We love our gas grill. Living in the northeast we usually don’t use it Decemeber through February, but we’ll venture outdoors as cold as we can take it because for us, the benefits of using our grill are worth it! Our grill isn’t any big deal. It was the second least expensive one at Lowe’s but it’s really all we need.
Here’s why I love using our grill:
- It’s healthier - No frying or baking in fattening sauces. Summertime is all about grilling. Marinate and season, yum. We also tend to eat more veggies in the summer because grilling them is such a tasty alternative.
- It introduces new meals – It’s so fun when we can begin using our grill again because there are so many more meals to add to our rotation. We’ll try to grill almost anything. We’ve thrown a pizza on the grill, fruit, tons of veggies, you name it.
- It’s less expensive – I don’t know this for sure. I just assume. When I grill I barely use my kitchen at all. No stove, oven or microwave. I would guess that I save more in electricity than I spend in propane for the grill. Also, if you’re willing to marinate them for a while, like at least a day, you can purchase less expensive cuts of meat.
- It saves time & hassle – Honestly, this is the best one for me. Grilling requires very little prep work. When making my meals indoors it is not uncommon for me to spend an hour or so preparing, cooking and cleaning the kitchen for supper. Then there’s the clean-up afterwards. When I’m grilling, the prep/cook time is FAR less and the clean up is so much quicker. Less time in the kitchen = more time with my family. The evenings are the only time during the week when we’re all home as a family so it’s really a shame when I make a fantastic, enormous meal just to find myself in the kitchen until my daughter’s bedtime.
Try this! Sweet BBQ Chicken Kabobs - I love the flavor of these. Kabobs are a really fun thing for kids too (beware of the pointy ends). It makes veggies seem more fun when you can pick up the bite-size pieces with your hands!
Do you use a grill? Do you have any other tips to speed up the time it takes to prepare supper without sacrificing quality and nutrition?
Why I do what I do ~ Ever since watching “The Land Before Time” recently my daughter has been calling herself “Little Foot” and calling me and my hubby Grandma and Grandpa. How do I tell my daughter that I still like to think I’m young and relevant – Grandma isn’t allowed in a sentence associated with me until I’m AT LEAST 55.
photo credit: mathplourde
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I really love it when we grill because my hubby does all the work. He does all of our outside grilling so I get a break from cooking.
I’m sure you’re right about it being less expensive. I really hadn’t thought about that but I would have to agree.
We don’t pay much for our propane because instead of exchanging our tank for a full one and paying the exchange rate, we take our empty tank to a local gas station that fills propane tanks.
It cost about half the price to just get it re-filled, rather than trade it at places like Lowe’s or other exchange places.
Amanda’s last blog post..10 Steps to Make Shopping with Kids Easier
You’re so right, Nikki. My husband can’t wait to get the grill set up in our backyard. And this year, we’ve promised to try more new recipes.
I LOVE to grill. I am the Grill Mistress around here. I love that smell in spring when everyone around here starts to break out the grills. My favorites to add on to any meal are roasted potatoes (cut into bite sizes, add olive oil & seasonings like salt & pepper and garlic, then put in an aluminum foil pouch and put it on the grill for at least 10-20 minutes before the meat) and summer squash from our garden. During the winter we still grill on occasion but the spring, summer & fall see us grilling almost daily.
Liz’s last blog post..And so little time
mmm…I love grilling! My favorites are portabella mushrooms and corn. So much flavor gets added to food from grilling it.
Kate’s last blog post..Five Senses Friday – Dawn
Love, love, LOVE outdoor grilling!
Now, I’m hungry for some grilled steaks…
Amy’s last blog post..Fab-o-lus Friday
I love to grill, primarily because my husband does it all and it gives me a night off from cooking. My favorite veggies are zucchini and corn on the cob. Mmmmm!
I loved your Land Before Time story…too funny! My kids love that movie series too, but thankfully they don’t call us grandpa and grandma. Good luck with that one!
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I also love to grill. Haven’t been able to find a decent gas grill I could afford lately, so when my last one exploded for the third time, out it went to the alley (to be dragged off by one of the neighbors who doesn’t mind risking life & limb for dinner). Replaced it with a charcoal grill with a smoker thing: and I JUST LOVE IT! The food tastes so much better cooked over actual charcoal and wood, and with a chimney gadget, it’s not much harder to start the coal than it is to turn on a gas grill.
One thing I did discover in the interim, though: Cooking indoors leads one to cook more complex meals that create good leftovers, and that seems to be a more economical use of one’s groceries. I seem to be spending a lot less on groceries when dinner is something other than a slab of meat and a few veggies.
@Funny – That’s interesting what you point out about leftovers. It’s true that I have fewer leftovers from grilled meals. Do you think it may balance out though because I feel like I spend less on the grilled meals?