Hello from the kitchen, or from the grill!

Time for some spring grilling. We enjoy the usual hotdogs and hamburgers, but have you ever tried salmon or your favorite fish on the grill? Adds so much more flavor. I buy the disposable grill topper pans to put the salmon in, so I don’t lose anything in the grill. Another family favorite is a grilled ham slice. I brush my ham with either a bit of peach jam or orange marmalade for some added flavor, too. Just make sure you wait until the ham is close to done before brushing the jam on. The sugar in the jam can burn if it’s on the grill too long. Grilled veggies go well with most meats you plan to grill. Pizza on the grill is an excellent spring or summer meal. It takes longer to prepare the pizza toppings than to grill the actual pizza. So, have you got the spring fever? Time to get grilling and enjoy spring.

Eat well my friends.

Grilled ham slices

• Two ham slices cut ¾-inch thick

• Half cup orange marmalade or peach jam

Preheat the grill. Grill ham slices for 10 minutes on each side. When the ham is almost done, I brush the slices with the jam. Grill for another minute on each side and remove from heat. Serve with fresh grilled veggies.

Grilled veggie kabobs

• Six metal skewers

• Any type of veggies

• tomatoes

• peppers

• Brussels sprouts

• onions

• Garlic-infused olive oil

• Italian seasoning

Put all the veggies in a bowl and coat with the olive oil. Fill skewers with the veggies, sprinkle with Italian seasonings then lay on the preheated grill. Turn the skewers as they start to get a charred look and to your desired doneness.

Grilled salmon

• One large salmon piece

• Garlic-infused olive oil

• Fresh chopped dill

• One disposable grill topper pan

Spray the grill pan with pan spray. Lay the salmon skin-side down on the grill pan. Brush with the olive oil and sprinkle on the fresh dill. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the grill pan in half covering the salmon. This will hold the salmon together as it cooks and can be turned easily. Time for the salmon depends on your liking and also the thickness of the salmon. For safety reasons, your salmon should reach at least 145 degrees F. I sometimes add veggies to the grill pan making it a one pan meal. Hope you enjoy grilling salmon, and as always, be safe when grilling.

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Bev Kauffman, of Lewistown, operated a catering business in Juniata County for nearly 20 years. She has authored the cookbook, “Preserving the Past: In the Kitchen with Bev Kauffman” in 2013 and is currently working on a second cookbook.