http://tinyurl.com/6k56sr

Before I start, let me say that I got excited about grilling after
watching Mario tout his grilling book on Borders website. It is an
interview along with Andrea Robinson (the U.S. wine critic/expert) and
in between small interviews, the grills various recipes.

Since this, I've been recording Bobby Flay's food network shows ;-)))

Soooooooo, we got a charcoal grill and so far have made (IMO) the best
pork chops I've ever had (not a lover of pork, either) and the best
chicken breasts (with bone in - purchased at Costco) I've ever had.

Yesterday when grilling the chicken I added asparagus and those
smallish red/yellow/orange elongated bell peppers to this vegetable
basket and put the basket on the grill. Before putting them in the
basket, I sloshed them around in grapeseed oil (or was it EVOO?).
Needless to say, they also were the best asparagus spears I've ever
had in my life - I've broiled asparagus too, but no comparison.

Next time when they are done, I will take more care with this basket
so as not to necessitate such a huge baked-on clean-up; i.e., taking
it off the low-heat faster than I did. I've used barkeep, soda and
soaking, and lots of DH's elbow grease.

I'm not going to use an oven cleaner, even though DH is at that point
regarding the cleanup. Let's see, do I want to work 2 hours to save
$15? That is the question :-))
But -- whatta basket. I've used it before in the oven with results
that were no comparison.

Dee Dee

> Yesterday when grilling the chicken I added asparagus and those
> smallish red/yellow/orange elongated bell peppers to this vegetable
> basket and put the basket on the grill. Before putting them in the
> basket, I sloshed them around in grapeseed oil (or was it EVOO?).
> Needless to say, they also were the best asparagus spears I've ever
> had in my life - I've broiled asparagus too, but no comparison.
>
> Next time when they are done, I will take more care with this basket
> so as not to necessitate such a huge baked-on clean-up; i.e., taking
> it off the low-heat faster than I did. I've used barkeep, soda and
> soaking, and lots of DH's elbow grease.
>
> I'm not going to use an oven cleaner, even though DH is at that point
> regarding the cleanup. Let's see, do I want to work 2 hours to save
> $15? That is the question :-))
> But -- whatta basket. I've used it before in the oven with results
> that were no comparison.
>
> Dee Dee

Dee Dee,
Try using the oil sparingly on the veggies, just enough to thinly coat but
not so much it runs through the basket holes and causes a lot of flare-up
and the basket will come out cleaner.

Also, don't have expectations of a gleaming basket once its been used
either. I've been using one of these and a flat version (like a porous
cookie sheet) for years and while most gritty or oily stuff comes off, the
baskets still have brown coating. They still work fine, however.

How did you prepare your pork chops?

Regards,
Jon

On Jun 30, 3:20*pm, "Zeppo" > wrote:
> > Yesterday when grilling the chicken I added asparagus and those
> > smallish red/yellow/orange elongated bell peppers to this vegetable
> > basket and put the basket on the grill. *Before putting them in the
> > basket, I sloshed them around in grapeseed oil (or was it EVOO?).
> > Needless to say, they also were the best asparagus spears I've ever
> > had in my life - *I've broiled asparagus too, but no comparison.
>
> > Next time when they are done, I will take more care with this basket
> > so as not to necessitate such a huge baked-on clean-up; i.e., taking
> > it off the low-heat faster than I did. I've used barkeep, soda and
> > soaking, and lots of DH's elbow grease.
>
> > I'm not going to use an oven cleaner, even though DH is at that point
> > regarding the cleanup. * Let's see, do I want to work 2 hours to save
> > $15? *That is the question :-))
> > But -- whatta basket. *I've used it before in the oven with results
> > that were no comparison.
>
> > Dee Dee
>
> Dee Dee,
> Try using the oil sparingly on the veggies, just enough to thinly coat but
> not so much it runs through the basket holes and causes a lot of flare-up
> and the basket will come out cleaner.
>
> Also, don't have expectations of a gleaming basket once its been used
> either. I've been using one of these and a flat version (like a porous
> cookie sheet) for years and while most gritty or oily stuff comes off, the
> baskets still have brown coating. They still work fine, however.
>
> How did you prepare your pork chops?
>
> Regards,
> Jon- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -


I made a brine solution of salt and brown sugar and bay leaves and
peppercorns and soaked the chops in the refrigerator overnight. This
must've been the answer for good chops. I soaked the chicken breasts
for 2 hours in a smaller amount of brine.

I'm convinced that brining is the answer for at least chicken and
pork, so my next experiment with brining will be with salmon.

P.S. The vegetable basket has come clean enough, but of course, not
like new. That's Ok with me.

Dee Dee