At least that’s what I was feeling yesterday while soaking up a few of the sun’s rays. The clouds finally cleared, and the temperature got up to 80, and while sipping on a bit of pineapple juice, I thought, “I should really make something with some grilled pineapple.”

Lucky for me, I had only used half the pineapple in my juice, so half was left over for grilling. I also had some chicken thighs in the freezer, so I decided a teriyaki chicken bowl with grilled pineapple would be the perfect way to end the sunny day. (more…)

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Cooking outdoors, Dairy free, Dinner, Gluten free, Hawaiian, Lunch by Courtney

This bit of Indian summer we’re experiencing is making me want to have one last hurrah of summery, grilling out sessions (you know, before those fall grilling out sessions that are more like tailgate fair). So I’m going to make some thin burgers, about a 1/4 pound each, perfect for stacking up for a double (or triple) cheese burger. I’m jonesing for a bit of fruit, and a fruit salad is the perfect way to trick myself into thinking this burger meal is healthy! Chips are added for good measure though. Really, who can eat a burger without some form of potato? (more…)

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Cooking outdoors, Lunch by Courtney

Attention Campbellites, this post is for you!

Actually, it’s for anyone that is experiencing those last warm days of summer that are fading into fall. This sandwich was inspired by products I pick up at my local farmer’s market, but if you’re not from these parts, you should easily be able to find most products in your local store (and the one secret ingredient online if not locally).

The veggie pita sandwich starts off with veggies – duh! Personally, I like to start with zucchini, summer squash, and onions. You could also try adding some tomatoes or eggplant to the mix. (more…)

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Cooking outdoors, Lunch, Sandwiches, Vegetarian by Courtney

For quite some time I had heard of the method to roast peppers, but I didn’t think it could be nearly as easy as it sounds. Char it over a flame (or under a broiler) on all sides, remove and place into a ziploc bag for about 10 minutes, then you’ll magically be able to peel it with no problems.

Guess what? It really is that easy! Once I tried it, it was an epiphany for me. No more expensive jars of roasted peppers when I could do it myself. I’m partial to throwing it on my gas grill instead of using the oven. Sometimes this leads to me forgetting I have something going on the grill, though; last week it stayed on there for about an hour (now that was charred). Not so easy to peel at that point. Moral of the story – don’t forget about your pepper!

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Cooking outdoors, Dairy free, Gluten free, Quick tip, Vegan, Vegetarian by Courtney

Steak, baked potato, garlic bread. It was one of the first meals I learned to cook, and throughout middle school, this was often my late lunch. I eventually branched out into chicken, baked potato, and garlic bread, but I hold a special affinity for a bacon-wrapped fillet.

This meal comes together in no time, because there’s not much to it. You can grill or broil the steak, the baked potato can be cooked in the microwave, and the garlic bread can either be baked (in which case, it takes the longest of anything to cook) or you can simply broil it quickly at the end.

Want the details? (more…)

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Cooking outdoors, Dinner, Quick and Easy by Courtney