Last week’s poll on home gardening was a surprise for me with 70% voting that they do in fact garden as I figured it would be more like 50/50. Some great suggestions for what to grow and how to grow it. Thanks for that! I look forward to using Reetsyburger’s hanging tomato plant idea this summer. I really need to get going on starting my tomatoes, peppers, and herbs!
Tonight I got home after a three day geocaching road trip through Wisconsin and Michigan. While out roaming tick infested wooded areas in the gorgeous weather, I noticed that a lot of people were enjoying the nice summer-like weather by grilling out. Our last cache of the day in Michigan on Friday brought us to a library in the middle of a small town right on the WI/MI border where there was the scent of cooking meat wafting through the air making me very hungry as I stared down a TV on a roof. It made me long for a nice grilled burger instead of the Friday fish fry we had at a shitty little dump of a restaurant in Ironwood, MI.
Convinced that I would come home tonight and enjoy the sunny and 50 degree Sunday with the grill and some fresh meat, I ended up sleeping the daylight away instead. I have to admit that even though the weather has been warming up, I have yet to pull out the grill this season. My question to you this week is whether or not you have grilled out at all this year yet. So vote on yes or no. Then, in the comment section below, let’s here what items you generally like to grill. Are you a meat eater only? Do you like to grill asparagus, maybe some peaches, or even baked beans?! Do you have any exciting grill recipes that you’re willing to share?
Grillin' Out in 2009?
- Yes (86.0%, 38 Votes)
- No (14.0%, 6 Votes)
Total Voters: 44
Loading ...After voting and posting your grilling ideas, be sure to check out our expired polls in the archive or read through the previous posts about polls here.
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April 20th, 2009 at 6:10 am
I keep my grill on the deck year-round, so I can grill in the winter, too. I just got a new grill this weekend, after the old one finally rusted out too much to fix.
I grill steaks and salmon fillets a lot. I should grill chicken more often, but I haven’t quite the hang of poultry on the grill.
Grills are great, even crappy hot dogs taste way better when they’re grilled.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:12 am
we don’t grill a lot, because we can’t. If we had a house/townhouse we’d grill all summer.
I love steak, burgers, anything grilled. I don’t like barbecued chicken, but plain chicken.
My favorite, (besides expensive steak) is the brats my step-dad makes with pineapple in them.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:16 am
dm, when we lived in Burnsville I purchased an electric grill to use because Burnsville banned gas grills on apartment decks. Perhaps you could purchase one of those to use? It works well enough, they’re just smaller and take a little longer to cook.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:47 am
We grill quite a lot. Last year we purchased a Weber Grill, and thus far I am really happy we spent the extra money.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:50 am
we, whoops, i, grill all the time. like greg, salmon, pork, burgers, slow cook ribs, baked veggies, turkey breasts and beer butt chicken. i’ve got the handle on chicken! i also have a kamp kooker i use to boil corn in the garage when it’s too hot to cook indoors during the summer, and fry fish so it doesn’t smell up the house. no smelt!!
bb
April 20th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Our grill is on our deck and we usually grill year round but for some reason we didn’t this last year (maybe too cold and too much snow?).
The first time we grilled this season was yesterday. Mr Marcos threw some hamburgers on the grill – best hamburger I’ve had in a long time! I usually season our burgers with Worcestershire sauce, Lawry’s Garlic Salt, and a little pepper…pretty spicy for a Minnesotan! ;)
We grill a lot in the summer – Mr Marcos does a fine job with steaks (we use the same seasoning as the hamburgers). Target has some great steaks that are pretty reasonable when on sale. I stock up and freeze the steaks in the marinade. I put the Ziploc bag of steaks and marinade in the fridge and by dinner time the steaks are thawed and properly marinated.
April 20th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Like Greg and Mr. and Mrs. Marcos, we grill year round — even when I have to shovel a path through three feet of snow to the grill on my deck. We have our gas grill hooked directly to our natural gas line, so we don’t need to keep refilling a tank (my father-in-law worked for the gas company in NY before he retired). We grill everything, though I’m partial to venison, bison burgers, pork loin kebabs with sweet onions, and a recipe for chicken that my mother-in-law gave us that is unlike any other I’ve ever eaten (the marinade includes an egg, olive oil, cider vinegar and a number of spices). Now you all are making me hungry. Might have to hobble out to the deck in the rain to fire me up a brat.
April 20th, 2009 at 9:34 am
I like going to my friends’ or my parents’ homes when they grill, but my wife and I don’t grill ourselves. Nothing against it, just not something I personally want to go to the trouble of doing. We even got a Baby Weber Q grill as a wedding gift (wasn’t on our registry), but never used it and sold it on Craigslist after it sat in our garage for almost four years.
April 20th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Score one for grilling year-round.
April 20th, 2009 at 9:50 am
UpWithTheMooses, care to share the chicken recipe? I could use a good starting place…
April 20th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Greg, here’s one that I’ve used although I still prefer simple Caesar or Italian dressing:
I’m sure UWM’s is much better and I look forward to seeing that one!
April 20th, 2009 at 11:33 am
I sometimes marinate bone-in chicken in 3 parts beer/1 part soy sauce. Simple and delicious on the grill.
April 20th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Dave, what kind of beer? Light or dark?
April 20th, 2009 at 11:49 am
I’m with bb on the beer can chicken. Mr. Wit even found some great metal holders made special for that purpose, to avoid tipping, though it can be balanced without them, using the chicken’s legs to keep it upright. Take a swig of the beer first to keep it from boiling over :), invert the chicken on the can, and you are good to go. I’ve also heard of people using pepsi (gasp!) instead of beer, but I’ve never tried it.
April 20th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
We grill (charcoal only), but we keep it special and only grill in the spring, summer and fall. There’s something about waiting that makes spring that much more special and the last few times in the fall that much more bittersweet?
Next up for us, a smoker. My fiance’s dad always makes brisket and other various, delicious meats/cuts when we go down to visit them. There’s nothing like sitting with the windows open all day and letting your mouth water from the amazing smell! And then you get to eat it!
April 20th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Bill, usually the stuff leftover in the fridge that I don’t want to drink. Typically light domestic stuff. Forgot to add, throw in some minced garlic if you have it on hand.
April 20th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Dave, thanks. I’m going to have to try that the next time I make chicken on the grill.
Two summers ago I started grilling peaches and here’s a recipe from The Food Network which I have used a couple of times with great success. I usually opt to swap out frozen yogurt for plain old vanilla ice cream.
April 20th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I love to grill lamb burgers and bison burgers using local, fresh meat.
I also love to grill eggplant and halloumi. Have you ever cooked halloumi on your grill? If not, you’re in for a TASTE SENSATION!
Unless you hate cheese, you’ve got to try it.
April 20th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
dry italian dressing mix is a great season for everything, including mixing in mashed potatoes.
the beer can cluck, i use 1/2 a can of beer, then season the brew with lea&perrins, and other spices. the flavor seeps through the meat. i roll the chicken in e.v.o. and add seasons to the outside. a bit messy, but fun!
bb
April 20th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
We grill year-round also. It’s good to brine a chicken (soak it in salt, sugar, water) for several hours, then dry it well, herb it (I like thyme), and then “spatchcock” it, (cut it down the backbone and flatten it). I like to pour melted butter and fresh lemon juice over the cooked chicken before serving it.
April 20th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
I’m sorry…did someone just suggest cooking meat with PEPSI?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
W!T!F!
April 20th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Truffle burgers FTW!
1/2T truffle oil, salt, pepper, 1lb ground beef/chuck/pick your poison and you are good to go.
Any fellow truffle freaks here? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?
April 21st, 2009 at 9:16 am
Yes, count me in as a truffle/truffle oil fan.
April 21st, 2009 at 9:24 am
Careful, Steve…some people around here cry if you call them “freaks” even if you mean it playfully. ;)
I’m firmly in the NO MUSHROOMS category!
April 21st, 2009 at 9:42 am
Down with mushrooms.
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:48 am
The patio and the grill are ready to go. While we have grilled in the winter in the past we usually wait for Memorial Day weekend to officially kick off grill season. I love to make fajitas on the grill and kabobs. Last year we started grilling pizza and will probably do more of that this year as well.
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:49 am
TIU, have any recipes for grilled pizzas?
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:10 am
I wouldn’t actually say recipe. :) I love caprese salad so we make caprese grilled pizza. Buy or make and prebake whatever type of pizza crust you like. (I’ve started with unbaked dough and didn’t like the result) I use store bought flatbread, the longer rectangular style, pour on the EVO, arrange the fresh mozzarella slices on top, cover with thinly sliced tomatoes and chopped basil. I sometimes add olives or mushrooms if I’m in the mood. Pop on the grill until crust is crisp and cheese is a bit melty.
April 22nd, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Grilled pizza? That sounds like a hell of a mess when you flip it over (I’m kidding)! Maybe grilled calzone?
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:57 pm
We like to make grilled pizza. We make the dough, divide it into individual portions and form them into rounds, then cover and refrigerate them.
Then we precook the meats and veggies inside (or you can pre-grill them).
Take the dough outside, stretch one into a flat round and toss it on the fire; after it’s brown on the bottom (really quickly), flip it over onto a plate, top it, and slide it back onto the grill.
Watch it carefully, they burn easily.
May 4th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Didn’t get to vote, but yes, I have grilled many times. Live in New England, the Weber has a spot in the winter right next to the slider off the kitchen on the back deck. It gets used 12 months out of the year. Except for one year, when it was buried under a 12 foot snow drift. In the summer it moves further out on the deck to so its not in the way.
Grilled pizza? Yes all the time. I tend to make them simpler. I pre cook the crust on one side, flip.. for only a minute, pull it off, put the toppings on the “well cooked” side, and return to the grill, close the cover. Pick stuff that cooks fast or pre-cook. On the Weber, I start the first side with the all 3 burners at MOM, when I throw it back on, its MOM or LOL depending on how much I need to cook the topping.