Bonfire Skewers Food

EDIBLE VEGETABLE SKEWERS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix all the ingredients for the spice rub together until well blended; set aside.
• Cut the zucchini and squash in half lengthwise and gently scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Place the vegetables skin side down on a sheet pan. Sprinkle them evenly with salt and let them sit for 5 minutes to sweat. Rinse them in cold water to remove the excess salt and pat them dry with paper towels. Slice them widthwise into 1-inch pieces. Using the sharper end of a chopstick, gently screw a hole through the center of each piece. Put them into the spice rub and let them marinate while you prep the carrots.
• Using a peeler, peel down the baby carrots to the width of a chopstick, leaving the top inch of the carrot to use as a handle. Gently push a piece of zucchini onto the carrot with the skin side facing the "handle" of the carrot. Next skewer a piece of squash at a 90 degree angle to the zucchini. Repeat 2 more times so that there are 2 pieces each of zucchini and squash on the carrot "skewer." Repeat until all the carrots have been used.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Place the skewers on the grill and cook for 3 minutes on each side or just until the vegetables are tender. Remove them to a platter and serve.

BIG BAD BEEF SKEWERS

Steps:

• For the skewers: Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Cut off the ends of the zucchini, then trim off the sides lengthwise, creating 4 flat sides. Cut crosswise to create 1 1/2-inch cubes.
• Using six 14-inch metal skewers, skewer the beef, zucchini, tomatoes and onions, distributing the ingredients evenly among the skewers.
• For the spice mix: In a small bowl, mix together the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, lemon pepper, fennel seeds and thyme. Drizzle the skewers with the vegetable oil and season with the spice mixture. Grill the skewers until well-marked on all sides, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Allow to rest while making the salad.
• For the blue cheese sauce: In a mason jar, mix together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, milk, blue cheese and some hot sauce, salt and pepper. Put on the lid and shake until evenly combined.
• For serving: Mix together the olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl.
• Add the salad greens to a serving platter and drizzle with the lemon dressing. Place the skewers over the salad greens and drizzle with the blue cheese sauce. Garnish with the parsley and blue cheese.