It’s time to pull out the grill and gather with friends for the traditional barbecue season. Instead of doing the same old routine, try spicing up your grill-out with the following tips:

• Marinades are perfect for adding flavor and don’t typically add too many extra calories. It helps to make sure that the meat doesn’t completely scorch on the exterior. A quick and easy recipe: add soy sauce, garlic and honey together for a sweet but sour flavor perfect for pork chops or chicken breasts.

• Spice up your barbecue with some vegetables, and add them in as a side dish. Toss your favorite veggies into some tin foil and add a little butter, oil or marinade and place on the grill for 5 to 15 minutes. Potatoes and onions are a great pair. Wrap them in foil with a little garlic, butter, paprika, salt and pepper, and set them on the grill for 20 to 25 minutes.

• Kebabs are an easy way to serve food at a barbecue. Just string meat and veggies on a wooden skewer, marinade and serve. The best part is you won’t need plates or silverware. Flavors tip: soak the skewers in water overnight, then in the morning remove them from the water and place them in the freezer to prevent scorching over the heat of the grill. Try this recipe for a great kebab marinade:

Kebab Marinade:

• 1 cup high quality yogurt

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 1 lemon, freshly squeezed

• Minced garlic to taste (at least 2 cloves per kebab preferably)

• Chili powder to taste

• Pinch of salt

• 1 tablespoon fresh ground pepper

Put all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix them until everything is completely consistent. Marinate overnight in a big Ziploc bag or a container large enough for the kebabs to be totally immersed. Before you grill, season the kebabs with salt and pepper. You can also add a little olive oil to bring out the true flavor and prepare them for the fire.

• Dessert kebabs can be just as easy. Here is a recipe for fruit kebabs that are perfect for the grill and a pretty fun way to whip up dessert. Add a glaze type marinade with the fruit to help enhance flavor, stick onto a kebab stick and toss them on the grill for a sweet treat to end your cookout. We found this tasty Healthy Bites recipe from Hy-Vee. The grocery store offers these recipes for grilling online, or you can find them in the store along with all of your grilling essentials. With two locations in Ames, Hy-Vee provides the best brands and best prices for your college budget.

Plum Delicious Kebabs

• 1/2 cup apricot preserves

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 1 tablespoon water

• 1⁄8 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1⁄8 teaspoon nutmeg

• 3 firm nectarines, pitted and quartered

• 3 firm plums, pitted and quartered

• 3 firm peaches, pitted and quartered

• 1 prepared non-fat pound cake

In small saucepan, heat preserves, butter, water and spices until butter melts. Thread fruit and cake alternately onto skewers. Brush with glaze. Preheat grill to medium. On clean grate or fish screen, grill kebabs five inches from heat for seven minutes. Turn once. Brush with glaze. Serve with remaining glaze.

Recipe: Hy-Vee Healthy Bites