One of my favorite things to have in the summertime is a kabob. Intriguing and taste-tempting kabobs can be served as a main dish, a side dish or even dessert. A great thing about kabobs is that you can either buy them at the store or make them up yourself. If you do decide to create your own kabobs, some excellent ingredients are listed below.
Vegetables: Peppers, zucchini, onions, summer squash, cherry tomatoes, black olives, green olives, small fresh mushrooms, marinated mushrooms, whole water chestnuts.Vegetables requiring cooking: Carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, fennel, potatoes.
Meats: Marinated chunks or strips of beef, marinated chicken strips, marinated pork cubes, ham, sausage, meatballs, bacon.
Seafood: Fish (halibut, swordfish, tuna), oysters, shrimp, sea scallops.
Fruit and dessert items: Apples, pineapple, peaches, bananas, maraschino cherries, orange quarters, doughnut holes, cut pieces of cake.
The recipes for Lemon Butter and Ginger Butter make great spreads to brush over any kabob.
CHERRY-COCONUT CAKE KABOBS
1 small pound cake, cut in cubes
1 (8-ounce) jar apricot, strawberry or cherry jam or preserves
1 cup shredded coconut
1 (8-ounce) jar maraschino cherries
Spread jam on all sides of cubes of pound cake. Roll in coconut. Thread cake cubes on skewer alternating with maraschino cherries. Roast over coals until coconut is browned.
Makes 6 to 8 kabobs.
LEMON BUTTER
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
Add lemon juice and parsley to melted butter and brush over vegetables or seafood kabobs.
GINGER BUTTER
1/4 cup butter
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon ginger
Melt all together and brush over fruits or dessert items.