This Thanksgiving, whether you are roasting or smoking your holiday turkey, don't forget the most important step: brining.
Holiday magazines are filled with tips on how to prepare a perfect turkey, from wrapping the turkey in cheesecloth while cooking to rubbing the turkey with "dry brine."
I have experimented with almost every technique I have come across and in my opinion, the best method is good old-fashioned brining. Although you have to plan in advance, brining is an easy process that yields the most flavorful, juicy results.
There are very few nights when I sit down to a homecooked meal that does not include a salad that reflects the season. Even if I put little effort into the main dish, I always have fun creating new dressings and salad combinations. While there are hundreds of salad dressings on supermarket shelves, I encourage you to make your own. Not only are they better for you, homemade dressings are simple to prepare and have a delicious, clean flavor.
Fall is full of some of my favorite ingredients, and the colors and textures of all the seasonal fruits and vegetables create amazing salads. Grilling pears and apples adds a smoky flavor, and a good quality cheese and simple dressing brings the dish together. You can top salads with toasted nuts, pomegranate seeds or even pumpkin seeds. Grilled portobello mushrooms also lend a nice, earthy flavor during the cooler months.
Get creative with seasonal ingredients, buy local and use fall nights to create delicious grilled dinners for your family and friends.
This time of year, one of the most delicious seasonal foods to grill is winter squash. Butternut, acorn and sugar pumpkin all benefit from the smokiness and caramelized flavors that the grill imparts.
And there are so many ingredients that complement winter squash -- from sage and thyme to sweeter flavors like orange, maple and bourbon. Even sausage and bacon are perfect matches for this fall favorite.
Grilled winter squash make a nice addition to everything from risotto to salads and can be a great side to serve with roasted meats or as a main vegetarian dish. Some of my favorite cheeses -- like goat, blue cheese and feta -- round out the smoky sweetness for melt-in-your-mouth flavor.
In the South, we usually have to take a short break from grilling outdoors come August due to the heat. As soon as slightly cooler temperatures and football season set in, we move back outdoors to the grill.
Thankfully that time is here. Living in a college town -- Athens, Ga. -- it seems we start doing even more entertaining. Sometimes I use this time to experiment with new recipes, but if time does not allow, I have some favorite recipes that are quick but well-liked.
Most people love an Asian-inspired menu and it's certainly more innovative than traditional burgers and hot dogs on game weekends. Shrimp and Mango Summer Rolls are a divine starter and can easily be made vegetarian. My Pineapple and Red Pepper Pork Kebabs are easy enough to make even for a weeknight meal or ahead of time tp be taken them to a tailgate. Get these fall grill recipes after the jump.
Grilled lamb chops with olive tapenade. Photo: Erica George Dines Photography
It is hard to believe that summer is officially coming to an end and football season is here. We always enjoy grilling in the fall -- cooler temperatures set in and you can bring the party outside once again.
Fall temperatures generally mean heartier meals, but that is all the more reason to keep your grill out until winter sets. Take advantage of fall's ingredients and keep the grill going.
Richer meats like lamb chops become some of our favorite weekend meals and are surprisingly easy to grill.
Smoked brie. Photo: Erica George Dines Photography
Part of a continuing summer series by grilling expert Gena Knox.
Whether you are having guests over for a grill-out or just cooking for the family, start up your grill a few minutes early and smoke your own cheese for an amazing yet easy-to-prepare appetizer.
Plank grilling is a familiar concept when it comes to cooking salmon and other types of fish, but you can also use wood to smoke brie, cheddar, Gouda and mozzarella in just 10 to 15 minutes.
When you purchase cheeses like "smoked Gouda" from your supermarket, the taste is oftentimes artificial, with a strong aftertaste. By using cedar, maple, alder or other flavors of wood, you can add an all-natural smoky taste to almost any cheese.
Gena's chicken kebabs. Photo: Erica George Dines Photography.
It is hard to believe that kids are nearly back in school, and it's time to resume the hectic weekly schedule of balancing school, work and afternoon activities while still getting a hot meal on the table.
As much I enjoy eating out, I also love cooking and knowing exactly what is going into my food. Summer is nearing the end, but that does not mean you have to put away your grill -- use it to your advantage.
Grilling can save you time in the kitchen and help you get meals on the table in a quick fashion without heating up the kitchen. Get my go-to quick grilling recipes after the jump.
Part of a continuing summer series by grilling expert Gena Knox.
When most people think of honey, they think of breakfast and hot tea, but honey is actually one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen -- so versatile, in fact, that I use it on an almost-daily basis. A natural way to sweeten marinades and salad dressings, honey can be used to add flavor to savory dishes and not just desserts.
Of course, as with any food, you want to use a good quality honey. One of my favorites is Savannah Bee, and my friend Ted, the owner behind this delicious honey, has chosen his favorite full-bodied honey for grilling. The rich amber color and robust flavor stands up to the smokiness of grilled foods and the easy, no-spill pump isn't bad either.
Gena's grilled corn with ancho. Photo: Erica George Dines Photography
Part of a continuing summer grilling series by expert Gena Knox.
Nothing says summer like fresh sweet corn on the grill.
This year, our garden does not seem to be performing very well, but for some reason my corn is growing like a weed. I harvested my first crop of Silver Queen and Peaches & Cream Sweet Corn just this week, and the taste is absolute heaven.
When I think of grilling corn, I generally think salt, pepper and butter. Sometimes when you just want to keep a side dish simple this is the best way to prepare it, but there are other times when spicing up the traditional summer side can be fun. I experimented with some simple, but creative ways to top grilled corn and these recipes can be paired with a variety of dishes.
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