Spice Up Summer

How to enhance your summer grilling with rubs and marinades.

Enjoy a more flavorful cookout with a few tips and recipes from Clancey’s Meats & Fish and Cooks of Crocus Hill.

Kristin Tombers, owner of Clancey’s, suggests you start with a tried-and-true base to ensure a tasty outcome. A versatile marinade includes lemon, garlic, oregano and olive oil. This fresh combination pairs great with chicken, shrimp and veggie skewers. Tombers reminds grillers to leave most meats (other than chicken) at room temperature for up to three hours before grilling for best results.

The team at Cooks of Crocus Hill recommends marinades only for small portions, and rubs for your bigger cuts of meat. Brown sugar is a good addition to just about any rub for a nice caramelization. Add a liquid ingredient to create a wet rub and help the flavors adhere better to the meat. Be cautious about over-marinating—instead of adding more flavor, extra time can make protein or veggies mealy.