Simple Summer BBQ'ing Advice please.

[Klutz]

Ok so, here's the deal. My new BF is coming over with his parents to my summer apartment, and I want to make a summer BBQ dinner. Problem: I cannot cook for crap. I am dead set on chicken, soI was wondering about some really easy steps and spices that can help me to make a really good dinner off the grill. Any and all suggestions are welcome. From the chicken to salads to dessert.

Thanks Chef BG.

[tyven]

order carry out, make a mess in the kitchen to make it seem like you made it

[Kiro]

I don't think you can make a dessert on a grill, but I bet there's something out there.

Just go to the grocery store and go to the meat department and find some chicken skewers / breast / wings that have already been marinated and get those. You can grill up corn on the cob or something too. Could just get mashed potatoes and baked beans or something, w/e.

[Cyn]

No beef? Fuck that, I wouldn't even go to your BBQ.

[Kiro]

Red meat is bad for you. No, not in excess, just bad for you.

Negative Health Effects of Red Meat
Regardless, nutritionists hardly need more evidence about the potentially negative health effects of eating red meat. For starters, the saturated animal fat in red meat contributes to heart disease and atherosclerosis. Recent research also shows that frequent red meat eaters face twice the risk of colon cancer as those who indulge less often. Red meat is also thought to increase the risks of rheumatoid arthritis and endometriosis.

Meanwhile, according to the American Dietetic Association, vegetarian diets can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, colon cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, obesity, and other debilitating medical conditions. While red meat is a key source of protein and vitamin B12 in North American diets, nutritionists explain that properly planned meat-free diets easily provide these important nutrients while keeping you healthier in the long run.

[Correction]

Beer Can Chicken.

[quannum]

beer can chicken on a grill - Google Search

[Cyn]

I smoke a pack a day, why the fuck would I be concerned with the health risks associated with red meat?

I've never even heard of a grill out without red meat. That's just not how we do things around here.

[Cyn]

And grilled BBQ chicken is basted. Just buy some boneless breast fillets and a bottle of BBQ sauce that sounds good and marinate them in it for a few hours. Then baste them frequently as they cook. Also, grills cook way differently than ovens, so you should practice first by grilling something for yourself before the main event.

[ZarakiKujata]

You can make desert on a grill, can easily do fruit skewers or just throw on a few halved apricots, pineapple slices and/or any other fruit that wouldn't fall apart on the grill. I'd imagine baking apples would work as well but have never tried. Otherwise can just get sum watermelon since it looks like you are going for a theme...

Otherwise besides chicken you can grill up vegetables like portabello mushrooms, onions, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, corn etc. Again use your imagination/common sense, anything that wouldn't fall apart on the grill quickly can/will work. Just cut everything up into similiar sized cubish pieces for putting on skewers (besides the portabello mushrooms and corn cobs, can just grill those like a piece of meat), and lightly coat w/ some oil then sprinkle some salt, and pepper. Finally, if you are making skewered meat/veggies, keep them on different skewers as the cooking times for meat is not the same and you will overcook/undercook one or the other if they are on the same skewer.

[ZarakiKujata]

That's just not how we do things around here.

I think thats the point Kiro was trying to make w/ his quoted stuff, maybe it should be

Also, cigarettes are clearly healthier then excess red meat consumption, look at how much they smoke in Europe/Japan and how much healthier they are than the US.

Spoiler: show

OFC it could partly/largely be the socialized medicine, but lets not get into that...

[Cyn]

I think thats the point Kiro was trying to make w/ his quoted stuff, maybe it should be

Also, cigarettes are clearly healthier then excess red meat consumption, look at how much they smoke in Europe/Japan and how much healthier they are than the US.

Spoiler: show

OFC it could partly/largely be the socialized medicine, but lets not get into that...

No no don't go there. (the spoilered part... that could turn this flippant little thread into a 20 page flame war)

And I could be getting whooshed by him.

[Correction]

Grilling your dessert isn't worth it unless you're already pretty good at running a grill and it's clear we're dealing with a rookie here. Just buy/bake a pie well in advance and serve it with ice cream. Or go with the aforementioned watermelon. Nobody will complain.

Skewers is also kinda intermediate stuff. Most of the folks I knew in college (where I learned to BBQ) just loved to ignite skewers since they couldn't be assed to consider the consequences of flammable materials over hot coals.

[Cyn]

Grilling your dessert isn't worth it unless you're already pretty good at running a grill and it's clear we're dealing with a rookie here. Just buy/bake a pie well in advance and serve it with ice cream. Or go with the aforementioned watermelon. Nobody will complain.

Skewers is also kinda intermediate stuff. Most of the folks I knew in college (where I learned to BBQ) just loved to ignite skewers since they couldn't be assed to consider the consequences of flammable materials over hot coals.

Sarah Lee pies are fucking yummy.

Skewers are fun and they feel more... contemporary. Not exactly hard, but easy to fuck up if you don't know what you're doing. Cooking a piece of chicken is probably the easiest thing to do in the kitchen (or deck) that doesn't involve a microwave though.

[sephir]

A really good thing for salad, you will need:
Lettuce
Lemon poppy Seed dressing (can buy this in bottles)
can of mandarin oranges
some chopped up almonds

mix them together in a bowl, and your done. Should only be a mess in the bowl, and whatever tongs you used to mix it with. This is really really good, and as much of a carnivore as I am, I find myself eating this on a regular basis. Its also very healthy for you.

For chicken I recomend Montreal Chicken spices. Basically just thaw the chicken sprinkle it on (be generous) rub the spice into the meat. And then throw it on the grill. Very tasty little mess.

And for the 3rd part of the meal, I would suggest lipton Sidekicks. They are like $2-3 a pack, but as a side dish they are good for 3-4 people. Just follow really basic instructions and voila! your done. and you now have a really good meal, with little mess and little effort.

[Tyche]

Go buy a shit ton of random vegetables that you like and cut them into small peices. Wrap them in tin foil then throw a stick of butter over the top and slow cook it on the cool side of the grill for a bit. That's really good. To be quite honest, unless you practice, there probably won't be great success. Go buy the food and pretend you cooked it as stated earlier. No shame in that, if you can't cook, you can't cook. Don't embarass yourself.

[Vandalhart]

I have a forumula I follow for everything I grill, it seems to suit me well. Most people will probably not like it for red meat because it cooks it so there's very little pink in the middle.

Thaw meat first/marinade/whatever.

Pre-heat/clean grill.
Turn grill to low heat.
Throw on the pre-heated grill for 5 minutes.
Flip over, lightly sauce and grill for another 5 minutes.
Flip over, sauce again and grill for another 5 minutes.

Now generally within the last 5 minutes the item I'm BBQing gets cooked to where I'm comfortable eating it. Be wary of chicken, you want to make sure it's completely cooked through. Sometimes it can be hard to tell.

If you want to take a different route, you coudl always boil the chicken first to cook it, then throw it on the grill afterwards to add the BBQ flavours. That's how I've heard multiple people in my extended family cook their chicken.

A good desert could be Strawberry shortcake. You can also do it varying ways when making it. Here's the easiest:

Buy some strawberries, cool-whip, and either biscuits or mini angel foodcakes (I prefer the later).

You can either mash the strawberries, or cut them into smaller pieces.
Throw a cake/biscuit into a bowl, put a few spoonfuls of strawberries over and pour on some cool-whip. It's pretty easy to do, and strawberries, I think, are in season now. Not sure if they will be where you are though.

[Norelco]

Beer Can Chicken.

Winner. Came here to post that.

[Plow]

Strongly agreeing with the beer can chicken if you're new to grilling.

Grill up some corn with it, make some homemade mashed potatoes or potato salad, and you're money.

Also can do green beans in a cast iron skillet on the grill, toss in some chunks of bacon and sliced onions, mmmmmm good.

Grill up some pineapple slices for an excellent sweetness addition/dessert.

[510Meeze]

I don't think you can make a dessert on a grill, but I bet there's something out there.

Grilled peaches with ice cream. Obviously the ice cream isn't grilled...

Personally when me and my buddy grill (2-5 times a week) we open up a pack of hot links while the coals are getting ready. These are good for the people showing up who may have skipped lunch due to travel or work or whatever.

For the main meat, we generally stay away from chicken. It's harder to pull off, and we're usually well into the beer by the time it's time to start cook (never tried the chicken beer thing, but it sounds easy enough). Stay away from grabbing a bunch of legs and thighs and slapping them on the grill. You'll end up with a bunch of charred outsides and red insides, thats the advanced stuff. My buddies neighbor made chicken quarters the other day, and I must say I was impressed.

This weekend we did a lot of tri tips, you need a cold side of the grill for this (as you will if you go the boned chicken route). This is pretty easy because if your meat is seasoned right, even overcooking it a bit doesn't kill the flavor. There is a temp to pull your meat out, but I haven't used a thermometer in so long, I wouldn't know what it is.

We've done different fishes on the grill, just wrap them in foil with lemon and various herbs and let them cook.

Carne Asada is real easy because it uses really thin pieces of meat that are by definition supposed to be well done. You can whip up some pico de gallo (tomatoes, onion, cilantro) or guacamole and impress any caucasian. Tortillas on grill that have been cooked on all day are nothing short of wonderful (use corn, not flour for grilling!). If you have a large latin community around you, head to a carneceria, and they may even sell the steak seasoned and marinated.

I'm hungry now, gonna get some breakfast.