Summer picnic
The long-awaited summer is finally here, time for camping and picnics, fishing, or just being outdoors. And with that grilling naturally goes hand in hand. Whether you like shish kebab or chicken skewers, chicken wings, fish or meat steaks, burgers or even just grilled vegetables, the main thing is to prepare in advance and marinate.
Vegetables are great for grilling and here are some delicious ideas on how to prepare them. Some vegetables that are great for grilling include onions, zucchini, young potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes, and bell peppers. First marinate the vegetables with olive oil, salt, spices, and herbs. Add a little finely chopped garlic and a little apple cider vinegar. Stir and close in a plastic bag, keep about 2-3 hours, turning the bag once or twice to evenly marinate the vegetables. Then drain the excess marinade and grill. Be sure to place vegetables underneath the meat to catch the savory drippings.
Another easy idea is to bake potatoes with bacon and herbs wrapped in foil on the grill. Add garlic for extra flavor and kick. You can even cook a whole dinner at once: wrap a fish steak in foil or parchment paper with sliced vegetables, then sprinkle with salt, pepper and herbs, close tight and place on the grill. Its easy and everything turns out tender and fragrant.
Vegetable grilling chart: https://internationalmenu.com/?p=3618
Fruits can also be baked in foil, just remove the seeds from them and add a little sugar or honey. You can add a wet cinnamon stick, cloves, or anise for some extra flavor. Bake for about 10 minutes.
One of my favorite recipes for grilled fish is steelhead trout or salmon on a cedar plank. Just rub the fish with spices, olive oil and lime juice. Be sure to soak the cedar plank for at least 4 hours, but the longer the better. The fish stays tender with a slightly smoked flavor and aroma.
More tips for grilling: https://internationalmenu.com/?p=3615
Here are a few tips for a successful picnic:
It’s better to take simple, non-perishable foods for the picnic.
Prepare sandwiches just before serving.
Don’t cut the fruits and vegetables before picnic. It’s better to wash them, put in a bag and cut just before eating.
If you are cooking kebab on wooden sticks, don’t forget to soak them in water for 15-30 minutes. Same thing with corn if you want to cook on the grill.
Tenderize meat with slices of kiwi, mango or pineapple. After two hours the tough beef will melt in your mouth. And the taste of the meat will not change.
Another method of keeping meat moist and adding extra flavor is to add bacon or wrap the meat in bacon. You’ll have tender meat with a nice smoked flavor and aroma of bacon.
Add soaked sprigs of thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, or raw soaked garlic to the charcoals and the smoke will add flavor to anything you are grilling.
Salt the meat towards the end of cooking.
Be sure to bring with you lots of paper towels and a garbage bag.
Make a list ahead of time of what you’ll need and for the picnic and leave the extras like paper plates, cups and utensils in a bag for the next picnic so you don’t need to repack for the next time.
Here are some recipes to try for picnic:
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