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Cooking with an Electric Grill

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In my last post I set a goal of cooking using a gas grill. I was excited to find out how safe it was, how fast it heated up and the flavor it added to meat. I was all ready to go until I was informed by my brother in-law that the gas grill he wanted to rent for me was not going to be available as the owner of the grill informed him that his family was going to use it. I hadn't had a plan B but my daughter informed me that we had an electric grill (Bella Cucina Artful Food grill) on the shelf in the garage. I had never used the grill since we bought it when the kids were in high school. It was used by my eldest daughter to prepare pancakes in the morning and to grill hamburger patties sometimes after school. On the manufacturers website I found different types of Bella Cucina grills. There are grills for waffles, sandwich Maker press, and griddles. There is not a specific grill for barbecue.   However , the specifications on the pancake grill makes it a perfect fit t...
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Reflection and cooking with a different type of grill when making a barbecue.

I started out setting my goal on making a barbecue, an activity that brings both family members but also friends together and blogging what I learned in undertaking this adventure. I had a total misunderstanding as to the purpose of my blog and through my reflection I have learned that it is not the process of cooking but what I learn during the  adventure.  It will be difficult to start all over as there is limited time left.  In preparing a barbecue one should consider the grill to use, the grills effect on  the flavor and taste of the meat, where the grill will be placed etc. The charcoal grill has always been my favorite and is the only one I have used and think it is the fastest and gives the best flavor to the meat. My choice of the charcoal grill comes from my experience and safety concerns. I have heard numerous stories about gas grills exploding and injury people prior to my arrival in the United States. While visiting Home Depot to buy a grill, I saw diffe...
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Cooking chicken wings with a recipe.

Today we are making barbecue spicy garlic chicken with a recipe. They will be  compared to wings made two weeks ago without a recipe and measurements.  The ingredients necessary for today are 4-5 pounds chicken wings, broken down into wingettes and drumettes, 3 tablespoons light olive oil, 1 cup Old Bay Seasoning,  1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon barbecue sauce. The purpose of the exercise is to compare the taste, and flavor of the wings without using a recipe to those using the recipe.   The technical part of this recipe  is the time and as well the ,measurements of the food. After seasoning the chicken you will preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and place the chicken in the oven for 20-30 minutes checking routinely. At the halfway point I will add the barbecue sauce and leave it to cook for about 15-20 minutes.    I stared cooking at 12:...
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Learning how to barbecue

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I love to eat barbecue but I do I not know how to grill/cook. As a tradition in my fathers household boys were never allowed into the kitchen. My task as a son was to ensure that there was firewood in the house and to clean after my mother cooked. Further more I spent almost my entire teenage years in a boys boarding home from elementary to high school where food was prepared by the school's chef.  Over the years I never learned how to cook or prepare meals as my wife is a good cook. Having gatherings today at the house, I  rely on my brother-in-law who is a good chef to prepare my barbecues which I and the kids like very much. I recently decided that I should learn  how to prepare a barbecue and even learn how to make our native dishes which I sometimes miss. After some practices I made my first barbecue on super bowl Sunday.
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