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Rednecks… Not a Joke

Rednecks are primarily thought of as white, working class people living in the southern part of the U.S. Nowadays, rednecks can be found all over the country. There is even some interest in the redneck lifestyle in countries overseas. The term redneck most likely got started as a way of referring to the sun-burned red necks of people who worked in the fields all day. In some places in the country, they are called hillbillies, hicks, bumpkins, or trailer trash. Hillbilly white trash is another term that is often used. Rednecks are traditionally oriented people, who work hard, support their families and try to get by the best way they can. They are always willing to help their community by volunteering as church Sunday school teachers, youth counselors, firemen and anything else needed by their community.

The recent popularity of major acts like Jeff Foxworthy, the Blue Collar Comedy Tour and Gretchen Wilson have created a new interest in the red neck lifestyle and it seems to be continuing to grow. A search of the term “redneck” on Google returns over 17 million results.

More and more people are finding that they relate to a more simple way of life. Many start with searching websites looking for jokes and funny pictures only to find there is more to be found there than just a laugh. As a member of my website, Redneck and Single, which gives single rednecks a place to meet, said, “When I saw this site, I thought it was a joke. But, after looking around, there are some real hotties here. So, I guess I’ll become a redneck too.” I’m sure she will be welcomed to the redneck community. This is further proof that you don’t have to be born a hillbilly redneck to become one.

Although the culture probably originated in the south, you don’t have to be from the south to be a redneck or even hillbilly white trash. It really is a state of mind. Rednecks have their own point of view and are mostly laid back and stress free. There is a great love of outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing and camping. Of course, NASCAR garners a lot of interest. It has been called the Redneck’s national sport. They own trucks for more reasons than for playing in the mud, although that will always be a big attraction.

Rednecks have a big affinity for home and family and will go to extra measures to protect them. Many homes have at least one gun. Although they may not have much, they will be thankful for what they do have. They work hard for their money, many in lower paying jobs. But they have fun doing it, as well. They know how to treat their mates and are typically attracted to partners who do the same.

The term redneck denotes someone with good common sense, and a talent for building and fixing stuff. Many tend to accumulate a lot of junk, much of it stored on the front lawn. Often, there will be an old automobile parked under a big tree, with a red neck “shade tree mechanic” trying to get it to run. A lot of that junk will be put to good use to build new things that, although not very pretty, do manage to get the job done.

Rednecks have a love of God, their country and state, and are strong supporters of the armed forces. Most believe there is more to life than money, and tend to care more about relationships and family. Many are single parents. In romantic pursuits, rednecks require that their mate be down to earth, always faithful and not afraid to get their hands dirty.

The redneck stereotype is one of an uneducated, simple minded person who delights in consuming huge quantities of cheap American beer like Pabst Blue Ribbon, lives in a trailer park and dates within their family. This has, of course, made them the brunt of many jokes.

What once was a negative term to describe farmers, construction workers and others who worked all day in the sun causing the backs of their necks to get sunburned, (red neck), has now become a description of a culture that believes in the simpler things, quality values, and a true appreciation of life, family and friends. True, the jokes are still around, but behind the laughter are a lot of decent hard working folks who, like the rest of us, are just trying to make a living and find happiness as they go through life.

Fred Morris is the owner of RedneckandSingle an online community of over 18,000 single rednecks seeking romance, friendship and adventure. Visit http://www.redneckandsingle.com/ and find your own redneck.

6 Seafood Grilling Tips

Grilling season is here. You’ve got your grill full of gas, you’ve stocked up on hamburgers, hot dogs, and steaks, and you’re ready to go. But those hamburgers, hot dogs, and steaks are getting old fast. You’d like to try something else for a change. If you’re looking to change up your usual grilling menu, why not try seafood? Fish makes a healthy meal, and grills up quite easily. Seafood does present some grilling challenges, however. These tips should help you on your way to grilling great seafood.

1) Make sure your grill is clean and oiled. Fish sticks to the grill very easily, so proper lubrication is essential. If you don’t oil your grill, the fish will stick, and break apart when you try to remove it. Grab a wad of paper towels, or a rolled up kitchen towel in a pair of tongs. Dip the paper towels or kitchen towel into some vegetable oil, and rub the oil onto the grill. You can also spray the grill with cooking spray, just be sure the grill is off when you do this, or the spray could ignite, injuring you.

2) Use fresh fish if possible, since it is easier to work with than frozen fish. Each serving should be about 6-8 ounces for fillets or steaks, and 8-12 ounces for whole fish.

3) You can place fish directly on the grill, but if you do this, you should use a firm fleshed fish, like grouper, tuna, swordfish, or salmon. You can also buy grill baskets made for grilling seafood. These will help small pieces of fish from falling through the grill, and will help in grilling delicate fillets.

4) Cook the fish over medium-hot to hot heat. If your grill doesn’t have a thermometer, then hold your hand about 5 inches above the heat. If you can hold your hand there for 2 seconds, the temperature is hot. If you can hold your hand 5 inches from the heat for 3-4 seconds, it is medium hot. If you’re cooking whole fish, you’ll need to have the temperature a bit lower, so the fish won’t burn. You should plan on cooking the fish for about 10 minutes for every inch of thickness. The fish is done cooking when it is opaque, and begins to flake. It is better to undercook the fish a bit than overcooking it. You can always cook it some more if it is undercooked, but you can’t uncook it if it is overcooked.

5) Marinades are a good way to add flavor and moisture to the fish before cooking. You only need to marinate fish for 30-60 minutes. If you marinate the fish for too long, the acids in the marinade will start to cook and break down the flesh. Lean fish should also be basted during cooking to keep the fish from drying out. Fattier fish, like tuna and salmon don’t need basting, but you can baste them to add more flavor.

6) Shrimp, Scallops, and chunks of firm fleshed fish work well on skewers. Alternate chunks of seafood with chunks of vegetables on a skewer for great seafood kebobs. If you’re using wooden skewers, be sure to soak them for 30 minutes before grilling to prevent them from burning on the grill.

It isn’t hard to grill seafood, but it does take some practice. Follow these tips for grilling seafood, and expand your grilling repertoire. It’s a great break from hamburgers, hot dogs, and steaks.

For more grilling tips and resources, visit Patio Grilling.

What Does Chemistry Have to Do With Attraction?

When people are attracted to each other, they are often said to “have chemistry.” This term is also used to describe when two people get along really well or are a good match, as in “you two seem to really have good chemistry together.”

So why do we say chemistry? Is it really a chemical bond that binds us? Do we really react to the body chemistry of other people? There are scientists who say that pheromones, certain chemicals that our bodies secrete (as do other animals) that tend to attract other people of the opposite sex, are a key factor in why we are drawn to certain people and not others. In fact, there is evidence in nature that suggests this is true.

But do chemicals alone constitute an attraction? One would beg to differ with that. Our body chemistry alone cannot be the only factor that allows us to “like someone.” While it may play a role, there are many more aspects at play.

For example, the looks of a person play an important role in our first impression of them. And that does not mean only whether we find the other person attractive physically, or whether we think they are handsome or pretty in the face. Their hygiene, hairstyle, choice of clothing, tan (or lack of), whether they look high or under the influence of any drugs or alcohol, the way they walk, talk, their mannerisms… all of these things have a major effect on how we perceive someone at first glance.

It’s interesting how some will use the term “love at first sight” to describe someone that seems to be just their exact type, during that first impression. Perhaps body chemistry is in the mix, there, as well.

A person’s values, interests, and personality will have an impact on whether we like them and/or could see ourselves dating the person. If we are marriage types, we look to see if other people are someone we could settle down with. We also like to judge their appearance on whether they would be good to mate and have children with.

These are all things that could be loosely termed, “having good chemistry.” Isn’t it fascinating how we equate agreement to value? If we agree with something we see in someone, or something they say, or what they wear, and so on, we believe that they are more valuable, and we in fact like them more than we would if we did not have as much in common.

This also explains why so many of us, whether we admit it or not, resist adversity. If we don’t have a lot in common with someone (that can be cultural, grammatical, taste in music/moves, or otherwise), we don’t like them as much. We don’t like what is not like us. Why is that? We don’t want people to be exactly the same as us, but we want them to be similar. Isn’t that strange?

Obviously, there is rationale for why we want to have chemistry, whether in the literal chemical sense, or in the figurative sense. Spending time with someone means deciding what to do together. And that means you have to have some sort of common ground on what you like to do. It’s amazing how many couples don’t have that much in common, yet they get along fine. However, sometimes those relationships “get old.”

One aspect in a person that has universal appeal is when they care about you and love you. Often, love itself transcends other types of superficial chemistry. How much does chemistry and having things in common affect how you treat people and how much does it affect whom you chose to date? Food for thought!

Wish all chemistry were this easy? Get help with chemistry answers at http://www.mychemistrytutor.com/

Ever Wonder Why Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend?

A diamond sparkles like the morning dew. It is a perfect stone to own. They are a timeless gem that has never gone out of style no matter what trends are hot at the moment. Every woman seeks to own her own diamond, whether it is a bracelet, set of earrings, a necklace or a ring.

In the past, women had to wait for the special man in her life to present her with her diamond engagement ring. No more; one of the hottest trends in diamond rings today is the right hand diamond ring. This trend is focused on the successful, proud woman that doesn’t have to wait to be presented with a sparkling gem; instead she is free to go and buy her own and wear it on her right hand ring finger with pride.

A Few Facts about Diamonds

Any of the diamonds you see featured on people or in store display cases are ancient gems. Diamonds have been around even longer than dinosaurs. It is said that the youngest of diamonds are merely 900 million years of age and the old granddaddies are over 3 billion years old. Your diamond has experienced much before it made its way into your possession.

The real beauty of a diamond is that there are no two that are alike. Each diamond is a unique personality and even if you see the same types of settings, the diamond contained within will be one of a kind. Even the root of the word diamond is unique. It means “unconquerable” and comes from the Greek word adamas.

You can find diamonds in a variety of colors and each one has a significant meaning when you are presenting it to either yourself or to someone else. The rarest diamond hue is red, so you can be sure that one of that particular shade will come with a high price tag.

It was in India over 2800 years in the past that diamonds were first mined. It is also said that a diamond will lose at least half of its original weight once it is polished and cut. Those ladies or gentlemen you see sporting huge diamonds can include themselves in an exclusive club because it is said that only 5% of diamonds are made into pieces that are over a carat. The reason that your diamond’s weight is referred to as a carat is because the ancients used the seed of the carob tree as the standard to weigh stones that were precious.

The 4 Cs that Affect the Price

The way a diamond is priced is based on the 4 Cs. They are clarity, color, carat and cut. When shopping for a diamond, decide which of these factors are most important to your purchase. Do some research about each of them so that when you enter the jewelry store you have some knowledge behind you and can make a better deal. A diamond is forever and truly they are a girl’s best friend.

Visit diamonds boston / diamond exchange at http://www.bostondiamondexchange.com

Free Internet Dating - Getting Started With the Free Sites

If you want to totally enjoy your free internet dating experience, it is important to get started in the right way. Plan your actions so that you have a positive internet dating experience.

Choosing a web site

When you choose a site to try free internet dating, you will want to choose one that matches your activities and what your long term goal for the dating scene is. If you are not interested in a committed relationship with one person, you will probably be interested in a different group of people than if you are looking for your heart’s desire on the site. The advantage of the free sites is that you can explore any number of different options online without worrying about being charged for another month’s membership fee.

Writing a profile

Once you have picked the site, you will want to set yourself to write the best possible profile that explains clearly who you are, what you like to do and what grabs your interest and attention in another person. A free internet dating site attracts a lot of people, simply because it is free and you can take advantage of the many visitors to the site by the great job you do in expressing yourself in your profile. Make sure that each sentence has a reason for being and that it is spelled accurately and punctuated correctly.

Setting filters and security

No matter how great the people are who are already members of the free internet dating site that you choose, you will want to set filters in such a way as to view and receive messages only from those who meet your activities and personality guidelines. There is no way you will have time to review messages from everyone in the membership base, so why not limit your contacts to those where you may be actually interested. Security considerations mean that you won’t be careless in protecting yourself from unwanted contacts or invasion of your physical location. Even a rush of unwanted spam messages can be most annoying.

Pacing yourself

A free internet dating site can take up a lot of your spare time if you allow it to. It is important to enjoy your socializing with others on the site, but it is also important to enjoy other types of recreational and social activities. Because the site is free and you won’t need to pay to join, you can take as long as you like to enjoy the social atmosphere on the site. Take the opportunity to visit with several people and don’t feel you must rush to make a decision because the clock is running out of time on your monthly membership.

Taking advantage of the extras

While you are enjoying the free internet dating site, don’t forget to take advantage of the extra things you can find on the site. You can use the profiles of other singles, or you can enjoy the articles about various dating and romance subjects that are found on the site. Links in the advertisements on the site lead to products or services that you may find interesting or useful. In addition, you can sometimes access a forum where you can ask questions of the staff or of other members.

There are lots of information available about Free Internet Dating. Find all these resources in one comprehensive location at http://www.online-dating-service-sg.com where you can find some of the best free Internet Dating sites.

Free Dating Web Site – Where to Find the Best Free Links

Choosing free dating web sites for the many interesting profiles you will find there and the new friends and acquaintances that you will develop is a positive experience, but there are also benefits from the links at the site.

Products

Free dating web sites makes some of the revenue it needs to run efficiently by selling advertisement space to companies and individuals who have products and services that relate to romance, dating or similar areas. For example, you may find an advertisement for a cruise dedicated to singles to romantic areas of the world. You can sometimes find links to products such as jewelry, adult toys, lingerie or even candy and resorts dedicated to romantic getaways. The business involved hope that you will see their advertisement on the dating site and choose to patronize their products.

Specialized sites

Another common link from a free dating web site is to other free or paid dating sites. The individual sites pride themselves on some aspect of their theme or characteristics in order to attract you from the original free site to another site. For example, you may prefer a gay site, or one that specializes in members from other cultures or regions of the world. These ads at the original site may help you to decide on a more specialized group of members that would be closer to your own interests. Because the original site is free, you can follow any of the links to the specialized sites with no additional funds required.

Services

Free dating web sites may have links presented that will provide different types of services to you as you follow the links. Some common examples are links to write romantic poetry for greeting cards, taking pictures to place on your profile. Sometimes links lead to sites where you can place personal ads in newspapers, either online or in print. Another service link is reviews of various websites related to dating and romance such as chat rooms, matchmaker services and age specific online dating.

Romance

Free dating web sites are all about romance and most, if not all the sites have many links that promote romance in one way or another. You can read about romance, find romantic cards, stories, pictures and jewelry by following various links. You can schedule a romantic cruise for two or an adventure style cruise with other singles. These links and the dating web sites are intended to bring together information on all the people, places, things and ideas related to dating and romance. You can enjoy socializing without ever following a link, but you can also help the web site owners by purchasing items from the site sponsors and advertisers.

Articles

Another thing you will find on almost every free dating web site is information. This information is usually presented in the form of various articles on a multitude of subjects. You can learn how to pick a web site, what to look for in a profile and how best to write your own profile. You can learn tips on security and how best to implement it. How to spot a phony on the member profile and how to avoid getting scammed by another member or by the site itself are other articles that can be found by using the site search capabilities.

Free Dating Web Sites includes many quality links to find information related to the prime subject. You can find such sites at http://www.online-dating-service-sg.com where you can join some of the best Free Dating Web Sites too.

Have You Ever Been Dine In A Very Romantic Restaurant? Try It Out! Make It Memorable With Your Love One

Define Romantic Restaurants? It has all the right elements—a seductive view, a relax atmosphere, mouth-watering food - but never swerve into sentimentality.

The top most pick when it comes to romantic restaurants can be found all over the world. Here are the famous choices:

• La Zebra in Tulu, Mexico, this romantic restaurant lies in stretch of the Riviera Maya, a famous Caribbean beach. It’s a spacious beachfront acreage and few sandy steps away from the ocean. They offer a wide variety of slow-cooked appetizing recipes. Try their specialty: spice-seafood based menus.

• Le Tobsil, Marrakesh, Morocco - known for its Moroccan culinary meal. Enjoy while dining among lamps and petals in the cozy yellow-ocher patio of the small riad. It’s a perfect place for intimate dinner while enjoying savory dishes.

• Sugar Mill Restaurant in Tortola, British Virgin Islands – a small standout restaurant carved from weathered remnants. It’s lush and tropical surroundings nestled in Northern Shore of Little Apple Bay. It was noted as “One of the Four Best Restaurants in the Caribbean” by Caribbean Travel & Life Reader’s Poll in 2004. Treat yourself to West Indian foods.

• Eagle’s Eye is nailed in British Columbia, Canada – dine at 7,700 feet when you look down. Its Canada’s most elevated dining experience. You can even take a gondola on top of the mountain, a breath taking experience for 15 minutes.

• Atlas Club Nautika, located in Dubrovnik, Croatia – over-looking cove and perfectly preserves medieval view of Adriatic Sea. They offer a wide variety of international cuisines, innovative recipes.

• Huka Lodge Dining situated in Taupo, North Island of New Zealand – located in a slice of a river in North Island’s Grand. It was surrounded by magnificent natural beauty. A park-like garden and flower bordered place. You can arrange to have your own table set up just about anywhere on the property, with 16 spots to choose from. Note: Guests are the priorities. The five-course menu is change every night.

• Wheatleigh in Lenox, Massachusetts – a 19th century mansion turned into a hotel. It was cited as 100 best places to stay in 2006. Idyllically situated on a Berkshire knoll overlooking mountains and lake.

• Ambrosia lies in the heart of Santorini, Greece – can be found atop the cliffs in the center of the village. They offer you one of the islands most serene and fantastic terrace pictures of the Santorini volcanic sea caldera. They offer a wide variety of fresh seafood meal.

• Les Ambassadeurs, Paris, France – Of all the luxury hotels in Paris, the Hotel de Crillon is considered as the richest in history and culture. From the hotel’s terraces, guests can admire the Concorde bridge, completed in 1790, the Rue de Rivoli, which was started in 1802. There were seven types of marble cover the floor and walls, frescoed cherubs and clouds dominate the ceiling, and massive mirrors exaggerate the room’s already-grand scale.

• Lagoon is in Bora Bora, French Polynesia – an over-water bungalow restaurant. This place is bounded by lagoon and barrier reef. In the center of the island are the bits and pieces of a vanished volcano rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu

• Ristorante Castello Banfi in Montalcino, Italy – this romantic restaurant nails in Tuscan countryside. This is a decadent hilltop hotel-winery that offers Mediterranean cuisines. It only has seven tables, which makes it very intimate dining experience.

• Patagonia Sur, Buenos Aires, Argentina – it is a restored townhouse with only five table capacity. This very romantic place redefines intimacy in the city and known for packed steakhouses and tango halls.

For more information on Romantic Restaurants please visit our website.

Fourth of July Grilling Recipes Kids Will Love

Fourth of July marks the high point of summer and is often celebrated with an outdoor barbecue. Don’t limit yourself to the good ole American menu of hamburgers and hotdogs. There’s lots more to grilling than that. The first task is deciding on a menu that offers something for everyone. If yours is going to be a family affair then take the kids’ preferences into consideration.

Mini burritos are easy and quick. Fill a small flour tortilla with a tablespoon of cooked hamburger, shredded chicken, or sliced steak. Add a slice of tomato, a tablespoon of shredded cheese and roll up burrito fashion tucking in the ends so you end up with a nice little package. Grill for a minute or two on each side to heat up the meat and melt the cheese and there you have it. Serve with an interesting salsa of chopped grapefruit, cilantro, onions, jalapeno peppers, and jicama for the adults to munch on as appetizers until the main course is ready. If you don’t like grapefruit substitute seedless watermelon.

Most kids love fish sticks so why not serve fish tacos? Brush mild boneless fish fillets like halibut or tilapia with a marinade of lemon juice, minced garlic, minced onion, and a touch of cumin. Grill until the fish is cooked through but not over cooked. About 5 minutes per inch of thickness of the fillet. Cut the fillets into about 4 inch by 2 inch servings. Cover with foil and set on the back of the grill to keep warm, in a warming drawer, or in a 200 hundred degree oven. Set up a taco bar with corn and flour tortillas, toppings of tomatoes, sliced onions, cheese, shredded cabbage, sliced jalapenos, salsa in both mild and hot varieties, cucumbers, chopped cilantro, sweet red peppers, cooked corn, black beans, and pinto beans. Consider putting a sign with a flame and the word HOT in front of any topping that you feel might be too spicy for children.

Your guests including the little ones will have a great time building their fish tacos. If you’re not sure everyone will like fish, grill some boneless chicken breasts as an alternative.

Serve a grilled and raw veggie platter with several dips. Try some new vegetables you might not have thought about grilling such as carrots, endive spears, cherry tomatoes, broccoli spear slices, or summer squash slices. Toss the vegetables with a marinade of olive oil, citrus juice, garlic, and herbs for at least an hour before grilling. Use bottled Italian salad dressing if you’re in a hurry.

Echo the marinade flavors in the dips you offer. Mix some Italian salad dressing in a cup of cottage cheese add 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese, extra chopped fresh basil and whirl in the blender until smooth.

A quick citrus dip is simply sour cream with lemon, lime, and orange juice. Add a teaspoon of grated citrus peel to boost the flavor with some freshly grated pepper.

Grilled fruit kabobs make a great dessert for both children and adults. Cut peaches, plums, pineapple, in one inch chunks, add seedless grapes and halved apricots. Thread fruit on a short wood skewer and brush with lime juice. You can do all this ahead. The lime juice will keep the peaches from turning brown. Grill over a low fire until grill marks are barely visible. Remove from the grill and brush with a glaze made from equal parts honey and lime juice.

Your little guests will be happy and satisfied until the fireworks start.

More grilling tips, techniques, recipes, and menus. Dee Power is the author of several nonfiction books and loves to come up with party ideas for kids. She also uses the herbs from her garden in her marinades.

Tips For Cooking With Wine

Wine can be an essential ingredient. It can enhance the meal, not only by drinking it with the meal, but as an integral part of the food itself. The French cooking sauces, beurre rouge, and beurre blanc both contain wine. Both French and Chinese cooking make use of wine as an ingredient, as well as many other types of cooking. Wine can be used as an ingredient in sauces, soups, marinades, and more. It combines well with other flavors and ingredients, such as vinegar, fish paste, soy sauce, and many others.

There are questions that people have in cooking with wine. You yourself may be tentative about using wine in your cooking. Well, here are some answers to some common questions about cooking with wine.

Is the cooking affected by the wine quality?

The quality of the cooking is definitely affected by the quality of wine. Cooking with wine, tends to concentrate the flavor, since the alcohol evaporates out, leaving the flavors. You’ll want to use a good quality wine, but you also shouldn’t spend $100 for a bottle of wine for cooking. You can find some good wines for under $20 that will work just fine for cooking. In general, you don’t want to cook with a wine that you wouldn’t drink.

What about the alcohol content of the wine?

Most but not all of the alcohol will evaporate during the cooking process. Since alcohol evaporates at 172 degrees F., most if not all of the alcohol will be gone by the time the food is done cooking. Also keep in mind, that most recipes do not call for a lot of wine, so there would not be very much alcohol in the first place. Even if you don’t drink wine for personal reasons, then you should be safe using it for cooking.

What if I put too much wine in my dishes?

Don’t put too much wine in. If you’re using a recipe, just follow the recipe, and don’t add more wine than it calls for. If you think the recipe calls for too much wine, then you can simply use a little bit less wine. If you’re experimenting with your own recipes, start with a little bit of wine, and add more as needed. Add a little bit of wine at first, and let the recipe cook. Taste it, and decide if it needs more wine. If so, then add some, if not, then don’t. If there is not enough wine in a recipe, you can always add more. If there is too much, you can’t remove it.

Is there a difference between cooking wine and regular wine?

Yes, there is a difference. Cooking wine contains salt and chemicals that make it okay for cooking, but not for drinking. Some recipes call for cooking wine. In this case, go ahead and use it. For the most part however, you should use regular wine. As stated above, you shouldn’t cook with a wine that you wouldn’t drink. In most cases, regular wine will work much better than cooking wines for your recipes.

If you just follow these simple tips, you’ll be able to enhance your soups, sauces, marinades, and other recipes with the proper use of wine.

For more information about wine and wine growing regions, visit Wine Country Guide.

Food Safety Tips When Grilling

Food safety precautions begin while you’re still at the grocery store. If you plan on spending a lot of time at the grocery store that day, purchase the meat last, right before you are ready to check out, so it can remain as chilled as possible for the trip home. While shopping pick up a few of the handiwipes that are offered to wipe off the handles of the shopping cart. Use them to wipe off your hands after you’ve picked up chicken, pork, or fish.

If you live in a hot climate place the meat, frozen vegetables and diary items in a cooler for the ride home. This is especially important if you plan on completing another errand, such a picking up the kids at swim club after shopping. Even with the air conditioner the back seat can start to get warm. Keep in mind none of the air conditioned air reaches the trunk.

Meat should be refrigerated immediately when you get home, in the coldest part of the refrigerator or in the meat compartment. If you purchase frozen beef, it should be defrosted overnight in the refrigerator, not a room temperature. The same goes for chicken or turkey. If the poultry is large, over 15 pounds, you can jump start the defrosting by immersing the still wrapped turkey in the bathtub or large kitchen sink filled with cold water. Don’t use hot. The hot will raise the outside of the turkey to unsafe levels while the inside still is frozen. After an hour remove the poultry from the water and let it finish defrosting in the refrigerator.

Remember to wash your hands before and after you handle raw meat or poultry. In the kitchen, don’t use the same work surface, cutting board, etc. to get the raw meat or poultry ready for the grill as you do for other foods. If more than one person is in the kitchen during the prep stage, make sure you coordinate with them so you know which utensils and which surfaces have come in contact with raw meat or poultry.

Trimming excess fat from meat can help avoid flare-ups during the grilling process. This can have three benefits: leaner meat is healthier for you and your guests, a flare-up can potentially burn and ruin the dinner you’ve so carefully planned and prepared, and can be dangerous for the outdoor chef as well. The risk being burned while grilling can also be lessened by using long handled tongs and spatulas.

If you are grilling other items along with the meat, make sure they do not come in contact with the meat while it is in a raw state. Give the meat and the other items their own separate zones on the grill. Use separate tongs or spatulas to handle these items. When the meat is ready to be removed from the grill, put it on a fresh, or freshly washed, platter and use a fresh set of tongs or spatulas to handle it. Make sure you wash all utensils, cutting boards and your counter tops after they have come in contact with raw meat or poultry.

It is also important to refrigerate leftovers from grilling promptly. Don’t leave them on the counter top, at room temperature, for very long after you have finished eating.

More grilling tips, techniques, recipes, and menus. Brian Hill is the author of several nonfiction books and an avid grill master. He also loves to garden and uses many of his homegrown herbs in his marinades.

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