In the summertime, when the wether is fine...

June is a great month, because there is an abundance of fresh produce available. And, to me, no meal says "summertime" like beef and veggie kabobs. And, if you can get some good Gulf shrimp, it just gets better.

I went shopping today at two grocery stores, and got the best from both. I got some wild caught Gulf shrimp and some top sirloin at one store, and some really nice peppers and Texas 1015 onions at another.

Texas 1015 onions are the Texas Vidalia -- you can eat them raw, and they are sweet -- but only in June.

I made my skewers with beef and onions on two of them, shrimp and onions on two more, and sweet bell peppers and fresh shrooms on the last two.

I seasoned the beef and the veggie skewers with nothing more than kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, and the seasoned the shrimp skewers with nothing but garlic salt. Good, fresh food doesn't need a lot of seasoning. Just enough to put an accent on the food's natural flavors -- NOT cover it up.

I lit up some Kingsford blue bag, and put the lit coals in the ultimate summertime grill, a RED Weber kettle.

The beef skewers went on first since the beef needs more time to cook. Then I added the shrimp and the veggie skewers. Everything got done at the same time.

My neighbor brought some Stellas over, which I think was the perfect summertime choice in beers to compliment this meal, and we feasted on what I consider to be the ultimate summertime evening meal. Very simple, very fresh, and satisfying, with out filling you up in the summer heat.

This ain't fancy food, and there ain't no sauces. It is simple food that lets the natural flavors of fresh summertime foods shine, with just the basic seasonings.

I love this time of year.

landarc said:

Man, that does scream summer.

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I know you are coveting the wood handles on that red Weber.

I do this same meal EVERY year about this time. It just works.

CD

Gore said:

Oooo, and you even remembered the mushrooms. :shock:

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Not the good shrooms. Kroger doesn't sell those. :roll:

CD

I forgot to show the after dinner treats...

CD

JMSetzler said:

Summertime indeed The food looks great... maybe I should wait to find another throwdown to toss my first hat into the ring there...

PS - A nice hefeweizen would have kicked the summertime thing into high gear

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Naw, just do it. I never win, but I have fun, and eat well. That's all that really matters.


And, an ice cold Stella is my idea of a summertime beer. But, to each his own.

CD

JMSetzler said:

I think I'm gonna... I found a recipe I wanna try and it might just fit this theme very nicely

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Just don't make something better than my entry. :becky:

CD

syndicate559 said:

CAO, good call and you can't go wrong with Stella at any time of year, IMHO. Nice looking skewers. I don't smoke CAOs a lot, but LOVE the Cameroon wrapped line. That looks like a Nicaraguan? I'm not up to date on their bands, so just guessing by the color of the wrapper.

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With this kind of fare, I like a beer that isn't dark or heavy, but still has good flavor. Stella fits that, for me.

I don't usually smoke CAOs, but a friend gave them to me, and they are pretty good. I used to have a good source for kewb@ns, but not anymore.

CD