My Favorite Summer Cooking Tool

Do you have a grill basket? I'm telling you...you'll never know what you did with out it once you get one. In the winter I roast all my veggies on a big cookie sheet...like the Barefoot Contessa told me to. Olive oil..salt...pepper...that's it. Well, who wants to put the stove on in the summer? Not me. I'm all about doing everything on the grill.

So..get yourself a grill basket. I think I got mine at Home Goods years ago...try Bed, Bath and Beyond..William/Sonoma if you feel like paying top dollar. Spray the basket with some Olive Oil cooking spray...I use PAM!

In a big bowl add whatever chopped veggies you like. Today I did

mushrooms, red onions, asparagus and green pepper..cuz that's what I had. Add some olive oil, kosher salt and pepper. Mix it up. Heat up your grill. Throw the veggies in the basket...throw it on the grill. Every few minutes give it a stir. Use a pot holder to take the basket off the grill...it's HOT!

These are great on their own...over pasta..rice..in your omellete..in a panini...in a pita pocket..with fish, chicken, steak. I make a BIG basket of them at the beginning of the week and they're great all week long.

The Season of the Salad

I'm all about salads right now. And for me I want them to be not only quick and healthy but also portable. We eat on the beach a lot. Here is one that I've been making for years. The original recipe is from my Black Dog cookbook...an old stand by for me. Have you ever been to Martha's Vineyard? If you go...a trip to the Black Dog is a must. And don't forget to buy a T-shirt. Here's my version....

Boil up some orzo pasta. The other day I didn't have any orzo so I used penne..or bowties...or what ever you have. While that's cooking...in a large pretty bowl add:

Some balsamic vinegar and olive oil and a clove or two of chopped garlic. I just wing it...start with a little...add more if  you want.

Chop up some spinach and a few roma tomatoes. Add the cooked orzo. Give it a good stir. Add some basil or parsley...or both. Then right before you serve it add some feta cheese. Now pack it up and bring it to the beach with some grilled chicken or steak. Simple right?