7 Unusual Foods To Grill

Last year, we assembled a list of eight unlikely foods to grill that we thought would be fun (and delicious) and provide some inspiration come grilling season. It proved so popular that we couldn't help putting together a sequel with seven more surprising and delicious ideas for the next backyard shindig.

Click here to see the 7 Unusual Foods to Grill Slideshow.

New this year is the addition of dessert items to our list. The one and only George Duran, chef, entertainer, and host of TLC's Ultimate Cake Off as well as the popular Ham on the Street series on Food Network, takes his favorite dessert, a banana split, and puts his own grilled twist on it. He also offers a few tips to keep your next grilling adventure worry- and stress-free.

For easy cleanup, Duran usually keeps a spray bottle around to clean the grill right after he's done with it. That way, the grill's still hot enough to generate steam, and a grill brush does the rest of the work. Plus, spray bottles also come in handy for putting out flare-ups while grilling.

And for a more comfortable grilling experience, Duran advises investing in a grill mat — he says you'd be surprised what a difference it makes after a few hours in front of the grill, and it also prevents nasty slipups.

Also, don't miss Kent Whitaker's grilled pound cake. Whitaker, known as "the Deck Chef," is a cookbook author and winner of the Emeril Live Food Network Barbecue Contest. His dessert is a quick and easy post-party treat that's easily personalized with different toppings.

Originally published on May 16, 2012