25 May 2013

Get Your Grill On

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Your Grilling Experience May Differ

From Friend of the Market, Kelly Merrick,

Memorial Day weekend is here and I don’t know about you, but for me that means pulling out the grill and inviting friends and family over for a day of food and games. Of course it may not seem like BBQ weather because the rain has hardly let up this week, but with some luck maybe the weather will dry out in time.

And just like there hasn’t been a shortage of rain, there is also no shortage of great grilling foods available at the market. All week I’ve been dreaming up delicious grilling recipes, so if you’re planning a party of your own, here are a few suggestions to get you started.

  • Asparagus – Asparagus is at the market in abundance right now! Just grab a bunch from your favorite vendor, sprinkle some salt and pepper and squeeze some lemon juice and you’ve got a delicious and simple dish.
  • Mushrooms – I’ve found that shiitake and portobello are the best kinds to throw on the grill, especially after you’ve marinated them in some balsamic vinegar.
  • Tomatoes – Try quartering some juicy tomatoes, then grilling them and tossing them into your green salad. You can also skewer them and add them to shish kabobs (my personal favorite meal on the grill).
  • Sweet onions – I love the sweetness of the onion along with the char you get from tossing these on the grill.
  • Zucchini – Grilled might be my favorite way to eat zucchini. It’s best when you do it simply – just slice it thinly and sprinkle some salt and pepper on it before serving.
  • Beef – Make a few burgers or if your crowd is full of meat-lovers, throw a few steaks on the grill and serve with veggies like grilled asparagus, mushrooms and zucchini.
  • Chicken – If you’ve got a slow cooking grill like a Traeger, consider picking up a whole bird from Pine Mountain Ranch and cooking it that way.
  • Tempeh – Tempeh’s firm texture makes it perfect for grilling if you’re not a meat eater. And lucky for you, Cascade Naturals will be at the market this week for their monthly appearance just in time for you to pick some up.

Grilling season is here but there’s also another reason to be excited: strawberry season is officially here! And to kick it off, Unger Farms, The Berry Patch and K Berry Farm will be at PSU, so make sure you get down to the market before they’re gone!

And if for some reason you can’t make it to the market tomorrow, don’t forget to stop by King Market on Sunday to pick up any last-minute items you need for your party. While you’re shopping, there’s even something for the kids. This week’s Kid’s Play Zone activity will be making vegetable stamps, like this.

Now if the rain would just go away!