Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

To hot to turn on the stove? Grill! Grilled portobello mushrooms can be added to many dishes: salads, pasta, crostini, sandwiches, or even eaten straight. This recipe uses a grilled portobello as a base for sautéed vegetables which you can modify to suit your personal tastes or what you have on hand. Bottom line- it's all about the foil pouch. You may not get grill lines or as much smokey flavor, but your portobellos won't dry out, toughen, or burn.

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

4 medium portobello mushrooms
olive oil
4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped fine
kosher salt
freshly ground pepper

1 sweet red onion, sliced thinly
2 bell peppers (red, orange, or yellow) diced
1/2 -1 red chili, seeded and finely chopped (to taste)
goat cheese

-Clean and de-stem portobellos and place gill side up on a large sheet of lightly oiled aluminum foil.
-Drizzle the portobellos with olive oil and season well with garlic, pepper, and salt.
-Form a pouch around the mushrooms with the aluminum foil leaving a few small openings to serve as vents.
-Grill over medium heat until the mushrooms are cooked through, tender, and bubbly.

Topping:
-Over medium heat, sautée onion in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a large pinch of salt until softened. Add the peppers, chili, and another pinch of salt and continue to sautée until the vegetables have all softened and lost their excess moisture.
-Note: You can make this before you grill the mushrooms and keep it warm until serving.
-Divide mixture between the portobellos and top with large crumbles of goat cheese and freshly ground pepper.

Peanut Barbecue Tofu

I found this recipe just in time to post it for the upcoming 4th of July picnics, potlucks, and parties. A hearty and satisfying meat free bbq option, the peanut butter really shines and compliments the barbecue sauce well. Use your favorite store bought or homemade barbecue sauce as I believe the tangy/spicy and sweet/smokey sauces will both work well. Serve with greens, in a sandwich, or in a salad.

2 lb. extra firm tofu, frozen and thawed, cut into 1/3 inch slices
1 cup natural peanut butter
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
2 tsp garlic powder
freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup vegetable oil
barbecue sauce (Nancy's or Stubbs works well)

-Preheat oven to 350° F.
-Mix peanut butter, paprika, salt, garlic powder, pepper, and vegetable oil in the bottom of a 9x13 glass baking dish using a spatula. Gently toss the tofu with the peanut butter sauce. If the peanut sauce doesn't spread easily, bake the tofu for ~10 minutes and toss again.  Bake for about 1 hour, tossing halfway through baking. Coat the tofu with barbecue sauce and toss to coat. Bake for another 30 minutes. 

Adapted from: Bark & Grass Number 2, 1994