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Friday, August 27, 2010

Not Just For Burgers Anymore - Discover The Versatility Of Your Grill

By Stephen Daniels

Burgers and dogs, burgers and dogs, burgers and dogs. If that is what your summer grilling menu looks like, well, you could probably do a lot worse. But you should be aware that you may be committing a couple of minor grilling sins if indeed these two old favorites are all you are serving up. First of all, you are selling your potential skills as a master BBQ chef short. Second, you may be achieving the near impossible (and not in a good way) by making your cookouts a gastronomical bore. With the right grilling accessories, your BBQ can do a lot more than you think it can. Here are a few items that you perhaps haven't thought of that you can grill up anytime -- and that are sure to be hits with your crew.

1. Vegetables. Three great candidates are: tomatoes, potatoes, and asparagus. All you need to do is to season them your way with butter and herbs of your choosing, and wrap them up in foil. These are great as side dishes or as the main event for any vegetarians in your midst. Portabella mushrooms are also terrific when grilled, and made into "burgers," or even stuffed.

2. Fruits. Apples, pineapples, pears, and bananas are all great grilled. It's best if you use large slices, and you may want to soak them and coat them in butter or oil first so they don't get too dry and stick to the grill. Make sure the grates are clean, too.

3. Pizzas and breads. What, you say? On the grill? Yes indeed, with the proper BBQ accessories, you can cook these items on the grill too. Cast iron baking pans, pizza stones, and the like will help you reach your goal of baked and grilled perfection.

4. Sandwiches. They don't call them "fried cheese sandwiches" do they? A grilled cheese, ham and cheese, or any such treat can (should?) be created as the name says: on the grill. The smoky flavors this method adds to an already great sandwich are truly amazing, and leaving out the butter makes it a much healthier meal, too.

The key to success in many of these dishes is having the right BBQ accessories. Tongs, griddle plates, brushes, and pans are just a few of the items you may want to have on hand to do these delicious items justice.

There's nothing wrong with burgers and dogs, but there's a whole other world out there for you to explore.

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