One of my goals for this summer is to break gender stereotypes and become a confident griller! I am home with my kids while my husband works full time, and we want grilled food while he’s away! So why not fire it up and start grilling?! What is stopping me? Absolutely nothing! I don’t want to go another 10 years (or even just 1) to have the fun of grilling with my kids and friends!

I know I’m not alone in my background and original thoughts around grilling. I was raised by my mother who prepared the meat and delivered it to the grill where my dad took over, and then retreated to the kitchen to prepare the rest of the sides. That worked for them. I too am happy to include my husband in the cooking. And since he enjoys grilling, that’s a great way for him to contribute. But I don’t want to be waiting at home for 6 o’clock (or later) to roll around so he can come get the food going. I want to be empowered to confidently grill when I want to, without relying on him.

In an effort to prepare for my upcoming summer of grilling, I have collected a few ideas from friends and online. Here are some ideas for lunch (and dinner!) friendly grilled meals:

Chicken and vegetable shish kabobs

Teriyaki chicken breast

Personal pizzas

Ribs

Classic Hot dogs +Hamburgers

BBQ bacon sliders

Chili Lime Mango Chicken Skewers

Sweet and Spicy Honey Grilled Shrimp

Flank Steak

Thai Coconut Grilled Chicken

Some snack and dessert ideas:

Grilled peaches and ice cream

Artichokes

Garlic Balsamic Asparagus

Wish me luck with my grilling goals, and I wish you the best with yours!