Cooking outside

When it comes to culinary pleasures nothing is more enticing then cooking outdoors, feeling a light breeze, the sun on your skin, the wonderful smells coming from your grill and the depth of the intense flavors achieved by smoking and charring your food.

Fueled by innovative equipment, ingenious accessories, and the chance to escape from every day stresses, the use of grills or barbecues has skyrocketed in the past few years. Grilling is healthy and is performed with a certain flair that borders on theatrical entertainment. There is an art to outdoor cooking, keeping both men and women on their toes to come up with the best recipes, (recipe collection) sauces, and techniques to cook their fish, steak, hamburgers and even vegetables, to perfection.

Home grills come in every imaginable style, size, shape and price range. Before buying your grill consider your cooking habits, how much convenience you prefer, as well as the amount of people you will be feeding. Determine the location where you want to put your grill and what accessories you need. Checking your kitchen drawer you may find some items you need, like a meat thermometer, apron or basting brush. If you are missing certain utensils, consider buying a kit that includes the basics such as a spatula with serrated edge, heavy-duty tongs, a large fork, and a double sided grill scraper and brush, all designed with a long handle to prevent getting burned.

Expertise grows with practice, and before the barbecue season is over, you will be graduating as the premier grilling jockey in your neighborhood.

The power of Arsenal football

I love football and I always have. Being agirl, I didn't play, just watched all the cute guys put on a show. Football was a great way to hang out with my Dad and every boyfriend I've ever had. And, of course, Arsenal football was the only football we watched. It helped that Arsenal was an English Premiere League and a sure bet to win. We all want to root for the winners!

The only word to describe what I felt at my first live Arsenal game was power. My Dad had seasonal Arsenal FC tickets and, when I was 8, allowed me to tag along with the crew of guys he always took to the games with his English Premiere League tickets.

I could feel the energy in that stadium as we walked from the car. It was nuclear! I was so happy to just be a part of it and grateful to have a Dad with Arsenal tickets. All the boys at school were so jealous!

My Dad's Arsenal FC tickets were for special seats, down close to the field. Everyone was excited, there was music and food, even entertainment! There was so much going on I didn't know where to look!

But when the play started, it was like nothing I 'd ever felt. The roar of the crowd, the energy of the fans, the cheers when the Arsenal team scored were all so amazing that I felt like I was being lifted right out of my seat. It was one of the most exciting days of my life and I was really glad my Dad had English Premiere League tickets!

The differences between charcoal and gas grilling

The word barbecue may mean different things depending where you live and who you ask. Some people refer to it as a specific kind of meat, while others may refer to it as a social gathering, a piece of cooking equipment, a style of cooking, or simply eating a meal outdoors.

Most chefs who like to grill and cook outdoors have to make a major decision when choosing their equipment. Will it be a gas or charcoal grill? The answer to this question will depend largely on your equipment budget and whether convenience or smoky tasting food is preferred.

Cooking on a charcoal loaded fire pit grill is fun and adventurous, but will be dirtier than using one fired up by gas. Charcoal grills burn hotter, are more versatile and it is easier to toss flavor enhancing wood chips or herbs on the coals. It gives the cook more to do, because these types of grills require constant attention. So why, if it is this much fun, does not everyone grill on charcoal, or wood? Charcoal can be quite messy and relatively unpredictable when it comes to starting. Sparks can flair up any time, especially when it is windy and it is harder to control the heat. Also, when cooking for longer than an hour, the coals must be replenished.

Gas grills are more expensive than their charcoal or wood competitors, but also offer more cooking stability and convenience. Because most gas grills start with the push of a button, there is no need for briquettes, stacking, smelly starter fluid and waiting around for the coals to glow. With a gas grill, the heat can be controlled with the twist of a knob, and you will not be bothered by dusty hands and smoke in your eyes. The newer improved models now even have dedicated smoker boxes, so you easily add the much favored smoky taste to your food, and unlike the charcoal competitor who needs refueling every hour or so, with one tank of gas you may have 12 to 18 hours of culinary outdoor fun.