Oh, those beautiful summer days!

They’re coming to a close. But we still have a few days to savor the tastes of wonderful, glorious summer.

My summertime favorites?

Anything light and easy.

A fresh chicken breast on the grill. A little lemon juice and some greens and I’m a happy gal.

Burgers! Adding avocado at this time of year is so refreshing and delicious.

Grilled tenderloin salad. Try this one with peaches, pecans and limes. It looks, tastes and smells like summer.

And finally … steaks! A ribeye is my fave any time of year. Just sitting outside in the summer sun, smelling the aroma of a steak on the grill puts me in my happy place fast.

How about you? What are your summertime classics? Time is running out!

Photos courtesy of KansasCitySteaks.com.

Oh, how I love to play around on the grill in the summertime!

You just WANT to be outside and fill the air with the smell of something delicious grilling.

Here’s a wonderful recipe to perfect this summer. It’s so refreshing with lime juice and cilantro – Grilled KC Strip with Black Bean Sauce. Delicious!

Grilled Strip with Black Bean Sauce

Ingredients:
4 (8oz.) Kansas City Strips
1 cup black beans, canned or cooked
1 jalapeno, minced (optional)
2 tbsp. lime juice
1 tbsp. cilantro, chopped
2 tbsp. onion, minced
1 tsp. garlic, minced
1 tsp. cumin, ground
1/4 cup water or stock
salt and pepper

Directions: In a small sauce pan, sweat the onion and jalapeno if using. Add the garlic and cook another twenty seconds. Add beans, cumin and half of the lime juice and stir. Add the water and blend with an immersion blender or in a blender until smooth. Season to taste and keep warm.Grill your Kansas City Strips steak until medium, about four minutes per side. Remove from heat and let rest for five minutes. Slice the steak on a diagonal and season the slices with the lime juice and salt and pepper. Plate on top of the sauce. This is a great sauce since it has absolutely no fat. You can add some butter in the blender to make it a little creamier but if not it is a great, healthy accompaniment.

Try it out this summer!

Taking your show on the road? At the beach, lake or campsite?

Don’t get caught up in making your grilling on the go experience too complicated. Keep it simple with this advice!

1. Marinade/rub ahead of time. Pack it up in a cooler, then just throw it on the grill when you get there. Prep before.
2. Bring seasoning (salt, pepper, etc.) that you can throw away. The less you come back with, the better.
3. Expanding on that theory, pack everything in things you can throw away – ziplock bags, foil.
4. Be sure to pack paper plates that are sturdy enough to withstand your meal. Nothing worse than looking forward to a beautiful steak, then trying to figure out how to cut it on a flimsy plate. Yick.
5. Bring trash bags!
6. Whatever power source you use for your grill, make sure to check that you have enough charcoal/propane/other BEFORE you leave.
7. Have lots of fun! Grilling in the great outdoors is one of the greatest joys in the world! 🙂

Photo courtesy of KansasCitySteaks.com.