Grilling Tapas at Home

Tapas is the word that describes a wide variety of appetizers in Spanish cuisine. You can use Spanish cuisine or any type of food you choose to. The idea is to have a lot of different foods, small portions so everyone gets a little taste and all of these wonderful flavors just popping in your mouth. Tapas is also wonderful as you will engage in more conversation with your family as you slowly eat different foods instead of a plate of food sitting before you.

You can surprise your family with grilled tapas. Make some punch or a special soda/juice mix for your children. Let them know that this is a special meal.

You can plan your grilled tapas menu ahead of time. Think of items you like to cook on the grill only in smaller amounts. For example, do you and your family love chicken wings? Grill chicken wings that are spicy, lightly seasoned and barbequed. You may choose to serve blue cheese on the side. Everyone gets one chicken wing. Ask each person which chicken wing was their favorite.

Next you can serve mini burgers. One mini burger may have bacon and your special dressing such as thousand island, another mini burger may have bacon and avocado on it and the third mini burger may have a spicy sauce on it that you create. You may choose to use Holland Grill Carolina Rump Shake Seasoning Mix on one or more of the mini burgers. Another fantastic spice to add on one or more of the burgers is the Holland Grill Carolina Seasoning Mix. Cut each mini burger in half and let your family sample them all.

It is time for a vegetable to your grilling tapas dinner. How about grilled zucchini and squash? If you have not had it before it is worth tasting.

Grilled Zucchini & Squash Recipe

What you will need:
6 medium yellow squash
6 green zucchini
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons coarse-grain mustard
1/4 teaspoon sugar

To prepare recipe:
Fire up your charcoal grill to medium hot. If using a gas grill, turn on your gas grill to high. While grill is preheating, trim squash and zucchini. Halve each vegetable lengthwise. In a large bowl place the salt, pepper and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil along with the both vegetables. Mix well so that the veggies are coated.

Make sure the grates on your grill are oiled. Place your vegetables directly onto the hottest area. If using a gas grill you may place the cover on. Turn veggies over one time so that you have grill marks. This should take about 6 minutes. Now move the veggies where there are no coals under the grate, cover and cook about 4 more minutes so that they become nice and tender.

Whisk lemon juice, sugar, mustard and the rest of the oil in a bowl. Pour this mixture over the vegetables. Cut into smaller pieces for samples. Save remaining leftovers for tomorrow night's dinner.

You can make any foods you choose. Be daring and choose some new recipes to try that you have in your grill cookbooks or online. You may find a new favorite food for you and your family.