Back-to-school Bonding at the Grill

Back-to-school Bonding at the Grill

(ARA) - As back-to-school season approaches, schedules are once again overwhelmed with schoolwork and activities, limiting quality family time. Between work, school, band practice and football games, families are often left with dinnertime as the single time of the day for togetherness.

Sara Lee Chef and busy mother Jill Houk understands the importance of finding a simple and delicious dinner that involves the entire family. Her solution: the grill. Often solely associated with summer months, fall grilling allows families to capitalize on the time they have together creating an enjoyable and collaborative cooking experience.

Here are some of Chef Jill's tips on how to make the most of grilling this back-to-school season.

1. Find a favorite recipe and make it grill-friendly. "Grilling is such a great way to infuse flavor into dinner -- without heating the house," Houk explains. Don't just limit yourself to hotdogs and burgers this back-to-school season; find something you love to cook indoors and put it on the grill. Chef Jill took her favorite panini recipe and gave it a backyard twist.

Grilled Pesto Ham and Cheese Sandwiches

Ingredients:
1 package Sara Lee Soft and Smooth Whole Grain White Bread
12 slices Sara Lee Pre-Sliced Smoked Provolone Cheese
18 slices Hillshire Farm Ultra-Thin Sliced Honey Ham
1/2 cup prepared pesto sauce
6 slices ripe beefsteak tomatoes
1 roll aluminum foil

Method:
Pre-heat your barbeque grill to medium heat. Split each roll. Place one slice of cheese on the bottom roll. Top with three slices ham, 1 to 2 tablespoons pesto and a tomato slice. Top with one more slice of cheese and the top half of the roll. Then wrap each sandwich individually in foil. Place them on the grill and heat 5 minutes. Turn over and grill an additional 5 minutes. Unwrap sandwiches and enjoy!

2. Make it a team effort. "At the end of a busy day, it's essential to have the entire family pitch in with dinner," advises Houk. Let kids help with a task that is easy and invites creativity. "When I make the grilled pesto ham and cheese sandwiches I often let my son build the sandwiches while I'm putting together our side dishes. He's great at counting the slices of cheese and ham and loves to smear on the pesto. Just be sure that an adult handles the foil -- the sharp edges are too dangerous for children."
3. Keep one eye on the grill and one eye on the kids. If you grill with children, always supervise them near the grill. Remember that the grill can stay hot for up to two hours after, so keep kids away until you have made sure the grill is cool.

4. Skip the mess … Cooking your sandwiches, vegetables, and Ball Park Franks in tin foil virtually eliminates the unappealing grill clean-up. Foil can easily be tossed out, taking any mess with it.

5. Don't skip dessert! You can even make delicious treats on the grill to top off your tasty meal. Cook more delicate items for dessert while your grill cools off. "Stone fruit, such as peaches, nectarines and plums, are great on the grill," Houk recommends. "So is Sara Lee pound cake. Just slice, brush with melted butter and grill."

For more grilling tips and Sara Lee recipes, visit www.TotalMealsOnline.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent