My New Favorite Grill Item

Cupcake, you know how I love all things grilling. Well, I've run across this amazing gadget that is simply a must-have item. And the price is beyond excellent. Williams Sonoma (don't you just Love that store?!) has come out with a mesh pan, like the ones used in the Basque region. You remember, that tiny, tiny area between Spain and France. They're really nationalistic and don't want to belong to either of those countries. Anyway, one of the great things they've added to cuisine is cooking in innovative cookware over the grill. (Photo source: williams-sonoma.com)

When one grills in a mesh pan, several amazing benefits spring to mind:

1. No more sticking to the grill with that fun, fun subsequent scrubbing and burning off stuck-on food.

2. You can soak the mesh pan in a wonderful device known as your kitchen sink to get it really clean

3. The mesh pan allows the food to cook without adding oil to the veggies, which is important to those of us watching our fat intake and who have been advised not to hand-pour olive oil while cooking (yes, this from my Italian-origin trainer -- more on that sacrilege another day, Poodle).

4. If you use chips in your fire to enhance the flavor, your veggies really absorb it better in the grill pan

5. You can slice up the items in your grill pan smaller than you'd be able to do otherwise on your grill

Check it out on http://www.williams-sonoma.com/. Let me know what you think.

Oh! And sorry for the absence. I'm cooking up something else and will reveal it soon enough, but it's taking up a lot of my time right now. Miss you, Strudel!

Anticipatin' Tailgatin'

If there’s a song in the air, it’s probably a fight song. Touchdowns ... marching bands ... tail gate food.

It’s not quite 9 a.m. , but I’m already thinking about this weekend’s tailgate party. Thick, juicy burgers. Baked beans. GrandMartha’s potato salad. Mmm. Are you sensing the sizzle?

Not going to a game? Tackle your cravings and throw a tail gaiting party in the comfort of your own home. Actual tail gate is optional.

Here’re your Game Day Tailgate Party Tips:
#1 Chill Out
If you don’t have an enormous ice chest and don’t want to buy one of those trendy $100 beverage containers, Ice down a cheap, clean plastic kiddie wading pool and keep your cold drinks there all day. It takes a lot of ice, but it’s totally worth it since it saves you on re-stocking during the party.

#2 Get Fired Up
Ignite your grill at the right time depending on what kind you have. Light your charcoal a few hours before your home tailgate party starts. That way you’re sure it’s ready when guests arrive. With a gas grill, heat it up and start cooking before your guests arrive, but not too soon – avoid having cold food. Remember that a great host is never trapped behind the grill or in the kitchen – Party with your peeps.

#3 Veg Out
Don’t forget our veggie-lovin' friends. Throw on some fruits and vegetables or even shrimp on the grill.

#4 Set the Pace
Before your party, pick up the Next Hot Trend in Tail Gate Accessories – Weekend Waterford- they’re Styrofoam cups with “Redneck Stemware”, or “S.L.U.T.S.” (Southern Lady Under Tremendous Stress) emblazoned on them. No one’s going to forget that detail. Start your search for them at one of my favorite desirable diva stores, www.harmonylanding.com

#5 Go for the Extra Point
For the big game, make sure that your guests never miss a minute. Put a small TV in the bathroom, connect one near the grill, or in the kitchen. No hook-up in parts of your party pad? Have radios tuned in to the big game.

#6 Marinate in Your Victory
A hostess loves being on the receiving end of cheers. Win your guests over by not only your divine hospitality and festive flair, but also with your food choices. Not a chef? No time?

• Catering - always good It’s saved me panic on more than one occasion. Your menu could be the sensational offerings of a pig’s butt or chicken’s fingers.
• Another no-hassle party food fave is kabobs. Mmm. Food on a stick.
  
• Check out the frozen food section at wholesale clubs. My in-laws always serve great food at their parties and most times the food is compliments of Chef Sam de la Club.

No matter what you serve, have plenty of foods and snacks at your party. Stock up on food that doesn't go bad like chips and dip. Or sodas, or beer, or wine, or peanuts, or … well, you get the picture. Lots of party food has amazing shelf-life and can sit happily in your pantry until the next soiree. Regardless of what you serve, make sure you keep your cold foods cold and hot foods hot.

Oh! One more grill tip. Always use tongs to turn meat on a grill. Forks pierce holes in it and allow juice to escape.

A final note. You don’t have to limit your tailgate party to football. It’s also festive for racing events or the World Series! But not so much for say, golf or ice skating.