May's Top 5 Story Ideas

1. Girls Get Saucy on the Grill

Every summer your man turns into the king of the grill, wielding his spatula and tongs, having all the fun cooking outside. Well, it’s time to put your foot down and show him that you know a thing or two about juicy steaks, delicious burgers and melt in your mouth sauces too.

With our triple-tested beef recipes, you’ll give him a run for his money and get your guests’ tastebuds salivating. From this moment forward, you’ll be referred to as the “Grilling Goddess.”

Grilled Steak with Arugula Pesto and Tomato-Vodka Sauce has more flavor than you can shake a steak knife at with not one, but two homemade sauces. While Grilled Skirt Steak with Creamy Citrus Sauce utilizes orange juice and sour cream in a simple topping. And when you’re looking to wow with a straight-up favorite, look no further than Smoky T-Bones with Chunky BBQ Sauce—a dish guaranteed to secure your title as Grill Master. 

2.  Random Acts of “Grilliance” Part I: Memorial Day

Does the sight of grill tongs make you sweat?  Does even the slightest smell of propane send a shiver down your spine?  Are you nervous to fire-up your grill?  If the thought of grilling out this Memorial Day leaves you feeling less than empowered, fear not.  The beef checkoff has developed a comprehensive grill guide that will transform you into a grilling guru in no time. Our random acts of “grilliance” start here and will run throughout the summer to keep you in tip top grilling shape!

Use our easy, three-step approach to grilling as the kick-off to improving your personal grilling prowess.  Whether its burgers, steaks or kabobs, we’ve got all the answers you need to grill up perfect meals the entire family will enjoy.

Once you’ve mastered the flames, flaunt your grill-savvy skills with some easy and delicious beef recipes, including:

• Three-Way Marinated Flank Steak
• Grilled Onion Cheeseburgers
• Mexican Steak Soft Tacos
• Pepper Steak Salad with Mango, Avocado and Jalapeno Vinaigrette

3. Mother’s Day Breakfast in Bed

This Mother’s Day we have the perfect day of meals planned for dads and kids alike. Give Mom a day off by making her breakfast in bed and take her out to lunch or dinner. She’ll feel so spoiled, she won’t know what hit her.

We’ve got two perfect recipe options for her breakfast that will start the day off right for the whole family! If you happen to have Ground Beef leftover from a previous dinner, dress it up in a Beef Breakfast Burrito wrapped with colorful red bell peppers. Or get the kids involved making Beef Sticky Buns! They can sprinkle the tasty beef sausage mixture on the pizza dough and roll the buns up just for Mom. She’ll love the special touch the kids put on her breakfast.

And after her day of rest and relaxation, why not treat her to a delicious Filet Mignon at your favorite steakhouse? This will be a Mother’s Day she won’t soon forget.

4.  Brown Bag it with Beef

Is the refrigerator at your office now packed with lunch bags and to-go containers? If you’re anything like us, you’ve noticed the rise in “brown bagging” for lunch. But who wants another boring sandwich or microwave meal? Pack a meal you’ll really enjoy with leftover portions of your favorite beef dish.

• Ribeye Steaks with Blue Cheese Butter and Mushrooms provides a great recipe for dinner and a quick Ribeye Steak Sandwich using the leftovers for a lunch your co-workers will envy. 
• Use last night’s leftover grilled steak in a Mediterranean Steak Salad with a flavorful orange dressing.  
• Our recipe for Southwest Meatloaf even shares storage tips in the Cook’s Notes so you’re guaranteed a delicious second round. Put it on a sandwich for a different twist.  

Your wallet and appetite will thank you for making the most of those delicious beefy leftovers! What a delicious way to stretch and save a dollar.

5. It’s All about the Burger

There is nothing like a beef burger--the aroma, the sizzle, the juiciness. And it just so happens that the entire month of May is dedicated to hamburgers and May 28^th has been named National Hamburger Day.

In honor of Hamburger Day and Month, suggest that your readers explore your city’s best burgers with a month long “Burger Lunch Tour.” You can find your tour stops through internet searches, word of mouth or first-“mouth” experience.

For those who want to celebrate at home, we’ve got more burgers than you can shake your spatula at.

• Our Around the World Mini Burgers will be the perfect way to please every palate at your table. Toppings include Mexican, Italian, Moroccan and Asian flavors.
• Throw a curveball and serve up Caprese Polenta Burgers with no bun and delicious fresh mozzarella and basil. 
• But never forget the roots of the Classic Beef Cheeseburger. You just can’t go wrong. Especially if you’re using our grilling guidelines to determine the time and temperature you’re cooking those juicy burgers. 

Please contact kmillspaugh@beef.org to obtain high resolution images and full recipes.
For more story ideas please see our Seasonal Story Ideas section.