I am not normally a proponent of speciality cooking tools; I don’t even own a food processor. So, before you say, “Stop, I couldn’t possibly need another gadget that will only take up cupboard space,” read on.

Yesterday, Jordan and I had our first patio luncheon, here in Calgary. Of course, we spent the first half hour under the heat lamp, until the sun broke through and it really felt like patio weather. In honour of the occasion, I ordered a grilled salmon salad that came with an assortment of grilled vegetables— sweet potato, red peppers, cherry tomatoes, and artichoke hearts. This for me is the quintessential summer food.

Vegetables grilled on the BBQ have a wonderful caramelized flavour and require very little or no further seasoning. Any variety of grilled vegetables served on a bed of crisp mixed greens, topped with perhaps a portion of grilled fish or chicken (or tofu), capers, freshly grated cheeses and a light drizzle of a favourite vinaigrette dressing is truly one of those “Simple Summer Meals for the Lazy Days of Summer!”

I am particularly interested in the preparation of vegetables because Jordan has been trying to reduce his carbohydrates, and frankly, I am running our of interesting ways to serve the two vegetables that he likes and that are slowed in the early phase of this diet. Meals around here have become like summer TV fare: repetitive and dull.

I seemed to remember that somewhere in our basement (I prayed) or outside under the deck (I prayed not!), we had a grilling basket. Several years ago Jordan had grilled vegetables for a radio show on our deck, and had purchased a lovely grill basket. I had almost forgotten we had it: I usually walk on the wild side, and place my vegetables directly on the grill. Of course, I occasionally lose an asparagus or two. With the basket, I could do a mixture of vegetables all at once, easily turning them and not losing any. I knew that I had asparagus in the fridge, so I stopped to pick up some Portobello mushrooms and fresh fennel on the way home.

After a bit of rummaging in the basement, I did find the basket, but discovered that it had been woefully neglected. It was covered in rust and other unidentifiable gunk. It took some elbow grease, but with a wire scrub brush and oil, I managed to get the wire clean enough so that I wasn’t worried I might poison the family.

Grill baskets come in many shapes and sizes. There are even some shaped like a fish. I imagine that you might have to go to the fish market with a “fish” basket to make sure that you found the exact fish to fit inside. Our basket is a universal one, probably about an inch deep when shut, and about 12” by 10”. It can fit most things, except a large, whole fish, but then I usually prefer to BBQ my fish on a cedar plank.

So, while I managed to find the one thing I wasn’t completely sure I still owned, do you think that I could find the asparagus? Apparently, I must have been having flashbacks, and although I tore the fridge apart, there was no sign of any, not even a few wizened stalks. I made do with fennel and sliced mushrooms, basting them lightly with grapeseed oil and red wine vinegar before grilling. As I stood outside on our deck, listening to the musical sounds of the Dickie Dee ice cream, I thought, “Now, this is truly the start of summer.” As a touch of irony, we had snow that night!

Portobello mushrooms done in this way taste as thought they were cooked in a pound of butter. It is amazing what a little flame can do to the natural sugars in foods. I decided to treat the grill basket with a little more respect, and gave it a good scrub, re-oiled it and heated it as you would with a cast iron pan. It is also going to have a nice new home in a dry spot inside the house; no more rust.

Tonight, we are having green beans, asparagus (I definitely have asparagus in my fridge this time!), more mushrooms and fresh tarragon. Tomorrow, when I go shopping with the grill in mind, I will be able to stretch my imagination and try new vegetables and eventually fruits, as Jordan is able to add them into his diet. Grilling vegetables will definitely add a new dimension to what could otherwise be a pretty tedious menu.

A grill basket is perfect for fish fillets, especially white fish which are often too delicate to cook directly on the BBQ. It is also perfect for those annoying homemade veggie burgers that can’t seem to hold it together. And, it is a definite must for anyone who can’t manage to keep their alignment straight when grilling asparagus!