning occasionally

Breakfast on Skewers

strawberries

strawberries

What You Need:

1/4 C sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
8 brown and serve rolls, cut into quarters
4 tbsp butter, melted
1 pint strawberries, hulled
2 firm bananas, peeled and cut into chunks

How to Make It:

Prepare the grill for low heat.
Toss the sugar and cinnamon together well.
Brush the rolls evenly with the butter.
Sprinkle the rolls with the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat very well.
On 4 skewers thread a strawberry, a roll piece and a banana chunk until the skewers are filled.
Grill these for 8 minutes or until the rolls are toasted, turning often for even grilling.