Being Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, we decided to throw an end-of-summer gathering with my family. It was one last hurrah before all the cousins go back to school. My kids always have a great time playing with their cousins that are both older and younger than they are. We have also introduced two new puppies to our family this month, so they were a huge hit at the party!
[slickr-flickr tag=playingpuppies]I decided to have a backyard cookout for our party. Everything taste better when grilled! Plus, my husband is a master grilling chef, at least I think so! I have found great tips on preparing beef as well as recipes on www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com. Beef is America’s favorite choice for protein because it is so easy to prepare, versatile, nutritious and delicious. I love trying new recipes, so I chose several for our party to accommodate the preferences of all 14 adults and kids at the party. With that many people, there is bound to be at least a few picky eaters so I find having options is best.
Beef Fajitas on a Stick Recipe
For the Beef Fajitas on a Stick Recipe, I used boneless beef top sirloin steak. The recipe doesn’t call for the first step but I always sprinkle course sea salt on my steaks about 1 hour at room temperature before grilling. Then I rinse and dry before grilling. It makes any cut of steak tender. Next, I sliced the sirloin steaks into 1/2″ thick strips and weaved them onto soaked skewers.
[slickr-flickr tag=steakandveggies]Next, I seasoned the steak with Italian dressing and lime juice. I also cut up onions, and fresh green and red bell peppers and seasoned with the Italian dressing mixture. My husband grilled the veggies and steak on the grill. We served the steak and veggies with tortillas and salsa. The meat was tender and juicy while the veggies were flavorful and crisp. Everyone loved this recipe. The kids thought it was super fun to eat the meat right off the sticks!
Santa Fe Grilled Corn Recipe
For the corn, I used the Santa Fe Grilled Beef Steaks & Corn recipe. I’m sure the steak is excellent prepared this way but I was interested in the corn! We soaked the ears of corn in their husks for 1/2 hour, then grilled on the grill for 20 minutes. Finally, we glazed the grilled corn with a chili glaze of steak sauce, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and butter.
[slickr-flickr tag=cornoncob]It was delicious! Of course, I also prepared some corn with just a melted butter glaze since not everyone enjoys the Santa Fe flavoring. (They don’t know what they are missing!)
Star-Spangled Cheeseburgers Recipe
I love being creative and making foods fun to look at and enjoy. I especially like doing this for my kids to make them want to eat healthier foods. I loved the idea I found in the Star-Spangled Cheeseburgers recipe. Simply take a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut the slices of cheese into star shapes.
[slickr-flickr tag=starshapecheese]Basic Lean Beef Burgers Recipe
I actually used the Basic Lean Beef Burgers Recipe from The Healthy Beef Cookbook. This is a must-have cookbook for preparing delicious, healthy beef recipes including steaks, salads, stir-fry, and more. For the burgers, I used 95% lean ground beef, bread crumbs, egg whites, salt, and pepper.
[slickr-flickr tag=hamburgerongrill]This was the first time I’ve ever prepared burgers from ground beef into patties. Weird, I know. I usually buy them already shaped and prepared. My family didn’t know what they were missing out on. These were the juiciest burgers we’ve ever made at home! Everyone raved about how good they were. In fact, my dad surprised us and ate 2! He has been on a strict diet since he had a heart attack last winter and has lost 55 lbs.
[slickr-flickr tag=ourlabordayparty]Simple Steps for Grilling Beef
Earlier this summer, I posted about the health benefits to grilling your foods, including reduced calories, more riboflavin and thiamine vitamins, greater food value, and juicier and tastier foods! We use our indoor grill year round as well as our outdoor charcoal grill during warmer months.
Once you get the basics of grilling down, you can easily prepare foods you only thought could be enjoyed at your favorite steakhouse. If you want to learn grilling techniques to impress your friends and family, check out the ‘Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.’ tips website.
There are 3 Simple Steps for Grilling Beef that you should know before your next cookout! Download Beef Grilling Tips
- Choose the Right Cut. With so many cuts of beef available, it can be hard finding the right cut for grilling. Some of the best cuts for grilling include Top Loin (my favorite), Flank, and Ribeye.
- Prepare your beef. Season beef with herbs and seasonings and prepare your gril according the the manufacturer’s directions for medium heat.
- Grill your beef on the cooking grid, covered, according to chart (Download Chart), turning occasionally.
End of Party
All our family gatherings are lively lately as our family grows and grows and grows! Everyone had their fill of food and fun. All of the ‘babies’ played so hard that they had to take a nap during the party!
[slickr-flickr tag=sleepingpuppies]Of course the older kids were wired! They were running all over the house! Luckily it didn’t rain during the whole party, so they were able to run off some energy outside. Before everyone left for the night, we filled them up with delicious desserts! Yummy!
[slickr-flickr tag=dessertatparty]I wrote this review while participating in a In Home Party campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and received product samples to facilitate my party and review, and a promotional item to thank me for participating.
