Autumn might be rolling into Rock Hill, but that doesn’t mean that grilling season is over. We’ve still got several weeks to fire up the grill and toss our favorite meats on the heat.

One of the secrets to a successful grilling session is using a marinade. If you want your meat to be tender and flavorful, a good marinade is the way to go. When you put one together the right way, a marinade will tenderize the meat, add moisture, and pump up flavor. This recipe using Coca-Cola will make a marinade that will change the way you grill. You’ll never use another marinade!

Ingredients

• 16 oz. Coke
• ½ cup soy sauce
• ¼ Worcestershire sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp fresh ground pepper
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ cup olive oil

Directions

The beautiful thing about most marinade recipes is the ease with which they go together. This one is no exception, and is even easier because you’ll be using Coke. Just pop the can open and pour!

Mix the Marinade

In a large bowl, pour the Coke, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well.

Add the crushed garlic (minced will work if you don’t have a garlic press), fresh ground pepper, and onion powder. Mix thoroughly using a whisk.

Pour in the olive oil. Whisk vigorously until the oil is completely mixed into the other liquids. The more you mix at this point, the better the mixture will stay together when you’re marinating the meat.

Fix the Meat

Put the meat into a zip-top plastic bag or container with a cover. Be sure that you’re using a non-reactive container, like stainless steel, glass, or plastic. Do not use aluminum. A plastic bag often works best to insure that the marinade completely covers the meat.

Refrigerate

Place the container with the marinating meat into the refrigerator for several hours. Overnight works best. Remember that the longer you marinate, then more tender the meat will be. Also consider the cut of meat you’re using. Tougher cuts will need a longer time in the marinade.

Grill It

At last, you’re ready to throw the meat on the grill. Cook it to the doneness that you prefer. As good as the marinade is, you should not use any leftover to make a gravy or a sauce. Better to whip up another batch for that.