So, when I got a craving for some red meat this afternoon, I told my roommates I was cooking. As the summer months begin to wind down, I feel this urge to use my grill as much as possible before the summer is officially over.
Now I know people have their preferences when it comes to Gas or Charcoal, but I truly like both. I use a Gas Grill at work, because, well that is what we have, but it is also much easier to control the level of the heat on a Gas Grill. When I am grilling at home though, I use my Weber. I love my Weber, but I love whomever it was who invented the Chimney Starter even more. Whenever I have friends over, they usually ask me what it is, because most people light their charcoal with lighter fluid, but once you try a Chimney starter, you will never go back, I promise! I've also tried the Matchlight, no lighter fluid need, charcoal, and while it does light up fast, it doesn't burn very hot. So, I'm sticking with my Chimney Starter.
I got mine at my local hardware store, but when you see it, you will be confused. Here's the gist of how you use it(I'll take a picture of mine and post it tomorrow):
1. There are two main compartments inside the cylinder, one is below a wire rack, and has some openings on the side. This is where the crumpled up newspaper is to be placed.
2. The upper compartment is for the charcoal. I use Kingsford, but use what you like.
3. I like to place the Chimney Starter with crumpled newspaper in the bottom of the grill before I pour in the charcoal. This way if you spill a little, it will eventually light with the rest of the charcoal in the grill.
4. Light the newspaper, and wait a few minutes to make sure some of the charcoal begins to ignite.
5. When all the charcoal is grey, with a bright orange glow, you are good-to-go.
6. Using gloves, an oven mitt, or some towels, pour the charcoal into a nice mound in the center of the base of the grill.
7. Place the top grate on, and you are ready to grill with the best of them.
Marinating is my middle name. Okay, okay, you caught me. It's actually Marie, but pretty close don't you think?? Well, tonight was an impromptu invite for my roommates to join in my steak centric dinner, so my marinade was more of a rub with Cumin, Chili Powder, Garlic, Scallion, and Lime Juice. Usually I marinate my meat overnight for the best flavor, but today I had about an hour, not eight. I decided to make guacamole and a corn salad as well.
When I figured out a "theme" for my dinner, I finally settled on Flank Steak, and bought some corn tortillas to throw on the grill as well, to make my version of tacos.
The steak was juicy, the salad crisp and fresh, and we did have a little pre-dinner snack of chips, salsa, and guacamole. I had enough for leftovers, so this will be my dinner tomorrow night.
Plus, you all know by now that I love chocolate, but I am a firm believer if you are having people over for dinner, you have some dessert or a little something sweet to end the meal. So, I bought some vanilla ice cream, butter waffle cookies-these taste like a waffle cone, and these milk chocolate macadamia nut lace cookies! Ahhhh. . . bliss!
Sure I could have baked a batch of my own cookies, or made brownies to go with the ice cream, but I believe it's okay to have somethings that are not homemade and from scratch every once in a while. It's helpful to have one less thing to worry about when you are having people over, and well those cookies are just so damn good!
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