Grilling Month

Those darn leftover hamburger and hot dog buns! After every grilling party, it seems like they're fated to be tossed in the corner of the pantry only to be discovered several weeks later as a gnarly, green science experiment. Don't let this happen to your buns. While you can always freeze them for the next grilling party, it might not be an option if the buns are crushed and misshapen. If you're looking for ways to waste not, check out our tips for using up those leftover buns.

• Sub for breakfast toast: Toast the buns for an egg, cheese, and bacon sandwich or to make kid-approved cinnamon toast. If you want to get fancy, use a hamburger bun in place of an English muffin in a poached egg and prosciutto breakfast sammy.
• Pack a sandwich for lunch: Cold cuts taste great paired with soft, spongy buns. However, if the buns were left out and are borderline stale, grill them up in a panini. Opt for something savory like cheese and ham, or satisfy your sweet tooth with Nutella and strawberries. Everything always tastes better with cheese, so try making the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich.
• Incorporate with dinner: Make basic croutons to toss in salads or breadcrumbs to top over mac and cheese, pasta dishes, or casseroles. For a surefire way to clear those buns off the table, make a buttery batch of garlic bread.

What are you doing with your leftover hot dog and hamburger buns?

Bananas foster has been around since 1951, when it was first served at Brennan's Restaurant in New Orleans. It's a special-occasion treat, as it involves a chef wheeling out a cooking cart to the table to prepare a beautiful, bubbling caramel sauce with bananas. The most anticipated moment is when the chef ignites the rum-laden sauce, sending a bright, dramatic flame up into the air. The crowd always goes wild! The warm, syrupy bananas are served à la mode, and the extra sauce is spooned over the top.

My mother grew up going to this restaurant with her family, so any time she sees bananas foster on the menu, she's guaranteed to order it. As a child, I loved the flame trick more than the dessert; my palate did not appreciate its rum flavor until I was in college. Now, I'll practically fight my Dad to get the last spoonful of caramel! I've sought to re-create bananas foster at home, dazzling my family with my flambé skills. Grilling the bananas first offers a beautiful presentation and turns the caramelized flavor up a notch.

See a grill-friendly recipe for bananas foster.

Source: Flickr user hepp

Happy Fourth of July! Whether your must have today is a burger, a hot dog, barbecued ribs, or otherwise, chances are you're firing up the 'cue for your festivities. In need of some inspiration? Regardless of what you're making, we've got you covered, thanks to Grilling Month on YumSugar.

Source: Flickr user woodleywonderworks

Go Back to Grilling and Smoking Basics

• Know your techniques: grilling
• How to light a grill
• Smoking meats on a charcoal or gas grill
• How to tell when food's done on the grill
• 5 steps to pizza-grilling success
• Different ways to grill fish
• Prep tips for perfecting your kebabs
• Awesome grill pans for stovetop grilling
• What to do with leftover or used charcoal
• How to properly dispose of a propane tank

Keep reading for barbecue recipes, party-planning ideas, tips, education, and more!

Pizza on the barbecue makes a great Summer meal: it's fast and easily customizable to your guests — and, let's be honest, who doesn't love pizza fresh off the grill? So after your guests have finished their savory pizza pie, satisfy everyone's sweet tooth with a strawberry and chocolate pizza à la mode.

To make it easy, pick up premade pizza dough at your local market and chocolate chips since they melt so easily. Right before grilling your pizza, intensify the flavor of the strawberries by lightly sautéing them in a pan with a pat of butter.

Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and watch everyone gobble up this delicious treat. If you're feeling even more adventurous, let your guests select their topping like peaches, nectarines, or other berries, and try Nutella or other varieties of chocolate chips for your pizza topping.

Grill up your pizza dinner and save a little dough for this indulgent sweet pizza pie.

Fusion's been done with other iconic handheld foods like tacos and burritos, and now, internationally inspired sliders are all the rage. Take the classic American concept and add in combo toppings and spices with inspiration from Asian, French, Indian, Mexican, or Texan cuisine. See our fusion slider ideas, and you'll be on your way to more worldly sliders in no time.

Whether you prefer gas or charcoal, cooking on a grill is an incredible way to infuse flavor into your favorite meats and vegetables. But if you're ready to take your grill mastery up a notch, try using a long, slow burn in a process known as smoking. In the US, smoking finds its roots in American Indian cooking, where it was used as a means of preserving food. As the technique proliferated among other cultures, it became a proven way to turn normally tough cuts of meat into culinary delights. These days, any reputable joint in the barbecue belt uses smoking as a way to make ribs, shoulder, brisket, and more fall-off-the-bone tender.

Ready for the tutorial? Read on for smoking basics.