Girlfriend's Guide to Grilling - Big Y® World Class Market®

Hosting a Girl's Night Out in Your Own Backyard

Planning an evening at home versus going out for a night on the town is becoming the new thing to do. When money is tight, entertaining at home is the way to go. You can still have all the fun while taking it easy on your wallet. So take your girl’s night out “in,” and take turns hosting it at each other’s homes. And what’s more fun than spending a summer night with a group of your favorite friends? You can chat and enjoy your patio with cool cocktails and delicious food hot off the grill.

Gab‘n Grill
Entertaining at home doesn’t have to be all work and no play for the hostess, especially when it comes to grilling outside. Many grilling recipes call for marinating ahead of time, so all you have to do is put your appetizers and main course over the hot coals while you visit with friends. A fresh fruit salad can be prepared ahead of time, as well as dessert. When you’re cooking outside, you don’t have to worry about slaving over a hot stove while the party’s in the other room!

Oh, You Saucy Minx
Make your own marinades to control the fat and sodium content. Be sure to use olive and canola oils, as these are heart-healthy, monounsaturated oils. Making your own marinade is remarkably easy to do. All you have to do is blend an oil, an acid (such as lemon, lime or orange juice) and your choice of herbs. For an Asian influence, use soy sauce, ginger and garlic. For a Southwestern flair, add cumin, chilies and cilantro. Make it French with honey and Dijon mustard. Or go all-American with a blend of ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and molasses — the basic ingredients of barbecue sauce. Get creative! Your girlfriends will love to taste what you’ve created just for them!

Mediterranean Eggplant

Lean, Mean Grilling Machine
Another reason a grilling party is so great for your girlfriends is because it’s a naturally low fat way to make a meal!
Grilling doesn’t require much fat and what fat you do use, in marinades or in the meat itself, tends to drip off as the food cooks on the grill. Here are some other secrets to making sure you’re serving the least amount of fat but
the most amount of flavor:

Select meats with “loin” in their name — pork tenderloin, ground sirloin and loin chops are very lean cuts of meat. And season your meat selections with spices to maximize flavor and minimize fat content.

Try grilling fish, seafood, skinless chicken breasts, turkey breasts and ribeye, sirloin and flank steaks - all of which are naturally low in fat.

Serve vegetables and salads with herb vinegar, low fat dressing, freshly squeezed lemon or low sodium soy sauce.

Let Big Y help you round out your meal with delicious side dishes. We have everything you need, from delicious homemade garden salads and veggie platters to Just like Mom’s homestyle salads and more. All girlfriend approved!

Red Pepper Shrimp Skewers