Month: July 2011

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Grilling Tips

How to Grill Chicken on a Gas Grill

Most people think they know how to grill chicken – just throw the chicken on the grill until it is cooked and dried out. Here are some tips to keep that chicken moist, juicy and tasty.

Grilling chicken thighs on gas grill (or wings, etc.) is a traditional bbq favorite. With a little patience and care, chicken cooked over a gas grill can be a very special all season treat.

How to Grill Chicken on a Gas Grill: Be Kind to Your Bird

Though chicken is one of the popular meats for grilling and bbq, it is also one of the most abused. Fear of under cooking drives many cooks to grill chicken into shoe leather. Plus, chicken dries out faster than most meats. Salmonella is a real concern, but it is not a good reason to turn chicken parts into hockey pucks.

You can be perfectly safe while leaving all those wonderful juices and flavors in the meat. A meat thermometer is a good inexpensive investment. When that chicken reaches 165°F you can rest assured the meat is cooked with the juices still flowing. With no thermometer, there is always the temptation to over cook for safety’s sake. We all want to be safe, but we do not have to destroy dinner to do it.

How to Grill Chicken on a Gas Grill: Some Certain Steps

Wash the chicken thoroughly. Cover the bird with your choice of spices. Be sure not to miss any parts. Heat the grill to about 240° and coat it with oil. Place the chicken on the grill, close the lid and turn it about every ten minutes. After 30 minutes start checking the thermometer. The chicken is done when the inside reaches 165°F. At this point, the outside of the chicken will be golden brown.

How to Grill Chicken on a Gas Grill: Tips on Indirect Cooking

This can be done on any gas grill with multiple burners. Turn the burners up high and run for a few minutes until everything is hot. Turn a burner all way down and place the chicken over the turned off burner. Close the lid and let the grill do its thing. This method is a little slower, it takes about ten minutes longer, but you are less likely to accidentally over cook the chicken.

When grilling with gas, you have the luxury of greater control over the heat when compared to other types of grills. This is very helpful when you are cooking sensitive meat like chicken.

Here one final, but very important tip. When your chicken is done cooking, take it off the grill, put it on a serving dish and let it set for at least ten minutes before cutting it up. Cooling draws the juices back to the center of the chicken.

If you fail to let it sit, the meat in the center will be dry and hard. To be able to treat your family and friends to some great juicy chicken, you will need to know the best way to grill chicken.

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Grilling Tips

How to Grill Chicken in the Oven

Do you know how to grill chicken in the oven that rivals what you can on your outdoor grill? Here are some tips if you have to make grilled chicken in the oven.

If your gas grill or your charcoal grill are not available, ou can still get those dark grill marks and smoky flavors in your chicken, while keeping it plump and juicy. Learn to bbq chicken in the oven.

How to Grill Chicken in the Oven: The Key to Success

To do it right, you need something that gets much hotter than those counter top grilling machines. The grilling machines might cook the meat, but you are never going to get that grilled look and the flavors that comes from searing the meat properly over high heat.

What you need to do is go out and get a good, heavy cast iron grill pan. It is best to get it pre-seasoned so it will not stick. These pans are cheap, easy to clean, easy to maintain and, very important, it can be put right into the oven.

How to Grill Chicken in the Oven: Buying the Right Stuff

Get the best chicken you can afford. Organically raised chickens taste the best and their meat is the healthiest. Unfortunately, organically raised chickens are out of range for many peoples’ budgets. The next best is “all natural” and, if you cannot get that, free-range is good. If you must buy chicken off the shelf, get the brand that injects the least water and other stuff into the bird.

If you do not already have one, get an instant read thermometer. These are great for indoor (and outdoor) grilling, especially when grilling pieces of meat that are too small for a conventional meat thermometer. It also gives peace of mind for grilled meats that absolutely MUST be cooked thoroughly like pork and poultry. Your indoor grilled chicken will be be done at 165°F (if it is different, ignore the suggested temperature on the thermometer – chicken is done at 165°F).

How to Grill Chicken in the Oven: Cooking Your Chicken

Follow the basic tips here and you should have perfect grilled chicken every time. Heat the oven to 375°F and heat the grill pan on the top of the stove on high heat until it is smoking hot (you might turn on your exhaust fan).

Coat your chicken pieces with olive oil. Apply salt and black pepper or season the chicken with your favorite spices or rubs. Put your chicken on the grill for 90 seconds per side. Do not overcook.

Do not move the chicken around in the pan so you have those nice grill marks. Finish it up by putting the pan in the oven for 8 to 10 minute or 165°F on the thermometer. Take the chicken out of the pan so it doesn’t overcook. Set the chicken aside for a few minutes to allow the juices to be drawn back to the center of the pieces. When you know how to grill chicken in the oven, you can make any meal special. Now, go and tell others how to make grilled chicken in the oven!

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Grilling Tips

How to Grill Asparagus on the Grill

Learning how to grill asparagus? What is the secret to grilling asparagus on the grill? Here are some great tips for grilling asparagus.

If you employ a little patience and do it right, grilling asparagus spears can be a great nutritious summer time treat.

How to Grill Asparagus on the Grill: Getting Things Ready

When getting things together for grilling asparagus, the first thing you need is some fresh asparagus. You will need some butter or olive oil. Of course you will need a grill. As far as spices, many people like asparagus with salt and black pepper. Asparagus takes on spices very well and you are free to add whatever you prefer. Some spices that are found to go expectionally well with asparagus are cumin, garlic, thyme and oregano.

How to Grill Asparagus on the Grill: Picking Out and Storing Your Fresh Asparagus

When picking out asparagus for grilling, freshness is the key. When asparagus begins to lose freshness it quickly loses flavor. You know asparagus is fresh when the stalks are firm and straight. Also the tips should be totally closed. When picking out asparagus for grilling, you should prefer the ones with fatter stalks.

They are easier to handle on the grill and will not fall through the grate as easily. Refrigerate  asparagus in a plastic bag with a wet paper towel wrapped around the lower part of the stalk. Asparagus will stay fresh in your refrigerator for three to four days.

How to Grill Asparagus on the Grill: Grilling Your Fresh Asparagus

One  plate or shallow dish, pour in melt some butter or some olive oil. Add spices spices to the butter or oil and roll the asparagus spears in the mixture. If you have time leave them in the mixture for about 20 minutes while covered with a paper towel so they can soak up the mixture. Individually place the asparagus spears on the grill.

Be sure to place them in way so they will not slip through the grate. The spears should not be over a direct flame or high heat. After the about four minutes on each side, the asparagus should become pliable. When the stalks start to become soft, they are done. Set the asparagus aside for a while to cool and reabsorb the juices.
Hope you enjoyed learning how to grill asparagus!

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Grilling Tips

How to Grill Chicken Drumsticks

There are many ways to learn how to grill chicken drumsticks. Follow these tips and you will have delicious grilled chicken drumsticks every time.

Children and adults alike enjoy grilling chicken drumsticks. Serve up a delicious grilled chicken drumsticks recipe at your next outdoor bbq and you will be a hit with everyone.

How to Grill Chicken Drumsticks: The Key is Good Marinade

The marinade for the best chicken legs usually has a Teriyaki base. The main flavors are soy, ginger and garlic. A popular method is to put the chicken legs in a large plastic zip bag with the marinade, though any bowl or container will do as long as the legs can marinade for an hour or two or until they are ready to use.How to Grill Chicken Drumsticks

How to Grill Chicken Drumsticks: Getting the Grill Ready

Just a note: Free range chicken has a better taste than industrial produced chicken; organically produced chicken has a better taste than free range chickens. Granted, organically produced chicken is too expensive for many budgets, but if you can manage free range.

Be sure to start with a good clean grill, because you do not want any flareups with chicken drumsticks. Go ahead and fire up the grill, it can be either gas or charcoal. If you have a gas grill, set the temperature to medium.chicken, it is highly recommended over industrial produced chicken.
For charcoal make a well-distributed flat bed of coals. The chicken will go directly over the coals. With gas, close the grill and allow it to heat up. With charcoal, make sure the coals are thoroughly heated through.

How to Grill Chicken Drumsticks: Tips on Grilling Your Chicken Drumsticks

Using tongs, place the chicken drumsticks on the grill. Close the lid on your grill. After five minutes, turn the chicken drumsticks over, close the lid and cook for another ten minutes. Chicken, unlike beef, must be cooked thoroughly because of the potential for harmful bacteria. To test to see if the chicken is done, peal back the meat on a chicken drumstick to the bone.

If you see any pink in the meat, you need to return the chicken to the grill for a few more minutes. If you are using a thermometer, the inner temperature should be 160 F degrees. Like most meats, you should allow to set a few minutes to allow the juices to return to center of the meat. Hope you enjoyed learning how to grill chicken drumsticks!

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Categories
Grill Lamb

Grilled Lamb Chop Recipe

With this quick and easy grilled lamb chop recipe, who says you have to work like a pro to grill like one? Just follow these simple steps for an irresistible dinner entrée.

lamb chops aren’t the most common barbecue food, and that’s to your advantage. Grill up something unique to surprise your friends and family. You can’t go wrong with this dish.

Grilled Lamb Chop Recipe Information

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Makes 8 lamb chops

Serves about 4

Fabulous Grilled Lamb Chop Recipe Ingredients

8 lamb loin chops

2 Tablespoons of olive oil

4 cloves of minced garlic

1 teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper

¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes

1 Tablespoon of fresh chopped rosemary

½ teaspoon of dried oregano

½ teaspoon of dried thyme

2 Tablespoons of fresh, chopped Italian parsley

2 Tablespoons of fresh, chopped mint

Salt to season for taste

Fabulous Grilled Lamb Chop Recipe Directions

1. Combine the olive oil, garlic, black pepper, red pepper flakes, rosemary, oregano, and thyme in a large baking dish to create a marinade sauce.

2. Mix in the lamb chops and toss well until evenly and thoroughly coated.

3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (if you choose, you may marinate the lamb chops overnight).

4. Ignite your grill and grease the grate to prevent the meat from sticking (this dish may also be prepared in a frying pan or broiler if a grill is not available).

5. Remove the chops from the marinade and salt both sides generously

6. Cook about 5-6 minutes per side for medium-rare (the actual cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the meat).

7. Scatter the lamb chops with the fresh parsley and mint

8. Let sit for about 5 minutes before serving.

Round out this fabulous entrée with a freshly tossed garden salad or freshly picked garden vegetables. Also, as a secret flavor enhancer, some suggest that these loin lamb chops are even better when paired with an orange mint sauce. With a combination like that it’s hard to see why grilled lamb chops aren’t a more popular type of barbeque dish.

Grilling lamb chops does not have to be a difficult or unpleasant undertaking. In fact, you can be sure that adding this lamb chop recipe to your grilling repertoire will go a long way to improving your chef’s image.

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Categories
Grill Pork

Grilled Country Style Pork Ribs

Just go ahead and try to resist a hot, juicy side of country style pork ribs. Remember, you could be sinking your teeth into one of them at dinner tonight.

With this no nonsense backyard bar-b-q recipe, your pork rib fantasies will become reality. Try it today and score big points with your friends and family.

Grilled Country Style Pork Ribs Recipe

Preparation time: 35 minutes
Cooking time: 1.5 hours
Makes 8
Serves 6-8

Awesome Grilled Country Style Pork Ribs Ingredients

¼ cup of brown sugar
¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper
½ teaspoon of garlic powder
½ teaspoon of onion powder
¼ cup of water
1/3 cup of Worcestershire sauce
1 ½ ounces of soy sauce
2 tablespoons of inglehoffer original stone ground mustard (or other brand of dry mustard)
¼ cup of KC Masterpiece original barbecue sauce (or other brand of BBQ sauce)
2 pounds of country-style pork ribs

Awesome Grilled Country Style Pork Ribs Directions

1. Use a whisk to combine the brown sugar, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, water, Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce in a mixing bowl.

2. Slowly mix in the mustard. Once finished, pour 1/4 cup of the marinade into a separate container and reserve it for use in a later Grilled country style pork ribsstep.

3. Trim the pork ribs and place them in a sealable plastic bag (i.e. zip lock, etc.). Place the bag in a large bowl.

4. Pour the marinade into the bag, remove the excess air, and seal the bag.

5. Let the ribs marinade at room temperature for at least 30 minutes (You may marinade for longer if you so desire)

6. Begin heating the grill and clean the grates.

7. Grease the grates of the grill with a small amount of vegetable oil to prevent the meat from sticking.

8. Mix the reserve marinade with the barbecue sauce.

9. Remove the meat from the marinade bag and discard the marinade.

10 Brush the meat with the marinade and barbecue sauce mixture. Grill over direct high heat with the grill covered and turn the ribs every 10-15 minutes.

11. When meat temperature reaches 155° remove from the grill and serve immediately (if possible, use a meat thermometer to verify the temperature of the ribs before taking them off the grill).

Try enhancing these country style pork ribs by adding several par-boiled potatoes and cobs of corn to the grill as your ribs near the finishing stages.

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Categories
Grill Chickens

Grilled Chicken Fajita Recipe

Look no further to find a delicious, fast and easy-to-make recipe for grilled chicken fajitas. In no time at all you could be sinking your teeth into the one below.

Summer is here (or near) and there is no better time to fire up your grill and start barbecuing chicken fajitas. Your grilling reputation will benefit nicely from this fairly simple recipe.

Grilled Chicken Fajita Recipe – BBQ style

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Makes 4 tortillas

Serves 4Grilled Chicken Fajita Recipe

Mouthwatering BBQ Grilled Chicken Fajita Recipe Ingredients

1/2 cup of BBQ sauce

1/2 cup lime juice

2 teaspoons olive oil or vegetable oil

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 whole red pepper

1/2 teaspoons of crushed red pepper flakes

3/4lb boneless skinless chicken breast

4 flour tortillas

Mouthwatering BBQ Grilled Chicken Fajita Recipe Directions

1. Finely chop the garlic and fry for 2 minutes.

2. Mix in the lime juice and bar-b-q sauce.

3. Place the mixture in a bowl and add the chicken breasts. Mix around until evenly and thoroughly covered (to maximize the flavor allow the chicken breasts to marinate overnight).

4. Pre-heat your BBQ grill and make sure the coals are glowing red before cooking.

5. Brush the grill lightly with the olive oil and arrange the chicken on the grill.

6. Allow the chicken to cook for about 7-10 minutes. The times may vary depending on the type of grill you use. The idea is basically to make sure that the chicken is completely white on the inside. Just be careful not to burn the exterior of the meat.

7. While the chicken is grilling, chop up the red pepper into rings and place on the BBQ for the last 4 minutes of cooking time. Cook the red pepper rings for 2 minutes on each side, again, being sure not to burn them.

8. Remove the chicken breasts and use a sharp knife to cut them diagonally into thin slices.

9. Remove the peppers and cut each of the rings in half.

10. Place several strips of chicken and several half pepper rings in each warm tortilla. Sprinkle the contents of each tortilla with the pepper flakes.

11. Wrap and serve while hot.

Try any variety of freshly tossed garden salads to accompany this dish. Salad and garnish will go a long way to making this chicken fajita recipe a major hit with your friends and family.

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Categories
Grilling Tips

How to Cook Pork Chops in a Skillet

Want to know how to  cook pork chops? What is more simple than a pleasing dinner including skillet fried pork chops?

Sometimes the very best food really is the easiest.

To learn how to cook pork chops, all you need are some nice pork chops, a large cast iron skillet and some common spices you are likely to have in your home right now for simple delicious skillet fried pork chops, every time.

How to Cook Pork Chops in a Skillet: Keeping it Simple

Pork chops are one of the easiest meats to cook and to cook well. They are also one of easiest cuts of meat to destroy, turn to shoe leather, dry out or otherwise destroy by cooking. Some of the most delicious pork chops can be done with a cast iron frying pan and simple seasoning consisting of salt, pepper and paprika. With a few minutes of prep time and less than ten minutes of cooking time, you can be eating in no time at all.

How to Cook Pork Chops in a Skillet: Getting Things Ready

Preparation could not be much easier. Simply sprinkle the salt, pepper and paprika on both sides of the pork chops and let them sit on the counter for about half an hour. When it is time to start cooking, heat up the cast iron skillet until it is hot enough to sear the meat, usually medium high to high heat. When the pan is hot add oil with a pinch of salt.

How to Cook Pork Chops in a Skillet: Cooking the Chops

Put the pork chops in the hot cast iron skillet. You need to make sure the chops are not touching one another. If the chops touch each other, it can cause them hold in moisture and cause them to steam cook and not brown and sear properly. Place the chops so the thickest parts and boniest parts are toward the center of the skillet where they will get the most heat.

Cook the pork chops for two minutes on each side so the chops will be browned and well seared.  Turn off the heat and let sit. The cast iron skillet will hold enough heat to continue to cook the pork chops until they are cooked thoroughly.

If you find they are not cooked thoroughly, place them over a low heat and cover them until they are done. It is important to cook pork thoroghtly.  So how do know when they are done? When you see juices oozing out of the top of the pork chops, you know they are done.

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Grilling Tips

How to BBQ Pork Ribs

Learning how to grill pork ribs? Have you ever served up finger-licking barbecue pork ribs? You know, the kind that falls of the bone and drips with flavor.

Who says ribs are hard to grill? You just have to know how to grill pork ribs, and you will have a taste sensation the neighbors will be talking about.

How to BBQ Pork Ribs: Prep Work

As with any grilling experience, the prep work for ribs is just as important as the grill work. First, buy fresh ribs that have not already been doctored up with rubs or seasonings.

Next, rinse the ribs and cut off any excess fat; leave some on though for extra flavor and juiciness. If you are planning to grill the ribs straight up without a rub, sear them in a pan of oil for about 10 minutes with the meat side down.

However, if you want to use  a rub on the ribs, you should put the rub mixture on about 2 hours before you plan to grill and do not sear.

How to BBQ Pork Ribs: Grill Work

With the prep work done, it’s time to get those ribs on the grill. Preheat the grill to a medium temperature, about 250 degrees. It is best to cook the meat over indirect heat to keep it from burning or drying out. If possible, use chunks of wood rather than chips to allow a slow smolder rather than a quick burn.

You can choose the type of wood based on your flavor preference; apple or cherry offers a milder taste over hickory or mesquite. You will want to place the ribs with the bone side down, basting them every 20 minutes for up to 2 hours with an acidic basting juice like lemon to keep the meat moist and tender. Slow is the key. And when they are done, you will have plenty of time to savor the flavor.

How to BBQ Pork Ribs: Finish Work

When the ribs are almost done is the time to add the sauce. If the sauce is applied too early, the sugars in the sauce can cause the meat to burn. You may want to consider holding off on the sauce and adding it later when the ribs are off the grill; you may find that the grilling and basting have provided all the flavor needed for great barbeque ribs.

And you know they’re done when the meat is ready to fall off the bone. Once you have mastered the art of BBQ pork ribs, you will never want to eat them any other way.

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Grilling Tips

How to BBQ Corn on the Cob

Learning how to bbq corn on the cob? There’s nothing like grilled corn on the cob to bring back memories of the fair or a Fourth of July Picnic. Learn how to grill corn on the cob.

The key to a good corn roast is the wrap and the rub. Below are some easy tips to show you how to add America’s favorite veggie to the menu.

How to BBQ Corn on the Cob in Foil

The easiest and tastiest way to grill corn on the cob is in foil; you can seal so much flavor and moisture in while keeping the flames out. Simply remove the husks and silk from the cobs and rinse.

Pat dry and rub in butter or oil. Place the cob in the center of a piece of foil and season with your favorite seasonings.

Be sure to wrap the cob tightly so that the melting butter and juices do not escape. You can either wrap several cobs together or wrap them individually, but wrapping them individually makes for easier serving at the picnic table.

The foil methods works great for most veggies, so try grilling up your whole garden.

Barbecuing Corn on the Cob in Husks

Some people prefer to barbecue their corn directly on the grill, and the best way to keep the corn from burning or drying out too fast is to keep the husks on. Simply remove the dry outer husks and the silk since these will burn quickly and turn to ash; do keep as much of the husks intact as possible.

Then soak the corn in water for 10-20 minutes; this will add moisture to the corn and keep the husks from burning quicker than the corn inside can cook. After the corn has soaked, pull the husks down a bit and coat them with butter or oil and seasonings.

A good way to ensure those flavors stay in the corn and don’t drip out into the grill is to tie off the top of the husks with a thin piece of husk.

Barbecuing Corn on the Cob on the Grill

Whether barbecuing in the husks or in a foil packet, corn on the cob takes about 15-20 minutes to cook. Cooking over medium heat or on an elevated shelf will allow for more even cooking without burning. Especially with the husk method, you want to turn the cobs every few minutes.

By moving the cobs to a higher cooking rack, you can grill your other food items at the same time. Everything comes off the grill at the same time, and you can sit down to a tasty meal complete with veggies.

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