Summer Barbecue: How to Make a Barbecue Vegetarian Friendly

It's summer. It's warm and sunny and, unless you happen to be in the large part of the country where the humidity is unbearable, people want to eat outside. Which means one thing: barbecues.

I love barbecues, but as a vegetarian, it's often hard to be satisfied when the chef is a meat eater. Those ribs and burgers often take top billing, leaving those of us herbivores in a tight spot. But we don't want to be that annoying vegetarian that makes everyone cater to our choices. Being a vegetarian isn't about calling attention to ourselves or making others feel guilty about their choices. But hey, a girl's gotta eat!

So what should you do? I have been in this situation several times and have learned how to handle it.

Bring some vegetables and/or bring your own veggie burgers and offer to help prepare the veggies. It may seem invasive, but people really do appreciate the thought (everyone can enjoy the vegetables) and not having to worry about having things for you, the vegetarian, to eat. You can also bring a prepared dish to the barbecue, like a nice, cold summer salad.

At a loss for what to bring?

If you want to bring something along to really dazzle the guests, bring some artichokes. They are amazing grilled and are sure to be a crowd pleaser.

To prepare artichokes for grilling:

• Fill a large pot with hot water and squeeze a whole lemon's juice into the pot. Bring to a boil.
• Cut the spiky tips off of the artichoke leaves and remove the inedible leaves towards the base. Drop the artichokes into the water and cover, allowing to boil fro 12-15 minutes or until the base of the stem can be pierced with a fork.
• Transfer to a cutting board and allow to cool. Slice the artichokes in half lengthwise. Scoop out the hearts and brush each half with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Grill both sides until they are lightly charred, usually 5 minutes per side on a medium heat grill.

Serve with lemon wedges or a low-fat mayonnaise sauce.

You can also bring a prepared dish if you are uncomfortable asking to grill something besides meat. I had this summer bean salad at a friend's a few years ago and it has become a staple in my diet ever since!

What you'll need:

• 3 cups of fresh green beans
• 1/2-1 cup of light balsamic vinaigrette dressing
• 1 small package of feta cheese
• A jar of sun dried tomatoes (or cherry tomatoes)

To prepare:

Cut off the ends of the green beans, then cut them in half. Fill a large pot with water olive oil, and a dash of garlic salt. Steam the green beans until tender when pierced by a fork. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool (stick the bowl in the fridge to speed up the cooling process). Mix in the balsamic vinaigrette, feta cheese, and tomatoes and you're ready to go!

See, being a vegetarian at a barbecue doesn't have to be a hunger and embarrassment-inducing experience! So go ahead. Enjoy that barbecue.