This week’s theme is grilling, and I have a confession to make: I have never grilled in my life.
You see, although I consider myself a modern day woman, I still consider grilling to be man’s work. I am in awe whenever I see a woman grilling. I’m not sure why that is. Maybe because, growing up, it was my dad who did the grilling. Whenever I went to other people’s houses, it was the man of the house who did the grilling. Sort of like the honor of carving the Thanksgiving turkey.
I moved directly from my parent’s house to my first husband’s and our house, and he always did the grilling. When I lived on my own between my divorce and meeting DH, I still never learned how to grill–I bought a George Foreman and called it a day.
You may have picked up on this, but DH is a bit of a Type A personality. Maybe it’s because his brain has been rewired after designing tool and die machines all these years. He picks a hobby and goes for it. Archery, bowling, dating–all of that was perfected before I ever met him. Since we’ve been married, he’s gotten into marathons and triathlons. Those have gone by the wayside, but one hobby that he still participates in with relish is grilling. Not just grilling; smoking. I remember the time he did his first overnight smoke; he was happier than a kid on Christmas morning.
His BFF also grills a lot, and they have many a discussion about the “right” way to do things. Poke the steaks; don’t poke the steaks; what temperature for smoking fish is the best; gas vs charcoal; dry rub vs barbecue sauce. Hey, at least they’re not talking cars like when we first got married! At least I can understand bark and various wood chips, it makes way more sense to me than rockers and cams.
So I smile when DH grills. When he enters contests. When he talks about things he learns on a grilling forum (yes, they have websites and forums just for grilling!). I know I could never live up to his high standards, so when he fires up one of our grills or the smoker or the Smoker Roaster Grill, grabs the tongs and pours himself a tall homebrew, I let him do his work and drool in anticipation.
Since I have no expertise in this area, here are a few links I’ve collected in case you’d like to learn some grilling tips:
Grilling Basics from Better Homes & Gardens
Grilling Tips from Bobby Flay
Grilling Recipes and Tips at Epicurious.com
Grilling.com, a whole website dedicated to grilling
Healthy Vegetarian Grilling Recipes and Tips from Eatingwell.com (drool-worthy even if you are not a vegetarian)
One more note–since I don’t have children, I don’t really get a spring break, but since so many of you do, I’ve decided to post this week’s topic and tomorrow I’ll post a grilling link up. Then, I’ll see you next week!
You should check out Stanley Fishman’s book on the correct way to BBQ at his web site http://www.tendergrassfedmeat.com
He has one book just about meats, and another about BBQ. I haven’t bought the BBQ one yet, but I’m going to at some point!
My DH and I like to use the grill to make cedar planked or cedar papered foods (probably Stanley doesn’t recommend that though!). Sure gives great taste to grilled fish and our wonderful grass-fed steaks. There are some other woods you can use too, but I don’t remember what they are. So far, we’ve decided we like the cedar and have only used that.
Thanks for the website recommendation! We have also used cedar planks for fish. Yum!
You’re welcome! One of his best articles, and one of my favorites to share with others, is this one about the REAL Mediterranean Diet. Most people have no real clue about how the people in that region of the world actually ate, but Mr. Fishman nailed it. Check it out here ——-> http://www.tendergrassfedmeat.com/2010/10/05/call-it-medical-not-mediterranean/