Three Chefs Share Grilling Tips for Busy Moms
Chef moms are no different to all the other moms. They know what it’s like to be time-crunched, busy and constantly wondering what to feed their clans. The day jobs are different but the stress can be the same as ours, yet they have a few solutions with the help of a grill.
Akron’s Dannika Stevenson of Sip.Savor.Soul., LLC. is a dedicated foster mom, who instructs kids and parents on cooking and healthy options for the I PROMISE School. Chef Dannika recommends grilling “asparagus, zucchini slices (lengthwise), red or white onions (sliced as medallions) and color bell peppers (halved with seeds removed). Drizzle all with olive oil and kosher salt before grilling. It takes about 8-10 minutes.”
She says, “They go great as a side dish or as a topper for grilled meat or mixed in with pasta salad. And you can store them in the fridge in an airtight container.”
Asked if there is one time-saving meat to grill for meal-planning, Chef-mom and owner of Dixon’s Cakes, Nigel Dixon says, “It’s chicken!” She manages a catering and cake business while trying to feed her family, which includes extended family in Cleveland, Ohio. The culinary school trained chef and home cook adds, “Chicken is very versatile. You can flavor it with different sauces and use it for salads, serve it with pasta, rice and potatoes.” If you want another time-saving tip, she suggests thinking about grilling easy to cut up or ready to serve chicken like boneless fillets, nuggets and tenders.
Chef Nigel has one more tip, “Grilled pound cake with whipped cream and fresh fruit makes an excellent dessert.”
Private chef and caterer Stacey Stoudemire of Simply Elegant Catering & Special Event Planning is a mom and grandmother with private clients as well as a thriving catering company. Like chefs Dannika and Nigel, she believes in roasting vegetables and a meat protein like chicken, but with a twist. “Involve the family in meal prep.” Chef Stacey recommends having the kids skewer their own kabobs with their favorite veggies and meat is a great time and energy saver. She adds, “They can choose what they want to eat while you do other things.”
There are other ways to make the most of your grill to meal-plan: Buy and slow cook large cuts of meat like roasts or a turkey breast or add veggies such as corn on the cob and potatoes. If you need side dish recommendations, try this Watermelon Summer Salad or this Grilled Shrimp Caesar Salad.
Here are some other Hope grilling recipes for you to check out this summer: Grilled Lobster Tail with Lemon Garlic Butter and Peach BBQ with Grilled Pork Tenderloin.
To learn more about these talented women follow them on Instagram, Dannika Stevenson is @sipsavorsoul, Nigel Dixon is @dixons_cakes and Stacey Stoudemire is @chefstaceystoudemire.
Robin Caldwell researches and writes about Black foodways, lifestyle and history. She is the publisher of Fresh & Fried Hard, a personal blog focused on Black women and food. A native midwesterner, exploring family history is a treasured pastime.
