What Will You Be Grilling This 4th of July? June 30, 2009

Posted by Marta at June 30, 2009 1:11 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 18 ) | TrackBack

I dream about BBQs. Seriously—there is absolutely no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon with friends and family! From chilling out on my parents' deck back in Cali with teriyaki-marinated veggie skewers on the grill to lounging in my friends' backyard here in VA with the delicious scent of veggie dogs and faux chicken burgers wafting at me from the grill, life just doesn't get any better.

Of course, things can sometimes get a tad uncomfortable with people scarfing down animals left and right around you—which is why I'm bringing you peta2's tips for surviving (and loving) 4th of July:

Be prepared. Don't just sit around complaining that there's not going to be anything you can eat at your family's BBQ. Get off your butt and go to the store to get all your fave fixins.
Sharing is caring. People love vegan food—most people just don't know how much they love it yet, so be sure to make enough of your deliciousness for others to devour too.
Don't bring your fightin' face to the party. You may feel defensive and people might try to give you a hard time, but you are so much stronger than that. Show them that just because you don't eat meat doesn't mean you're an angry person who is going to snap at any minute.
Eat until your heart's content. If you've got more sway with the menu, the possibilities are endless: grilled potatoes, veggie dogs & burgers, potato salad, vegan coleslaw, baked beans, huge chunks of watermelon, lots of chips and dip, black bean and corn salad, grilled garlic bread, and one of my personal favorites: grilled corn on the cob.

Corn on the cob and veggie burgers!

And if you're in the mood for something new, here are a few tasty recipes to try out:

Now lately, I've been thinking more and more about the best topping for veggie burgers. Some faves of mine include sautéed spinach and onions or BBQ sauce with onion rings. What's your preference? Let me know, so I can try it out!