Stepping Out

Looking ahead to summertime when the grillin' is easy

Make your grill sizzle weekends — and even weekdays

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Fire up that grill!
With Memorial Day weekend fast approaching, and that miserable winter and chilly start to spring finally behind us, everyone is ready and eager for barbecue season.
If the idea of longer, warmer days has you reaching for the tongs, it’s time to get your grilling game on before the season is in full swing.
Whether it’s a graduation party, a Memorial Day celebration, or you simply want to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends, now’s the time to get that the grill going.
Serving your gang the most mouth-watering grilled entrees with ease requires a little know-how and a few crowd-pleasing recipes. From versatile chicken to tender seafood to hearty ribs and other meats, it’s never been more fun to incorporate new flavors into grilled cuisine.
For the best results, keep these tips in mind:
• A grill is not an oven, so don’t walk away from it when it’s on. Organize what you’ll need ahead of time; no running back and forth.
• Always scrape hot grill grates clean with a wire brush so food will release more easily. Before cooking, try using tongs to dip paper towels lightly into oil and swipe over the grates.
• If the meat or skin sticks, it’s not ready to be turned. Let it sit for another minute or two. Try chicken thighs, which have a deeper, richer flavor than breast meat.
• Salmon, tuna and swordfish steaks grill well because they are thick and crumble less than other types of fish.
• A safe inside temperature for ground beef is 160° F; medium steaks is 140° F. Heat poultry to 165° F and whole cuts like breasts to 170° F. Medium pork should be 150° F. Seafood should be 145° F.
• For maximum flavor and juiciness, let meat rest 5-10 minutes before cutting or serving.
Another tasty grilling tip is to add flavor with sauce. Be creative and think beyond the traditional. Apple butter, for instance, adds an appealing flavor profile to many sauces. Find some inspiration with these recipes.

Molasses Apple Butter BBQ Sauce for Chicken
1/2 cup apple butter
1/4 cup molasses
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

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