Grill Baskets

Grill baskets are the best invention since sliced bread ! Really 🙂

Mexican Kabobs
Mexican Kabobs

I find threading kabobs too time consuming for the actual results. And I find cooking kabobs over the grill nightmarish as you watch great, tender pieces of onion and tomato slip off the skewer into the coals.

As part of FoodBuzz Daily Specials, I’ll be making a some special posts over the next couple of weeks that relate to a specific topic. Today’s special is about GRILL BASKETS.

And I am passionate about using grill baskets ! Just give them a little spray with Pam, throw in any of the ingredients that you would normally be skewering, toss a few times (like you would a big stir fry) and you come out with food that tastes even better because you don’t get those ‘undone’ patches from where the food was pressed up against other bits. And even better – you don’t lose pieces and prep time is a snap ! So grab yourself a nice big grill basket this season and enjoy !

Here are a few recipes I have posted in the past that recommend use of grill baskets.

Mexican Kabobs

Halibut Kebobs

Creamy Cheesy Chicken

Creamy and cheesy this is ! The Swiss cheese in this made for a very mellow flavor that mixed very well with the chicken and broccoli. But I’m sure that any other flavor would do very well. This is one of those great recipes where you have everything incorporated – a protein, a starch and a veggie.

Creamy Cheesy Chicken
Creamy Cheesy Chicken

5 servings
390 calories per serving

3 c (6 oz.) uncooked wide egg noodles
2 t oil
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces
3 c frozen broccoli florets
1 t minced dried onion
1 t onion powder
½ c white wine
1 can condensed cream of celery soup
1 c (4 oz.) shredded Swiss cheese
2 t Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package instructions. Heat oil and add chicken and cook 4-5 minutes or until browned. Add broccoli, onion flakes and onion powder and cook 4 minutes or until hot then reduce heat and stir in wine. Cover and cook 4-5 minutes or until chicken is done. Add noodles, soup, cheese, mustard, salt and pepper and cook until cheese is melted and all is hot.

Italian Bean Soup

The broth in this soup tastes like it’s been simmered for hours – it has a great depth of flavor. But this soup takes just 20 minutes or so of simmering time. And with all the veggies and pasta, it ends up being quite a hearty, thick soup. Just add some water during the last 7 minutes cooking time if you like it a little thinner. But I like gruely soup 🙂

Italian Bean Soup
Italian Bean Soup

6 servings
190 calories per serving

1 t oil
½ c diced Canadian bacon
½ c chopped green bell pepper
4 garlic cloves, minced
28 oz. can peeled tomatoes, undrained and coarsely chopped
14.5 oz. chicken broth
½ c orzo
15.5 oz. can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
8 oz. frozen cut green beans
¼ c chopped basil
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
¼ t celery salt

In a large pan heat oil on medium high heat. Add bacon, green pepper and garlic and cook 3-4 minutes. Add tomatoes, broth and pasta and bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer 12 minutes stirring occasionally. Stir in kidney beans, green beans, salt and pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, celery salt and basil and cook 7 minutes.

Bananas with Yogurt and Honey

Cooking the bananas first brings out all the sweetness – so when you add in the tangy Greek yogurt, the 2 offset each other and you get a wonderful tasting breakfast or snack. The honey and nuts make a perfect topping.

Bananas with Yogurt and Honey
Bananas with Yogurt and Honey

4 servings
240 calories per serving

2 ripe bananas, peeled
2 ¼ c plain Greek yogurt
2 T honey
2 T chopped almonds or walnuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wrap the bananas in foil and bake 20 minutes then cool completely. Place banana in a bowl and mash with a fork. Add yogurt and gently fold then spoon into cups and sprinkle with nuts and drizzle with honey.

Five Layer Salad

Simple and easy and oh so decadent with the addition of cheese and bacon. This lunch salad really hits the spot !

Five Layer Salad
Five Layer Salad


4 servings
225 calories per serving

5 oz. mixed greens
½ English cucumber, coarsely chopped
½ c low fat ranch dressing
¼ c real bacon pieces
½ c finely shredded low fat cheddar cheese

Layer all ingredients on a serving platter or individual dishes and pour on dressing.

Lemon Curried Pea Salad

This is a great salad to serve next to eastern inspired dishes such as Chicken Satay.

Lemon Curried Pea Salad
Lemon Curried Pea Salad

8 servings
80 calories per serving

Salad:
15 oz. can black eyed peas, rinsed and drained
11 oz. can corn, drained
½ c chopped red onion
½ c thinly sliced celery
1 t finely shredded lemon peel

Dressing:
2 T lemon juice
1 T water
1 t oil
1 clove garlic, minced
½ t curry powder
½ t Dijon mustard
1/8 t pepper

Mix salad ingredients in a bowl. Whisk together dressing ingredients and toss with salad. Cover and refrigerate several hours for flavors to mingle.

Pineapple and Orange Dream Cake

Light and refreshing is the best way to describe this elegant and tempting cake. This is an easy to make dessert that tastes like you spent hours preparing, but it only take a bit of time to put it together 🙂

Pineapple and Orange Dream Cake
Pineapple and Orange Dream Cake


16 servings
212 calories per serving

CAKE:
1 box yellow cake mix
¼ c applesauce
4 eggs
1 11 oz. can mandarin oranges (including the juice)

FROSTING:
8 oz. cool whip lite
1 3.4 oz. package instant vanilla pudding
1 15.5 oz. can crushed pineapple in juice (not syrup), mostly drained

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and mix all the cake ingredients until moist then beat by hand 2 minutes. The oranges will all break up – that is fine. Spray a 13×9 pan with Pam and pour in the batter and cook 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting. Mix together all frosting ingredients and spread on the cake. Store cake in the frig.

Grilled Marinated London Broil

If you let this marinate overnight, the meat will be that much more tender and flavorful ! I often plan these for entertaining – they are so easy to do so very savory. They get a nice seared crisp outer layer which tastes just grate with the soy marinade.

Grilled Marinated London Broil
Grilled Marinated London Broil

4 servings
170 calories per serving

1 lb. lean London broil
2 T minced garlic (jarred is fine)
2 T soy sauce
1/2 c water

Place meat in a zip loc. Add remaining ingredients, zip up and mush it all around so all the meat gets covered. Let sit overnight. Heat a grill to high and sear the meat for 3 minutes each side then lower temperature and then cook to desired doneness. If you do not have access to a grill, you can also quick brown this in a large skillet sprayed with Pam and then finish cooking until desired doneness in a hot oven (375 degrees or more).

Celery Seed Dressing

One problem with salad is that I love it SWIMMING in dressing. And even low cal and low fat dressing really pack on the calories when you put on as much as I like to. So this is the first of a series of cornstarch based salad dressings I make – the cornstarch helps thicken the dressing so you barely miss the oil. And at only 3 calories per tablespoonful, I can really pour it on 🙂

Celery Seed Dressing
Celery Seed Dressing

Makes 1 c
3 calories per T

1 T cornstarch
1 t sugar
1 t paprika
1 t celery seed
½ t onion powder
½ t dry mustard
2 t salt
1 c water
¼ c vinegar

In a sauce pan mix the first 7 ingredients then gradually stir in the water and vinegar and quickly bring to a boil stirring constantly. Allow mix to thicken then cool and keep in the refrigerator. Shake well before using.

Asian Garden Salad

Simple, low cal, nutritious and a nice change from your regular green salad!

Asian Garden Salad
Asian Garden Salad

6 servings
126 calories per serving

1/3 c thinly sliced scallions
4 T soy sauce
3 T water
2 c boiling water
1 ½ t sesame oil
¼ t garlic powder
¼ t red pepper flakes
1 3 oz. package low fat ramen noodle soup
2 c boiling water
2 c fresh pea pods, halved crosswise
1 c fresh bean sprouts
1 c sliced mushrooms
8 oz. can baby corn, drained and halved crosswise
1 red bell pepper cut into small strips
3 c shredded Chinese cabbage

Combine green onions, soy, water, oil, garlic powder and red pepper flakes and set aside. Break up ramen noodles and discard seasoning packet. Add peapods and pour 2 c boiling water over the mix and let stand 1 minute and then drain. Combine noodles, pea pods, bean sprouts, mushrooms, corn and peppers in a bowl. Shake dressing and toss with the noodle mix. Cover and chill 2 – 24 hours. Just before serving add cabbage.

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