Kitchen Hint of the Day!

When marinating meat to grill, try to let it soak for a 1-4 hours before cooking.  If you are using acid based marinade, it can actually start breaking down the texture of the meat if you let it sit in the marinade for longer than 4 hours.  Acid based marinades would be marinades that include vinegar, lemon juice, or wine.

Low-Fat Ways to Add Flavor to Grilling Recipes

Some great tip on Low-Fat Ways to Add Flavor to Grilling Recipes. It's all from the Diabetic living On Line website. The link to all the tips is at the bottom of the post.




Low-Fat Ways to Add Flavor to Grilling Recipes

Whether you are grilling vegetables, seafood, beef, pork, or poultry, use these diabetes-friendly tips for adding flavor--but not fat--to your next cookout.



Tasty Tips for Healthy Grilling
Grilling is one of the healthiest cooking methods around because it sears in flavor while the fat drips away. The seductive smokiness of barbecuing also adds calorie-free flavor, but you can accent grilled favorites in other ways, too. The key is choosing fresh and flavorful ingredients that turn up the taste without adding a lot of fat, sodium, calories, or carbs. Read on for tips you can use at your next cookout.




Marinate Meat to Add Flavor
Marinades: Meats, poultry, or fish are soaked in an acidic solution with seasonings to add flavor--or to tenderize less-tender cuts of beef. When you drain off the marinade, most of its high-calorie, high-fat, or high-sodium ingredients go with it. Still it pays to watch what goes into a marinade.

When choosing marinade recipes, question high proportions of oil, which can add fat without contributing flavor. Rely on those that use juices and vinegars for acid. And opt for recipes that flavor with fresh or low-sodium ingredients.

When it's time to marinate, we recommend marinating in a sealed plastic bag, which not only holds the marinade close to the meat but also simplifies cleanup. And for food-safety reasons, don't brush any reserved marinade onto the cooked meat. If you need the marinade for seasoning, be sure to boil it first for at least 3 minutes to be safe.....




Smoking Meat Brings Out New Flavor
Smoking: Wood chunks or chips infuse meat with flavor without adding calories. You can choose from mesquite, alder, maple, cedar, nut woods (such as hickory and pecan), or fruit woods (such as cherry and apple). Soak them first in water for an hour, then drain and sprinkle directly onto the coals (for gas or electric grills, put the wood in a smoker box or foil). If you're grilling longer than an hour, plan to add more wood during cooking....




* Click the link below to get all the Low-Fat Ways to Add Flavor to Grilling Recipes


http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/diabetic-recipes/low-fat/low-fat-ways-to-add-flavor-to-grilling-recipes?sssdmh=dm17.743771&esrc=nwdlo061714

Grilled Marinated Italian Chicken Breast w/ Asparagus and...

Dinner Tonight: Grilled Marinated Italian Chicken Breast w/ Asparagus Bits, Carrots and Whole Grain Bread.

Found some beautiful skinless Amish Brand Chicken Breasts at the Kroger earlier today. I marinated them in Kraft Free Italian Dressing and refrigerated them for 2 hours. Seasoned them with Sea Salt and Lemon Pepper and grilled them 5 minutes per side. What is it about grilling that makes everything taste better! As sides had sliced Carrots, Asparagus Bits, and Aunt Millie's Whole Grain Sliced Bread. For dessert later this evening I'll have Mango slices on top of Breyer's Carb Smart Ice Cream.