Grill to thrill your summer taste buds

These backyard classics from Prevention bump up flavor and cut the bad

Video: Guide to healthy grilling

updated 5/27/2009 11:26:06 AM ET

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Aah ... barbecue season!

Perfect proof that a homey meal can be as delicious and fun as any big-deal restaurant event. We've bumped up the flavors of backyard classics and made them lighter — and given you so many variations, you'll never get bored! Encourage everyone to pitch in — shucking corn, minding the grill, refilling drinks. It's not just easier on you: They'll feel part of the event — and even more welcome.

Decoration tips
Get the casual look that's just right for an outdoor feast:

Choose informal blossoms, such as daisies or bee balm. You can purchase flowers, like the dahlias and chamomile, or pick whatever's blooming in your garden. You can even look around your yard for pretty weeds, including clover flowers, purple nettles, and Queen Anne's lace.

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Arrange the flowers loosely in ultrasimple containers, such as buckets and jars.

Group the containers with natural found objects like rocks, graceful branches, or shells.

Change it up!
Suit the recipe to your taste — it will be just as yummy whatever ingredients you choose. Try one of these swaps:

Fruit: plums, pears, or apricots rather than peaches

Topping: crisp store-bought meringues, peanut brittle, or toasted nuts instead of macaroons

Sauce: honey, maple syrup, or fudge sauce to stand in for caramel

Menu
Chicago-Style Buffalo Dogs

Turkey Spinach Burgers

Pasta Salad with Cucumber, Red Pepper, and Feta

Grilled Mexican Corn

Watermelon with Lime and Ginger Syrup

Grilled Peaches with Macaroons and Caramel Sauce

Recipes
Recipes by Jean Kressy

Recipe: Chicago-style buffalo dogs (on this page) Recipe: Turkey spinach burgers (on this page) Recipe: Pasta salad with cucumber, red pepper and feta (on this page) Recipe: Grilled Mexican corn (on this page) Recipe: Watermelon with lime and ginger syrup (on this page) Recipe: Grilled peaches with macaroons and caramel sauce (on this page)

Recipe: Grilled peaches with macaroons and caramel sauce (on this page)

Recipe: Chicago-style buffalo dogs

Prevention

This gives new meaning to “a hot dog with the works”!

Nutritional info per serving: 221 cal, 12 g pro, 30 g carb, 4 g fiber, 7.5 g fat, 1.5 g sat fat, 21 mg chol, 851 mg sodium.

Ingredients

4 buffalo hot dogs or 97% fat-free beef hot dogs
4 whole wheat hot dog buns
4 tsp yellow mustard
1⁄4 cuo sweet pickle relish
1⁄4 sm onion, chopped
1 med tomato, cut in wedges
2 dill pickle spears, halved
4 pepperoncini, halved
1⁄8 tsp celery salt (optional)

Preparation

1. Heat grill to high and coat rack with cooking spray. Grill hot dogs, turning until brown.

2. Put hot dogs in buns and add to each: 1 teaspoon mustard, 1 tablespoon each relish and onion, 2 tomato wedges, a pickle half, peppers, and celery salt, if using.

Serving Size

Makes 4 servings

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Recipe: Turkey spinach burgers

Prevention

A healthy dose of spinach makes these patties juicy and flavorful. Toast the buns right on the grill during the last few minutes of cooking.

Nutritional info per serving: 305 cal, 29 g pro, 30 g carb, 6 g fiber, 9.5 g fat, 2.5 g sat fat, 65 mg chol, 723 mg sodium

Ingredients

1 lb ground lean turkey breast (7% fat or leaner)
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and water squeezed out
2 Tbsp barbecue sauce
1⁄2 tsp salt
1⁄4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
4 whole wheat hamburger buns, toasted
4 tomato slices
4 lettuce leaves

Preparation

1. Heat grill to medium-high and coat rack with cooking spray.

2. Combine turkey, spinach, barbecue sauce, salt, and pepper in large bowl. Shape mixture into four 3 1⁄2"-diameter patties.

3. Grill patties 10 to 12 minutes, turning once, or until meat thermometer inserted into the middle from the side registers 165 F.

Serving

Serve on buns with tomato and lettuce.

Tips

Flavor changer for a Tex-Mex burger: 2 tablespoons canned chopped green chile peppers, drained, for the barbecue sauce and add 1 teaspoon chili powder.

Serving Size

Makes 4 servings

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Recipe: Pasta salad with cucumber, red pepper and feta

Prevention

Put this salad together on the morning of your barbecue bash and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutritional info per serving: 323 cal, 12 g pro, 40 g carb, 4 g fiber, 13.5 g fat, 3.5 g sat fat, 23 mg chol, 591 mg sodium

Ingredients

6 oz multigrain chiocciole, elbow macaroni, shells, or other pasta shape
1/2 c fat-free sour cream
1/2 c reduced-fat mayonnaise
1/4 c crumbled feta cheese (1 oz)
3 Tbsp chopped fresh mint leaves
3 Tbsp 2% milk
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 med cucumber, chopped (about 1 c)
1/2 med red bell pepper, chopped (about 1/2 c)

Preparation

1. Prepare pasta per package directions. Rinse.

2. Stir together sour cream, mayonnaise, cheese, mint, milk, mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in large bowl.

3. Add pasta, cucumber, and red pepper and mix to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste, if needed.

Serving Size

Makes 4 servings

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Recipe: Grilled Mexican corn

Prevention

Don’t wait for the county fair for this yummy corn. It’s quick and easy to make yourself. You’ll never miss the butter!

Nutritional info per serving: 127 cal, 4 g pro, 19 g carb, 3 g fiber, 5 g fat, 2.5 g sat fat, 16 mg chol, 324 mg sodium

Ingredients

1⁄2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1⁄2 tsp ground cumin
1⁄2 tsp salt
1⁄4 tsp garlic powder
1⁄8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
4 ears corn, husked
1⁄4 cup chopped cilantro
1 tsp chili powder

Preparation

1. Heat grill to high and coat rack with cooking spray.

2. Stir together sour cream, cumin, salt, garlic powder, and pepper in large, shallow dish.

3. Grill corn until browned in spots, 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Coat with sour cream mixture. Sprinkle with cilantro and chili powder.

Serving Size

Makes 4 servings

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Recipe: Watermelon with lime and ginger syrup

Prevention

Watermelon gets a zingy boost from fresh ginger. Garnish this refreshing dessert with thin slices of lime, if you like.

Nutritional info per serving: 97 cal, 1 g pro, 25 g carb, 1 g fiber, 0.5 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 0 mg chol, 3 mg sodium

Ingredients

1/2 c water
1/4 c sugar
2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1 lime)
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
4 c bite-size seedless watermelon cubes (about 2 lb wedge with rind)

Preparation

1. Combine water and sugar in small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook and stir 30 seconds, or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, transfer to large bowl, and stir in lime juice and ginger. Cool to room temperature.

2. Add watermelon and mix gently.

Serving

Divide among 4 glasses or small dessert dishes.

Serving Size

Makes 4 servings

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Recipe: Grilled peaches with macaroons and caramel sauce

Prevention

Grilling enhances the natural sugar found in healthy summer fruit, and a drizzle of caramel makes it taste decadently delicious.

Nutritional info per serving: 209 cal, 2 g pro, 46 g carb, 3 g fiber, 3.5 g fat, 2.5 g sat fat, 0.5 mg chol, 131 mg sodium

Ingredients

4 med peaches, halved and pits removed
4 coconut macaroons
1/4 c jarred caramel topping

Preparation

1. Heat grill to medium and coat rack with cooking spray.

2. Place peaches cut side down on grill rack and grill until lightly browned and tender, about 10 minutes, turning once.

3. Arrange 2 halves on each of 4 dessert plates and crumble macaroons into cavities and over tops. Spoon caramel topping evenly over all.

Serving Size

Makes 4 servings

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Grill to thrill your summer taste buds

These backyard classics from Prevention bump up flavor and cut the bad

Below:

Jump to text Aah ... barbecue season! Perfect proof that a homey meal can be as delicious and ...

Jump to recipes Chicago-style buffalo dogs

Jump to discuss comments below

Video: Guide to healthy grilling

Recipe: Chicago-style buffalo dogs

Ingredients

Preparation

Serving Size

Recipe: Turkey spinach burgers

Ingredients

Preparation

Serving

Tips

Serving Size

Recipe: Pasta salad with cucumber, red pepper and feta

Ingredients

Preparation

Serving Size

Recipe: Grilled Mexican corn

Ingredients

Preparation

Serving Size

Recipe: Watermelon with lime and ginger syrup

Ingredients

Preparation

Serving

Serving Size

Recipe: Grilled peaches with macaroons and caramel sauce

Ingredients

Preparation

Serving Size

Discuss:

Lactaid®Brand

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