RISMEDIA, May 18, 2009-For many families, Memorial Day marks the official start of the grilling season. To help moms make fresh, affordable summer meals, Stop & Shop is offering easy ways to add healthy twists to the menu without adding dollars to the grocery bill.
“We want to educate our customers about how to grill healthy meals and select the best cuts of meat, so they can continue enjoying family traditions and outdoor parties without feeling limited by their budgets,” said Andrea Astrachan, consumer advisor at Stop & Shop.
4 easy tips for hosting diet- and budget-friendly summer grilling parties:
Go lean. The leanest cuts of steak are healthier and often the most affordable, too. Look for top round, eye round, round tip, top sirloin, chuck shoulder, flank and skirt steak.
Maximize flavor. To ensure tenderness and tastiness of lean cuts, marinate overnight if possible. Be careful not to overcook lean cuts of meat. Instead, take steaks off the grill a little early, and let them rest for five to 10 minutes. Use tongs on the grill instead of a fork to avoid piercing the steak and allowing flavorful juices to escape.
Buy big, but serve small. Keep an eye out for “Big Buy” bulk deals on meats and freeze leftovers for the next party. Use smaller portions of meat (about three ounces per serving), and instead fill plates with fresh, locally grown produce, grilled corn, tomatoes and peppers.
Explore your options. Poultry is an economical choice and a healthier option than red meat. Try a lean chicken sausage blended with vegetables for the grill or mix ground turkey with Worcestershire sauce, Caesar salad dressing or barbeque sauce for a different take on the classic burger.
Need new grilling ideas? Check out Stop & Shop’s Beef Sirloin Kebabs recipe.
Beef Sirloin Kebabs
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ready in: 25 minutes
Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients:
1 lb. boneless top sirloin steak, trimmed of fat
3 Tbsp. canola oil
1-1/2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 medium sweet bell red or green peppers, seeded
2 medium sweet onions
Steps:
Cut beef into 1″ cubes. Mix oil, vinegar, garlic, herbs and seasonings together in a glass dish. Stir in beef cubes, coating all surfaces with mixture, cover and marinate in refrigerator for several hours (2-12). Cut peppers into 1″ cubes, cut onions into small wedges. Alternate beef and vegetables on 4 skewers, leaving a small space between pieces of food. Liberally brush each kebab with marinade and then discard marinade. Grill kebabs over medium coals about 4″ from heat source. Grill for 8-10 minutes turning skewers every 2-3 minutes or cook in a preheated broiler- 4″ from heat. Cook until beef is cooked through and vegetables are tender. Serve kebabs with flavored rice and a fresh green salad.
For more information, visit www.stopandshop.com.
