Happy Friday everyone!  I promised that today was going to be a day of sharing some tips on how to have a quick and easy grill dinner.

Here are some of the ones I tend to use the most:

Remember foil packets?  They are your friend.  Use them to pre-bake all kinds of ribs inside and the rip open the bag and put the ribs on the grill to finish.  No messes to clean up inside and the grease remains inside the bag-where it belongs!

Use the foil bags to make easy fish dishes-place your herbs, lemon (whatever you like) and lay the fillets (or whole fish) on top seal the bag and grill.  No mashed up or broken meals that wind up in the coals/briquettes instead of your stomachs.

If you were in the girl scouts you know about foil packet meals and how yummy they are!  Use thin slices of beef or chicken chunks (I've used pork and it's also delish), sliced onions, minced garlic, salt and pepper and thin slices of red potatoes.  Grill packets about 10 minutes on each side.

Now my kids don't like this side dish, but the rest of the family does.  Using the foil pouch method again- layer thinly sliced potatoes, onions, a bit of either margarine or evoo, season with salt and pepper.  Grill about 10 minutes on each side.  This method is also good with a combination of carrots, parsnips-any root vegetable really.  Some of the other veggies will get to mushy this way.

Grill previously steamed artichokes!  Simply cut them in half, spray with some olive oil and grill them up-they are so wonderful this way.  We love grilling asparagus, zucchini, yellow squash and all sweet peppers.

Dessert anyone?  

We've all heard about doing pineapple, peaches and nectarines-simply brush with some maple syrup or a bit of white or brown sugar.  Serve with sorbet, frozen yogurt or ice cream.  The fruit is also fantastic when chopped up after they're grilled and then used as filling for shortcakes with whipped cream and biscuits or angel food cake!

Are any of these ideas all that new?  No, but sometimes in the midst of going through all the other seasons-we forget just how wonderful and delicious simplicity really is.