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Summer is the time to be outside, in the backyard and getting the most out of your grill. With the summer season so short, you want to soak up all the sunny, warm weather. With all the exercise and socializing, it’s easy to work up an appetite. Scroll down for six ways to grill with Casa Mendosa® this summer that will spice up your meal prep, make entertaining fun, and keep cleanup to a minimum.

1. Easy BBQ, Mexican and Italian style pizza recipes

Weeknights are busy, and no one wants to spend hours making dinner at the end of a long workday, especially when the weather is at its prime. Here are some quick and easy recipes ideas to get you outside while enjoying your favourite Casa Mendosa® tortillas.

If you have some leftover BBQ chicken from the night before this is a must-try! Place your tortilla on the grill, then add BBQ sauce, onions, peppers, spinach and cheese. Close the BBQ lid for a few minutes, and that’s it. You have a perfect 10-minute easy weeknight option or a simple appetizer for entertaining.

We all know how much work goes into a homemade pizza! Buying the pizza dough, rolling it out and baking it in the oven never seems to taste the same as with an authentic pizza oven. Whether you are craving a traditional Italian pizza or something a little different try this Casa Mendosa® recipe for Veggie Taco Tortilla Pizza. Do it all on the BBQ and get that added charred flavour similar to that of a real pizza oven has! Preheat your BBQ; place a tortilla on the BBQ, add tomato sauce, pesto, refried beans or whatever seasoning you are feeling. Add cheese and any other topping of your choice, and close your BBQ lid for two minutes, waiting for everything to melt. Plate and serve your easy homemade tortilla pizza and enjoy!

2. Mexican Style BBQ chips

Chips, guacamole, a salsa, and queso; it doesn’t get any better than this! Make a quick, easy, delicious appetizer to which no one can say no. Homemade chips are so easy and super underrated. Use a pack of your favourite Casa Mendosa® Large Tortillas (if you really want to shake things up try our limited edition flavour; Queso flavoured for some added flavour); lightly brush both sides of each tortilla with the oil of your choice and spray both sides with cooking oil. To add a little extra flavour, mix; salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder in a small bowl. Stir the dry rub together and lightly sprinkle on each tortilla. Place each tortilla on the BBQ until grilled and golden brown. Remove tortillas from the grill, place them on a cutting board and cut tortillas into chips slicing in 1/8 or 1/12 depending on your chip size preference. Place your chips on a plate and serve with your favourite dips or sauces.

Pair your crispy chips with this amazing Queso Dip Tortilla Bowl recipe, and your guests are sure to be impressed. Keep entertaining simple and easy! If you can’t serve the chips immediately, store them in a plastic resealable bag. Use the extra chips to throw in a salad for extra crunch or enjoy as a snack.

3. BBQ Quesadilla’s

Here are other super quick options for a weeknight recipe or a great appie when hosting. Make yourself, your friends, and your family a quick and easy Quesadilla on the BBQ. If you have any leftovers, beans, sandwiches, meats, and veggies (corn, spinach, broccoli etc.), pull them out of the fridge and finely chop anything that excites your taste buds. Preheat your BBQ and lightly oil the grill to prevent your Casa Mendosa® Tortillas from sticking. Place two tortillas on the grill and begin adding your toppings. Start with cheese allowing it to melt before adding the remainder of your toppings lightly. Add the other tortilla on top of your toppings and gently press down. Remove your quesadilla from the grill, cut into fourths and serve with your favourite Mexican sauces and dips.

4. Fajitas Fridays

After a long week, there is truly nothing better than sitting outside in your backyard and winding down…. Friday night dinners are a great way to catch up with friends from the week or relax with your family. The key here is the simpler, the better. Fire up your Friday night grill with this quick and easy fajitas recipe. Preheat your BBQ to 400F. Season your protein of choice (chicken breast, flank steak, tofu or pork tenderloin) with salt, pepper, cumin, smoked paprika, chipotle chili powder, olive oil and lime juice. Allow meat to marinate for a few minutes before placing it on the grill.

Roughly chop a few bell peppers and onions into big pieces, lightly brush with oil, season with salt and pepper and throw on the BBQ. Remove vegetables from the grill with a nice char and set aside a plate to cool before slicing. Do the same thing once your protein is cooked through. At the same time, the chicken and peppers are cooling; place tortillas on the grill to warm up—store tortillas in a tea towel to keep them warm until serving. Place peppers, onions and chicken on a wood cutting board and thinly slice everything. Serve fajitas family style with all the sauce and fixings! Don’t forget the guacamole. If you don’t have a grill and are looking for a more traditional fajitas recipe, look no further this Avocado Chicken Fajita or Classic Chicken Fajitas recipe will satisfy your Mexican-style food craving.

 5. Summertime Shrimp tacos

Who doesn’t love a little yin and yang when it comes to Mexican food and flavours. Adding a sweet and tangy fruit salsa on top of a fish or shrimp taco helps balance the spice that can come along with Mexican cuisine. This Pineapple Shrimp Taco recipe can be done entirely on the BBQ, and if you haven’t tried grilling the pineapple before putting it in the salsa first, it is a must-try this summer. With all the fruit this summer season, don’t be afraid to try new things. Grilled peach or mango salsa with jalapenos, red onion, cilantro, lime juice and avocado goes well with chicken, flank steak and chorizo. Get creative with what you have at home! Cutting up extra ripe fruit and adding it to salsa is a great way to finish using what you have on hand while adding a punch of flavour to your meal.