Food Files With Molly Watson: Santa Maria Barbecue.

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us. My understanding is that, along with honoring those who have died for our country fighting in our name (whether that fighting and dying was such a great idea in retrospect or not), Memorial Day Weekend is also the start of summer. The time to open up summer cabins, mentally check out of class, and fire up the old grill. And while hamburgers and hot dogs have their place - they really do - and more ambitious endeavors like pulled pork or whole smoked turkeys are impressive as hell, sometimes something easy but with just a wee bit of effort (and amazing amounts of rewarding flavor to go along with it) are in order. For grilling occasions such as these may I make a recommendation? Grill yourself up a bit of tri-tip and throw yourself a Santa Maria Barbecue. The centerpiece of this California tradition is a grilled tri-tip (a.k.a. a beef triangle cut if you're not on the West Coast), simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic salt.

With it you serve beans, fresh salsa, a green salad, and garlic bread. It's one of those combinations that is so simple that you can't really believe how perfect it all is together. The savory beef, the tender beans, the spicy salsa, the crunchy salad, and garlic bread to sop it all up. Summer, we welcome you.

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Each week, the Friday Food Files are deliciously brought to you by Molly Watson. For more on Molly and her delicious recipes, you can visit her in one of many wonderful places:
Writer: mollywatsonwrites.com
Blogger: thedinnerfiles.com
Recipe Wizard: localfoods.about.com
Radio Girl: eatthatradio.wordpress.com

*Photos courtesy of Molly Watson.