{"id":884,"date":"2022-06-27T15:57:41","date_gmt":"2022-06-27T15:57:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/?p=884"},"modified":"2022-06-27T15:59:07","modified_gmt":"2022-06-27T15:59:07","slug":"make-summer-cooking-easier-with-these-4-gadgets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/?p=884","title":{"rendered":"Make Summer Cooking Easier with These 4 Gadgets"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Make Summer Cooking Easier with These 4 Gadgets<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"kabobs\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Summer is officially here, which means it is time to soak up the sunshine and step away from the stove.\u00a0 It is the time of year to use the flame of the grill to prepare meals for you and your family and friends. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n

With the help of my family and friends, we have the tools to help make quick, easy, and fun meals this summer! \u00a0<\/p>\n\n

If you want to get the whole family involved, try\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Metal Kabob Skewers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The whole family can get involved when cooking with kabob skewers<\/a>!\u00a0 First, slice a variety of fruits and vegetables (peppers, onions, pineapple) and a protein source (fish, beef or chicken).\u00a0 Then, let the kids have fun assembling kabobs on the skewers by making different patterns with the food items. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Margie Cocco is a fan of using skewers in the summertime and stated, \u201cYou can make so many different combos so it\u2019s never just the same old thing.\u201d\u00a0 Cocco also noted your kabob makings can be served over quinoa, brown rice or with a side of corn on the cob to add a starch to your meal.\u00a0 Not only is using the metal kabob skewers quick and easy to prepare a meal, they are also super quick and easy to clean up. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n

If you want to plan ahead, try\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Burger Press\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

A burger press<\/a> is a great way to take your meat of choice (beef, pork or turkey) and prepare consistent sized burgers to allow for portion control; as well as, making cooking time the same for them all on the grill.\u00a0 Lisa Tretter states, \u201cI make these (burgers) in large batches and then freeze them at the start of the summer.\u00a0 We are ready to entertain in a snap and also have an easy dinner ready, which keeps us from ordering take-out when short on time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Tretter also shared her favorite turkey burger recipe. \u201cMix minced saut\u00e9ed mushrooms into the turkey mix before forming the patties.\u00a0 It will sneak some plants in and keep your turkey burger flavorful and moist.\u00a0 You won\u2019t even taste the mushrooms!\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n\n

If you want to step it up a notch, try\u2026\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Cast Iron Pan\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Yes, you read this right.\u00a0 We are using the cast iron pan<\/a> on the grill when cooking turkey or beef burgers.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Austin Vasko expressed this cooking method adds great sear to the burger and \u201ctakes turkey burgers up a notch.\u201d Vasko also stated, \u201cGet it (cast iron pan) piping hot, then press the handmade patties onto it.\u00a0 One flip, and then add the cheese. Finish it on the top rack for a couple more minutes to melt the cheese.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n\n

If you are wondering what temperature your burgers internal temperature should be or other BBQ safety tips, check out our previous blog: BBQ Food Safety Tips<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

If you want to add more veggies to your meal, try\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Grilling Basket<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The grilling basket<\/a> is a great way to prepare veggies during the summer months when the grill is already on.\u00a0 Shelby Burns stated, \u201cI like to throw a mix of veggies (zucchini, squash, peppers and onions) with a little bit of olive oil and a mix of seasonings right on the grill.\u201d\u00a0 This basket can also be used for cooking potatoes too! \u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t have a grilling basket or don\u2019t want to buy one?\u00a0 No problem!\u00a0 Lisa Tretter noted she prepares her veggies the same way but adds them into a foil pouch by placing the veggies in the center of a piece of foil and folding over the edges until sealed shut.\u00a0 This method is just as quick and easy but also simplifies the clean up time.\u00a0 Tretter stated, \u201cclean up is a breeze!\u00a0 Just throw the packet away when you are done.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Now it\u2019s your turn to step outside to your grill and try one of these gadgets to make cooking this summer, quick, easy, and fun!\u00a0 Let us know what you try or if you have another cooking tool that should be added to our list.\u00a0 Also shout-out to my family and friends for contributing!!<\/p>\n\n

Cheers to summer nights of eating right with your family and friends,<\/p>\n

\"Amanda's<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Summer is officially here, which means it is time to soak up the sunshine and step away from the stove.\u00a0 It is the time of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":885,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/simplestartnutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Kabob.png?fit=940%2C788&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=884"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/884\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":889,"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/884\/revisions\/889"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simplestartnutrition.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}