Grilling season is here – starting with Memorial Day and continuing all the way through Labor Day. So whether your weekends fill up with neighborhood cookouts or long weekends away, there’s a pretty good chance dinner is going to include a meal on the grill. We encourage you to spruce up your hamburgers and hot dogs with unusual condiment suggestions, mix up your menu with alternative grilling ideas and be sure to offer plenty of sides and snacks and you’re bound to end up with an unforgettable grilling season.
Take Those Burgers & Dogs Up A Notch We all know you can pound out a hamburger patty or take a hot dog out of the package, but why not impress your friends this grilling season with some unusual but delicious flavor!
Hawaiian Burger – If you can’t quite make it to Hawaii for vacation, bring that flavor to the table. Grab a can of sliced pineapple and drain into a bowl. Mix with ¾ cup teriyaki sauce and toss with pineapple slices. Place hamburger patties on grill and top with remaining sauce. When burgers are cooked, grill marinated pineapple slices until golden. Enjoy burger topped with pineapple slices, bacon, onions, lettuce and Swiss cheese.
Pizza Burger – Mix hamburger meat with some classic pizza toppings: oregano, basil, minced garlic, onion and peppers. Toss on the grill and baste with marinara sauce a few minutes before cooking. Toss on a toasted bun and top with Mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and more marinara sauce.
Gundelsheim Pickled Products – Top your hot dogs with some pickled products instead of the usual ketchup, mustard and chili. Gundelsheim products are imported from Germany, harvested at the peak of their flavor and made using a secret recipe handed down from generation to generation. Try one of these delicious offerings with your hot dogs – Pickles, Sauerkraut or Pickled Red Cabbage.
Grilling Alternatives The spring and summer produce seasons offer a wide selection of vegetables that make great dinners and sides on the grill. We suggest:
Eggplant, Squash & Zucchini - These veggies really absorb the flavors of herbs and spices so before you grill, cut into 1/4-inch slices and brush with melted TFM Finishing Butter of your choice.
Bell Peppers - Cut into quarters and brush with olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. For an Asian twist, douse in Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki before grilling.
Sweet Onions - A little pesky on the grill, cut onions in 1/2-inch slices and run a skewer through the center so it goes through each ring in order to keep them from falling through the grates.
Tomatoes - To intensify the flavor of a tomato, cut in half, coat in olive oil, salt and fresh ground pepper and grill cut side down for 2 to 3 minutes before turning. The heat caramelizes the sugars and makes for a great side dish or appetizer.
Portabella Mushrooms - Serve as you would a burger for a lean, vegetarian alternative. For added flavor, fill the "gills" with soy sauce and garlic or your favorite red wine.
Something On the Side While whatever you’re pulling off the grill is sure to be the star of the meal, it’s important to also offer plenty of sides and snacks. Try one of our simple recipes:
Sun-dried Tomato Hummus (View Recipe) – Tahini (a thick paste made from sesame seeds) blended with water, garlic, garbanzo beans, oil, lemon juice, cumin and sun-dried tomato pesto, this hummus is delicious served with chips, toasted pita chips or crackers. Perfect for an appetizer or spread onto sandwich bread and top with tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers or any other veggies.
Picnic Pasta Salad (View Recipe) – This pasta is delicious served cold and tastes best when given enough time to soak in the flavor of the Balsamic Country Salad Splash.
Antipasto Chopped Salad (View Recipe) – A salad of cannelloni beans, peppers, onions, fennel, cheeses, sausage, Capicola, hearts of palm and romaine lettuce leaves drizzled in a freshly made vinaigrette makes for a refreshing side.
