Go Beyond the Burger to Kick Off Grilling Season

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., May 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of Americans will fire up the grill on Memorial Day to commemorate the unofficial start of the outdoor cooking season, and although burgers and hot dogs are tried and true favorites, other foods can add some sizzle to summertime fare, according to classically-trained chef and Applegate co-founder, Chris Ely.

"Burgers and hot dogs are wonderful on an open flame, but there are a lot more options out there to bring some variety to the grill," says Ely.  "Sausages are a great way to spice things up, and don't forget that the grill isn't just for meat – from fish to vegetables to pizza, you can make almost anything on a grill."

Applegate, the leading producer of natural and organic meats and cheeses, offers a full line of pre-cooked dinner sausages including Spinach and Feta (made with chicken and turkey), Sweet Italian (chicken and turkey) and Pork Bratwurst.  "Grilling is usually a quick way to get dinner on the table, but with our sausages it's even quicker and safer because you don't have to worry about undercooking the meat," according to Ely.  

Here are Ely's tips to make your grilling easy and delicious:

• Heat and clean:  The best way to prevent foods from sticking on a grill is to start with a clean cooking surface and the easiest way to do that is to let the heat do the work.  Turn up your grill to high and let the previous grilling session's food residue burn off and scrape away with a grill brush.
• Make the most of your meat:  Whether it's a humble hot dog or a porterhouse steak, an organic or natural alternative will give you all the taste you want without the things you don't want:  fillers, meat from animals treated with antibiotics and hormones, and artificial preservatives.
• Go global with flavors:  Experiment with spices, herbs and sauces to mix things up on the barbecue.  A soy sauce-based marinade can give grilled fish or flank steak an Asian flair while some herbs de Provence sprinkled on grilled veggies can make you feel like you're dining in the French countryside.
• Give your dessert some grill marks:  Try grilling store-bought angel food or pound cake on for a toasty flavor and top with some grilled fruit like peaches or pineapple.  The flame from the grill caramelizes the fruit's natural sugars – giving a fruit-topped dessert an unexpected twist.

"The trick with great grilling is to treat your barbecue as an extension of your kitchen," according to Ely.  "Just think of your favorite foods, and many of them can be transformed to outdoor cooking."

About Applegate

For more than 20 years, Applegate has been producing high-quality natural and organic hot dogs, bacon, sausages, deli meats, cheese and frozen products.  Natural can mean many things, but when Applegate says their products are natural, consumers are guaranteed that the meat inside is:

• Raised without antibiotics or hormones
• From animals fed a vegetarian or 100% grass diet and treated with humane animal standards
• Free of added chemical nitrites, nitrates or phosphates
• Free of artificial ingredients or preservatives

For more information about our products, visit www.applegatefarms.com

SOURCE Applegate