The BBQ: Gas verses Charcoal

In the beginning there was only wood and a rock fire pit but today we are faced with options only the space age could conjure up. Decisions, decisions and more decisions, how do you make a clear concise determination on what type of BBQ to acquire? Everyone’s needs and wants for their outdoor extravaganza is different and as such their tools must match the job at hand.

Lets examine both.

GAS: Definitely a faster and cleaner way to BBQ. Turn the knob, press the button and instant flame. Heat your lava rock for a few minutes throw on your prize cut of meat and within minutes a palatable delight is gracing your table. That is, if you don’t run out of gas. I found this to be my number one problem with the gas BBQ. The cure? Have a spare tank on hand.

It only takes a few precious seconds to change tanks and your back on course. Gas grills are particularly good if you BBQ often on the stern of your boat, as charcoal tends to absorb moisture and becomes very difficult to light. Another consideration for this is no ashes to dispose of.

Gas BBQ’s are fast, no muss no fuss cookers ideal for the spur of the moment chef. Over a period of time they are less expensive to operate too. The down side of the gas grill is the expense. Although they have come down in cost considerably since their inception, the multitude of styles often make it hard to purchase the more affordable ones.

Stainless steel exteriors, double and triple shelves, additional burners for your side dishes, condiment holders, and cabinets for your accessories are impossible options to pass on, so expect to make a considerable investment when purchasing. The more reserved BBQer is more likely to purchase gas over the charcoal unit.

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CHARCOAL: Tribal desires drive men to the charcoal BBQ. The age old desires to build and tend a fire are urges just to strong to overcome for some men. The perfect arrangement and stacking of the briquettes becomes an ancient ritual to obtain perfection of temperature and evenness of cooking. The charcoal chef is born of redneck ancestors and beer guzzling traditions necessary to tend the wild eruptions of searing fat and dripping sauce.

If your choice is charcoal, prepare yourself for singed beards and blistered fingers for without these added wild antics, charcoal cooking is extremely uneventful until the prize is removed from the smoking embers. The costs for a charcoal unit range from relatively inexpensive to moderately priced depending on weather your setting it on stolen milk crates or you prefer it to be raised from the dirt on its own legs. Critics claim the taste of BBQ is no different whether you use gas or charcoal. I guess because of being from dubious ancestry, I much prefer the charcoal BBQ.

Regardless which barbecue you decide on, make sure the one you purchase has either stainless steel or porcelain cooking racks. More BBQ’s are tossed aside because of rusted and warped cooking racks than for any other reason. I also recommend one that has a vented cover. This serves several purposes. It protects the interior of your barbecue during inclement weather, it helps maintain temperatures under windy conditions, and it also helps in the flavor of your meats as the smoke is held internally while its closed.

Another important accessory to your BBQing experience is the utensils. Purchase only heavy duty stainless ones that wont bend or twist causing the loss of your dinner to the dirt. Although the 3-second rule always applies to BBQ, it’s really hard to brush the dirt out of the sauce.

Gas or charcoal, it matters little as long as the end result is a full belly and a smiling face. Neither unit is better than the other; they just fit different lifestyles and tastes, personalities and urges. Just gather together your family and friends and enjoy your companionship and creations.

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The following video, I Love Lucy | Building a B.B.Q. (Part 2), courtesy of You Tube.

Chef’s Secret's

As in every trade, the master tradesman has his or her secrets that set them apart from everyone else. Learning the basics will get the job done, but learning the secrets of the trade gets the job done effortlessly and often times better. Seldom can we pry these secrets from the masters. They are usually passed down to a favorite apprentice upon retirement, or subliminally slipped to them, kind of like the coming-of-age thing.

But as with all good secrets, some just leak out and the wary ear takes note. This knowledge is a wonderful tool. It allows us to expand our horizons, broaden our own expectations, and many times dazzles our counterparts and peers. It is the feeling of pride you get lifting the holiday meal from the oven, the aroma drifting from room to room, and the contented faces of your guests at meal’s end.

Knowledge is the weapon that turns so many ingredients into that succulent meal or dessert. Adding a dash of this and a dash of that at just the right time, at just the right temperature, can make the difference and turn that same old turkey dinner into a holiday feast. It is that one secret ingredient you added to your dessert that made it not just good, but outstanding.

Wandering down this path of taste-tempting delights, keep a wary ear to the ground. There is no telling what secrets will slip. It is no matter what culinary path you choose to follow—baking or BBQing, burgers or soufflés—there are always secrets ‘round the corner. You may even develop a few of your own to pass along. Grandmothers are a tremendous source of culinary secrets that have teased the palates of families for generations.

Some Chef’s Quick Tips:

• Easily peel tomatoes by first putting them in boiling water then removing them again immediately. Let stand for 1 minute, then quickly put them in cold water.

• "The Royal French Fry" Want great gourmet French fries? Here is the secret. Allow crinkle-cut potatoes to stand in ice cold water, in the refrigerator for 1 hour before frying. This hardens the fries so they do not absorb as much fat during frying. Dry thoroughly before frying. Then fry them two times. Fry them for only a few minutes the first time. Then dry them well, dust them with a small amount of flour and fry them until they are a luscious golden brown.

• Tired of waiting for that baked potato? Potatoes bake faster and the skins do not crack if you oil or rub the skin with butter rather than wrapping in tin foil. You can also insert an aluminum nail in them, which will also speed the cooking time by 15 minutes. For one of the fastest ways, just boil them for 10 minutes and then place them into the oven.

• Both onions and potatoes have a tendency to give off natural gases. That is why you should never store them together. The potatoes become soft and rot.

• Want some sexy potatoes? Potatoes loved to be stored in pantyhose. All you do is cut a leg off a pair of pantyhose, drop the spud in, then hang it up in a cool, dry place.

• Here is a way to add a little zest to your stir-fried vegetables or salads. Just add some radish leaves; they are not as spicy as the radish itself.

• Beat egg whites in a way to always trap the most amount of air. Do not over-beat or they become dry and can cause a collapse.

• Want easy to peel hard-boiled eggs? Just add salt to water when boiling.

• Create great deviled eggs. Keep the yolks centered by stirring the water while cooking the eggs.

• Did you know that you can use cottage cheese in place of sour cream for making dips? Just blend it in the blender until it is creamed.

• Cottage cheese lasts longer when stored upside down. When you open cottage cheese, spores enter from the air and live on the oxygen layer in the container. Turning it upside down allows it to fall to the top, eliminating a percentage of the oxygen layer. Spores do not grow as fast, and the cottage cheese can last 7-10 days longer.

• Add sour cream to hot recipes just before serving. If you need to reheat a dish containing sour cream, reheat it slowly so the sour cream does not separate.

• The best way to cut cheese is with a dull knife, especially if you warm the blade first.

• After flouring a chicken, chill it for 1 hour so the coating will adhere better during frying.

• All poultry should be cooked to a center temperature of 185 degrees F.

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The following video, Chef To Chef, courtesy of You Tube.

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Slow Food Is Good Food

It seems all we do today is run, and nothing will trim your kitchen hours like a few exciting recipes you can put together in just minutes with a crock-pot. Whether it is for last minute guests, to culminate a hectic day, or something quick before the PTA meeting, you will find a crock-pot to be your new best friend.

Other great healthy meals prepared with a crock-pot can save hours slaving over a hot stove. A quick blend of assorted ingredients, a flick of the switch as you leave for work, and— “voila”—a meal fit for a king is waiting as you enter the door. It is almost as good as having your own personal chef. The crock-pot is great for stews with all the week’s leftovers, too!


Two Quick Crock-Pot Recipes:


Sweet and sour Chicken
8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1-8 oz. bottle Catalina salad dressing
1 envelope dry mix onion soup
10 oz jar apricot preserves

Place chicken breasts in your slow cooker. Pour remaining ingredients on top of chicken. No need to mix. Cover and cook for 6 to 8 hours on low.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.

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Beef and Gravy
2 pounds stew beef
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
4 tablespoons oil
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 cups water
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce

Cut stew beef into cubes. Combine flour, salt, pepper, paprika, & onion powder. Coat beef cubes with flour mixture. Brown beef in 4 tablespoons oil & place in crock-pot. Pour the remaining ingredients over beef in crock-pot. Stir. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.

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The following video, Crock Pot slow Cooker TV ad, courtesy of You Tube.

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Order 7001 Fogotten Secrets of the Ages Today in Time For The Holidays! 7001 Forgotten Secret's of the Ages is a marvelous potpourri of history, facts, secrets and trivia all about food. Beginning with the history of food, this is one book that will keep all trivia buffs and information seekers busy for years to come!

Loaded with information 'from soup to nuts', secrets known throughout the ages are rediscovered to preserve for generations to come. Here you will discover all cooking and baking secrets; unusual food facts you will use everyday to save yourself time, money and aggravation; current nutrition facts and health tips; how to make children interested in eating healthy Plus important food safety information that restaurants and grocery stores are not telling you.

Also included are recipes for the most casual barbeque to the most formal dinner parties; theme party ideas, and even what was served in the Victorian days! Easy and fun to read format with an index, 7001 Forgotten Secret's of the Ages is a true treasure! It also makes a great gift for anyone on any occasion.

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