I have a confession. In fact, the kiwi (hubs) and I both have a confession.
Ready to hear it?
We hate summer. Not the season itself, but the weather. Texas weather. There, I said it. We said it.
It’s like our winter. We stay indoors longer because it’s ridiculously hot and really never cools off, even at night. But it only lasts 3 months and the rest of the 9 months are pretty splendid, so I can’t complain. The only hard part is the training for the Kiwi Cotter. Poor guy. But he sucks it up and gets out there and does it! I make sure to spray him down with a hose after each workout too. Haha, that’s being a good Sherpa, right?
But since summer is all about grilling season I’m going to embrace it. In fact, I think I’ll embrace it the STRANGE but GOOD way.
Today I am going to share my strange but good foods to grill. I’ve asked a few people to share their oddest or most unusual grilled food and I’ve done a little experimenting myself.
My top favorite foods to throw on the grill.. whoa, I almost said girl. Focus here!
A childhood favorite- PB and Banana.
I use the crunchy Nuttzo and udis gluten free bread. Add a little butter on both sides and honey or maple syrup in the middle. OH MY HEAVENS.. MELTS in your MOUTH! You can grill it with or without foil and similar guidelines to that of a grilled cheese. Sometimes I grill or sautee the banana beforehand.
Faux Fancy Grilled Bread – Hot Dog Bun Toastinis.
I use Udis gluten free hot buns, toast them on the grill, then add in cream cheese, hummus, basil, tomato sauce, etc. This one is super easy and delicious.
My next attempt to grill toast will be for this recipe. GF toast with butter, apricot jam, feta, and balsamic glaze and honey. I’ll let you know if it works on the grill as well. I’m thinking yes, and I might even add on some fresh grilled apricots!
A vegetable you never thought to try grilling.. CUCUMBERS. I’ve done it once then I added it to a taco salad. Ya, that was GENIUS! Do it!
Other UNUSUAL foods to try on the grill. Note: I haven’t tried these yet but I plan to, one day. 
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Kiwi fruit
- avocado
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Papaya
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Bananas
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Meat Balls
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Clams
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Seaweed or Kelp noodles (in foil with Peanut sauce)
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Tortillas
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Cake
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Cookies. Heck might as well throw on Muffins too
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French Toast
Not as strange but still GREAT Grills.
Lindsay from The Lean green Bean recently got into grilling beets.—> HECK YA Linz!
Sarah from The Fit Cookie grilled Cauliflower and Apples with Caramel sauce. WHOA! Recipe here.
Abby from Back at Square Zero grilled up some peaches and frozen yogurt.
What’s that saying? If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen? … GLADLY!
Fire up the grill.
Most unusual food you have grilled or attempted to grill?
Ready.. GO!
Cheers,
LC
p.s.
This coming Monday at 12:30 ET, Udis Gluten Free community is hosting a live chat about summer fitness and Gluten free eating. We’ll be giving away A TON of Udis Gluten free prizes, including the hot dog buns, breads, new products, etc. Come JOIN!
Thanks for sharing my recipe! I grilled cauliflower last year and grilled some bananas this year – pretty yummy! I love grilling when it’s not too windy out
i am buying a grill for my new apartment and cant wait to try grilling pizza – and that pb banana sammy!
Grilled Watermelon!!! DO IT.
With sea salt.
I love that.
Maybe with some basil and some crumbly cheese like goat or feta. Havent tried that but bet it would be good.
I also love grilled lettuce, so so good.
Oh I empathize with you, Lindsay! It’s been pretty *toasty* in Boise the past month – over 105 most days! Needless to say, I’ve been hibernating indoors during the day (fortunately the mornings and evenings are lovely, though!), and when I do venture outside, it’s only to get from point A to point B. Thank goodness for air conditioning, yeah? I have the utmost respect for Kiwi Cotter. What a trooper he is to train in the sweltering temps! And huge props to you for being a supportive Sherpa! Way to man (err, woman?) that hose! 😉
All of these grilling ideas look incredibly delicious – especially the toast with butter, apricot jam, feta, and balsamic glaze and honey. Mmm…a definite must-try! Two unlikely foods I’ve tried grilled are watermelon (at home) and romaine lettuce (at a restaurant). The romaine was part of a “grilled Caesar salad.” SO good!
I’m not sure when you leave for vacation, but I’ll be praying for safe travels! Hugs! <3 xoxo
Yummy! So much grilling goodness. We don’t grill too much in the summer, but when we do-we do veggies and kebabs (not very original lol)!
Man I wish I had a grill. That’s the one thing about living in NYC, or at least in our apartment building – no grills allowed. Damn fire code 🙂
I just bought Udi’s GF buns for Bob and he loved them! So glad he’s happy with some of the recent swaps he’s made. Grilled cucumbers?!? I’m so curious….I love grilled veggies but have never tried that. I’ll have to experiment with that soon. 🙂
I want to grill ALL THE THINGS now LOL!! I don’t know how you can stand Texas in the summer. Our hottest days usually top out at 100 and even though it’s not for very long, I want to melt and/or die. I would prefer my summers in the 70-75 range 🙂
I find you, and your foodie creativeness/genius, to beautifully inspired!
And you need to try stuffing dark chocolate and dates in the bananas before you grill them, just sayin.
Xxx
I imagine that Texas summers are pretty rough with the heat! I’ll trade you though! You guys have nine nice months and Pittsburgh has three nice months without snow/crazy rain haha!
That all looks more good than strange!
Oh girl, I feel your pain – I used to live in Texas! We joke that that’s the reason everyone has a huge house in TX, because you literally live your whole life in the air conditioning. Ugh.
On another note, we tried grilling pizza here when it got too hot out, and it worked like a charm! Sooo good!
Mmmm…. grilled peaches with vanilla ice cream. So good! Cucumbers? That is definitely strange! Sounds like it could be good in taco salad though. I’m not all that creative on the grill but those are some great ideas!
That PB and banana sandwich sounds amazing!! I love that you added maple syrup to it :).
Grilled peaches with GY…that looks so amazing!
Those grilled peaches look beautiful. And I love hot weather!!!!! But it is difficult to train in. 🙂
I don’t have a grill BUT these all look amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY YUM is all I can say!!! When you do the cookies, I am there! 🙂
Grilled peaches & pineapples = heaven! They are the perfect summer treat!
I’d much prefer the heat to the cold, but it must be brutal training in that type of heat. Luckily you’re there to hose him down! 🙂
Lindsay! I love your blog. I’ve been following it for quite some time now and am always inspired to try new recipes you post. I recently decided to start my own blog and hope to have it up and running soon!
I grilled some apricots the other day that I picked up at Trader Joe’s, and they were delicious! They were soft, caramelized, and it really added a nice flavor to them. If only I had some cinnamon ice cream in the freezer; I think that would have been a good combination.
oh that makes me so happy! glad to hear you are starting your own. Can’t wait to read Alex. and nice to “meet” you.
Love grilling! 🙂 Never tried peaches but that sounds yummy to grill.
Never would have thought to grill a banana…. I eat PB and Banana sammy’s all the time and that would make it even better!
austin summer sounds horrific. somebody i know really well has been peeking at jobs down there, regardless. 😉
ps grilled peaches sound great!
I agree with you….summer = much to hot and humid. Although, I’m not a fan of freezing cold either. Grilled PB and J sounds absolutely awesome! I love PB on toast, so I’m sure I’d love it! Lots of other interesting ideas too. I just may have to try some of them. Thanks for sharing!
Summer haters unite! I feel so weird saying that, still. It seems counter-intuitive. But I totally agree that summer here is like winter everywhere else. Our seasons are backwards…we play outside in the winter and stay inside in the summer. Poor Kiwi Cotter! I just did 3 miles this morning and almost drowned in my sweat ;p. (I’m such a wuss in the heat!) And grilling is a must because turning the oven on makes the house WAY too hot! I’ve been wanting to try grilling avocados! Haven’t grilled anything unusual…we grill the heck out of veggies though. It makes them so sweet!
And p.s., I didn’t like grilled cheese growing up because I hated American cheese, so I always had grilled PB instead. For some reason people think that’s strange…obviously those people have never tried it! (Hmmm, maybe I should grill a pickle and then put it on the grilled PB sandwich. Holy yum!)
LOL! you read my mind. Was totally going to do the pb and pickle grilled next. Or maybe pb and grilled plums.
I grill everything and anything. Everything tastes better grilled.
I’ve done: avocados, banana, peaches, beets, cabbage, romaine, bok choy, kale chips, pizza, cauliflower steaks, broccoli, carrots, lima beans (whole, in the pod), and pretty much every veggie you can imagine (zucc, cukes, onions, peppers, snow peas, eggplant, green beans, celery, radishes….you get it.)
oh LIMA BEANS! that is the one i was wanting to try next. Have your tried grilling cookies yet? I know you have some. hehe
PB and banana is always a fav combo of mine 🙂 Hmm… maybe I could try grilling a PB and Banana sandwich? wonder how that would work!
I need to jump on this grilling thing! Hubby grills all our meat, but I might have to get in ther and grill up some veggie & fruit goodness. He did grill eggplant once and it was REALLY good!
I hear you on the hating summer weather. Only my hot weather lasts about 5 months, sometimes longer. I’m so boring, when I do grill I keep it basic with veggies like corn, peppers, potatoes. Well, boring but they taste good 🙂
I totally get the summer thing! It’s the same way in Phoenix, and if I still lived there, I’d feel the same way about summer.
I kind of hated summer when I lived in Atlanta too – training is the worst part for sure!! 🙂 And grilled cucumber? Love that idea!
Grilling is the new deep fry! Just throw it in and see what happens! LOL
I need to try the grilled PB & Banana! My favorite comfort food from childhood is grilled PB&J. Sooooo good.
Grilled avocado is delish, so is just about any fruit. Try grilling watermelon slices!
I’m going to have to crash my mom’s house to try grilling cucumbers. LOVE that idea!!! Thanks for linking up. 🙂
Lindsay, I wanted to thank you again for sending that e-mail it really helped and I truly appreciate your kindness!
Also, grilling cucumber sounds like a genius idea, I’ll have to try that next time the grill is on. Especially since I’ve wanted to try my hand at a few new grilled veggies.
Hope you have a beautiful day!<3
We don’t have a grill right now. How lame are we?!? I would totally love to try the grilled avocado thing, but FIRST, would be pineapple. Sprinkled with cinnamon. My mouth is watering!
I made my pizza on the grill, as well as Paella (in a pan obviously lol) – perfect!
Uh, I want to try grilled cucumber, I LOVE cucumber. And I can not wait to hear about the grilled cookies!!
I’ve heard great things about grilled apples– I need to get on that. I personally LOVE to have grilled pineapple.
p.s. try bacon with your pb and banana…. trust me. 🙂
OK- grilled PB and banana sounds amazing! I bet it would be equally scrumptious in foil over a fire when you’re camping.
I love that you compared summer to winter! I can’t even imagine being stuck inside due to heat!
You’re a good sherpa for hosing hubby down. I bet it’s one of the best parts of the job!
yessssss! grilling = <3 I'm drooling over your grilled nuttzo and jam + feta. GREAT IDEAS!
Its the humidity that kills me every time! UGH!
I love the summer and I love the heat. My husband, on the other hand, is NOT a fan at all! Luckily, we do both love grilled foods! I must try that grilled PB and banana sandwich. It sounds awesome!
We’re grilled clams, we’ve done stir fry and breakfast (eggs, toast, sausage) on the grill and grilled zucchini is amazing!
haha, my husband and your husband can relate. ohh and i need to grill up some eggs!
pb + banana – can’t ever go wrong there!!
Grilled peaches are my FAV!! I love them! I love that they can taste like peach cobbler without a stitch of sugar (or anything else) added! Yum
step one: get a grill 😉
oh yes, a must!
I love grilled veggies and fruit! These all sound wonderful!
Grilled PB and banana sandwich=best combo ever!
LOVE grilled pineapple (not strange), and grilled apples and bananas and peaches… ok pretty much any fruit.
We love to grill, but lately the weather hasn’t been very cooperative for grilling in the afternoon/evenings. During the FL winter, we use it almost daily.Something about grilled food just tastes delicious.
All of your creations look so delish. I feel ya on the miserable summer. I love a nice dry heat but I am so over the humidity.
I know one way you will learn to love the Texas heat! come spend a winter with me….then you have 9 months of cold, miserable, grey weather and only three months of sunshine. You’ll never stay inside for a Texas summer again 😉 hehe
Grilling sounds like fun 🙂
Mmm, so many good ideas! We tried grilling cabbage stuffed with bacon once… it was pretty amazing.
We grill all the time too. It’s just not worth heating up the kitchen. I forget about doing the foil packs – though I did grill beats in them and that worked really well. Love grilling quesadillas and pizza. We even grilled tater tots once!
Grilling watermelon . . . . .
BTW, I saw a thing in a magazine where you buy a slate tile at home depot and set it on your grill, heat it up, and then “grill” all you small stuff on there . . . . that’s my next grilling project
um, i might inviting myself over when you do! hehe
oh my goodness! grilled beets!? so fun! i always see your famous grilled hot dug buns and I want them so bad every time i see that pic! i don’t know if i ever grilled anything that strange on a bbq before…
romaine hearts… pineapple… but those are all kind of pretty “normal” or have been done before. i want to try your grilled cucumber!!
try pineapple, cucumber, and bison burgers! all grilled!
After reading this I have decided that I am a boring griller. I need to get cracking and trying some of these, especially the Nuttzo/banana sandwich!
I can appreciate not liking summer when it’s so brutal. We get our share of hot/humid air, but we do get brief two-three day breaks every couple of weeks and that makes it doable. Winter is NOT doable, though! ; )
Summers in Virginia are pretty brutal, too. But I am so used to it having grown up in the South, that I really don’t mind too much. I don’t like the sun, though, have to be in the shade. And I”m not a fan of the bugs either. Yeah, summer sucks.
oh ya, we’ve found spiders everywhere. eek!
I have tried bananas, peaches, pineapple.. Loved them all! My all time favorite is artichokes! I did avocado as well once but wasn’t too impressed.