To Grill Or Not To Grill

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

20 May 2006 03:00 PM

Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner. Typically, the holiday weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer season and in many households it is also the unofficial start to the grilling season.

In my family, my father is the official "griller." I don't think my mom has ever come within 20 feet of my father's grill... or any grill for that matter. And the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. My husband holds the title of "grill guy" and I, well, I don't go near the grill. In fact, I don't even buy charcoal. It may seem like it promotes a stereotype, but it works for us. Don't get me wrong. I love to cook and have mastered the art of "indoor" grilling, courtesy of my stove and grill pans. And, if there is one thing that will elicit a compliment from my husband, it's my ability to grill a tasty steak, complete with perfect crisscross grill marks. But, again, this all happens indoors. I don't mess with the outdoor Weber. (Perhaps, I subconsciously don't want to learn what's involved in firing up a charcoal grill for fear that my husband will turn the tongs over to me.) My neighborhood is full of wives and mothers who grill up entire meals on their "husband's" grills. I just don't happen to be one of them.

The point is I shouldn't let the grill intimidate me. With so many of them on the market, I can't really use the excuse that there isn't one that matches my "grill skills" or price range. From the portable gas grills that come equipped with tiny propane canisters (perfect for cook outs at the beach) that run about $100, to the stainless steel behemoth barbecues that offer more than 700 square inches of cooking space, rotisseries and side burners which cost about $5000, you can easily say that there is a grill for everyone. But, right now, I am content to leave the grilling to someone else. After all, it's the only time I get a break from cooking.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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