Grill Cooking
What makes summer such a great season? For starters, schools out, warmer temperatures, swimming, flip flops and of course barbecues. Grilling has many advantages. It’s a healthier cooking method and results in much less clean up in the kitchen. Grilling doesn’t remove all fat from meats, but it does cause the excess fat to melt and drip off through the racks. It adds flavor to foods with or without barbecue sauce. Let’s talk grilling and start with safety first.
Safe Grilling Steps
Rule number one, keep the grill clean. Use it outdoors, in a well-ventilated area, away from the house, deck railings or under eaves. If you use charcoal, make sure it’s out when you’re finished. Handle flammables with care. Keep a small extinguisher or baking soda handy. Make sure you maintain your gas grill by checking fittings and tubes. Don’t walk away and leave the grill unattended. Use long utensils and don’t wear any loose-fitting clothing that could catch on fire. When you’re finished turn the valve off on the propane tank and store it outside in an upright position.
Choosing a Barbecue Sauce
There are 4 different flavors of barbecue sauce. Sweet is best for pulled pork and some beef. Salty can work for every type of meat. Tangy complements pork ribs and beef dishes. Spicy is great for a variety of different meats. I had no idea there are 12 different regions of origin for barbecue sauce and St. Louis is one of them. The St. Louis sauce is tangy and sweet which is tasty on those pork steaks we love in Missouri.
Grilling Other Foods
Grilling isn’t just for meat. Fish tastes good cooked on the grill and leaves the odor outdoors. Have you ever grilled a portabella mushroom? Sometimes there is a zucchini that gets missed in the garden and becomes huge. Cut it into long length wise pieces, brush with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and grill it to perfection. Make vegetable kabobs or grill asparagus. The slight smoky flavor makes all the difference with no extra calories.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to be a chef or cook on a regular basis to become a grill master. If you have a large enough grill, it’s possible to complete the entire meal. Who knows, you could become the most popular house on the block!!