| ="body"> | | | | zucchini. If you're willing to put in a little more |
| It would seem that nowadays there are a lot of | | | | effort, you can prepare a bowl of pasta to serve |
| options for vegetarians. Meatless alternatives | | | | with the grilled veggies. Don't blame me if your |
| seem to abound everywhere, from the | | | | meat-loving friends fill up on this entrée |
| neighborhood deli, to the sushi shop, to the | | | | and you have to make more! |
| hamburger joint. The hamburger joint? Yes, you | | | | The second tip to hosting a vegetarian-friendly |
| heard correctly. With the introduction of several | | | | barbecue is presentation. While a pile of juicy |
| brands of meatless "burgers," vegetarians can | | | | steaks thrown on a platter straight from the grill |
| brave the very den of carnivorous pleasure. Once | | | | may look tempting, a pound of potatoes doesn't |
| viewed as an eccentric oddity, vegetarians have | | | | quite have the same appeal. Take a few minutes |
| moved from the fringe to the mainstream. | | | | to peruse a few vegetarian cookbooks, or |
| However, the truth is, all too often the meatless | | | | preview the photographs of the recipes you |
| menu option isn't vegetarian at all...it's just a menu | | | | check out on line. You may be surprised how |
| item, minus the meat. Unfortunately, a white | | | | tempting a plate of Stuffed Tomatoes looks with |
| hoagie bun topped with iceberg lettuce, pickles, | | | | a sprig of fresh herbs and a sprinkling of balsamic |
| onions, mayonnaise, and mustard is about as | | | | vinegar, grated cheese, or drizzled oil. Let your |
| unappealing to the vegetarian as it is to the | | | | creative juices flow freely, and watch how |
| carnivore counterpart. | | | | mouth-watering the vegetarian alternative |
| So what about the vegetarian at the barbecue? | | | | suddenly becomes. |
| With its increased popularity, it's highly likely you | | | | This article wouldn't be complete without a word |
| have friends or family members who've adopted | | | | on quality. Time after time I've found this to be |
| this lifestyle. Don't let this cause you angst the | | | | the big difference between a veggie-lover and a |
| next time you invite them over for barbecue. | | | | veggie-hater. Usually the veggie-hater has never |
| With the tips below, you can be assured they'll be | | | | been exposed to good quality vegetables. If you |
| licking their fingers and singing your praise as | | | | want your vegetarian entrée to come out |
| enthusiastically as your steak-loving comrades. | | | | tasting like a champ, it's worth the effort to find |
| The first rule of thumb when barbecuing for | | | | the freshest produce available. Barbecue season |
| vegetarians is that veggies are not just a | | | | also happens to be the best season for |
| sideshow anymore. Don't doom your vegetarian | | | | vegetables--so check out your local farmer's |
| guests to pick and choose among the sides to | | | | market or neighborhood vegetable stand. Of |
| make their meals. Potato salad, relish plates, and | | | | course, the best place to get vegetables is |
| devilled eggs? Consider. You offer steak, chicken, | | | | straight out of the garden, and there are great |
| and fish to your meat-loving friends, but the | | | | recipes that even use the veggies you may |
| vegetarian in attendance is offered only corn on | | | | otherwise throw away. (For example, the green |
| the cob? Lame! If you want to really impress | | | | tomatoes that get knocked off the vine grill up |
| your vegetarian guests, you want to offer at | | | | firm and tangy!) Trust me, everyone will love a |
| least one meat-free main dish. While there are a | | | | vegetable that has been ripened by the sun, and |
| few meat substitutions out there I advise you to | | | | picked in season. |
| think outside the box. A quick search on the | | | | There you have it! Take these tips with you to |
| internet will reveal literally hundreds of recipes for | | | | the grocery store and the vegetable stand, and I |
| preparing veggies on the grill. A short-list of the | | | | have no doubt your barbecue will be a big hit--for |
| easiest to prepare, and most popular vegetables | | | | everyone! |
| would include potatoes, corn, tomatoes, and | | | | |