GRILLING VEGGIES

Grilling veggies can be rewarding and fun.  A healthy diet includes vegetables, and grilling veggies is a good way to add flavorful food to your meals.  Grilling veggies include almost any type of vegetable you like.  Most lend themselves well to the grill and are easy to prepare and easy to cook.  A list of popular grilling veggies includes:

• *Mushrooms*
• Potatoes
• Sweet Potatoes
• Squash (both summer and winter)
• Onions
• **Beets**
• Celery
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Peppers (all colors)
• Whole tomatoes
• ***Sweet Corn***

Grilling veggies is a simple and easy addition to any meal.  Simply wash or scrub the veggies well and pour a small amount of extra light virgin olive oil over them; toss lightly.  The veggies will cook evenly and yield a flavor that is tantalizing.  We have tried all of our favorite grilling veggies this way and have even found some new favorites.

*Mushrooms are great grilled alone or added to other sliced veggies and steamed in a disposable aluminum pan on the top rack of the grill while other things are being cooked on the bottom rack.  For best flavor grill them whole or sliced in half.

**Beets are so good on the grill!  Buy medium-sized beets, wash thoroughly, toss in a small amount of extra virgin light olive oil and grill approximately thirty minutes or so.  Peel and eat.  Yes, that’s right – you cook them whole in their skin.  Try it – I guarantee you’ll love it!

***Corn is best left in the husk and soaked in cold water for 2-6 hours.  Lay soaked corn on the grill (still in the husk) and cook approximately twenty to thirty minutes on each side on medium to low heat.  Top rack cooking is ideal for corn.  This corn is the best I’ve ever had – succulent and sweet; it’s a real treat on a balmy summer evening!