Super Bowl Game Day Grilling

For me game time grilling is out of the question and halftime is too!  Nobody wants to be at the grill unless a TV is nearby.  Pre-game grilling is where it's at for this big game day. An early evening kickoff makes an afternoon appetizer party a great way to nosh, nibble and 'pre-game' as my kids would say, before kick-off.

Grilling appetizers is fun, fast, and an easy way to mix it up with a variety of offerings. Just think of the fun serving grilled cheese sticks, pot-stickers, ravioli, quesadillas, and more to your appreciative guests!

Here are three ideas to make your Super Bowl grilling a fun and easy game day party.

1. Hit the Freezer Section at the Supermarket:

Cheese Sticks and Bread Sticks make easy appetizers right from the freezer to the grill.  Medium to low heat- you'll know when they're done.

Large Ravioli, fresh (we love Costco for these) or frozen is another easy finger-food appetizer.  Coat lightly in olive oil, grill at 400F.  Add a simple dipping sauce such as marinara or vodka sauce.  Raviolis crisp and puff-up when grilled at medium heat.

Potstickers are easy to grill with GrillGrates.  Frozen or not with little coat of oil to the grill at medium heat.  Postickers usually come with their own sauces another time saver.

2. Grill Cheese Quesadillas and Hit the Refrigerator for Salsas & Toppings:

Quesadillas on the grill and a nice platform to put salsas, sour cream, guacamole etc. 

• Two flour tortillas with a cheese mix in the center is a 5 minute grill at 400F.  
• Lightly coat with olive oil- a mister is real handy for applying the oil. 
• A couple of turns for nice grill marks and stiffness.
• Add toppings on or off the grill.  

I make a plate of cut slices for people to build their own toppings.  Grill peppers, brats and other goodies for toppings if you are looking for extended grill time.  OR- raid the refrigerator and clean out your sauces, greens and sour cream!

 

3. Throw a Pizza Party for the Super Bowl!

Use either MamaMary's par-baked crusts, make your own or buy the pre-made pizzas and grill them at 400F.  Check out dozens of grate pizza recipes on grillgrate.com.

• Pizza Grilling Tip:  At temps above 400F the bottom will burn before the toppings are hot.  The more toppings just lower the heat and the crust will stay golden brown and crispy.

What are you grilling for the Super Bowl? 

Share you pictures and recipes!

• Facebook

• SuperBowl Pinterest Board

• Recipe and Feedback link

GrillGrate, Eat Well!  Game ON!

 

The Science of Grate Grilling

After two years in the market with GrillGrates, we are finally ready to better explain how and why GrillGrates work so much better. A lot of feedback from customers, some insightful reviews from foodies and barbecue pro's has helped us realize how truly different Grill Grates are.

Craig "Meathead" Goldwyn of Amazingribs.com has written the most thorough review of the dynamics of GrillGrates to date. We met recently in Memphis at the NBBQA conference and had the chance to discuss further.

Craig thinks GrillGrates grill more effectively for several reasons:

• Conduction (direct heat) The heat is distributed evenly through the GrillGrate to the top of the rails making for not only outstanding searing but more surface area contact with the food for crispier chicken and crunchy sear marks.
  
• Convection (hot moving air) The valleys between the rails swirl with heat. Juices from meat and vegetables vaporize for moist flavor that rises back into the food. For pizza, pasta, garlic bread this will be a dry heat making for crispy but not burned foods. Pizza crusts and flour tortillas are outstanding from the combination of conduction and convection.
  
• Infrared (reflective heat). The panels themselves radiate heat because there is a lot of surface area that is heated up by the grill.
  

I need a Georgia Tech engineer who can get me some heat motion video! Shelley are you out there?
GrillGrate, Eat Well!
More Grate science to come.

Super Bowl Grilling

I read somewhere that Super Bowl Sunday is the 7th most popular day for grillers. I'm going to a neighbors for pot luck and he doesn't have a grill so I'm bringing one of mine. BUT I have no intention of getting tied to the grill and missing game time. This cookout is all about pre-game, appetizers and I've done my part. I am sticking to my grill more eat less diet, I'm taking a couple bags of large tortillas, cheese, (ouch picked that up today for $8 bag) olive oil and some vegetables. During cocktail hour I'll be grilling a bunch of Super Bowl tortillas for people to decorate as they choose with Salsa, Quac, Sour Cream, etc. I can grab most of if from the fridge so thats a bonus. Tortillas make great bases for quesadillas on the grill and nifty appetizers. The tortillas cook fast at 400F and I go for 3 turns to get the sear and stiffness. Sometimes they'll bubble up with air on the grill. Hot off the grill it is 5 minute grill duty. Of course I'll grill the vegetables first over a beer or two, and maybe some brats, but mostly its tortillas for healthy grilled appetizers. Got to have some hangtime at the grill before kickoff!

Preparation:

• Two large flour tortillas form a sandwich with cheese
• Oil or spray one side and place downward on cutting board
• Sprinkle 3 Mex Blend cheese over topside and place
• Second tortilla on top- spray or brush the topside with olive oil and you are ready for the grill.

Grilling:

• Best on Gas Grills for fast controlled temp- 400F
• You'll know you are too hot when the sear marks are black
• 2 minutes then turn with Grate Tool
• 2 minutes quarter turn
• 1 minute turn- or off the grill- cut into 6 or 8 slices for Super Bowl grilled quesadillas.

I'm going to try and make a stack before hand but its supposed to be nice- I might go fishing. I'll also bring a couple of MamaMary's Gourmet Pizza Crusts . There's going to be some good pizza fixings for a grilled pizza or two at halftime! I'm rooting for the Cards, mostly because Warner is a class act, and he was a good NY Giant for a short time.