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Show Barbecue grills Sometime early in our married life, my wife figured out a sure fire way to get me to help out with cooking. All that was needed was an open flame of some kind. I think my bond with open flames and food developed when I was a Scout. I am almost sure, as a Cub Scout, I earned the Cooking on a Stick merit badge. I quickly mastered other fire cooking techniques by Gary and soon became Duke of the Dutch Oven, Guru of the Grill, and Master of the Microwave. Technically, the microwave doesnt utilize an open flame, but since nuclear fusion is somehow involved it still qualifies. Later, my wife graduated from college and got a real job, so we moved up the social ladder one tiny notch and finally THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday,' October 6, 2004 - Page grill was so small that it only held eight briquettes (which has the cooking power of a Bic lighter) so we had to cook one wiener at a time. If we had company over, we had to eat in shifts, since it could only cook one wiener at a time; which was just as well since we only had two chairs. FINALLY (emphasis added by wife), I graduated and we both had real jobs, we Torres bought a real house that had a real deck and of course we bought a real barbecue grill. The new grill was circular and stood perched on top of a tripod and took an entire sack of briquettes and 40 gallons of lighter fluid to get Granted, the apartment was the size of a broom closet, but the dang thing started. Whew... talk about a fire hazard; me, matches, lighter fluid, and a wood deck attached to the house. I wondered why my wife always made the kids get out of the house when I wanted to barbecue. MOM! Dad has it had running water, and the matches and lighter rented an apartment. flush toilets; and most importantly it had a DECK. That meant I could do some outdoor cooking. I was so excited; that I immediately went out and bought our first hibachi. It had h legs so that you tiny always had to lay on your belly to see if the coals were hot. The six-inc- fluid. Which usually sent everyone scurrying. She would launch into her drill, Matthew! Get your little sister. Katie, Call 911 so theyll be here on time. Ill get the baby. Someone open the door for the dog! Meet in the front by the big tree. Of course we were anxious to show off our house and my new grill so we immediately invited the inlaws over. Somehow, I always under estimated how long it would take the briquettes to get hot; so I would then have to hurry things up a bit, because everyone was starved and starting to go home. My wife would knit her brow and look at me with the attachments. A little tip here for the women reading this column. You can always tell how happy a man is with a gift by the features it has; look. So I would After a few years we moved again into a new house with a bigger deck and so I embezzled money from our kids - college funds to buy a gas barbecue grill. Of course I had to have just the right one, which means lots of buttons and knobs and squirt fluid on the hot coals and Kaboom, a flash the more... the happier. of fire and smoke plumed twenty feet in the air and engulfed me and the deck for a split sec- I ond. I dont know how many times I lost my eye brows, but I know that the neighbors must have enjoyed it because they came out with their water hoses and watched every time. Hurry, Marge! Its Garys turn to cook again. Of course I was trying to hurry up and feed the starving company, Now hold on people. ..dont go jest yet! I think were jest bout ready. Do you want your steak singed or well done or jest marinated in lighter fluid? studied, I read, I asked neighbors, and finally we went to the store to bring home our first real gas grill. It put out more BTUs than our furnace, it had an ignitor button, a window, a thermometer, wheels, side trays, a rotisserie and a place to hold my 44 oz coke. The excitement was pretty intense. As I cracked open the valve and pushed the ignitor 9 into a bottom vent. I could hardly contain myself. YeeHahhh. Houston. .we have lift off. Honey, you gotta come check this out. Honey?? I spot her and the kids and dog over by the big tree practicing the fire drill again. Instant flame, instant heat, 100,000 BTUs roasting a wiener. At first I couldnt cook enough, I tried barbecuing everything. One time, I took a side of cow and just plopped it on the grill. ..shortly after that episode, my daughter became a vegetarian. I was feeling pretty uppity about my grill and my barbecuing skills until we moved back to Monticello where several of the locals have built their own grills. These locally made grills are huge, they have smoke stacks, they have truck tires underneath them, they have to stop at the Port of Entry, they are fashioned out of 55 gallon drums and old car hoods and are attached to big BIG propane tanks. These things are so big that they dont even cut up the cow, they just set the whole cow in there, dose the lid and poof you have enough meat for a Mormon family reunion. Put in cow at this end. ..out pops roast beef button adrenaline and testosterone combined in me so that I had an out of body experience (which allowed me to swap recipes with Shirley sandwiches at the other Maclaine). Boom... a low end. Now thats a grill. I cant rumble and the deck started wait to get one. shaking as oxygen was sucked Recipes for cooking pumpkin by Pauline Williams, Utah State University Extension Family and Consumer Science Agent Its that time of year again. Leaves are changing, mornings are frosty and pumpkins Help us build a fitting monument in San Juan County for Veterans are dotting walkways and doorways. In addition to being a welcome sign of fall, pumpkins are also a welcome sign at the table. The bright orange color of pumpkins is a dead give away that they are loaded with the e (a antioxidant to vitamin A). Vitamin A is vital for eye health and promotes healthy skin and strong bones. Antioxidants are beneficial for heart health and may reduce the risk of some types of cancer. Pumpkin is naturally low in fat and sodium. In addition to vitamin A, pumpkin is an excellent source of fiber and a good source of pobeta-caroten- pro-vitam- in tassium and vitamin C. Pumpkins are not just for pies, but can be used in side dishes, soups, breads and YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE r DONATION CAN HELP US 1 . Name MOVE AHEAD Address State City Donate now and receive a FREE Lance Armstrong Foundation Zip 30-4- 0 Email Address wrist band for every $10 donation Total Donation of Armstrong Bands Make checks payable to: Monticello Community Foundation Veterans Memorial Monticello Community Foundation Send to: P.O. Box 601 Monticello, UT 84535 Any questions? Call k other desserts. Choose smaller pumpkins for cooking since they are more tender and flavorful. Cook fresh pumpkin like any other squash. Cut the pumpkin into chunks and simminutes until mer for tender. Puree the pumpkin and use in your favorite recipe. For more convenient cooking, purchase canned, pureed - pumpkin. Make pumpkin ice cream by mixing 1 quart softened vanilla ice cream with cups 1-- 12 pumpkin puree and 1 to 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice. Or, try a breakfast smoothie by blending pumpkin puree, yogurt, milk and cinnamon together for a quick nutrient-packebreakfast. Consider these additional recipes for your autumn table. Pumpkin Fluff Dip 1 small package instant vanilla pudding mix, 1 (15 oz.) can solid pack pumpkin, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, 1 (16 oz.) container frozen whipped topping In large bowl, mix pudding, pumpkin and spice together. d Fold in whipped topping. Chill until ready to serve. Serve with crackers, graham gingersnaps, apple slices or other fruit. Makes 3 cups. See: homecooking.about.com) Pumpkin Sauce for Pasta 1-- 2 lb. pumpkin, seeded and cut into chunks, 1 cup veg- etable or chicken broth, 3 cloves garlic, minced, onion, finely chopped, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 12 cup evaporated milk, 14 teaspoon ground nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste 1 In large sauce pot, add pumpkin chunks and broth. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer until pumpkin is tender, about 20 minutes. Mash pumpkin into a puree. Saute onion and garlic in olive oil until tender. Stir onion, garlic, parsley, milk and seasonings into pumpkin puree. Pour over hot cooked pasta and serve. |