Memorial Day Fun for the Family

Memorial Day, along with the traditional honoring of the dead, is a three-day weekend with the kids out of school. Organize some Memorial Day fun with a picnic or barbecue and enjoy the fresh fruits as the summer begins.

Essential Grilling Tips for Kabobs

Lightly coat your grill rack with vegetable oil or a nonstick cooking spray before placing it over the coals.To help prevent sticking, heat the rack for 5 to 10 minutes before setting the food on it.
 •   Either metal or bamboo skewers work fine. If you’re using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes before threading.
 •   Put the foods that need to cook the longest, such as meat or raw vegetables, in the center of the skewer. Place tender items that cook quickly on the ends.
 •   Cook Kabobs over a medium-hot fire. The coals should be gray with a red underglow.
 •   Turn the kabobs only once or twice with long-handled barbecue tongs or oven mitts.
 If you have trouble with food flopping to its heavy side when turning over, thread on two skewers.
 To minimize flare-ups, trim all the excess fat from the meat before grilling. Lowering the heat also reduces flare-ups. To reduce the heat, raise the grill, space the coals further apart, remove some of the coals, or reduce the fire’s air supply by putting a cover on the barbecue or closing the air vents. If flames are beginning to burn the meat, remove the meat and mist the flames with a spray bottle, but don’t soak the coals.

BURGER KABOBS

Warm the pita breads on the edge of the barbecue. Slip the meatballs from the skewers into the pitas and top with condiments.
    1-1/2 pounds extra-lean ground beef
    1 small onion, finely chopped
    1 egg, beaten
    1/3 cup oatmeal
    1/2 cup ketchup
    1/2 cup barbecue sauce
    1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    4 pita breads, halved

Condiments (grated cheese, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, pickles, chopped cucumbers, mustard, ketchup, etc.)

Combine all the ingredients except the pita breads and condiments in a large bowl and mix well. Shape into 1″ meatballs and thread onto skewers. Cook on a greased grill over hot coals until well done. Remove the meatballs from skewers and place 2 to 3 meatballs in each pita half. Top with condiments.

Serves 4 to 6.