News Taffy

Summer time at our house means lots of cook outs with friends and family. It doesn’t mean we like to slave away over a hot stove or grill or spend hours prepping food. We try to keep it simple and to use farm fresh food whenever possible.

My husband enjoys manning the grill and I am happy to let him. One thing neither of us enjoy is cleaning charred bits of food off the grill. We found a nifty tool that seems to do the job at Bed Bath And Beyond called the “Grill Daddy” for $9.99. You fill the reservoir with water and the heat from the grill creates steam. The attached brush easily scrubs off the burned food. Makes a great Father’s Day gift!

We’ve also found a couple of new recipes that are great for summer cook outs. Mix up a batch of this rub to use on chicken, beef, pork or even fish. We liked it so much, we’ve already used it twice this month. I like to use chicken legs because they are so simple. I pull off the skin first to get rid of excess fat, then I rub the meat with a tiny amount of canola or olive oil to help the rub stick better. These grill over a medium heat in about 30 to 40 minutes.

Spice Rub

INGREDIENTS:
4 tsp. paprika
2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. mustard powder
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. oregano

DIRECTIONS: Mix well and rub on meat. A rub can be applied minutes before grilling, or left on the meat overnight to intensify the flavor. Put a rub on fish just before grilling as it will absorb flavor faster and doesn’t need to sit a long time. This pasta dish is great to pair with spicy foods. I think it would be great if you added some diced mango but try it as is first.

Lemony Orzo Pasta Salad

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups dry orzo pasta
2 Tbsp. olive oil, or enough to lightly coat the pasta
juice and zest of one lemon
1 large cucumber, seeded and diced
1 Tbsp. fresh mint, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS: Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and let cool. Dice the other ingredients while pasta cooks and cools. Place pasta, herbs, cheese and cucumber in a large bowl. Toss gently with lemon juice, zest and herbs. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

If you don’t already own a microplane grater or zester, pick one up at Bed Bath And Beyond. They are super easy to use and you won’t believe the flavor a bit of zest adds to foods. You simply scrape the lemon or lime with the zester, being careful to remove just the thin colored skin and not the white part underneath. Remember this weekend is Father’s Day, so cook a nice dinner for dear old Dad!