Grilling Out - Easy Grilling Recipes

Summer has gone by in a flash - the end is almost here! Savor your last few weeks of warm, inviting weather with an easy meal on the grill. Here are a couple recipes that take advantage of summer's bounty of delicious produce.

Grilled Avocado

Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients:

8 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, and halved
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grilling
2 lemons, juiced
Gray salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons finely minced garlic
3/4 cup julienned basil leaves
1/2 cup sour cream or creme fraiche
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Instructions:

Preheat a grill or grill pan. Place peeled and pitted avocado halves in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice (to prevent oxidation), and sprinkle with a good amount of grey salt and black pepper. To grill indoors, preheat a grill pan over medium heat. Douse a paper towel with olive oil, then swipe it across the grill pan so you have just enough olive oil so the avocados won't stick (they will supply their own fat). Place avocados on the grill, cut side down. Grill for 1 full minute. Meanwhile, preheat a 10-inch saute pan. Add 1/2 cup of olive oil to the pan, add minced garlic and saute until it gets light brown. Add julienned basil and saute until wilted and transfer to a large glass or ceramic bowl. Take the avocados off the grill and add to the bowl. With a fork, mash the avocado/basil mixture well. Add sour cream and stir. Add Parmesan and stir. Serve immediately.

Source: Michael Chiarello, www.foodnetwork.com

Citrus Grilled Shrimp Over Greens

Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 pound large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (leave tail on for presentation)
1/2 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lime zest from 1 lime, reserve lime
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Metal or wooden skewers
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
6 cups mixed lettuces (any combination Romaine, Bibb, endive, or baby greens)
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

Instructions:

Coat an outdoor grill or stove-top grill pan with cooking spray and preheat to medium-high. Skewer shrimp on metal or wooden skewers or place in a grilling basket. Set aside.
Zest lime, then slice in half and place on grill. In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, lime juice, oil, mustard, lime zest, salt, and black pepper. Remove 3 tablespoons of citrus mixture and brush all over shrimp (reserve remaining mixture to use as a vinaigrette for the greens). Grill shrimp 3 minutes on 1 side. Flip and cook 1 to 3 more minutes, until shrimp are bright pink and cooked through. Add thyme and chives to reserved citrus mixture. Arrange lettuce on individual plates. Top lettuce with tomatoes and grilled shrimp. Spoon reserved citrus vinaigrette over top, squeeze juice from grilled lime and serve.

Source: Robin Miller, www.foodnetwork.com

Make your grilling routine easier and more stylish with barbecue tools, picnic packs and accessories. PicnicFun.com has a large variety of fun, practical items for picnics and outdoor living that you'll enjoy using for years to come. A full-service picnic set such as the Odyssey Picnic Set on Wheels (pictured left) enables you to take your cookout dinner party anywhere you like.