BBQ’d Lettuce and Sauvignon Blanc!

bbq-lettuce.jpg

Here is a fantastic and unique recipe that is so easy even I can do it!BBQ Lettuce and Sauvignon Blanc

Believe it or not, BBQ’d romaine hearts with a little balsamic vinegar sprinkled over top and your favourite pork or chicken sliced and placed on the romaine, works so well that we often use this recipe several times during BBQ season. Not only does it taste great but I never tire of the, “are you kidding” from most of our friends. The change in the taste of the lettuce mixed with the pork tenderloin (my favourite) is quite amazing. You may have BBQ’d peppers and onions or mushrooms, so why not lettuce. Give it a try, you’ll be happy you did, but make sure you pair it with a Sauvignon Blanc. My go to vegetable and/or salad wine.

And for a sweet treat… Below is another cool recipe for dessert, that also cooks on the “cue” while your enjoying your meal. Scroll down for dessert.

Ingredients

  • Your favourite BBQ’d pork or chicken breast recipe. (I usually use a rub but not too spicy)
  • Romaine hearts (you need the spine to leaf ratio so it doesn’t get too flimsy while cooking)
  • Olive oil (we use good cold pressed extra virgin…life is too short not to use good oil)
  • Salt and pepper
  • Balsamic vinegar

Directions

1. BBQ to taste, your favourite pork tenderloin or chicken breast, then cover in foil and let rest.

2. Meanwhile, brush on some olive oil to cover both sides of the romaine hearts you have prepared, then a light sprinkle of salt and pepper on both sides.

3. On medium to high temperature, place the romaine on the grill with the spine of the lettuce face down and cook each side for approximately 10-20 seconds, or until just the edges of the leafs are brown/slightly charred.

VERY IMPORTANT: Do not leave the bbq unattended, the smaller pieces can take 10 seconds a side.

4. Once the leafs are cooked,place them on each plate and sprinkle some balsamic vinegar over top.

5. Then slice your pork tenderloin or chicken and lay the slices directly on the romaine (sometimes we sprinkle a little more balsamic on the pork)

My favourite wine with this meal is Sauvignon Blanc. Good acidity matches well with veggies and will even stand up to the balsamic!

Enjoy! Pretty easy eh!

Photo credit: Dan Harrelson

grilled-pineapple.jpg

BBQ Pineapple dessert

Ingredients

  • Whole pineapple
  • Maple syrup
  • Grand marnier or drambue or rum (or all of them if feeling creative)
  • Butter
  • Vanilla ice cream

Directions

Helpful tip: Prep your dessert before dinner so it is all ready to go on the grill before you sit down to eat.

1. Cut your pineapple into wedges then cut the fruit away from the skin about 3/4 of the way so a small bit is still attached to the fruit. This way the pineapple won’t slide off the skin.

2. On a sheet of foil, place the fruit skin down. It helps to make a bit of a boat shape out of your foil so you won’t spill the rest of the ingredients.

3. Pour some syrup, rum (or booze of choice) and a 1/2 teaspoon of butter onto the pineapple.

4. Once satisfied, fold up the tin foil to cover and trap all the ingredients inside the foil.

5. Set your BBQ to a low temperature and place your boat shaped foil packages on the grill, with pineapple skin down and close BBQ lid. Let warm and sit while you enjoy your entree.

6. Once you are finished your entree and ready for dessert, remove from heat and remove the pineapple slices from the foil and serve on a dish.

IMPORTANT: I like to put the dessert on as soon as we start eating because by the time you are finished eating, dessert is ready and all you can smell is this wonderful, warm pineapple, maple and butter aroma… yummy!

Serve with scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Bon Appetite!

Photo credit: Link