Easy Grilling for Labor Day

I’ve been trying to come up with something fun to make for my family for the Labor Day holiday this weekend, but haven’t gotten much beyond the old standbys of hamburgers and hot dogs. I hadn’t even thought of doing steak and vegetable skewers, but it’s such an easy and fast meal that I’ve added it to next week’s menu plan!

In the video above, Mike Hedrick, a barbecue expert, does a great job demonstrating how to put skewers together using steak, peppers, squash, zucchini and onions.

I like that you can use pretty much any meat on the skewers — you don’t have to spend a lot for chicken, and steak always seems to be on sale around the holiday weekends — and that the vegetables can be tailored to suit each family member (this is doubly great for picky kids!). Adding cherry tomatoes and mushrooms would be fantastic, too.

Mike also has videos on grilling Kentucky Grilled Bone-In Pork Chops, Homestyle Deviled Eggs, Chicken Drumettes, grilled fruit (which would be delicious with homemade vanilla ice cream), and don’t forget the drinks — bloody marys and “red eyes,” or what my sister-in-law calls a “red beer.”

Steak and Vegetable Kabobs
from Good Housekeeping

1 lb top round steak, cut into 1.5 inch chunks
1 medium Spanish or vidalia onion, quartered and separated
3 Tb soy sauce
1 Tb salad or olive oil
1 Tb chili sauce
¼ tspn ground ginger
1 medium zucchini
1 medium yellow squash
1 red red pepper
1 green pepper
½ lbs mushrooms
½ lb cherry tomatoes
¾ c Italian dressing

~ In a medium sized bowl, mix the first 7 ingredients. Cover mixture and refrigerate at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

~ Cut all vegetables into one-inch chunks. On long skewers, alternately thread zucchini, yellow squash, peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions and steak.

~ Place skewers on grill over medium heat. Cook about 10 minutes. Turn skewers several times.