Fire Up the Grill for Father’s Day

It’s a time to fire up the grill, slow down and enjoy father’s day. When you’re thinking about what to feed your family off the grill, it should be a breeze, and you shouldn’t have to choose between good and good for you. Consider these tips for creating healthier, flavorful meals you can feel confident serving.

Keep it simple. Skip the complicated recipes that call for a wide variety of ingredients, a multitude of steps and long cook times. Instead, seek out products and dishes that are made with ingredients you recognize and have just a handful of instructions. This will ensure less time in the kitchen and more time with loved ones.

Focus on seasonal, clean ingredients. Get inspired by your local farmer’s market. One of the best parts about summer is the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables that can add flavor and nutrients to your plate.

Don’t forget the sides. To balance your spread of burgers and hot dogs, consider serving fresh asparagus or sweet corn in place of other salty, processed options. Fruits like peaches and pineapple work well on the grill, too, but remember to group produce by similar cooking times.

Aim for a quick and fun cleanup. Perhaps one of the most overlooked secrets to a stress-free meal is to cut down on cleanup. A backyard barbecue can be one of the easiest messes to maintain as most of the prep is done outside on the grill. Try setting up a buffet line on your deck or patio where your family can build their burgers with customized toppings, like cheese, veggies and sauces. Then add a little bit of fun by putting on your favorite music playlist to help make a simple, everyday meal feel even more special.

Burger with Grilled Pineapple and Honey Garlic Barbecue Sauce

Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 2

2 rings freshly cored pineapple 
2 Burger patties, thawed salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper, to taste1 cup baby arugula
2 sesame seed burger buns, lightly toasted
1/4 cup crispy fried onions
2 tablespoons honey garlic barbecue sauce

1. Heat grill to medium heat. Grill pineapple slices 4-5 minutes per side until grill-marked and slightly caramelized. Cut slices in half and set aside. Wipe down grill to cook burger patties. 
2. Season burger patties with salt and pepper, to taste. Grill 4-5 minutes per side until burgers are evenly browned with internal temperature of 165 F.
3. To assemble, layer handful of baby arugula leaves on toasted bottom buns, top each with burger and two cut slices each of grilled pineapple. Sprinkle on crispy fried onions, drizzle with honey garlic barbecue sauce and place toasted sesame seed bun on top.

Asian Marinated Grilled Shrimp Skewers

1 Pound large shrimp, shelled and de-veined (you can leave the tails on if you like, I took them off so we could shovel them in our mouths faster, ha!)
3 Tbls unsalted butter
2 Tbls soy sauce
2 tsp lime juice, fresh squeezed
1 tsp ginger, grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 Tbls sugar
2 green onions, bruised but not chopped

1. Place all ingredients except for the shrimp in a sauce pan over medium heat. Let come to a simmer then take off the heat and let cool on the counter.
2. Place shrimp and marinade in a bag or bowl covered in plastic wrap and marinade for at least an hour in the fridge. Try to let marinade around 3-5 hours but not longer.
3. Take shrimp out of marinade and place on skewers. If using wooden skewers, let these soak overnight in water.
4. Grill over high heat until just cooked. Do not overcook or shrimp will become rubbery. This will only take about 3-4 minutes per side, depending how big the shrimp are. You can baste the shrimp with the marinade when they first hit the grill but after that, toss out the marinade.
5. Serve and enjoy! These don’t need any condiments, they are super flavorful and moist on their own!

Happy Father’s Day!