Turning the oven on? In this heat? No thank you. We much prefer to eat—and cook—outside in this weather. Enter the BBQ. Not only is grilling outdoors a fast way to whip up an impressive dinner, but the possibilities are endless and preparing a delicious BBQ feast only takes 3 simple steps.
Do the prep
Cleaning your BBQ can sound daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, you don’t actually need special tools or fancy gadgets—just an onion. Not only is this a much cheaper alternative, but it’s also far more ecofriendly and even safer in the long run, as chemical cleaners may leave behind dangerous residue, and metal bristle cleaning tools have been known to shed metal bristles which can end up in food and cause choking—yikes!
Instead, heat up the grill, cut an onion in half, pierce it with a long handled grill fork and once the grill is hot, start scrubbing. The onion’s natural acidity is a great cleaner and clean-up is a breeze. Simply toss the onion in the compost, or, if you’re using a charcoal grill, you can toss it in with the coals for added flavour as you cook.
Get saucy
What’s BBQ without the sauce? From sweet and tangy to smoky sweet, the right sauce can transform your BBQ and making it yourself is easier than you could ever imagine.
Ingredients:
- 2C ketchup
- 1/2C apple cider vinegar
- 1/4C packed brown sugar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ¼ tsp hot sauce (optional)
Method
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat
- Bring to a bubble and reduce heat
- Simmer until thickened
- Use immediately or store in the fridge in an airtight container
Don’t forget the sides and dessert
While we usually think of bbqing meat, there is no limit to what you can cook on the grill—from appetizers and dips to decadent desserts and fruit. Get creative and think outside the box, or grill, before your next get together. Layer chocolate and marshmallows in a cast iron dish for an easy on the grill smores dip, cut peaches in half and grill them flesh side down (and serve with vanilla ice cream) or slice bananas in half, sprinkle them with brown sugar, and serve with whipped cream and a cherry on top for a yummy and easy play on a banana split.
Getting hungry? Happy grilling!