Grill it Up!

It's officially time to clean up that grill and enjoy the best time of year, 4th of July! This holiday, besides the true history behind it, has provided a reason to eat good, grilled foods and spend some quality time with family and friends.  It has also supplied some great grocery sales!

If you do not have a grill, or not in the mood to use it, all of these dinners can be cooked on the stove top, in the oven or on a panini maker.

MENU

Monday - Warm bacon shrimp salad served with warm, fresh bread (if desired)

Tuesday - Grilled salmon with lemon and fennel served with wild rice.

Wednesday - 4th of July!

Thursday - BLT sandwiches served with fruit salad

Friday - Turkey burgers topped with grilled peaches (or avocados and red onion), served with grilled asparagus 


RECIPES


Monday - This is my family's signature salad.  My mom makes this to perfection, I just try to imitate.  But the secret is the dressing.
Recipe as follows (This will feed approx 6 ppl):
Salad:
15-20 grilled shrimp (I do about 8 per person)
1 lg. bag spinach: wash and tear into bit size pieces
4 hard cooked eggs: chopped
1/2 lb. bacon, fried crisp: break into small pieces (you can use turkey bacon instead)
1/2 pkg. of pine nuts: cooked in the oven, on high broil, for 1-2 minutes.
Dressing:
1 cup of olive oil              1/4 cup vinegar
1/3 cup ketchup                1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp salt                           1 TB Worcestershire sauce
1 TB onion flakes

Tuesday - Found this recipe in Martha Stewart's Real Simple Magazine, a summer time classic.  http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/plank-grilled-salmon-lemon-00000000058361/index.html
For the wild rice, I buy it in the box, however only use half of the seasoning provided and add sauteed onions and roasted pine nuts.

Thursday - BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato) sandwiches (or TBLT's if you are using turkey bacon)
Making this sandwich is self explanatory.  However, if you  need a how-to make site, here is one I found through pinterest: http://www.closetcooking.com/2008/09/blt-bacon-lettuce-and-tomato-sandwich.html
If you are using avocado with your turkey burger, add some slices to your BLT.  Also, use left over spinach instead of lettuce.
Fruit salad:
Slice up 2 peaches, a few strawberries, and 1 orange.  Place in a large bowl and toss in some raspberries.  


Friday -  This recipe calls for grilled peaches.  I have never tried this so we are going to experiment.  I will provide slices of fresh avocado and red onion for the non-experiment type. 
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/healthier-burger?page=1
For the asparagus, sprinkle with olive oil and little salt and pepper.

GROCERY LIST

• 1 lb. of fresh salmon fillet (on sale for $6.99/lbs)
• 3 large shrimp skewers (@ $1 per skewer), I buy one per person.
• 12 oz. ground turkey (on sale for $2.99/lbs)
• 1 pkg. low sodium bacon (Oscar Mayer on sale, 3 pkg for $10)
• 3 lemons
• 1 red onion (or 1 vidalia onion, on sale for $0.99/lbs)
• 1 pkg of asparagus (on sale $3.49/lbs)
• 1 avocado (2 for $3.00)
• 1 pkg of spinach
• 1 bulb of fennel
• 2-3 peaches (in season and very juicy, on sale for $1.99/lbs)
• Couple tomatoes on the vine ( on sale for 1.69/lbs)
• 1 orange
• 1 pkg of strawberries (on sale for 2 for $5.00)
• 1 pt of raspberries (on sale for $1.99 a pt)
• Bakery bread for the BLT's and to serve with the salad, if desired. 
• 1 pkg. of whole wheat burger buns
• 1 box of wild rice
• Olive oil
• Vinegar
• Ketchup
• Worcestershire sauce
• Mayo (for the BLT)
• Dijon mustard
• Salt/Pepper
• Sugar
• Onion flakes (by the spices)
• 1 pkg of pine nuts
• 1/2 carton of eggs
• Fresh parsley