Tag: Flavors

What To Have When Grilling Outdoors

Nice Cuts Of Meat

Outdoor grilling would never be complete without some nice cuts of prime rib, baby back ribs or other nice cuts of meat that everyone would look for when out on a grill. This is because meat has become a basic when it comes to outdoor grilling and it is no doubt that when it comes to grilling, some of the best tasting and most enjoyable food are meat.

There are many ways of having meat in a grill with the most common having them directly grilled on top of a fire. If this is done right, then the meat will be juicy and tender. Other ways of cooking meat would involve roasting which is commonly done for ribs and smoking of which involves having chips of seasoned wood burnt to have the pleasant aroma and flavor infused into the meat.

Some Poultry

Although poultry is quite notorious for being tough to cook especially for big ones such as turkey is still on of the favorite and must have items on the grill. Grilling poultry does not only make it taste much better but is also considered by many as a healthier way of having it. Grilled lean cuts of turkey, duck and chicken have always been safe for those who are calorie-conscious and as well as anyone else who loves grilled food.

The key to having good poultry on the meat is to ensure that they are cooked tenderly with the entire flavor sealed inside and having it cooked well at the same time. Poultry, unlike meat should be cooked well and not show any traces of blood however, it is quite difficult to have it this way since most of the time, the outside would show that the meat is cooked well but when you look inside, there are still traces of blood. To avoid this, prick one side of the chicken and take note of the juices that would come out. With this, you should be able to tell if it is cooked well.

Lots Of Seafood

For those who could not have too much meat even on the grill can have a much better option, and that is what we call seafood. Seafood does not have too much of those unwanted substances you can find in meat but at the same time, you will still enjoy your time at the grill with the many flavors it has. Some favorite seafood are fish, squid, shellfish and crustaceans.

Seafood are best when served together. Think about having grilled salmon, smoked oysters and as well as grilled soft shell crabs. They go well with other items as well such as vegetables and meat. Just see to it that it is not overcooked since being so, it would be tasteless and tough. Cooking it right however would make it an instant favorite for everyone who would be having it.

Grilled Vegetables

Most of us might not be aware of it but some vegetables are really nice when grilled. The better thing about it is that they are really easy to cook and really tasted good with the flavor that the grill gives them.

To add a twist to all the other items we usually have when grilling outdoors, it would be nice to have some fresh peppers, zucchinis, eggplant and asparagus that are marinated in vinegar, oil and spices and grilled to perfection. Vegetables are very easy to grill, cook easily and go well with virtually every other item on the grill.

Ways Of Grilling Outdoors

Classic Grilling

Classic direct-grilling is the most famous and the most traditional way of having things done in a grill. For us who have been into grilling for sometime already, we already know the process. This of which is typically have the items ready and toss them directly on top of the grills surface while occasionally turning them every once on a while. However, you should also be aware that there are a lot more processes of which your grill can do and this is just one of them.

Outdoor grilling is now not only grilling but other methods such as searing, broiling and smoking which would produce a lot of very delectable dishes. But even with that, outdoor grilling is still a very good way of having things in an outdoor grill. So much that it has become the essential part of it. So to educate you further about the other methods, here are good descriptions on how to do them.

Searing

Searing has become more popular in the grill than it was before especially for meats and other items of which you want to keep the flavor in. This is because searing has the outer part cooked first while still having the inner part with all the juices uncooked and have all the flavors sealed in. Doing this is quite simple, first you have to set the grill on high fire and while the meat is still raw and ready to be tossed on top of the grill, quickly put it on top of the high fire.

However, you have to be careful with this as not to cause the surface to get overcooked and break. This is most commonly done with steaks of which would produce what we know as rare, medium-rare, medium well and well done. This is also used in a lot of different items but is more popularly done on meats.

Roasting

Another method of having things cooked in the grill is roasting. The main goal of roasting is to have items continuously bathing in their own juices while being cooked causing them to taste more like themselves. Ideal items to be roasted include duck, beef, pork and ham. To do this, place an aluminum foil pan on top of the grills surface while having the items cook on top of it. Juices will later on drip on the aluminum foil pan, these of which you will use to soak the items in and use it later for gravy.

For added flavor, you can add flavorings to the aluminum foil pan such as lemon juice, herbs, garlic and whatever you can add to create more flavors. When roasting, remember that it is still like grilling and you will still have to turn the items on its sides while cooking it. The vapor produced by the juices also seep deeper if you turn the items on its sides occasionally.

Smoking

Another popular method of cooking meats and fish on the grill is by smoking. This method produces a tastes that is pleasantly different from all other since the items here will be flavored by the smoke from chips of wood that are also seasoned with spices. These chips of wood that are seasoned are most likely already available at your leading gourmet shops.

In doing this, have them placed by the fire so that they would burn along and produce smoke. The smoke then will make the items taste good.

Safety Tips When Grilling Outdoors

The Many Wonders Of Grilling

Whether it is Thanksgiving, New Year, Christmas, someones birthday bash or just a family gathering, nothing beats having a backyard outdoors. Just think about having the best meats, fishes and vegetables sizzling on the grill while you and whoever you are with would later enjoy the wonderful flavors produced by it. While that is true, people who are into grilling should also be careful, that is safety should also be an issue since there are risks involved in grilling.

Risks Of Danger

People, especially those who are quite new to the grill may not be aware of the dangers that they are exposed to when grilling. While the most common would be having your finger burned, if neglect other factors too much it can cause more serious cases. In fact, some cases have involved structure fires and outdoor fires. So to help you avoid those cases, here are some outdoor grilling tips that would help you not only be safer when grilling but some of these could even make food taste better.

Keep The Kids Out

If you often grill with your family and have kids, make sure to keep the kids out of the grilling area especially when already grilling. Making the grilling area a no play zone will keep the kids and the one who is grilling out of danger or of accidents that could happen. It is also very important to make sure the kids are away until the grill is cool. Along with that, pets should also be kept away since they could also bring up the same accidents that kids can do.

Even when setting the grill, make sure that you are at least 10 feet away from objects that could easily catch fire such as the house, bushes, trees and shrubs. Also make sure that you are standing by the grill at all times when grilling, you need to be aware of what is going on and what could happen and doing this could also make you watch the food and avoid having it getting overcooked or burnt. Since grilling involves fire, you have to be aware of what it could do.

More Safety Tips

When grilling, you also have to take into heavy consideration the starter fluid, where to use it and the proper way of using it. Be aware that you should only use this on charcoal grills and never on a stove-type grill. Before you start using a gas grill, make sure that you are able to check the connection between the stove top and the gas tank to make sure that it is not leaking and make sure not to do this by the use of a lighter as this could also impose danger.

Also be aware that a barbecue is to be used outdoors, that means that it should never be brought inside the house for it to be used in. Not only would this impose danger to your house but even if done safely, the smoke caused by grilling can make your house smell for days even after grilling.

Now that you already know some helpful outdoor grilling tips for safety, what you need next are mad skills to be the next god of the grill. With that, you can grill like a master and be completely safe while doing it.

Delicious Party Favors

Seldom do people realize that food can be a special party favors they can give out during occasions. When talking about “handmade” items, foods are probably among the top choices this is because there is no way to prepare them but to use one’s hands. Come special seasons such as parties, this is the top handmade gift choice to many people since these are potential staple items on the table.

Although it is still months before a party that you are about to prepare, its never too early to think of the food items you can give out as party favors. As early as now, you can look for special sweets, tarts, candies, breads and bottled treasures in specialty stores or you can start learning how to make special homemade cookies that you can give to your spouse, friends, relatives, teachers, clients, associates or officemates when they attend your party.

Possible food ideas or items that you can give out as party favors include boxes of chocolates in various shapes, a selection of fruits, different arrangements of fruit baskets, traditional hampers that contain specialty foods and sweets such as breads and tarts in different shapes and sizes, and bottles of wine like sauvignon blanc dry white wine.

Delectable treats

If you want the party favors that you are about to give, choose more personalized or intimate that you can customize. Variations for food party favors include variations such as Wine and Gourmet food basket that contain gourmet pepper and poppy crackers, pacific smoked salmon with gourmet cheese spread with wine or a Sesame Crackers food gift which include a selection of garlic and cheese mix and chocolate drizzled almond biscotti and dark chocolate mint sticks with gourmet holiday coffee or bottle of chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon.

But, among the so-many possible food items ideal as party favors, cookiesin different shapes, flavors, and sizesare always on top of the list. Here are some of the cookie basics you need to know before giving out as a party favor:

– Choose your recipients’ favorite cookies. Knowing your recipients’ favorite cookies will make it easier for you to buy or prepare your party favor. If not, opt for standard cookies favorites such as fresh ginger cookies, fruitcake cookies, holly cookies, and chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies.

– Make the presentation attractive. Be creative in packing your cookies by embossing it with ceramic, metal, or plastic stamps or molds or by adding special add-ons to the finished product such as colored sugar, finely chopped nuts, or colorful sprinkles. Make that you decorate the outside of your cookie container with distinctive labels, unique cards, and colorful stickers or wrapping paper.

– Maximize your effort. In making this handmade items as a party favor, try to give all you’ve got. If you are baking the cookies all by yourself, make sure that you prepare to bake a large selection of cookies by freezing several rounds of this dough in advance to achieve best output and best taste.

Magical Flavor Of Gourmet Coffee Beans

If you drink coffee and have ever stopped to look at the different types of gourmet coffee beans, you might want to actually give some a try next time you’re shopping for coffee. Instead of grabbing that huge tube of ground coffee, the same brand you’ve been purchasing and drinking for years, or instead of grabbing that more expensive, smaller tub of gourmet ground coffee, break out of your coffee rut and give beans a try.

Some people already own a coffee grinder, or remember when their parents used to purchase beans and grind them at home. Some stores still have a grinder right in the coffee aisle. The beans our parents purchased and ground were usually not gourmet coffee beans, it was simply cheaper to buy the beans and grind them yourself. If you don’t have a grinder at home, coffee grinders aren’t expensive. You’ll enjoy the smell of freshly ground coffee beans. While some savor that rich smell when they open a tub or brick or pre-ground coffee, once you’ve inhaled the aroma of freshly ground beans, that tub coffee won’t ever smell quite the same to you.

Some people are who are very choosy when it comes to coffee purchase several different types of beans and combine them in certain combinations to get the coffee taste they want. Most of us probably aren’t going to take the time to do that. We know what we like when we drink coffee, and we know what we don’t like. In that case, gourmet coffee beans can be ideal because they’re already specially chosen and designed to offer up a richer, more complex taste that that bag of coffee beans you can purchase at your local A & P.

You don’t have to purchase the same old beans or ground coffee from your supermarket. You can break out of that habit a little with gourmet coffee beans you can buy online. You’ll find blends of different beans like the almighty Arabica, Jamaican, Columbian and many others, as well as beans that are infused with different flavors. You can find beans that will give your coffee a chocolate flavor, or hint at fruit or vanilla, or almost anything you can imagine.

When you’re looking at gourmet coffee beans, you literally hundreds of choices, and that choice can seem almost overwhelming. Most places that offer this many choices have information about different types of coffee beans, roasting times, flavors and hints of flavor and general coffee information to help you choose which type of coffee beans to purchase.

And don’t forget the people you buy for. Coffee lovers can truly appreciate a thoughtful gift of gourmet coffee beans. If you’re unsure whether they grind their own beans, you can purchase the beans whole and grind them just before gift-giving. While gourmet pre-ground coffee can also be a thoughtful gift, whole beans will give the person on your gift lift the freshest coffee experience possible, and put you at the top of their list.