A savory brunch enjoyed on a relaxing patio. A refreshing drink served with balcony breezes. A hearty barbecue cooked over a hot outdoor grill. Eating and cooking in an open-air setting have become part of a lifestyle that can easily include family, friends and active, contemporary living. With garden rooms, and outdoor kitchens as today's hot home trend, there's never been a better time to give your meals and snacks an open-air flair.
Garden designers urge us to think of our garden or deck as a room (or rooms) of our home – planned for function, aesthetic appeal and our own personal expression. Think of garden paths (with groundcover, brick, wood chips or stone) as "hallways" that can lead to a garden kitchen, to a fresh-air dining area, to quiet places to relax and to casual spots for active fun. Your outdoor "walls"? They may be a hedge, an outdoor screen, plants in large containers, a fence, the deck rail or the outside wall of a building. Your "ceiling"? It may be a tree, an arbor, a colorful garden umbrella or simply a clear blue sky. And your furnishings? They should be appliances, furniture and accessories, matched to the purpose of your garden room.
Let's start in your garden kitchen. Then let's fire-up your grill for great warm-weather meals. And when you can't grill, we've got another tasty solution!
Create your garden kitchen
As a culinary appliance, today's outdoor grill has become as important as the indoor oven and cook top. Not only do we love the grilled flavors of foods cooked over hot coals, we also love the speed and easy clean-up of grilling. Another bonus: grilling is a low-fat cooking method. The challenge: deciding what type of grill matches your cooking style.
Gas, electric or charcoal? That depends on you. Gas and electric grills are easier—to turn on, to adjust heat and to clean – even when it's chilly outside. A charcoal grill is generally fueled by briquettes, which you need to replenish and keep on hand. Cooking over briquettes takes a little time to get hot, requires more skill for even cooking and needs more attention. That said, some think the flavor of cooking over charcoal is best.
Once you've picked the right grill and placed it in a safe spot (perhaps near a light source if you cook in the evening), what else does your open-air kitchen require?
Plan a "staging" area or outdoor counter—if your grill doesn't come with a side shelf or table. You need a clean work area for cooking and serving. A portable work table will do.
Tool up for cooking.
A metal grill basket for "stir-grill" cooking of sliced vegetables, shrimp, and small pieces of meat, chicken or fish
A small iron skillet (or two) to set on the grill grates for heating flavorful sauces or for sautéing mushrooms, onions and peppers
Long-handled (15 to 18 inches) grill utensils (turner, fork, tongs) and a flame retardant, insulated grill mitt to protect your hands from burns
Long metal skewers (15 to 18 inches) if you like kabobs
Meat thermometer to check the inside doneness of meat (including burgers) and poultry
Basting brushes (at least 16 inches long) to baste food as you grill
Prepare for cleanup. Get a sturdy wire brush and scraper for grill clean-up. Get a bucket for ashes if you cook over charcoal.
Want a "look" for your outdoor kitchen? Will your open-air kitchen be your dining area, too? If so, think of color and design outdoors, just as you do when you decorate inside. Get an outdoor table and comfortable chairs, perhaps with colorful cushions made of weatherproof covering. Buy dinnerware (perhaps unbreakable) and placemats that add color and design to your table. Accessorize with plants in creative containers and flower boxes, hanging plants, outdoor lanterns and candles, wind chimes, outdoor rugs, decorative rocks, garden art and perhaps a small fountain. Most important, think seasonally as you choose flowering and foliage plants, shrubs and trees. Plant some culinary herbs, too.
Grill… nearly everything!
Ready to grill? With a little culinary know-how and planning, you can prepare a whole meal in your outdoor kitchen. Outdoors and in, plan meals that include a variety of nutrient-rich foods so you get all the nourishment you need to stay fit and active.
Plan the menu around your main dish: burgers, steaks, chops, chicken breasts or thighs, fish filets or steaks, kabobs, hot dogs, sausage, or for vegetarian meals, perhaps firm tofu or tempeh. As an easy grilled dish, put Healthy Choice Kielbasa on your shopping list. Or make a simple Black Bean Dip to spoon as a salsa over meat, chicken or fish.
Grill vegetable "sides." As the meat, poultry or fish cook, grill all kinds of vegetables, too. Try asparagus, bell pepper, carrots, corn, eggplant, leeks, onion, squash, sweet potato and more. Besides the convenience (fewer trips to the kitchen), grilling gives vegetables a smoky, fragrant flavor. To get them ready, simply slice them, then brush with olive oil. Sprinkle on some herbs if you'd like, then grill (turning once) over a hot fire until they're tender-crisp.
Grill fruit? You bet! With a grill that's just medium-low heat, you can grill fruit, too, just until it's lightly browned to bring out the sweet flavor. But be sure the grill is clean. You might try slices of pineapple, apple, papaya, pears and figs. Baste them with a little lemon or with some balsamic vinegar dressing to serve with a main dish. Or brush with a little brown sugar mixed with walnut oil – great for desserts. Tip: served grilled fruit over Healthy Choice Ice Cream for a great dessert.
Toast bread, pita or firm polenta on the grill, too. Tip: brush Healthy Choice Bread with olive oil, sprinkle with garlic or herbs, then toast it on the grill.
For a light lunch, grill cheese or deli meat sandwiches, quesadillas and even pizza. Just heat your grill to medium, then cook sandwiches and quesadillas on both sides. For pizza or open-face sandwiches, cook with the grill lid down so the top gets cooked, too.
Grill the finale. A simple scoop of ice cream makes the perfect outdoor dessert. Another idea: grill slices of pound cake brushed with fruit sauce. Then top with your favorite flavor of Healthy Choice Ice Cream.
For more great recipe ideas to cook on the grill or serve on the side, check out our Recipe Finder.
Make grilled food better still
To get the best flavor from grilled food:
Cook until it's done, not overdone. Overcooked meat and poultry can taste like shoe leather; overcooked grilled vegetables lose their moist, tender-crisp qualities. Get a meat thermometer to help you cook to a safe temperature, without overcooking. Click on Safe at the Grill.
To "kick grilled flavor up a notch," season with savory, sweet, and spicy rubs and marinades. Use rubs when you're in a hurry; marinades, when you have more time or you need to tenderize meat.
For indirect cooking on a gas grill when the grill lid is closed, add a delicate flavor with hardwood chips (alderwood for seafood, apple wood for poultry, mesquite for beef, and hickory for pork). Check your grill manual for tips on using wood chips effectively and safely.
Enjoy Grilled Flavor ... Even When You Can't Grill Outdoors
Raining outdoors? Pressed for time? Eating solo? Even when the time's not right for outdoor grilling you can enjoy the robust flavors of grilled entrees. Try Grilled Whiskey Steak, Grilled Chicken Baja, Grilled Chicken & Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo, or one of our other Healthy Choice Meals or Entrees, prepared for you with deliciously easy grilled flavors.
