Holiday Barbecues with Vegetarian Friends

Memorial Day is the official kick off of barbecue season. In our circle of family and friends we have a number of people who either don't eat meat or are limited in the meats they can eat. Since we tend to spend a lot of time outside in the good weather, the grill is usually how we cook not only on Memorial Day but throughout the summer. It keeps the house cool and makes meals easy to prepare especially when you add grilled vegetables to the menu.

Grilled corn is a favorite of the entire family. Make sure the ears are completely shucked and then partially wrap the ears in foil. Sprinkle some water and butter on the corn before tightly wrapping the ears. The coals or temperature needs to be high for corn to cook thoroughly. It'll take about 20 minutes and plan to turn the corn every 5 minutes or so. Remove the corn from the grill with tongs, tear off the foil and enjoy. Grilling brings out the sweetness of the corn so many people find they don't want butter or salt added. I always have melted butter, salt and pepper available for those that want to add it to their corn.

Portobello mushroom burgers are a great alternative for those who don't want a hamburger or those on a diet. Wash the portobellos and pat them dry. Remove the gills from the underside of the mushroom. Brush the mushroom with olive oil. (Note: I add a clove of crushed garlic to the olive oil for a little more flavor.) Place the mushroom on the grill cap side down until brown. It will take about 10-12 minutes depending on the size of the mushroom. Season with salt and pepper. You can serve in a bun or just by itself.

Onions taste so very good when grilled. The sugars in the onion caramelize and make them so sweet. You'll need about 6 large onions cut in thick rings for every 4 people. Brush the onion rings with olive oil and then thread on a skewer. If you don't have extra skewers make the onion slices extra thick and cook directly on the grill. The onions will take about 15 minutes to cook and initially caramelize. Turn once to have them caramelize evenly. Then move to the side of the grill where it isn't quite as hot till they are tender.

Marinated baby vegetables are very tender when grilled. They also make a very attractive side dish for all those attending your barbecue. I've adapted this from recipe a friend gave me. It serves 2 as a meal. It will go further as a side dish.

Slice lengthwise 6 baby zucchini and 3 baby eggplants, add 12 baby portobellos with stems removed and 10 grape tomatoes. In a gallon size plastic bag, add 4 tablespoons of Italian salad dressing. Add in vegetables, seal bag and coat the vegetables with the salad dressing. Grill vegetables 2-4 minutes on a side till tender. Remove from grill and serve.

Green asparagus is another great vegetable to grill. Plan on 1/2 pound of asparagus per person. Trim the ends off the asparagus. Chop one garlic clove and add to two tablespoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Drizzle the garlic, oil and juice mix over the asparagus. Place on a hot grill. Cook until the asparagus is slightly charred.

Tomatoes can be either a side or part of a main dish. As a side dish plan on one half tomato per person. As a main dish I plan on one whole tomato per person. You want tomatoes that are firm, not mushy or overripe. Slice in half and remove the seeds. Let the tomatoes drain prior to cooking. Just before putting on the grill season with salt and pepper to taste. You will grill them cut side on the grill until they are soft and the skin blisters. Turn and grill a few minutes longer. When done remove from heat. You can top with Italian salad dressing or just drizzle with some olive oil and a little bit of crushed garlic.

If you want, you can also serve grilled vegetables on skewers like kabobs. Mix thin slices of zucchini with eggplant and add mushroom chunks with grape tomatoes for color. We often add a clove of fresh garlic to the skewer to add some additional flavor. Serve with asparagus, corn, and grilled tomatoes. You'll have a delicious, colorful meal your vegetarian friends and the rest of your family will enjoy.