Steak Enthusiast

I’m busy, busy taking advantage of the sunshine and grill time I have this summer. And we’re cooking steaks like it’s going out of style.

But the REAL star of our summer?

Burgers!

They’re easy and everybody loves ‘em!

I like to buy a variety of steakburger flavors to keep it interesting. Vidalia onion steakburgers are delicious!

But we also like to try different burger recipes for flavor sensations that add some pop!

Now’s the time to have some fun in the sun and on the grill! Try these burger recipes this summer … Hawaiian, anyone???

When grilling steak, you’ve got to master the art of using direct heat AND indirect heat. A combination of the two is best when you’re cooking steak.

Direct heat is just that – placing the meat directly above the heat source (the flame on a grill). The lid is open and this method is best used to first sear the steaks. Yum!

After the searing over direct heat is done, you can move to indirect heat. That’s when you use the reflected heat to cook the meat with the lid closed. Use the area of the grill set up for this – many times the center of the cooking grate. The meat is not directly over a flame but is getting cooked good and juicy.

But the more you open the lid the longer it takes when using indirect heat. Keep that in mind.

Really great steaks require both direct and indirect heat to make them truly special. And the extra time it takes makes all the difference in your final product.

So get out there and use that direct and indirect heat to your advantage this grilling season!

Bring in the colors of Independence Day when planning your 4^th of July menu.

A visual presentation with red, white and blue makes the day even more festive, I say!

Serving steaks?

Try this tangy steak sauce. It’s red (hey, it counts!) and it adds such great flavor to your ribeye or filet mignon.

For white and a bit of blue, serve Spicy Ribeyes Topped with Blue Cheese. You can knock out two colors at once!

And for the finale, make a fresh berry topping for cheesecake. Strawberries and blueberries make it so patriotic!

What are some other colorful ideas you can incorporate into your 4^th of July celebration?