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