Barbecue Ready

 With Memorial Day in a week it's time to get the backyard barbecue ready. Clean off the grill.Start shopping for food. Dust off the furniture. It's a simple cleaning that will make the first grill of the season fun and memorable.

If you haven;t already it's time to pull out the grill and give it a good assessment. Give the entire grill a good wiping down. You can power wash iif you have a sturdier grill like Weber. You still have to scrub and scrape the actual grill if you didn't last fall. The best soap to thoroughly clean is Dawn's Power wash.This is a concmentrated version of the classic soap and it just spritzes out of nozzle. Thoroughly drench with the soap and start scrubbing. Rinse and then thoroughly dry. Also make sure the ash grate is throughly emptied and cleaned too.It's nice to start off the season with an immaculate grill. What about the table and chairs Again a good wiping and dring is all you need for the table. The same goes for the chair. Sturdier plastic ones can also get a power wash too. have you checked  your plastic or melanine dishes and cup. You may want ot clean those too if you haven't used them since October or November.If those plates are ratty looking then think about getting new ones from Target, Kohl's or Walmart. A new tablecloth is always a nice way to freshen up the back yard table too.

For food, start buying now. People usually begin shopping a few days before which means there may be some shortages. Get those burgers and hot dogs now and freeze them. The same applies to chicken and steak. What about sides? The potatoes for potato salad can wait. Buy them Saturday or Sunday. You could get the canned version now, especially if your grocery has a sale on them. The same for macaroni or pasta is you're thinking of making those two barbecue classics, macaroni and pasta salad. Hold off on the fresh veggies and rolls. Again like the potatoes they can be bought just hours before you cook.Dessert ingredients can also be bought before hand.Ice cream cakes can be made the night before and frozen. Get the ice cream and cookies if they're on sale right now, The same for the sauces and decorations you may want to use. This also applies to those s'mores too, especially if there's a sale on chocolate and marshmallows. Save buying any fresh fruit until Sunday or Monday morning.

Memorial Day is almost here. Get ready for the most important barbecue of the year. It'll make for a memorable cookout.

Mrs Humphris Swedish Meatballs

 Can a classsic meat based recipe be turned vegan. Yes. Traditional Swedish meatlballs lend themselves to this.They can now be easily made with Impossible or Beyond Meat.

I used mybest friend forever Deb's mother's recipe. Although Mrs. Humphris is Finnish she is known for her Swedish meatballs. I wondered if I could take that delicous take and turn it into something even vegans could enjoy.

I subbed in Beyond Meat for the real thing and Just Egg for egg.I kept Mrs Humphris or Janice's half cup of bread crumbs.

Spicing is very important in making Swedish meat balls. Janice's recipe calls for two tablespoons of grated onion. I felt this may be too strong and I wanted the nutmeg to stand out more. I subbed in onion powder . I did keep the nutmeg which is really what makes the  meatballs unique.

It was then mixing everything together. I used  four tablespoons of of Just Egg to get the right conistancy.

It took a lot of mashing and blending to get all the ingredients moist and t the same time solid enough to form balls. Yet it was pretty easy to create meatballs.

It was then airfrying them for an easier cook. Janice bakes her in a 350 degree Farenheit oven. I wanted something quicker. I looked on line at various Beyond Meat sites. I found a good temp and time. it was five minutes at 400 degrees Farenheit.It produced the perfect meat ball,cripsy crunchy exterior with a soft tender and juicy inside. 

The gravy was amother matter.I wanted tomakeone that's perfect for the meat balls. I took from a variety of different recipes and added my own twists My one mistake was this:

I saw the ads for this, Better Than Bouillon on TV.I thought can I sub it instead of veggie broth. However it was super salty. The recipe called for two cups of veggie broth, three tablespoons of butter and flour. The butter and flour are cooked together to form a roux., I then added the entire jar of the bouilion. It was pure salt. I had to add more butter and double the amount of almond milk. Even an added glug of maple syrup couldn;t temper the saltniness. I also threw in about five tablespoons of nutmeg for that Swedish flavor.

The sauce looks creamy and amazing but it took a lot of extra almond milk and Melt plant butter to temper the intense salinity. with the meatballs and egg noodles added , it turned out to be not that bad.

I love Mrs Humphris' Swedish meatballs. I plan on making them again but with a milder gravy or just plain. They and the egg noodles were perfect, a wonderful dinner for a chill May night.

Thank you , Janice and Deb for giving me this great recipe. I plan on making this many more times.It's the perfect meal with the perfect flavor.

A Big Glass Of Agua Fresca

With the warm weather coming you need somethign refreshing to quench your thirst.Water may be too bland. Soda is too sweet. Why not make a pitcher of agua fresca?It's perfect for those steamy days ahead.

What is agua fresca or fresh water. It's a combination of water, fresh fruit or even veggies and a sweetener. They originated in Mexico and the drink spread rapidly thorogh Latin America. Taquerias served them along with their tacos and tortillas.The drink is now all over the Americas, North and South.  You can even buy large cups of it at Panera.

Is it easy to recreate? Yes/

Recipe for agua fresca

4 cups of any fruit.Try pineapple or melon for a refreshing flavor but you can use strawberries too.

1/4 cup white sugar

4 cups water

Blend fruit , water and sugar. Strain through a strainer and then served chilled with sprigs of fresh mint.

Asparagus Time

 One of the best aspects about asparagus is that it's so tasty and versatile you can do anything and everything with those stalks. They're good in both hot and cold dishes.

Regular contributor Melissa Clark wrote about this symbol of Spring in today's New YorkTimes Food section. I am a big asparagus fan so this article intrigued me. I am set in my ways, preferring the family recipe of steamed stalks drenched in metle butter and heavily dusted with Parmesan cheese. Ms. Clark take ti a step furter. She gives recipes for soup ,grain bowl  and a pasta.These recipes usually appear in her kitche now - mid May. She takes the first batches and just sears them in a buttered pan or steams them until they're that bright verdant color. However they also work in a velvety soup that also has spinach and leek added to it. There's also fennel and garlic to give it flavor while the addition of zucchini gives it more green. The base is vegan, with four cups of vegetable broth being added. Olive oil is included for a silkier feel.Spinach leaves and fronds along with cilantro are added for decoration.

Salad lovers may enjoy the apsparagus  raw and shaved into ribbons. You do have to soak the stalks in cold water which curls the strands into an ethereal tangle. Keep in mind this is good topping any kind of salad or dish. Season with scallions and sesame.Ms. Clark scatters them over a savory asparagus and mushroom grain bowl, redolent with different grains and jammy eggs (this is a cross between a hard boiled and soft boiled egg).Minced ginger and garlic give the bowl some bite along with soy sauce and tamara and gochugaru . If this is a bit spicy then think pasta. Ms. Clark pairs asparagus with feta and frozen green peas for a Spring-y fresh flavor. Greek yogurt makes up the base of the sauce.It's also a very garlicky sauce with seven cloves being used. (you can probably decrease it to four if you don't want a strong flavor) Use a short pasta like hsells, capaannelle, orrichiete or fusili. Bowls of it are then drizzled with olive oil and topped with scallions . 

it's asparagus season. Create thiese dishes to enjoy the stalks' earthy sweetness. All are perfect in highlighting this Spring staple.

A Low Budget Barbecue

 It's grilling season and that means barbecue and outdoors parties. There is a problemwith them. The rising cost of food. Can you have a decent and satisfying time outdoors.? With the right budgeting , yes.

Befire any barbecue you have to ask are there items that you can do without? Steak is one of them, with it coming in at $16  cut. Buy four of these and that's eighty dollars gone.even that money saver Costco, is selling a pack ofr four for a whopping $55, It's ridiculous.  Forget Wal-mart . Their ribeyes comes in at $23. Your only bet is sticking with hamburgers Acme is selling a pound of ground beef for $14.97  while wal-mart s brands are a few dollars cheaper. You can jazz up ground beef too  by adding butter or ground onions for a more flavorful bite. Are the already made burgers worth buying? Yes, if you don't have the time to make your. The best proice are the inhouse brands. Look to Acme's Signature which also has tasty turkey burgers and Stop and Shop's organic Nature's Promise one. Another idea is to go plant based. These are relatively cheaper than the real thing and they do taste like beef. Think about getting Beyond Meat's package of patties.

Keep in mind that turkey is also the way to go too.It's usually half the price of  red meat and is better for you healthwise. You could even served it on an opened faced bun with jarred gravy if you want to make them special.Is chicken a good buy for your barbecue?Most of the time chicken wings are the same price as red meat. Target does have the occassional sale with a pack of their Good & Gather wings selling for only $3.99. They're perfect if you are having a lot of people over or just love wings. What about chicken breasts? They're just as expensive as red meat.Acme is selling a pack for $17.45 for a three pound pack. Reserve these for a special occasion. If you really want togo cheap, then think of veggies. You can do a lot more with them than meat. Another plus about using veggies? Taking them from your garden for a fresh off the vine taste.Also leftover grilled ones can be put into salads the next day.You could even make them into a roasted version of ratatouille too.

You can have a bountiful barbecue without spending too much. Shop wisely. You'll wind up with an ourdoor meal that's both filling and tasty.

Ovenless Cooking

 warm weather means a warm house. Factor a hot stove into that and you have an unbearably hot and uncomofrtable kitchen. Yet thereare ways to still have a hot fresh meal, Use your air fryer, Insta-Pot or crockpot for cooked or baked meals and treats.

One of the best inventions ever for the kitchen is the air fryer. This is great during those hot steamy days. You don;'t have to light the grill or turn on the stove. Hamburgers and hot dogs can easily be cooked and crisped in this.They're still juicy but with an extra crunchiness that just makes them sing. Use your air fryer for seafood too. You can easily make fried shrimp or even lobster tails in it. This is perfect if you're dying for a summery treat. The air fryer is good for snacks like onion rings and French fries to go with those burgers and dogs. Some also have the room to bake. You can bake anything and everything from pancakes to brownies. You just need parchment papper cut to fit the size of the basket. Another plu is that the  air fryer is an easy clean up, I'ts just the basket that needs to be washed and dried. That's it. No pots or pans. No messy stove top or oven interior to wipe and clean.

Insta-Pots and crock pots are your friends during steamy days too. Everything is basically a "dump and go" , perfect for when you're too hot and tired to cook an elaborate meal. Family can enjoy a tasty baked mac without having to turn on the oven.It's also great for baking lasagna. This winter classic can easily be created during a heat wave.Both Insta-Pots and crockpots are good for simmering scatch soups too. If you're craving a homemade celery or spinach one make it in either ones of these. Freeze the leftovers if you want a quick hot lunch or light supper. Chili is another perfect dish for these cookers and you can use ingredients form your garden like tomatoes , peppers and onions as the summer harvest season progresses.Not surprisingly your Insta-Pot is a bonus for creating desserts too. A  chocolate lava cake is an easy bake in one. Even cheesecake, usually reserved for Christmas or New Year's can be a summery dessert thanks to a bake in one. Add some fresh picked blueberries or strawberries on top. Again  like with the air fryer, these are easy to clean. No hassle. No mess. No worries.

Let your oven rest during this warm days. Use your airfryer, Insta-Pot or crockpot to cook and bake. It' makes for an easier time and a cooler kitchen.

Mom's Breakfast Choices

 Tomorrow is Mother's Day and that means one thing - what's for breakfast? Will it be savory or sweet?A combo of both?Traditional or something new? It doesn't really matter as long as it's delicious.

Many kids (and husvands) go for the traditional route of waffles and pancakes.. new York Times regular contributor Yewande Komolafe gives us three from wednesday's food section. You could make mom Ms. Komolafe's decadent chocolate waffles served with a side of strawberries and whip cream or maybe her savory one filled with toasted seasame and scallions. This may be good topped with an egg sunnyside up and a side of Canadian bacon. Another route is trying her blueberry buckwheat ones . Then there 's those stacks of pancakes.You can easily fo for the easy Bisquick ones and add what you want. Ambitious little cooks and their dads may want to try making scratch ones.  These have baking powder and baking soda to make light ,airy ones, perfect with a large pat of butter and syrup. If you're into something fancier, think French toast. Make an extra rich by using brioche bread intead of the regular white or whole wheat. An easier breakfast is  croissants from your local bakery , with a small sampling of jams.

A savory breakfast route is just as doable. Omelets are easy and can be made to suit mom's tastes. Try a yummy spinach and mushroom loaded one or that classic Denver style omlet. This is one made with ham peppers and cheddar cheese. Scoop it up with buttered toast. Mom may like  something simple like a scrambled eggs or a sunnyside up one. These are perfect with just a side of crispy bacon. What you can do with that is borrow a page from another New York TImes Food section contributor,Melissa Clark. Dip the bacon strips in maple syrup and give them a light dusting of chili powder. It's a fun way to jazz up any egg dish. Another idea is creating a strata which satisfies the whole family. This is a casserole which sort of ressembles a giany savory bread pudding It's layers of sliced bread , followed by either sausage patties or ham. Any kind of cheese is added, form sharp, tangy cheddar to a smoky Gruyere.An egg  - milk or cream mix is poured over it and then its baked for half an hour. It's a great way for the family to sit down and enjoy a meal together before any Sunday activity.

Any kind of breakfast is the perfect one for mom. Go sweet or try savory. As long as it's made with love and care it's a gift mom will enjoy.