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Cooking Outdoors

Cookbooks

24 years ago

I am wonder if any of you have a favorite cookbooks for grilling?

Thanks

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Comments (12)

meagain1
24 years ago
Yes - I picked up "The New Grilling Book". A Better Homes & Gardens Publication. It's basically a 3 ring binder with info/tips and tons of recipes with color photos. What I liked about it was that it contains INTERESTING recipes. Asian, etc. It's really quite good.
spambdamn_rich
24 years ago
I just picked up the bound paperback version of same. I like the Asian recipes, but haven't actually tried any yet.
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Thank you all for the varied responses. I'd rather not single anyone out for their responses. I can't write my whole life story here, however taking all the comments in context, I want to clarify a few things. My son has been a blessing having moved in when I'm facing a very difficult life situation regarding my husband. Due to Covid, visitation is so difficult at hospitals and rehab places. I'm frankly depressed over what has happened with my husband of 50 yrs, and very lonely and scared he won't come home again. My husband is a physician and always worked long hours and was rarely home until very late when our kids were growing up. I basically raised my daughter and son alone. Their father would come home, many nights after they were in bed. Medicine was his life and his patients were very important to him. I accepted that from the very beginning. My husband never cooked or had any interest in it. He was happy opening a can of tuna and having that. He could scramble eggs, that's it. Our son is very much like him. A very hard worker and very kind. He is very much like his father. He has a very concrete type of thinking, unlike my daughter who is creative (a writer), MSW, great cook, gardens, etc. My son is so opposite. However, he is very kind and loves working with people and helping them get on their feet again (just like he's facing. He helps me in so many ways since moving in and I realize he's facing his own problems. I thought learning the basics of cooking might be something he should learn to help him not depend on always getting take-out or frozen dinners. Yes, he knows how to microwave, make sandwiches, frozen pizza's, etc. He doesn't know how to cook at all. I thought recipes which were easy to understand without having prior knowledge of various techniques would be a good way to start him cooking. I'm sorry if I made it sound like he's a burden to me, not at all. I just see it as a way to make him more comfortable about tackling cooking a simple meal. He seems to enjoy the time we work together on simple things. But, I also realize (didn't before this) that he's uncomfortable about chopping, breading, mixing eggs, simple things. I don't cook 3 meals a day at all. I don't for myself, certainly not for him. He buys his own cereal or whatever he wants, he does his own shopping. He likes to buy ham or turkey and makes his own sandwiches. My question was not about a son who was taking advantage of me. Just a simple question about a cookbook. Not sure how people thought somehow, my son was taking advantage of me. He's not in any way. He's been so helpful in other ways and company for me during a very difficult time. Now you all know more about my life than I really wanted to explain. I was asking for a simple cookbook for a adult who I thought could benefit from making a few simple dishes for himself when he moves out. That's it. Thanks for the names of cookbooks. I will look them up and order a few. Jane
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cookingrvc
24 years ago
Picked up a couple of grill books the other day that I'm making my way through.

How to Grill - Steven Raichlen: Presents and in depth (but not boring) explanation of the basics of grilling, both charcoal and gas, indirect and direct.
Each recipe is accompanied by great pictures. The recipes run from basic to innovative (i.e. How to grill steaks, tenderloins, pulled pork to Tandori Lamb Chops, Ground Lamb Kabobs, Saffron Grilled Chicken, Salmon with Mustard Glaze). I really like this book.

The New Grilling Book - Better Homes and Gardens: Another one that talks about the basic of grilling, although not as in depth as 'How to Grill'.Nice pictures (although I wish there were more), good recipes such as Grilled Pineapple with Sugared Wontons, Peppered Rib Roast, and Goat Cheese Flatbread).

Also got the 365 Great Barbeque & Grilling Recipes by Lonnie Gandara in softcover.
For 5.99 US, I couldn't resist. Has some nice recipes (i.e Grilled halibut with Martini Butter, Grilled Pear Salad with Parmesan Cheese).

All in all these books cover it all. If I had to choose just one, it would be 'How to Grill'.

Sue
meagain1
24 years ago
You know what would be fun? We could post a "recipe of the week". We can pick 2-3 recipes, pick one, then all cook the recipe during a 7 day timeframe - then critique it share how we'd change things. What temps, etc. Goofy idea? I think it would be fun.
cookingrvc
24 years ago
Great idea. If it doesn't fly, try the Cooking Forum, folks there would enjoy doing something like this.

Maybe we can switch methods from week to week, such as indirect, direct, rotisserie, while also switching the type of meat (pork, veal, beef, chicken, etc).

We did something similar on the Cooking forum, a virtual dinner (which foks actually prepared)with multiple courses. It was an interesting process.

Sue
Grill_it
24 years ago
I think Steven Raichlen's books are among the best I have come across.

'The Barbeque Bible' is Great!
'How to Grill' is better because of all the photos.

I have yet to find one of his recipes that wasn't first class.

I use to rotisserie 2 chickens each week until I tried his 'Beer Butt chicken' ( I used a coca cola can- not a fan of beer).

Here is a link that might be useful: Steve Raichlen
cookingrvc
24 years ago
Grill It: Don't worry about any beer taste in the beer-can chicken, there is none. I have made it a few times and LOVE it. Of course, you can add wine too if you want.

Not sure what directions you were following, but when you empty half the beer, you can add your favorite dry seasoning to it AND rub it in and on the chicken.

Soooo good.

Sue
meagain1
24 years ago
OK guys - anyone have the recipe they can share? :)
cookingrvc
24 years ago
I don't follow a recipe per se, but here's the method.

Empty HALF the contents of a 12 oz beer. With a church-key type opener, poke a few more holes inthe top of the beer can (this prevents it from exploding).

To the beer that remains in the can, add some of your favorite dry rub (I used a prepared poultry rub from my local grocer). You can also add a bit of wine or sherry, but make sure you only have 6 oz. of liquid in the can.

Rub your chicken inside and out with more dry rub. I;ve made this with chickens weighing about 3.5 lbs.

Place the beer can on an aluminum pan and sit the chicken on the beer can, and er, insert it until his feet just meet the pan. Adjust the legs so that they are the front two prongs of the tripod. The can is the third leg of the tripod. Adjust so it is well balanced.

Heat your grill, place the chicken on the grill, add some water or wine to the pan, and cook medium-hight for one hour.

Now, some folks say you need to turn the chicken a few times during cooking, but I have never done that. Also%2
cookingrvc
24 years ago
....as I was saying....

...also, some folks don't use the aluminum pan and cook it using indirect heat. I prefer it this way.

Sue
Sunflower_Pa
Original Author
24 years ago
Wow, Thanks everyone this has been a great help.
My brother cooks on the grill daily and I wanted to get him something he would really enjoy.
I will check this books out.
Thanks again
Grill_it
24 years ago
Here is a link to Beer Can Chicken,

click on "Read some barbecue boot camp recipes"

Here is a link that might be useful: Barbecue Boot Camp

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