Epic first dinner! (Not safe for dial-up...)

Posted by Kromey at 1:44am Jul 8 '12
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From Epic First Dinner!

This is a photo of our first real, home-cooked meal in our new house! It is also the first time I have grilled anything in 2, maybe 3 years, and the first time I grilled with wood chips at all (thanks, RF!)!

I made a few rookie mistakes -- watching for the wrong signs the coals were ready, using too much charcoal, over-cooking the steaks a little while under-cooking the corn initially -- but all-in-all it was an awesome meal!

I kind of wish we had marinated the steaks beforehand, but we didn't. We were also using sub-par, discounted-so-we-can-sell-them-before-they-expire meat. And I goofed up the wood chips by forgetting to put them on until the steaks were already on the grills (fortunately they were mostly small enough to fall right down below the grate and onto the coals). All I added to the meat itself was the spices you see arrayed above -- garlic powder, ground red cayenne pepper, lemon pepper, and salt.

None of this would have been possible without a strong supporting cast, so let's take a moment to thank them all:

From Epic First Dinner!

My grill, of course, as well as my (well-loved, as you can see) chimney that lit the charcoal in the first place. And, of course the tongs that arranged the coals and the spatula that flipped the steaks.

From Epic First Dinner!

My 4-year-old bag of Kingsford charcoal (with mesquite) and my brand-spanking-new bag of wood chips (that's hickory and nogal, if you can't read it on the bag) provided the heat and the flavor.

From Epic First Dinner!

Can't forget the surprisingly comfortable folding lawn chair that "supported" (heh heh) me throughout most of the process!

And, last but certainly not least, a huge "Thank you!" to Monsieur Hennessy, without whom my grilling experience would have been a completely sober one!

From Epic First Dinner!

(For those of you unfamiliar with M. Hennessy, that is a bottle of his VSOP Cognac -- a $90 bottle!!)

Finally, special credit goes out to [private], who made the wonderful mashed potatoes you see there. She also pulled out the bag o' salad from the fridge, and warmed up the Hawaiian sweet rolls.

And more special credit goes to RF, who made me aware of the wonders of grilling with wood chips! Next time, though, I'll remember to put them on the coals before the steaks go on, get more of that smokey flavor seared right in...