March is the month when many exciting things start to happen.
The official state flower, the California Golden Poppy, has begun
its annual bloom. Spring will start in the next few weeks and give
way to a rebirth of nature and new life.
March is the month when many exciting things start to happen. The official state flower, the California Golden Poppy, has begun its annual bloom. Spring will start in the next few weeks and give way to a rebirth of nature and new life.
Weather will become warmer, the days will become longer and we will have less rain. People will start to spend more of their time outside. The smell of smoke from the grill will be wafting through neighborhoods every weekend. All of these things signal one thing: the start of this year’s grilling season.
For many people, spring is the official kickoff to the grilling and barbecue season. With the first hint of warm weather, people start to pull their grills out of storage, dust them off and fire them up. We had a brief flirtation with the idea of the grilling season just the other week. With the warmer weather we experienced, you can tell the grilling season was about to begin.
It was especially evident in one San Jose neighborhood I visited during the warm-weather spell. The smell of chicken and beef permeated the neighborhood. People were starting to grill up and down the street.
Another piece of evidence are the variety of advertisements. Search through any grocery store ad insert and you will find something on sale that can be cooked on the grill. There will be suggestions for how these items can be grilled, accompanied by a recipe and a photo of the item on the grill.
Although it is still a bit cold and we still have some rain, the grocery stores want you to think ahead to the endless possibilities for the grill. (Of course, they want you to go to their store to purchase their product, too.) If you come across a very good sale price, go ahead and purchase the product. Wrap it in extra plastic wrap and a good layer of aluminum foil, and freeze it. In a few weeks, you will be able to defrost the item and grill it.
Although hardware stores and large retailers have not done it yet, soon you will be able to find advertisements with their sales. Listed in these advertisements, you’ll see special prices for such things as charcoal, grills and accessories for the new grilling season. As I always say, shop around a little. You may be able to find the same or a very similar product at a different location for a better price.
I have to be honest: Because I started writing this column in the fall last year, this is the most excited I have ever been about a grilling season. I have been waiting all winter to bring many recipes, techniques and secrets to readers. I wanted you to be able to use this information right away instead of waiting a few months.
I have a few exciting topics scheduled for the next few months. I plan to bring you the ultimate test of barbecue sauces. As soon as more grilling tools hit the market, I will have reviews and a few suggestions. I hope to visit a grilling or barbecue restaurant and tell you what makes the establishment unique and different from others.
Because I enjoy saving money as much as I enjoy grilling, I will bring you some suggestions and tips for how you can keep more money in your pocket. I had the chance to do some research on grilling etiquette, and I plan to bring you these suggestions to make your experience a little more refined. I don’t want to leave out those who prefer vegetarian options either, so I have planned a few recipes to satisfy those tastes, too.
