6 Grill Recipes for Memorial Day

It’s (almost) finally here, the (un)official start of the summer: Memorial Day Weekend! I hope you’re doing something super fun this weekend. If it inclueds firing up the grill  here are 6 great grilling recipes for everybody (vegetarians to omnivores)! Enjoy!

1. Bang Bang Grilled Shrimp Salad
2. Grilled Chicken Sandwiches with Goat Cheese, Spinach, Caramelized Onions & Mushrooms
3. Grilled Steak with Arugula, Parsley-Parmesan Salad
4. Grilled Peach, Brie & Basil Pizza
5. Simple & Tangy Grilled Aspargus
6. Spicy Sweet Grilled Pineapple Rings

Thirsty Thursday: Grilled Steak Wine Pairing

The weather lately has been picture perfect (for grilling)! I’ve been loving it. More grilling means less dishes to clean.  If you’re barbecuing this weekend & meat is on the menu (try this recipe!) serve up Bottle Rush’s favorite bbq go-to red, Zweigelt.

"When the sun is shinning you want something to drink that is refreshing but don't want want to be handcuffed to white or rose wines. Zweigelt is our go-to BBQ red. While it is difficult to say (pronounced Tsvye-gelt)this fruity, spicy red from Austria is the perfect compliment to meat on the grill. With most good Zweigelts costing under $20 this is a wine that you can keep flowing at your summer BBQ without breaking the bank.”
-Tamara, Bottle Rush founder

Are you interested in seeing a specific dish you’ve seen here (or elsewhere) paired with the perfect wine? If so let us know by leaving a comment below.

Happy Thirsty Thursday! Cheers!

PS: Happy Anniversary Marie & Greg! I feel like we were just dancing at your wedding :) Enjoy your day!

PPS: I can't believe this little guy is two today! Happy Birthday Douggie! xx

Grilled Steak with Arugula, Parsley-Parmesan Salad

From time-to-time I cook steak for Chris. It’s true. I do. I found this recipe in Bon Appetit magazine & thought that it was a good marriage between the steak Chris likes to eat & the greens I’d like him to eat. I also think it’s a lighter option for steak eaters than a heavy creamed spinach side dish for steak - while yes it has greens it also has a ton of cream amongst other heavy ingredients. I amped up the original salad in this recipe with some arugula.  This salad is also great on top of chicken (how I ate it).

PS: We also had these potatoes, because if you have steak & you really should have potatoes!
PPS: Happy birthday to my beautiful friend Ashley!!! I love you :)

Better Home Cooking Basics: #28 Slice Steak across the Grain rather than with it for a Tender (Not Chewy) Bite.

If you’ve visited HeatherOMade before (or if it’s your first time - thanks for stopping by) you’ll know that I’m not a huge meat eater - but I don’t mind cooking it & my husband doesn’t mind eating it.  Even though I’m not eating it I still try to make sure I cook it well (or medium rare). I recently picked up this tip, which I’ve always heard in the past but never paid much attention to it because I didn’t know what would happen if you didn’t - & now I do. Cut your meat against the grain for a tender (not chewy) bite. If you spend the money & time cooking steak (or any meat) you should make sure your delivery doesn’t contradict all of your hard earned cash & work. If you need a better understanding of what the “grain” is there’s a crude graphic that illustrates it below. If you need further explanation check out this post I found it helpful.

Happy eating, carnivores!

Get more of my better home cooking basics here. 

Bonefish Grill's Chimichurri Sauce

Do you ever sit in aw of the world that is Google? I was looking to see if I could find a recipe like Bonefish Grill's Chimichurri Sauce. So I Googled it. I not only found a recipe - I found Bonefish Grill's official chimichurri recipe on the Bonefish Grill blog. I quickly found myself wishing for other things because that one was way too easy.

If there was one sauce/dressing that works on everything from  grilled warm fish to cold crisp salads - this is the one.  After making this you'll find yourself wishing for something else too. I started the week spooning this delicious sauce over some grilled salmon, next I tossed it with some mixed greens & tomatoes for a quick fresh salad, but I didn't stop there. Check in later this week to see what I served with this garlicky, South American fresh herb sauce.

Ingredients (via Bonefish Grill)

• 8 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. plus Kosher Salt
• 1 tsp. oregano, dry leaves
• 1 tsp. black pepper, ground
• 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
• Finely grated lemon zest from 3 lemons
• 4 oz. fresh lemon juice
• 1 bunch flat leaf (Italian) parsley
• 1 cup olive oil

Make it!

1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse chop until all ingredients are approximately 1/8 inch in size.
2. Add Italian parsley and pulse chop until parsley is 1/8 inch in size.
3. Add the olive oil and blend in quickly. (Do not over blend, you want it to be a little chunky)
4. Allow the sauce to marinate for 30 minutes before serving. Store it in a glass dressing bottle like I did here , refrigerate it & use it all week!

Spicy Sweet Grilled Pineapple Rings

Meat on the grill takes caveman like simplicity to prep yet seems to deliver so much flavor. If you have enough salt & pepper on your chicken or steak plus a little olive oil you're going to win every time.  Top simply prepared meat with these equally simple spicy sweet rings of pineapple & you'll think you're ready for the grilling version of Chopped.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 4 3/4-inch-thick pineapple rings
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1/4cup thinly sliced basil

Make it! (recipe from Rachel Ray Everday)

1. Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
2. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and chili powder.
3. If you don't have a pre-cored pineapple cut your rings & punch out the core with a cookie cutter, or keep the core in they have surprising nutritious values. (If your rings break apart they will still taste good, so don't sweat it!)
4. Brush the pineapple and steaks with 1 tbsp. olive oil.
5. Sprinkle the pineapple with the chili sugar and season the steaks.
6. Grill the pineapple, 2 minutes per side.
7. Transfer to a plate and tent with foil until ready to serve.
8. Serve meat stacked with pineapple rings & sprinkle with basil.