Grilled Kabobs Are a Healthy, Easy, and Adaptable Meal

Summer time is grilling time. Nothing tastes as good as food right off the grill. Kabobs are easy to grill and there are many versions: chicken, turkey, pork, beef, lamb, meat ball, shrimp, scallop, halibut, vegetarian, and more. Grocery stores carry many commercial marinades and they are good. When you make your own marinade, however, you can adjust the seasoning to your dietary needs.

You can buy precut kabob meat, but it is cheaper to cut it yourself. You can also cut the kabob fixings to a uniform size. The right skewers are key to successful kabobs. Food can fall off skewers that have round shafts, so choose ones with flat or square shafts. Stainless skewers work best and are easy to clean. Wooden skewers also work, but you must soak them in water for a half hour before using them, and even soaked skewers may burn.

Getting ready for a summer picnic? A kabob buffet is an easy way to entertain family and friends. Put out bowls of marinated meat, poultry, fish, and an array of vegetables. Let guests assemble their own kabobs. Leave a tiny space between the food (don't squeeze it together) and don't overload the skewers. Serve kabobs with fresh fruit salsa, tomato salsa from a jar, an array of salads, breads, and summer fruit. Now that's living!

Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients

2 tablespoons light brown sugar

3 tablespoons light soy sauce

1 tablespoon extra dry sherry

1 tablespoon extra light olive oil

1/4 teaspoon grated ginger root

1 clove garlic, finely minced

8 boneless chicken thighs

1 large green pepper

1 large onion

1 medium zucchini

1 small box cherry tomatoes

Method

Combine brown sugar, soy sauce, sherry, olive oil, ginger root, and garlic in a shallow glass pan. Cut each chicken thigh into two pieces. Add to marinade and coat each piece well. Marinate chicken in refrigerator for two hours, turning once.

Clean vegetables and pat dry with paper towels. Cut green pepper, onion, and zucchini into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Thread chicken and vegetables (including whole cherry tomatoes) onto separate skewers. Grill kabobs until done. Makes 4-5 servings.

Sante Fe Beef Kabobs

Ingredients

1 cup extra light olive oil

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

2 cloves of garlic, finely minced

3 teaspoons dried oregano

1 1/2 teaspoons cumin

2-3 pounds sirloin steak

2 red onions

2 green peppers

1 small box button mushrooms

Method

Combine olive oil, lime juice, garlic, oregano, and cumin in a shallow glass pan. Cut steak into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Marinate steak at room temperature for two hours. Clean vegetables and pat dry with paper towels. Cut onions and green peppers into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Leave mushrooms whole. Thread steak and vegetables onto separate skewers. Grill kabobs until done. Makes 6-9 servings.

Copyright 2008 by Harriet Hodgson

Pork Recipes - Baked Pork Chops with Soy Sauce and Honey & Fruited Pork Chops

Baked Pork Chops with Soy Sauce and Honey

Minimal preparation and no frying makes this one of the easiest ways of serving pork chops, for they are simply soaked in a light marinade and then baked until tender. Good with new potatoes tossed in parsley-butter and a green salad with sprouts.

Ingredients

900g-1kg pork loin chops

2 large cloves garlic

25ml soy sauce

25ml honey

50ml dry white wine

2ml ground ginger

5ml dried sage

Method

Remove rind and most of the fat from the chops and arrange to fit in glass dish suitable for both marinating and baking. Crush garlic directly over chops and rub in with back of knife. Mix remaining ingredients, pour over chops and marinate for about 4 hours at room temperature, or all day in the fridge. Turn chops occasionally while marinating. Remove dish 1 hour before baking and bake, covered, at 160ºC for 1 hour. Remove cover, turn chops and bake uncovered for another 20 minutes or until tender and juices are slightly reduced and syrupy. Ladle a spoonful over each serving. Serves about 6.

Fruited Pork Chops

Ingredients

800g pork loin chops

2-3 gloves garlic

125ml pure apple juice

25ml soy sauce

25ml brown sugar

2ml dried rosemary

Thin slices orange and apple

Brown sugar, ground cinnamon and butter

Method

Arrange chops in baking dish. Crush garlic over chops. Mix apple juice, soy sauce, sugar and rosemary and pour over. Place 1 thin slice of orange and apple on each chop. Sprinkle a little sugar and cinnamon over apple, and dot with butter. Bake, uncovered, 1t 160ºC, for 1 hour 30 minutes until tender, and liquid is slightly syrupy. Serves 4-6.

More delicious pork recipes!

Traditional French Cassoulet Recipe

The French have a wonderful tradition of good food with many delicious regional specialities.

Eating in the Languedoc Roussillon or Provence regions, you're likely to come across the speciality of Cassoulet. It's a wonderful country recipe that's a combination of beans, pork, sausages and, of course, garlic and herbs. Some have called it a peasant stew, but it far exceeds that humble name.

This is a wonderful dish to cook in the cold of winter as you can leave it warming whilst you're out and tuck in when you return.

However, this is not a dish for the reluctant as it's quite time-consuming to prepare - yet one taste will have you hooked and enjoying it regularly.

Traditional French Cassoulet recipe

Ingredients

500g tin of cannelini beans

500g belly pork, cut into 4cm squares

500g lamb pieces or mutton

250g chopped smoked bacon (cooking bacon is fine)

450g Toulouse sausage, cut into pieces

2 onions, chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 bay leaf

3 tbsp tomato puree

1 tbsp provencal herbs

2 tbsp olive oil

Salt and freshly ground pepper



Preheat the oven to 180C, GM4

Place the beans, onion, garlic, bacon and herbs in a pan

Add 500ml water

Bring to the boil and simmer for ten minutes

Fry the belly pork and lamb pieces in olive oil

Cook in the oven for ten minutes

Add the Toulouse sausage and cook for a further twenty minutes

Place all cooked ingredients into a large casserole

Add more water, if necessary

Cover & cook for one and a half to two hours on a low heat

Check regularly to ensure that there's sufficient water

Serve!

If you're out of time, it's possible to buy large tins of this traditional meal when you're across the Channel at the French supermarkets - don't miss out!

Choosing Wine to Match Food

Creating the perfect mix between wine and food can be a challenge if you are not entirely sure what you are doing. With such an array of wine and food available there are always many options to consider. When planning a dinner, choose combinations that are popular with a wide range of people. You should always ensure that the wine does not overpower the dish, and you also need to avoid flavor transferring. This occurs when a flavor is passed from the wine to a meal, as it can result in an unpleasant taste.

White Wine:
When creating a wine and food combination, Chardonnay is best complimented with Veal, Salmon, grilled cheese and white sauce. You should avoid spicy foods with this drink. Gewurztraminer is ideal when matched with Pork, Chinese foods and Swiss cheese but must be avoided with light foods. Pinot Grigio is not an ideal option for Tomatoes and spicy food as this combination may create a rather unpleasant taste. Riesling is a very dry wine and perfect when teamed with Veal, Shrimp, cream sauces and Turkey. Sweet food should be avoided with Riesling and Sancerre however.

Red Wine:
In a perfect world a food recommendation would be included on the back of a wine bottle. Fortunately we can give you the insiders tips to getting a wine and food combination just right. Barberra red wine is perfect with Pizza, pasta, lasagne and lemon chicken. When eating fish or tomatoes, Cabernet Sauvignon should be avoided. This wine is better suited with chocolate, roast lamb, steak and duck. Merlot is perfectly matched with grilled meats such as barbecue meat and chicken. Avoid sweet food with this wine. Pinot Noir is not well matched with spicy foods such as Indian, instead it is ideal with Salmon, tuna, lamb and duck. Shiraz is great with a meal of barbecue, peppered red meats and sausage but should be avoided with fish.

In general, wine is best served at a chilled temperature, as it is able to breathe and create the perfect mix of aromas that will delight the senses and impress your guests. Each type of wine has a glass that coordinates with it. If you do not have a cupboard full of every wineglass imaginable though, use the next closest looking glass. The reason that there are so many types of wineglasses available, is that each one is designed to emphasise the full aromas and tastes within a given type of wine. If the wine is not served in quite the right glass, all these aromas and flavors may not be fully realised.

How much to serve:
Wine should be opened and served carefully, especially red wine as this may create a nasty mess if spilt on white clothing or dinner wear. Do not overfill glasses. It is best to serve a small amount of wine at first, as this will allow the remainder of the wine in the bottle to breathe. White wine should have an average serving of three ounces, spirits one ounce and red wine four or five ounces. Serving smaller servings will help the wine last longer and will allow guests to savour it over a greater length of time.

Temperature Guidelines:
Normally a bottle of wine may take up to three hours before it is appropriately chilled in the refrigerator. Serving the wine at the correct temperature may be a difference of whether the wine will be ideal to drink for maximum aroma and taste, and may make or break a charming dinner experience for you and your guests. A great way to chill your wine to perfection fast and easily is to place your bottle into a bucket filled with ice and a sprinkling of salt. Push the wine into the depths of the ice to quickly chill the bottle. The more expensive the wine the warmer it can be served. White wines especially the dry sorts are best served at lower temperatures however. And, lastly heavy wines are best served at the room temperature.

Pepperoni Clams Seafood Recipe by the BBQ Pit Boys

Fresh steamed clams covered with slices of pepperoni and garlic in a butter sauce makes for a tasty side dish for most anything barbecue. And it's real easy to do on the grill as shown by the BBQ Pit Boys.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YGQ6mc82TA&hl=en

Barbecue Dry Rub Recipe for Pork by the BBQ Pit Boys

This is a classic Dry Rub recipe for pork ribs, butts, loins, and chops. Start with this recipe and then adjust the ingredients, spices, and quantities to make it your own special barbeque rub. Mix together 1/4 cup Paprika, 1/8 cup Fresh Ground Black Pepper, 1-2 tablespoons Garlic Powder, 1-2 tablespoons Onion Powder, 1 tablespoon or more Cayenne Pepper, 1/4 cup Coarse Salt. 1/4 cup Brown or White Sugar. Adjust quantities or add additional ingredients to make this your own secret barbecue dry rub recipe. Will lightly coat up to 6 lbs. Pork Ribs and 10 lbs. Pork Butt or Pork Roast. -BBQ Pit Boys You can print out this BBQ Pit Boys recipe at www.bbqpitboys.com ---



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7iNujytW9Y&hl=en

Pork Steaks And Beans Recipe by the BBQ Pit Boys

Seared "low and slow" Pork Steaks with a side of Smoked Barbecue Beans is easy to grill with these step by step tips shown by the BBQ Pit Boys. Get your Barbecue Shoes on because good eatin' Pork and Beans don't get any better than this.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GM6BgZgunw&hl=en