Chillin' and Grillin'

Don’t let the season determine your outdoor cooking. Even though it’s chillin’ it’s thrillin’ to be grillin’ no matter what the temperature is outside. Over 60 percent of Americans don’t mind putting on the parka to grill their favorite meal even if some of the sizzle comes from a snow flurry or two.


The perks are the same as in summer…the fabulous flavor, a break from meatloaf, and the absence of pots and pans in the sink. Most extreme grillers go with a gas fueled grill…no waiting for coals to heat up while you literally chill out. But there are diehard charcoal grillers who relish the flavor and aroma only charcoal can give…even if cooking takes a tad longer.

So there’s no need to put your grill away for the winter. Instead, put on a few extra layers of clothing and head out for the deck and your favorite grill for some punch in your winter menu.

That being said, have you tried our Sesame Ginger Teriyaki Sauce yet? You can make an incredible meal in minutes with chicken, beef or pork. I love using it as a marinade when grilling. Share your winter grilling recipes with us!

Foodie Resolutions?

What are your foodie resolutions for 2010? Cook dinner at home more? Bake the perfect batch of brownies? Eat out at that one restaurant you’ve always dreamed of visiting? Open your own restaurant?

It’s a lot easier to make New Year’s resolutions than it is to keep them. I’ve heard statistics that say anywhere from 50 to 92% of all resolutions are not kept. They say that the trick to keeping a resolution is to break them down into smaller, more manageable goals. So, if you want to cook at home more, you might start out by cooking a big dinner once a week so that there will be plenty of leftovers for another dinner and a lunch or two. Gradually work up to more nights, or encourage yourself further by saying you’ll try a new dish or two from a favorite cookbook. Did we mention we have two new cookbooks?

This year, I’m just not quite sure what my big resolution is going to be, but traveling more, taking an international cooking class (check out our cooking school schedule) are definite goals of mine. I’d also like to hold a few more contests on Facebook with giveaways for all of you readers. Beyond that, I’ll have to make them up as I go through 2010! What about you?