| The day of the party has arrived, the food is bought, | | | | designed for the job, it will make it easier and leave |
| and the gas grill stands on the deck, cleaned, checked | | | | less chance of errors in cooking. For turning fish and |
| and ready to rock and roll! The guests are starting to | | | | meat, always use tongs, never use a fork. The fork |
| arrive so you fire up the grill. But what will you do to | | | | will pierce the food and allow the juices to run out, |
| ensure that they go away thinking "Wow, what great | | | | making it dry and tasteless. Using tongs is also easier |
| tasting food"? Simple, read on and learn! | | | | and you can examine the food to make sure it is |
| The first tip is to buy the best quality food that you | | | | cooking properly. |
| can afford. If you economise on ingredients, it will show | | | | Talking of properly cooked food, pay close attention to |
| in your cooking. The world's greatest chefs will always | | | | the recipes, use the correct heat settings and timings. It |
| use the best ingredients, that is why their food always | | | | is extremely useful to have a cook's thermometer so |
| tastes so good - apart from the fact that they can | | | | that you can check the temperature inside the food. |
| cook it to perfection of course! Then check out the | | | | That way, you know that it is cooking right. Avoid the |
| recipes in advance, you should not use the day of the | | | | temptation to just blast the food with a high heat, it will |
| party to experiment. If the recipe does not work, you | | | | be cooked on the outside but may end up almost raw |
| are heading for disaster. It is always easier to repeat a | | | | on the inside. This is most important when cooking |
| recipe, the first time you follow a recipe, it will take time | | | | whole fish, game and poultry as you need to make |
| as you are unfamiliar with the method, quantities and | | | | sure that any bacteria within these foods is properly |
| maybe the ingredients. The second and subsequent | | | | destroyed. |
| times, you are more familiar and can be a little slicker | | | | To get even better flavors in your grilled foods, |
| and more relaxed, knowing the results will be good. A | | | | consider the use of a smoker box. This is an |
| relaxed host or hostess is better than one who is | | | | attachment that fits in your gas grill and is filled with |
| more concerned with the recipe and cooking than with | | | | wood chips. These smoulder and the aromatic smoke |
| the guests. | | | | gives extra flavor to the food. There are many |
| Marinade the food that you intend to give your grill | | | | different types of wood chippings that can be used, |
| party guests. Marinade for several hours, a lot of grilling | | | | research what is regarded as being the best for your |
| chefs will marinade overnight to make sure that the | | | | food and try it out well in advance of your important |
| flavors penetrate the meat, fish or poultry as much as | | | | grill party. The wood chips are soaked first so that |
| possible. Marinade in the refrigerator, which inhibits the | | | | they don't set alight. |
| growth of any bacteria. Always research the different | | | | Consider also where in your backyard you will set up |
| marinades for a particular cut of meat or type of fish | | | | the grill. If it is raining, us an awning, never use the |
| before deciding on your recipe. Maybe find something | | | | garage as the fumes may become trapped and could |
| unusual and TEST IT OUT well in advance so that you | | | | poison you and your guests. Always grill in a well |
| know what you are doing. Poor preparation leads to | | | | ventilated area. Avoid setting up your grill under trees |
| disasters with your recipes. If you then wish to use the | | | | that are overhanging as that is a fire risk. |
| marinade as a sauce, cook it thoroughly as it has been | | | | So there you have it, follow these tips and hopefully |
| in contact with raw food. | | | | your grilling party will be a success and the talk of the |
| Keep the raw food separate from the cooked food | | | | neighborhood for weeks after - and for the right |
| and use separate sets of utensils. Use utensils that are | | | | reasons! |