Do you have any big plans for Labor Day Weekend? I'm actually going on a road trip with my mom, so I won't be celebrating in the normal way -- picnic* hopping, grilling, etc. (I'll likely be eating cheesesteaks.) But if I were staying home, I'd definitely be throwing something on the grill and spending time outside during the unofficial last weekend of summer.
As you know, I've partnered with McCormick to bring you grilling ideas using McCormick Grill Mates and Lawry's products, so I wanted to share a few tips and ideas for the weekend.
In my last McCormick post, I gave you a recipe for marinated steak tips, which, let's be honest, is so simple I probably shouldn't even call it a recipe. I used McCormick's 5-Minute Marinating technique, which works surprisingly well. With the technique, you don't need to worry about marinating until the grill is hot and ready to go. The less there is to think about and do when hosting a picnic or BBQ the better, in my opinion. Simply fill a zipper-lock bag with meat and marinade, massage for 5 minutes, and throw the meat on the grill. It's that easy.
If you're someone who likes to complicate things, and believe me I can be like that sometimes too, you can take the low-and-slow route instead and spend hours grilling for your guests. You can even turn your grill into a smoker and refer to McCormick's Smoke & Spice Pairing chart for ways to pair different kinds of wood (which impart different flavors) with different spices.
And if you want to get really fancy, you could always make your own condiments. McCormick has plenty of DIY Condiment suggestions, from flavored mayos, mustards, and ketchups to pickles and relishes. How much fun would it be to serve your guests an array of different-flavored ketchups alongside some freshly grilled hot dogs?
We grilled up some hot dogs last weekend, and I made McCormick's Worcestershire Pub Mustard to go with them. It was as easy as stirring some McCormick Grill Mates Worcestershire Pub Burger Seasoning into Dijon mustard.
I also made some quick pickles using McCormick Pickling Spice that we've been enjoying with and without hot dogs.
Whether it's something as simple as burgers and dogs and grilled vegetables or as intricate as grilled meats like ribs or a smoked whole chicken, I hope you get to enjoy some grilled meals this weekend.
Be sure to check out McCormick's Grillerhood page on Facebook and visit McCormick's Grillerhood Grilling Guide on Pinterest for inspiration.
Have a happy, safe, and fun Labor Day Weekend!
*By the way... do you say picnic, barbecue, or cookout? Or something else? I always say picnic when I'm referring to a cookout in someone's yard. Jeff says cookout or barbecue. I know a picnic is also when you pack a basket and spread a blanket on the ground somewhere, but for some reason I've always called cookouts picnics too.