Hooray! Spring is here and I have already seen several robins.

Grilling has always been popular, and warmer weather and sunshine definitely put people in the mood to grill. Grilling gives food that smoky flavor, which is so delicious. Also it is a healthier way to prepare food because less fats and oils are used than in your oven. Of course, there is the advantage of being able to grill and be outside. We all love that!

I hope you enjoy the recipes here in my column and if you have any that you would like to share with me, please do. My email address is at the bottom of the article.

My favorite part of the recipe below is that this is a healthy recipe. This recipe can be made in several different ways and most of the time turns out great.

The advantages of this recipe include:

• No mess and it will cook while you are grilling your burger or chicken.

• No need to heat up the kitchen.

• Cleaning up is a breeze, because it is all prepared and can be eaten from the foil if you want. Simply toss the foil in the garbage when done.

• If you have a garden in the summer, it is a great way to enjoy those colorful vegetables coming out of the garden.

• The ability to be creative in what you place in the foil pack preparation. Below is an example.

Grilled Vegetables in Foil Pack

Ingredients

1 zucchini (thickly sliced)

1 yellow squash (thickly sliced)

1/2 red onion (cut into chunks)

1 red bell pepper (cut into chunks)

1 green bell pepper (cut into chunks)

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 teaspoon olive oil

Instructions

Lay out a large sheet of foil. Mix the vegetables together on the foil. Then drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and minced garlic on top of the vegetables. Fold up the foil, making a foil packet.

Preheat the grill over medium high heat (approximately 400 degrees).

Place packets on the grill for about 5 to 8 minutes, flipping once in the middle until the vegetables are tender. Carefully unwrap the foil packet when done and the vegetables are ready to serve and enjoy.

Note: After food is prepared, do not leave the packet closed, as it will tend to soften the vegetables and they will not have their crispness. Also, any kind of vegetable and oil that your family likes can be used.

It is recommended that you use heavier foil or double wrap the foil to avoid any accidental leaking.

Foil Pack Grilled Red Potatoes

Ingredients

2 pounds red potatoes

1 tablespoon minced garlic

4 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Wash the red potatoes and quarter them leaving the skin on them. Evenly place the potatoes into three large pieces of aluminum foil large enough to fold over and be able to roll up the edges. Top evenly with the garlic, butter, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.

Fold each foil packet, close and seal tightly.

Grill over medium high heat for 30 to 40 minutes until the potatoes are soft. Remove from heat.

Be careful when opening the foil packet and enjoy.

***Another option: The foil-wrapped potatoes can be placed in an oven at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes until the potatoes are tender.

Suggestions for items to be included in foil pack potatoes are onions, shredded cheese and bacon bits, parmesan cheese and ranch dressing.

Barbecue Sauce for 12 pieces of chicken

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter

1 tablespoon mustard

2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup chicken broth

2/3 cup ketchup

Instructions

Mix and blend in a blender. Put sauce ingredients into an empty bottle, such as a thoroughly rinsed soap bottle. Place chicken over hot charcoal. Turn every 20 minutes. Baste with sauce immediately after each turn. Time will vary on type of chicken and temperature of fire. You must turn more often when the fire is hot or chicken is close to fire.

Easiest Grilled Asparagus

This is a simple recipe that is convenient to have along with your grilled piece of meat. Prep time is 15 minutes.

1. Get rid of the woody ends. Snap the ends to trim by bending each stalk gently about 2/3 of the way down the stalk.

2. Drizzle the asparagus with olive oil and toss the spears with your hands to coat. Season with kosher salt and ground black pepper and toss again.

3. No need to put on foil.

4. Preheat the grill to medium heat (350-400 degrees) and brush the grill grates clean. Place the asparagus across the grill grates perpendicular to the bars so they don’t fall through the grill.

5. Grill with the lid closed until the spears are tender and crisp, approximately 6-10 minutes over medium heat.

6. Use tongs to roll the spears for even grill marks.

Milk Chocolate Brownies

With all the hard work of grilling, we need to have a dessert for those with a sweet tooth. These brownies are very yummy and hard to leave alone.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup coconut

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

Add sugar to melted butter. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Sift together flour, cocoa and salt. Add to the sugar mixture. Stir in coconut and spread into a 9-by-13-inch greased baking pan. Combine walnuts and chocolate chips. Sprinkle on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Tip No. 1: Cut a potato in half and rub the cut side of the potato on hot grill grates. This will make the grill naturally non-stick.

Tip No. 2: Most foods only need to be flipped once during the cooking process. Moving the food around the grill while it cooks can cause food to be unevenly cooked and can add to the total cooking time. The lid of the grill should remain down, which ensures the grill stays hot enough to sear your food. It also speeds up the cooking time and keeps food from drying out.

Happy cooking! Have a great week!

Loretta Krahling is a columnist with over 30 years of newspaper experience. If you have any recipes or other favorites you would like to share, email her with your recipes and why they are your favorite to krahling93@gmail.com.