Outdoor Chefs Choose Gas Grills

How many of you remember dad trying to get the charcoal started? The mess, time and burgers tasting of lighter fluid are some reasons why outdoor chefs are choosing gas grills for their recipes for BBQs over a charcoal barbecue. A gas grill offers many advantages for BBQ over charcoal. An outdoor chef doesn't want to wait for the coals to heat up when a turn of the knob quickly gets the barbecues started. A gas grill offers the ease of a push button start, temperature control and no mess.

Before you buy, consider these points. Is the size of the gas grill important to you, or do you require portability? Would you like to cook an entire meal, or just use it for traditional BBQ grill recipes? This purchase will be an investment so check for sturdiness. If it wiggles, it may fall apart on you at home. Look for one that has high grade stainless steel and baked on enamel as these will last the longest. The better grills also have the grates that are stainless steel because grates made of other materials will rust. Consider a scale for the tank so you won't run out of propane right in the middle of a party. You could also purchase a grill that can be hooked directly into your home's gas line. If cost is a big deciding factor for you, you will probably want to purchase a charcoal grill. Many can be found in all ranges, even as small as the one person hibachi grill. If it's a complete outdoor kitchen you really want, you can find built in grills that will be perfect for your design. You can create a terrific entertaining outdoor room by adding a few appliances to your backyard. An outdoor fireplace or built in gas grill can become a focal point of your backyard. Your guests will love sitting around talking to the cook, watching you develop your scrumptious creations. You can find everything from "soup to nuts" or should I say BBQ ribs to barbecued chicken", in the stores or online. Grilling is a perfect opportunity to experiment with new recipes for your family and friends. Why do you think there are so many barbecue cookoffs? Everyone thinks they have the best barbecue sauce so have fun developing your own.

Don't wait for warm weather. People are using their gas grill all year even if they live in the North woods. The speed of cooking allows you to enjoy your favorite BBQs even when it's cold outside. Flavor is a great debate for people as some think you get only the best flavor from a charcoal grill. You can always use a selection of woods for that wonderful smoky flavor. Barbecues with apple wood are somewhat traditional, so be daring. Use some of the more exotic woods available such as guava, almond and apricot to spice up your standard grill recipes. Outdoor cooking is quickly becoming a first choice for any home and garden party.

By Bev Hlavka

Don't Poke the Chicken at Your Backyard Barbecue

You might be planning a home remodeling project and it includes an outdoor kitchen. A big part of that plan will be the type of grill you introduce. There are a lot of things to think about and options to research before investing in equipment. I am not a gourmet chef, but I think it is helpful to know what you enjoy grilling the most for your family. Are you carnivores or do you enjoy fish and poultry?

Don't forget about the veggies and fruit. Anything can safely and deliciously be cooked on a grill of your choice so be open to the possibilities. For the brevity, let's concentrate on the meat portion. Beef can be economical if you purchase cheaper cuts such as brisket, but most everyone loves a good steak. Take a good cut of meat, add a little salt and pepper and you're done. You don't have to go in for the fancy flavors of marinade etc. Try ribs on the grill. If you want them falling off the bone I suggest you boil them before grilling. Try your hand at your own barbecue recipe and slather it on. You can easily look like an expert. Have you ever tried making your own burgers out of meat you have ground yourself? There is nothing like it.

If you don't have a meat grinder, you can do a small portion at a time in the food processor. If it's pork you favor there are very few limits as well. If you are working with a large piece of meat, follow the rule of thumb that it should be cooked more slowly. Pulled pork is my favorite with a good barbecue sauce. I live in Wisconsin so a good brat is enjoyed by many. Try grilling brats and cutting them up for a spicy chili soup. It's fantastic. Seafood is quick and can get away from you in a hurry. Shrimp are easy on a skewer or put the fish in a basket so it won't fall apart on you. I have also done filets in a foil with lemon juice and they are great. Chicken have a few cuts for you to grill, just do it more slowly so it won't dry out.

What kinds of tools are best for grilling? Some of the best grilling you will ever have can be done on a "cheap" grill. You have that new outdoor kitchen in mind, but you don't need to spend a fortune unless you want to. You can keep up with the best of them on those fancy monstrosities. Look for something that has ample surface space because you never know when a party is going to happen and you need room to feed a hoard. You do not need the long handled fork because it only pokes holes in the meat and all of the juices drip out. Your meat will be dry and chewy. Use tongs instead so you can easily turn the meat. You might also benefit from a good wire brush for cleaning, a bag of your favorite chips, a thermometer and you're set.

For any style of grill you have, one main point is to keep it clean. You don't want to wow your guest with last week's barbecue that is stuck on the grill plate. A good steel wool will take care of this too. Oil the grates to keep the meat from sticking. This is especially necessary for chicken and fish. You can season your food with a rub or marinade, or just the salt and pepper. Turn the food once and baste it late. Don't forget the non-piercing issue. Try not to peek too much as you will let out steam and the temperature of the grill automatically goes down for lopsided cooking. It can also be dangerous to open the grill too much as the steam is incredibly hot. You might want to store it in the garage for the winter, or at least cover it with a large grill cover. It doesn't matter if your grill purchase is out of a high end catalog or from your local Kmart, just get out there and grill. Before you know it you will be dipping, marinading,rubbing and saucing up a storm. Your friends will wonder why you didn't do this sooner.

By Bev Hlavka

Two for One Dinners: Beef

If you find leftovers boring, uninviting or downright "yuck," then here are some ideas to put the "zing" back into mealtime. With a little creativity your home-cooked meal can easily become a delicious meal another night. There are a six articles in this series, today we are going to look at what you can do with beef.

DINNER - NIGHT ONE: Pot Roast

Make a slow-cooked pot roast with onions, carrots and potatoes. Give it a flavor boost with bottled horseradish. Serve it over mashed garlic potatoes with a green salad. Put the leftovers in a tightly covered container, or ziplock bag in the refrigerator or freezer.

DINNER - NIGHT TWO: Vegetable Beef Soup

Chop the leftover beef into cubes and mix with a packaged beef broth with frozen mixed vegetables (i.e., green beans, carrots and corn) for a simple, and filling soup. You can find in your grocer's frozen food section packages of "soup mix" vegetables as well. Serve the soup with cornbread or biscuits on the side. This soup also makes a great lunchbox item that you can warm up and put into an insulated thermos.

Publishing Rights: You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your website, free of charge, as long as the author's information and web link are included at the bottom of the article and the article is not changed, modified or altered in any way. The web link should be active when the article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. Copyright 2005, Michele Webb. All Rights Reserved.

By Michele Webb

Rice Cookers - Perfect Rice Every Time

Love fluffy cooked rice but dislike the preparation time and clean up? Then rice cookers maybe just what you need. Today's rice cooker is a thrifty time saving device for anyone's kitchen. Also eating rice weekly has many health benefits. With so many rice cookers to choose from how does one decide? Let's take a look at the many features and sizes of a rice cooker and determine which is right for you and your family.

Size - How much rice will you cook at one time? Also consider how much space you have for storing the unit. Rice cookers very in the amount of uncooked rice they hold, between 5 to 10 cups. If one's family is large or rice is used when having a dinner party then a higher capacity rice cooker will do a nice job. On the other hand cooking for one or two people makes a smaller model a wise choice.

More desirable features - Rice cookers with a glass lid is a "must have" to watch the cooking process. It is also a great idea if the lid has vent holes for steam to escape. This feature makes cleaning up the cooker less messy. Look for a rice cooker with a removable cord as this makes storage easier. Non-stick pans are a must and many models now come with a water measuring line inside the pan wall.

The top rice cookers today are what is called "fuzzy logic cookers". They are programmed to read the different kinds of rice and adjust the settings according. This would be ideal for folks who love to eat many varieties of rice. This cooker is on the high side of the price scale though.

The internet is a great place to find the perfect rice cooker for you. Browsing thru online stores is an easy way to compare different models. Most manufacturers also have great detailed pictures to help one decide. Rice cookers can have many features so be sure to check them all out.

By Curtis Miller

Two for One Dinners: Beans

If you find leftovers boring, uninviting or downright "yuck," then here are some ideas to put the "zing" back into mealtime. With a little creativity your home-cooked meal can easily become a delicious meal another night. There are a six articles in this series, today we are going to look at what you can do with beans.

DINNER - NIGHT ONE: Vegetarian Chili

It is so easy to make a simple chili from onions, carrots, red bell pepper, chopped mushrooms and frozen corn. Throw in canned black beans and canned chopped tomatoes to complete the dish. You can use the flavored canned chopped tomatoes to add more zing. If you want to add meat to your chili, instead of the vegan option presented here, cube and sear beef and add to the mixture. Store the leftover chili in the refrigerator.

DINNER - NIGHT TWO: Black Bean Burritos

Using the leftover chili, add cooked, cubed chicken or beef (if not already in the chili) and put into a wrap of a flour tortilla with shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream and guacamole. You can use flavored wraps which are great. You can also add other ingredients in your wrap such as shredded lettuce, tomatoes, olives or your other favorites. For a nonfat alternative you could substitute sour cream with plain yogurt or even nonfat ranch dressing.

Publishing Rights: You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your website, free of charge, as long as the author's information and web link are included at the bottom of the article and the article is not changed, modified or altered in any way. The web link should be active when the article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. Copyright 2005, Michele Webb. All Rights Reserved.

By Michele Webb

Compact Refrigerators Are Great When Small Is Needed

The small refrigerator can be used in many places that a regular size fridge would not be practical. Many places including offices, apartments, student dorms, hotels, motels, and military housing can benefit from using compact refrigerators.

Many models of compact refrigerators are great for home use to. A finished basement with a family room or a "rec room" can make better use of a small refrigerator over a large one. And of course when traveling in your motor home the smaller frig is a must. There are many more areas in the home and office when smaller is more convenient.

Most compact refrigerators come with a multitude of features. Depending on your needs many include:

Small freezers

Ice trays

Fuzzy logic with automatic defrost

Door hang is convertible to left or right side

Adjustable shelves

Door racks with bottle fingers

Some are made specifically for keeping wine and beer cool. These come with double glass doors, adjustable shelving, and a shelf for wine bottles. These machines are very reliable and a nice solution for cramped spaces.

Going on a vacation with the kids? Compact refrigerators can be taking on trips to. Parents can keep healthy snacks, formula and even medicines fresh in these machines. Several come with 12 volt adapters for vehicle use.

By Curtis Miller

Cut The Take Out

A long hard day at work. You get home and need dinner. Nothing in the fridge, nothing in the cupboard. Take-out again. The wallet just won't comply much longer.

Re-wind.

A long hard day at work (sorry can't help with that one). You get home and mmmm, what is that aroma? Dinner! Smells delicious, your mouth is watering.

And no you didn't go to the wrong home and no you are not dreaming. You arranged all this, in a few minutes this morning.

What I won the lotto and hired a personal chef?

Well no, not exactly - you got a Crock Pot. A Crock Pot? Yep, it's a cooker that cooks your food over a slow heat. Put it on in the morning and dinner is ready at night.

Don't think you've got time in the morning. Well you will be pleasantly surprised how quick it can be. Chuck in some veggies (frozen or pre-cut if really short on time), throw some meat on top, pour in a sauce, put on the lid and turn it on low. That's it.

It truly is that easy. And the aroma of dinner when you walk in the door at night, it is sensational - better than any take out.

Happy Crock Cooking
Lisa - "The Crock Cook"