--> Cooking in the heart of Cajun country is an art form. There really is very little science to this particular form of cooking that includes a lot more than mere lagniappe from the pantry or the spice cabinet. Cajun cooking is something that has often been imitated around the country and around the world but can very rarely be accurately duplicated. One of the fascinating things about Cajun cooking is the fact that there are very few exact recipes. Most, if not all authentic ... Read Full Story

--> When it comes to cooking, it is important to keep in mind that everyone started somewhere. I do not know of a single person who was born with a wooden cooking spoon and ready to go. There is a lot of learning that must be done in order to become a prolific cook and then there is always room for improvement. Not only do you need to begin with the basics when it comes to cooking but you almost need to begin again when learning to cook a new cuisine such as Chinese, Thai, or I... Read Full Story

--> When the weather outside warms up, the kitchen can be a terrible place to be. There are many things you can do however, when it comes to cooking a nice home made meal that doesn't require traditional stove top or oven cooking. Learn to utilize some of the lesser heat producing equipment in your kitchen, such as the crock pot, in order to truly beat the summer heat and keep your cool while preparing a nice hot meal for friends and family. So, how does crock pot cooking reall... Read Full Story

--> Cleaning a grill or smoker is no fun. Ok, now that we agree and have gotten that out of the way, let’s see why it’s important to do it anyway. Then we can examine how to do it as painlessly as possible. Most food will expel grease and carbonize to some degree in a barbeque or smoker. Fats drip into the pan, smoke rises from the surface. The result? A black, crusty compound gets deposited on the interior. That compound is mostly carbon, with some unburned grease ... Read Full Story

--> Basic grill types range from charcoal to propane to natural gas, and sometimes even electric. The add-on features available with one model may help tip you toward one over the other. Some propane grill models, for example, offer a side burner. That burner, typically about the size of an ordinary gas stove burner in your kitchen, can be a big convenience. It allows cooking vegetables, sauces and other parts of the meal while the main dish is grilling. But natural gas models ... Read Full Story

--> Brisket is a cut from the breast, usually the lower part. It commonly refers to beef, but can mean chicken, pork or other animal meats. Though a badly made brisket can certainly be tough and unappetizing, if well done they can be highly tasty. One key to cooking a brisket is the necessity to do so very slowly. Throwing even a small brisket cut of beef onto a grill for twenty minutes is almost to guarantee something that would be better regarded as beef jerky. But slow cooke... Read Full Story

--> BBQ - Tools for the Barbeque Which tools you find essential and which merely ‘nice to have’ depends on the type of barbecuing you plan to do. But there’s a list of tools that most backyard chefs will find come in handy much of the time. Sometimes it’s best to start with the end in mind and the end of every barbeque is the clean-up phase. Some grill models can be a nightmare but with the right tools it can be relatively painless. One way to ease the b... Read Full Story

--> Every backyard chef has had to contend with insects interfering with the pleasure of a barbeque. If they don’t actually get in the food, they can still often annoy the cook. Here are a few effective, food-safe tips for how to deal with creatures who have rightly earned the name ‘pest’. Depending on species and season insects are attracted to heat, carbon dioxide, meat and other triggers produced by a barbeque. Spraying them with commercial insect killer or... Read Full Story

--> Barbeque grills come in three main categories - charcoal, gas and electric - and each type will appeal to a slightly different customer. For decades the only type available was a charcoal grill, and this style is still very popular. Chunks of black carbon are arrayed in a familiar pyramid and ignited, usually with the help of BBQ lighter fluid. Once the briquettes start to glow red, they’re spread around and they make for a hot fire that adds a special taste to the me... Read Full Story

--> Beef is a highly flavorful meat and has a pleasant texture that makes it a hit both for outdoor and indoor cooking. However, not every would-be cook knows exactly what to do when faced with a big slab of beef. There are issues such as cut, method of cooking and yes, degree of doneness. After all, not every one at the dinner table likes their beef well done. Factors that affect beef doneness and flavor Other than the right amount of salt, herbs and spices, there are certain t... Read Full Story