Marina's Menu: May is NATIONAL BBQ MONTH

May is "National Barbeque Month." Get ready for Memorial Day and bring out the grill. It's the perfect time time to try out some of our ideas to make your meals especially pleasing for family and friends.

Skewer It - Be creative when preparing barbeque skewers. Vegetable chunks, tofu and small fruits like grapes or berries are easy to skewer and add something distinctive to your BBQ menu.

Less Sauce Means More Flavor - When using prime meat and fresh seafood, let the flavor of your food shine through. Avoid smothering your dish with marinades and sauces.

Grilled Fruit - Look for grilled fruit recipes and those that use fruit. Watermelon wedges, pineapple, bananas, peaches, mango and more are all ideal for the grill. Thick slices of fruit on a well greased grill or on a grilling sheet cook wonderfully. Grilled fruit is a perfect garnish for fish and meat and are also great for dessert with whipped cream and over ice cream or sorbet.

Very Veggie - Vegetables, with a marinade of your favorite salad dressing, make for a perfect side dish. Grilled vegetables can also be used as a garnish or to top pasta and rice dishes. Favorites are mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and onions.

Go Low Fat - While red meat is popular on the grill, consider recipes that use fish and chicken for healthier options. Grilled fish and chicken can be chilled and mixed with fresh greens for a summer salad.

So gather your group, stoke up the grill and get ready for a season of terrific summer meals.

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