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Outdoor cooking appliances are simply the most extraordinary inventions that have ever seen the light of the day. Cooking is made an enjoyable and effortless activity thanks to these appliances. Nobody in their right mind wants to set the house on fire, but even than it is far less difficult and dangerous to ignite a fire outside the house for cooking purposes, greatly aided by suitable equipment. These appliances are the essentials of outdoor cooking and facilitate the preparation of tasty and healthy dishes in a jiffy. Amongst the outdoor cooking appliances available, the most widely preferred are Dutch ovens, griddles made from cast iron and cooking grills.

1. Griddles : Griddles made from cast iron present stovetops with greater flexibility. The side with ridges can be employed for grilling and the other plain side can be utilized for making eggs and pancakes. A vital point to commit to memory is that when the griddle is used, you should ensure that it receives proper circulation of air.

2. Jambalaya Pots : A different kind of outdoor cooking appliance is the Jambalaya Pots, which are made of cast iron of approx. 3-10 gallons, and are multifunctional. They are extremely useful in the preparation of stoufee, gumbos, and soups when cooking for a large number of people. On the inside, it is concave in shape, but even then can function as a LPG burner.

3. Cooking Paddle : Then, another kind of outdoor cooking appliance, which is used regularly, is the cooking paddle, which comes in both wood and steel and, largely makes cooking very uncomplicated and easy.
4. Fish Fry Basket : A further kind of outdoor cooking appliance, which is often used, is the fish fry basket, which can be put in the deep fryer.

5. Fry Thermometers : Fry thermometers, which apart from being a safety measure, enable you to check that the meat is cooked at the right temperature and is not over- or under done.

6. Grill Accessories : Grill Accessories can be placed in the storage shelf or rack of the grill. Hence, seasoning food becomes quite easy as all the ingredients are kept close at hand.

7. Deep Fryer Kit : The deep fryer kit is a very popular outdoor cooking appliance and comprises of large and deep fryer pots with a thermometer and a burner included.

One can make cooking seem easy by putting the ingredients on the grill or in the deep fryer very conveniently. You need not invest a lot of time or effort to prepare dishes using the outdoor cooking appliances, as they tend to reduce considerably the cooking time. Many people who lead extremely busy lives opt for grilling as it produces fast results in a relatively short time. At times, the menu should include simple meals and grilling is your best bet as it helps you prepare food with ease. Outdoor cooking can really be a pleasurable activity, more so if you are using the latest equipment, which provide you with valuable assistance. Discover the thrill of cooking outdoors. Take pleasure in what you do best and remember there is no short cut to success. The only exception to the shortcut rule is grilling.
Abhishek is a cooking enthusiast! Visit his website http://www.Cooking-Guru.com and download his FREE Cooking Report “Master Chef Secrets” and learn some amazing Cooking tips and tricks for FREE! Learn how to create the perfect meal on a shoe-string budget. And yes, you get to keep all the accolades! But hurry, only limited Free copies available! http://www.Cooking-Guru.com

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Bottled water becomes very popular nowadays. The bottled water companies may even tell you that it is the best thing that we can get. It is something we all should drink. However, you need to be clear that the companies are trying to sell you the products. They are trying to make more money and sell as much as they can, even if you do not need their products.

You may be curious if bottled water is better that tap water. The truth is that it is not! In most cases they are just the same thing. Of course it may be filtered but it does not mean that it is better than tap water. As a matter of fact drinking water is always good for your health. However, we have to admit that we are just wasting out money if we drink bottled water instead of tap water.

In order to attract consumers to buy the bottled water, sometimes other ingredients will be added to it. For example, they may add sugar to the it. Besides the filtered water, there is some bottled water that comes from a spring. You may think that it will be better tap water in this case. However, this is not true.

If you find that you like the taste of bottled water rather than that comes from the tap. You should not just go buying more bottled water if you do not want to waste money. You should try to buy some devices to filter the tap water. This will certain help to remove the unfavorable taste of it.

You may try more advanced filtering systems if you want. However, it may not be a lot better than a small filtering device. Of course some people may really need these systems because of the conditions of the tap water. For example, sometimes it is too hard and you need to soften it.

Alternatively, you may also try to put the tap water in the refrigerator. You will find that it tastes a lot better when it is cold!

To be honest, there is nothing evil about bottled water. The only problem with it is that it is too expensive. But they are just the same as tap water. To this end it is just a waste of money. Everyday, there are people who die from starvation. It will be just crazy for us to pay so much to buy these products!
The Author has a website on Keeping Fit and Healthy - Weight Loss. Be sure to check Thyroid Health and Yoga Tips and the article Super CitriMax Weight Loss Tablet Tips.

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What is sold in a tea shop? The logical and most straightforward answer would be, plainly speaking, tea. While this in fact true, the tea shop is not limited to just the retail sale of tea.

With the recent boom of the Internet, numerous web sites have opened, acting as tea sellers over the Web. Some call themselves tea shops, and some tea sellers. All however carry tea as a main retail product.

In countries such as England and Scotland, where tea is a national beverage, a tea shop is often synonymous with a tea room. In these usually elegant and muted salons, tea is brewed and served from teapots at the table with an assortment of light cakes such as Victorian sponge, or with scones served with clotted cream or jam.

Both of the above descriptions for tea shops fit the definition of the term. Yet, what exactly does a tea shop name entail?

Such a shop usually carries shelves and shelves of the various kinds of varieties and brands of teas available. Sorted and classified by variety, or by label, shops sell the range of tea available on the market. Along with the tea itself, a wide variety of other collateral products is sold. Thus, tea sets are offered, such as assorted tea pots and cups and saucers. Whether in ceramic or porcelain, these sets run from cheap to expensive. Other more expensive, fine-bone china sets are also sold. It has to be remembered that the tea shop is a profoundly British notion, and as such, since tea is almost a formal ceremony in the country’s traditions, a high dose of class and elegance is associated with the serving of the beverage and its presentation in fine china.

Tea shops also sell utensils needed to make tea. Strainers, spoons, cutlery, and infusion balls are thus found, as well as electric kettles. Everything that revolves around tea is supposed to be available at the tea shop. Food is also present, as in the British food usually associated with tea. Biscuits, scones, clotted cream, jam, and cakes, are thus sold by tea shops. Books that have to do with the history of tea, or capture the stories of how tea figures into local culture are often among the items for sale.

Many a tea shop also offers gift baskets and other gift sets which are sure to please the tea lover. Should you not see a basket that has what you like, most shops are more than happy to prepare customized gift sets that will include exactly what you have in mind.
Mayoor Patel is the writer for the website http://organic-tea.tea-universe.com. Please visit for information on all things concerned with Tea Shop

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Coffee; is there a more discussed drink on the planet? Wine perhaps but that is debatable but there is no doubt that a discussion about coffee can bring out the most argumentative traits in just about anyone. Hardly a day goes by it seems that a new study on it’s effects has been conducted…it’s either good or bad for you; there doesn’t seem to be any in between.

Did You Know?

Recently, a study conducted in Birmingham, England concluded that consuming large amounts of coffee actually boosted a person’s memory. That “heart starter” as it is so often described first thing in the morning could actually be described as more of a “brain Kickstarter” if the results of the study can be taken literally. The study suggests that it actually increased the power of so called “gamma rhythms” in the brain thus boosting and increasing memory function. Hey, I’ve been saying this all along!

Coffee seems to have a two fold effect on people. For some, a shot of aroma is enough to swell the senses while for others, it’s the taste. For true cafe lovers like myself, it’s both! Okay, time for a confession: my mom first introduced me to the wonderful aroma and taste of coffee when I was five. Of Italian heritage, my parents loved their “brew.” I can remember with great clarity that well used steel percolator roaring to a thunderous climax on our stove top several times a day. And you know what? I’ve carried on the family tradition. Of course, things have changed a little since then.

I still own a couple of stove top percolators but into the 21st. century, we now get the choice of any number of coffee styles. Cappucinos, lattes, espressos, flat whites, double shot espressos, gourmet… hey, somebody stop me! Not to mention the availability of the coffee machine or coffee maker to “Mr. and Mrs. Joe Consumer.” It seems nearly everyone with an avid love for this little black drink has progressed to the coffee machine. And why not; relatively inexpensive and their ability to brew in a hurry is just what “the doctor ordered” for our “want it now” lifestyles.

Like wine, coffee for some is more than just hitting “pour” on the machine or revving up the steel percolator. It’s become a bit of an artform. You know what I mean. Preparation of the beans… freeze the beans; don’t freeze the beans; leave them at room temperature; keep the coffee in the fridge; only grind the beans just before brewing; add milk before you pour; add milk after you’ve poured and so on and so on. Who’s right and who is wrong. Who knows? You can understand how debates get started around this most popular of drinks.

So where did coffee originate? Some believe Ethiopia while others believe it was brought to Europe by the Venetian merchants. Even others believe it originated out of the Middle East. We’ll probably never know for certain but all I can say is: whoever it was that discovered coffee, here’s to you!
Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster.Get your caffeine fix withcoffeenews, views and reviews at: http://www.coffeemakerheaven.com

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There are many cookware sets that are suitable for use by a professional chef but can be used by any person who wants to be pampered while they cook meals for the family and invited guests. Some cookware sets are designed by chefs and are branded with names that have become famous because these cooking utensils are exquisitely made.

Most of the cookware styles for professional chefs will feature a gentle curving that creates a professional image right from the start. These cookware products often feature handles that are always cool to the touch because chefs often work in a busy environment where flames from stoves are customary foes and exposure of limbs to these elements are widely expected by everyone involved in the cooking process.

The cookware styled for a professional chef must distribute heat evenly at all times. Even the finest chef can not maintain a watchful eye on a boiling pot and must rely on the quality of the cookware at time to ensure that food items will cook evenly. Overcooked food will usually stick and this is why most professional cookware choices are coated with non-stick polymers.

Most chefs perform food preparations that often require a style of cookware that does not absorb the flavors of the foods. A chef will often use one frying pan for many items in a meal and will often wipe the pan out with a towel in lieu of immersing the hot pan in water. To keep food flavors separated, professional chefs prefer to use professional styles of cookware that are made of stainless steel.

Chefs will normally select a commercial style of cookware that holds up well to the rigorous demands of cooking on a day to day basis. They must also be concerned about the type of metals that are used in the cookware because some metals cause foods to brown quicker and other metals have a tendency to burn foods. Some cookware is only suited for the preparation of sauces and gravies.

Most of the cookware selections available to chefs will be styled with long handles. These handles will be attached to cookware that is often made of anodized metals that need special care during the cleaning cycles. Some metals are not well suited to many of the chemicals that are used in commercial dishwashing machines. These chemicals can change the color of a professional chef cookware set with one wash cycle.
James Brown writes about CHEF’s bargains, Abt Electronics bargains and Instawares coupon codes

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For some people, the storage and acquisition of wine is more than just a hobby, it is an art.

Wine connoisseurs all know that the proper storage of wine is important to its final flavor. Once it is already bottled, wine will still mature and gain body and flavor. Proper care should be taken when handling wine, or else its potential for greatness will go to waste. To keep their wine well preserved, the discriminating connoisseur will choose a proper wine rack.

How to Buy a Wine Rack

The Build
Wine racks can be made of so many different materials and styles. You should consider which material and style fits your need and preference. You could have wood, glass, alloy, or metal racks. Some people try to choose materials that match their living rooms. There are a variety of styles of wine racks, find one that if convenient for you. The popular styles include counter top racks, diamond bins, cabinets and others.

The Essential Elements
A good wine rack will ensure that the following elements are strictly controlled. Light, humidity, temperature, stability. If you want to keep your wine well preserved and ready for ambush party, you need to make sure they are not exposed to light, moisture, extreme temperatures and shaking or vibration.

Cabinet wine racks are good at keeping wine bottles safe. They can emulate the conditions at a wine cellar best. These condition include moderate humidity, cool temperatures, and little light

We try to control the humidity so we can avoid getting the wine cork from accumulating moisture. This will lessen the chances that the wine will get contaminated or oxidized.
Keeping the correct humidity or appropriately moist environment will keep the wine cork damp, reducing the chances of contamination and/or oxidization. Warm conditions will accelerate wine aging. You have to keep this in mind when you consider which wine rack to choose.

Things to Remember
Don’t place wine cellars above or near refrigerators. Refrigerators generate heat and this heat could ruin you wine collection. Buying and installing a good wine rack would be useless if that happened.

Your rack has to be smooth enough that when the wine bottles are put and taken, they will not get scratched and damaged. Bottles and labels are also important parts of the overall value of wine.

A wine cellar is great but not necessary to store your wine in the correct environment. But since not everyone can afford a wine cellar or has space enough for one, you could opt for a wine rack instead. Wine racks function a lot like wine cellars, but they are smaller and are more accessible. They are also a lot cheaper and easier to install.

Believe it or not, ultraviolet light can affect and ruin wine. That’s the reason wine cellars are so dark and that’s why you have to keep your wine in a dark safe place. When you store your wine bottles, make sure they are stored sideways; this ensures that the wine is always in contact with the cork to keep it moist.

Once again we cannot express how important it is to maintain the right conditions for your wine to mature nicely. Your wine rack system has to maintain the right amount of humidity and temperature to keep your collection going. Bear in mind that wine is something you keep for a long time. Keep your wine racks pumping a temperature range of 55-60 F. Also make sure the humidity is in the 50% to 75% range. Adjust these settings according to the needs of your wine.

Start Planning for Your Wine Rack Now!
Well, now you have pretty much gotten everything in order. When a party comes crashing through, you can whip out the grade A wine and celebrate to your hearts content. Pour out the good times to the tune of the compliments and admiration your friends will throw your way all because of your fine wine rack.
For more great wine rack info and advice check out:

http://www.rack-hq.com

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One great way to enjoy fair competition, know where your culinary skills and knowledge stand and to make money online is to join a cooking contest website by a simple sign up procedure. You get to enjoy food related news and views and the simpler ones call for writing in your favorite recipe to qualify for a chance to win something while other cooking contests require you to go through the activity of preparing a meal yourself to be in the running for a prize. Depending on your preferences, you can enter the cooking contest of your choice on many websites sponsoring these.

1. One such website promoting food related competitions online is Cooking Contest Central, a website dedicated to storing info on cooking contests and where to find them; it also has calls for submission of recipes. At times, some of these websites come with a minimal subscription fee and Cooking Contest Central has annual charges of $25! This fee is in lieu of the information and alerts it sends the way of its members, such as contest news, with details on deadlines for upcoming ones and reminders about them through e-mail, including those held for cooking professionals and those meant for kids.

Acting as a news directory in this specialized domain, Cooking Contest Central gives basic information about contests and links to other websites for additional info members may find useful while also providing a common platform for interaction online for the subscribers.

2. Another great website related to cooking contests is Food Reference, which also has a remarkable listing of various cuisine competitions on a single web page reserved solely for this type of info; there are no charges for the info stored here, including a short explanation of the contest requirements and its deadline. Recipe submissions are the most popular category here though there are cooking contests details also mentioned such as preparing the perfect menu for a block party, how to encourage better fruit and veggie eating habits for the family and tips on making an advert!

3. The third new website, Contest Cook, comes on the lines of the first (Cooking Contest Central) and charges a subscription fee of $25 a year to enable members to access information about various cooking competitions, including additional details, last dates, prizes applicable (if any) and the rules for the contests.

This is a useful site for the foodies that love to cook because there’s something for every kind here: be it a professional cook, the state-level food fair, other thematic contests or archived ones, there’s really no dearth of information about ongoing cooking contests and those coming up! Past competition winners chat with members on a message board that facilitates communication about cookery news and views and best recipes get a separate page so aspirants get a better idea of the judging style. A section on forms allows entrants to keep a record of recipes submitted while the web master gives members handy hints on how to compete too!

4. Proof Positive is a website offering cooking contest listings free of charge and has 2 main segments to it: ongoing contest listings and deadline based ones, with newer competition listing being added frequently. They give comprehensive details so are a good bet to try for cooking contest links, rules, prizes and more!
Abhishek is a cooking enthusiast! Visit his website http://www.Cooking-Guru.com and download his FREE Cooking Report “Master Chef Secrets” and learn some amazing Cooking tips and tricks for FREE! Learn how to create the perfect meal on a shoe-string budget. And yes, you get to keep all the accolades! But hurry, only limited Free copies available! http://www.Cooking-Guru.com

Now You Can Make Exquisite, Perfectly Crafted, Gourmet Cupcakes All From Your Own Kitchen! Over 30 Gourmet Cupcake Recipes In One E-Book with this great little ebook available at www.cupcake-recipes.com

Can you imagine eating at the same Italian restaurant several times in a row? One of our favorite things to do after church is to eat out for lunch. For the last few weeks, we have been going to the same local Italian restaurant when we could have gone anywhere. Last week when my wife suggested it, I thought, again, we were just there, but it is always good. The chef had cast some sort of spell on us. Once again, it was incredible and we love it each time. Well, I started thinking about why someone would return to the same restaurant time after time. Of course, it was because the food was delicious, but why, I asked myself. What was it that the chef was doing that made us so look forward to his Italian cooking?

I came to some interesting conclusions that you can use in your kitchen and home to create that same love for your cooking. The food was fresh and the homegrown herbs were wonderful but it had to do with more than just the food. The restaurant presented a great atmosphere that was personal, relaxed and fun. Have you seen those Olive Garden commercials with the big families? You know, “when you’re here you’re family”. It was that kind of thing. The chef comes out and talks to you, they put on your favorite music and everyone is friendly and easy going. Italian cooking can be a great way to enjoy food and family.

Set the atmosphere in your kitchen and make the experience enjoyable for your family as you enjoy the cooking. Fix a couple of simple appetizers to enjoy casually around the table as dinner nears completion. Get the family involved in the kitchen or setting the table. Put on some music, sing and enjoy. Now, when it comes to Italian cooking you have to think fresh. Get the freshest ingredients, pastas, vegetables and herbs you can find or better yet make and grow some of your own.

Here are some useful tips and special techniques for Italian cooking. In many ways the basics of cooking pasta is one of the most important cooking techniques that makes Italian cooking great. Make sure that if you are following an Italian recipe that you follow the directions carefully. Always make sure you are cooking the pasta in enough water. You should plan to use about four quarts of water for eight ounces of pasta. Cover the pot and bring water to full boil before adding pasta. Leave the pot uncovered while you are cooking, and use a pasta fork to stir the pasta. You can start testing the pasta for doneness a few minutes before the recommended time to see how it is coming along. You should also be looking for only a speck of white left in the center of the pasta. You need to drain the pasta but do not rinse it. Then return your pasta to a warm pot or skillet with sauce in it. At this point, you can add salt to the water to add flavor to the pasta but if you will be paired your pasta with sauce it is not necessary.

Traditionally, in Italian cooking of meats you would usually use the stovetop. You want to brown meat in olive oil or butter with wine. Don’t forget you should loosen scrapings from pan and as alcohol evaporates, lower the heat on the pan and simmer meat until tender.

Here is a nice way that you can make your favorite meal a favorite for your family and friends too. Usually, Italian cooking comes in several courses. Present your family with each course and it will create a memorable and enjoyable experience. The first course is usually a soup, pasta, or risotto. The second course is a meat, like chicken or fish, with a vegetable and followed by a salad. The dessert course is usually a fruit, but you can really make it something special by offering a sweet treat.
Craig Chambers is a cooking enthusiast who enjoys the fun and flavors of Italian cooking and has extensive free information and recipes on his website www.cookingyourbest.com

Now You Can Make Exquisite, Perfectly Crafted, Gourmet Cupcakes All From Your Own Kitchen! Over 30 Gourmet Cupcake Recipes In One E-Book with this great little ebook available at www.cupcake-recipes.com

Changes can be difficult, especially changes in your diet and nutrition. If you’re a young healthy individual who lives in Dallas, Houston or anywhere in Texas, it’s easier to change your diet now and reap the benefits, than to change later on when you’re older, because of health problems.

One of the first and best ways to control what to eat is to cook for yourself. If you can’t cook, learn how. With the hundreds of thousands of recipes, both online and in libraries, you’re bound to find a cuisine you’ll love that’s both tasty and healthy. Cooking is one way to take advantage of important nutrients that occur in extremely small amounts, yet have incredible repercussions in your body.

Unlike with freshly prepared food, many commercial food preparers find it convenient and cheaper to substitute nutrients for a longer “shelf life.” In addition, some of the more nutritious foods aren’t very popular; they’re never marketed, and few people know how to prepare or enjoy them. It’s a good idea to stay away from commercially-prepared foods and stick with preparing and cooking fresh foods.

One of the more important changes you can make in your diet is to cut back on the amount of fat you consume. So, if you currently eat a lot of fat, try just one or two of the following changes:

- For meat — eat it baked, grilled and broiled rather than fried. Take the skin off before eating chicken. Eat fish at least once a week.
- Cut back on extra fat — butter or margarine on bread, sour cream on baked potatoes, and salad dressings.
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables with your meals and as snacks.
- When eating in restaurants, watch out for “hidden” fats — salad dressing and desserts as well as larger portion sizes.
- Read the nutrition labels before you buy food. If you can’t decipher the labels, talk to your doctor or your nutritionist.
- Drink no- or low-calorie beverages — water, unsweetened tea and diet soda.

Balanced nutrition and regular exercise are still part of a good health regime even if your weight is consistent. So it’s important to set goals that you have a good chance of attaining, like making one of the small changes listed above or walking one additional day per week.

Yours and your family’s medical history may also be an important reason to change your diet. If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, you may need to talk about nutrition with your doctor:
- Have you been diagnosed with a medical problem or risk factor, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol?
- Were you told that this condition could be improved by better nutrition?
- Does diabetes, cancer, heart disease or osteoporosis run in your family?
- Are you overweight, or have you gained weight over the years?
- Do you need to find out what kinds of foods you should eat or whether you should take vitamins?

- Do you think that you could benefit from seeing a nutritionist?

Sure, it’ll be hard make changes in your diet, but even very small changes can improve your health considerably. It’s important to keep trying to eat the right foods. Also, stay in touch with your doctor and nutritionist, to let them know how you’re doing. Take a look at the following suggestions to help you improve your eating habits:

- Evaluate the strong and weak points in your diet: Do you eat five to seven servings of fruits and vegetables daily? Do you get enough calcium? Do you eat whole-grain, high-fiber foods regularly? If so, you’re on the right track. If you’re not, learn the changes you need to make.
- Make these changes small and slowly, instead of making large, fast changes. Small changes are easier to make and to stick with.
- Keep track of your food intake. Keep a daily diary of what you eat and drink. Use this diary to help you see if you need to make beneficial changes to your diet.
- Ask for help from a nutritionist if you haven’t already done so — especially if you have a medical problem that requires a special diet.

Good nutrition is important to maintaining good health. And as you’ll discover, what you put into your body will affect your health. And your health, good or bad, will eventually affect your bank account.
Pat Carpenter writes for Precedent Insurance Company. Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at Precedent.com

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Stupidity isn’t one of the essential ingredients in the perfect back yard barbeque. As much fun as grilling can be, it can be dangerous at times. It can also be quite amusing, unless you’re the one being the idiot. But then, life is made up of idiotic acts that we all have been fortunate enough to survive. God must really have had a sense of humor when He gave the first cave man the idea to cook his meat instead of eating it raw.

Trouble begins when one of questionable intelligence, starts playing with matches, charcoal lighter and gas. A friend of mine who had a gas grill tried to start the burner with a match after turning the propane on and then going into the house to use the bathroom. He then took the time to get a drink before he went back outside.

It was a calm day with no breeze, so the gas sort of settled around the grill. When he struck the match, you could hear the whoomp all the way to the house. Luckily the fireball only singed the hair on his head, his arms and his eyebrows. It shouldn’t have to be said, but never leave the gas line open for any length of time before igniting the gas.

Unfortunately, most barbequing mishaps are not due to carelessness, but to stupidity. Charcoal grills are especially fun to work with and only an idiot would use gasoline to start the fire. Another friend of mine, Fred, did just that. He didn’t start off that day being stupid; that came later in the afternoon.

One Saturday afternoon in June, Fred invited all the neighbors over for the first cook out of the season. Everyone was in a festive mood, especially Fred. This was his big chance to show off his grilling skills to the neighbors. Now Fred has always struck me as being a brick shy of a full load, but I was always willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, until that Saturday afternoon. He proved my theory correct when he came very close to burning down his house.

Fred’s stupidity wasn’t readily apparent at the beginning of the evening when he prepared to light the charcoal. Not one to do something half way, he used an entire twenty pound bag of charcoal. He had converted a 55 gallon drum into a smoker grill that was big enough to serve the entire neighborhood. Almost a full can of charcoal lighter was used to ensure that all the briquettes were burning brightly.

It didn’t work. While Fred went into the house to supervise the preparation of the meat and side items, the fire outside in the grill went out. Such a dilemma! He had just used all his charcoal lighter. While one of his neighbors went next door to get a can of the fire starter, Fred took matters into his own hands. After all, this was his party and it was up to him to get things rolling again.

I’m sure somewhere deep inside Fred’s mind he knew that pouring gasoline on charcoal, especially when that charcoal had already been burning, was not a brilliant idea. Sure enough when the gasoline hit the charcoal, a briquette that was still burning and hiding underneath the mound of charcoal, ignited the gasoline! Whooomp! The gas can start spouting flames.

Fred threw the gas can as far as he could; right on top of his brand new treated wood deck. When the can hit the deck, the top came off, pouring the gasoline out of the can onto the wooden deck. There was a big blaze this time. By now we had the garden hose going and the next door neighbor was soaking down Fred’s deck too. In a matter of minutes the fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. Luckily nothing but the deck was burned. Someone was looking out for Fred that day!

Electric kettle type smokers have become popular lately because they keep a constant heat and they’re easy to cook with. A great tip is to always keep the smoker in the garage and out of the rain. If the lava rocks in the bottom of the tray are wet, when you turn the electric wand on and it’s buried in wet rocks; guess what? The sound this time won’t be whooomp! It will be bang! The electric wand will blow apart, ruining a perfectly good smoker and cook-out.

The moral to this story is simple. If you’re stupid, don’t play with matches!
Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at: http://www.bluemarlinbob.com http://www.redfishbob.com

Now You Can Make Exquisite, Perfectly Crafted, Gourmet Cupcakes All From Your Own Kitchen! Over 30 Gourmet Cupcake Recipes In One E-Book with this great little ebook available at www.cupcake-recipes.com