Confession, I’m not one to grill. In my family, there’s always a man with the spatula and skewers in his hand, and you’d be hard pressed to find a way to convince him to give up his place in front of the fire. However, I don’t have to be manning the grill to enjoy the process from the sight of the first flame until the meal reaches the table. Besides, we all know the sides are just as important as that Savory BBQ.
It’s BBQ season in the south! Make no doubt about it, you can step out of your house any summer evening and and the sweet smell of a grill fire fills the air. To all the grill master’s out there (yes sir, I’m talking to you) that scent, is the smell of success. We would love for you to fire that grill up and share your success with the rest of us!
Did you know the Homewood Library has a recipe club? Let’s Dish is more than just recipes. It’s good food, stories, and full tummies. July boasts a theme of Savory Southern BBQ. You’re sure to leave with happy taste buds and sticky fingers. We would love to see our “regular” members and any of you grill master’s out there willing to share your talent.
Let’s Dish meets Thursday, July 6 in the Homewood Library Boardroom. Bring yourself and your Southern BBQ or sides. No matter your skill level, we look forward to seeing you and your dish!
I’m sure you have mastered the meat and need no inspiration. Perhaps you want to change things up and get creative, or are looking for a side that enhances your BBQ. I’m listing a few of our favorite Recipe books for the Southern griller.
Happy Grilling!
Let’s start with MEAT!
The Meat Hook Meat Book to be exact
Buying large, unbutchered pieces of meat from a local farm or butcher shop means knowing where and how your food was raised, and getting meat that is more reasonably priced. It means getting what you want, not just what a grocery store puts out for sale―and tailoring your cuts to what you want to cook, not the other way around. For the average cook ready to take on the challenge, The Meat Hook Meat Book is the perfect guide: equal parts cookbook and butchering handbook, it will open readers up to a whole new world―start by cutting up a chicken, and soon you’ll be breaking down an entire pig, creating your own custom burger blends, and throwing a legendary barbecue (hint: it will include The Man Steak―the be-all and end-all of grilling one-upmanship―and a cooler full of ice-cold cheap beer).
For state-of-the-art outdoor cooking and entertainment, who better to turn to than the foremost authority on grills? With the experts from Weber taking you through the basics and beyond, you’ll be sizzling in no time. Over 250 recipes show you the way with mouth-watering photography, simple-to-follow directions, can’t miss techniques, and even substitution cheats. Flag your favorites-and there’ll be plenty-with the handy enclosed Post-It notes. And yes, once they’ve sampled the savory results of your newfound grill skills, friends and family will be begging for your secrets. Just nod and say, ‘It’s all in the technique.’ Also, If you can grill, you can smoke!
Now you can add smoke flavor to almost any food on any grill. Weber’s Smoke shows you how and inspires you with recipes that range from the classic (Best-on-the-Block Baby Back Ribs) to the ambitious (Smoked Duck and Cherry Sausages). And best of all, many of the recipes let you achieve mouthwatering smoke flavor in a matter of minutes-not hours.
Dr. BBQ’s Big Time Barbecue Cookbook
Delicious slow-smoked barbecue is a star-spangled American specialty, and there’s nobody who knows how to put a barbecue smile on people’s faces like Ray Lampe, the barbecue chef better known as Dr. BBQ. In Dr. BBQ’s Big-Time Barbecue Cookbook, Ray shows every backyard chef how to bring the slow-smoked goodness of real barbecue to the table with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of finger-lickin’ goodness. In chapters devoted to equipment, tools, and fuel, he shows readers how easy it is to prepare authentic barbecue with the best rubs, marinades, and mops this side of Arthur Bryant’s.
Southern Living: Secrets of the South’s Best Barbecue
Better stock up on napkins, because no one does barbecue like Southern Living. This definitive new edition serves up more than 580 barbecue recipes, the largest collection ever from Southern Living magazine. It also reveals closely guarded secrets about the Southern barbecue tradition, such as sweet or vinegary sauce? Beef or pork? Texas or Georgia? You’ll have a great time preparing and comparing with this ultimate guide to 5-star barbecue.