Cedar wraps can jazz up your grilling
While looking for wood planks recently at the grocery store, I spotted a package of cedar grilling papers. Hmmm, hadn’t seen these before, and they looked fun to try.
It’s always great to discover new grilling accessories.
I found the package of eight Wildwood Grilling cedar wraps at Fresh Market, but you can also find them on the website
wildwoodgrilling.com. Wildwood also carries alder wood grilling papers, which provide a delicate and subtle smoky flavor, compared with the stronger essence that comes from cedar wraps. Fire and Flavor cedar grilling wraps are another option, and they can be found on Amazon.
Grilling papers are good for fish, seafood, veggies and chicken. Weary of my standby grilled chicken recipes, I searched for a new one using the grilling papers and found this terrific one online.
Lemon parsley gremolata for seasoning the chicken was so easy to whip up using parsley fresh from my garden. While the wraps soaked 10 minutes in water (to keep them from flaming up on a hot grill), I spread the gremolata on the chicken, and then wrapped it inside the cedar papers. Tied up with twine (included in the package), they looked festive on a serving tray — and smelled tantalizing.
For a salad, I also needed something simple to prepare for my gathering of family members. Checking the fridge and cabinets, I found broccoli and several ingredients that worked well together for a crunchy, tasty side dish.
I tossed the finished salad with my new favorite balsamic vinegar: black mission fig from The Olive Sprig in Cedarburg. This balsamic has a fabulous aroma. Mixing it with olive oil for vinaigrette and adding walnuts and water chestnuts, I had a salad that makes a great go-to for summer entertaining.
Years ago when we moved into our home in midsummer, we felt lucky to discover raspberry bushes that bore fruit soon after we arrived. What a treat!
The couple of weeks when the raspberries are ripe is still a favorite time of year in our family. Our preferred way to enjoy them is right off the bushes or over ice cream.
But hardly anything beats that raspberry color and flavor when cooked for a recipe, so I went on the hunt for another adventuresome experience. I follow
greatbritishchefs.com on Twitter and discovered a recipe from their kitchens for pâte de fruits — or fruit jellies. A little indulgence with intense berry flavor seemed a perfect thing to accompany dessert of ice cream and fresh raspberries.
With just three ingredients, the candies don’t take long to prepare, but there is some attentive stirring involved. Savoring the wonderful raspberry smells in the kitchen is a bonus while you’re stirring. And it’s great fun slicing the jellies up and rolling them in sugar. They look beautiful displayed on a plate — a sweet summer ending to any gathering.
A pitcher of flavored iced tea or a pilsner and a loaf of great bread is all you need to round out a casual cedar-wrap affair. The weather’s perfect, invite some friends and family over; it’s time to settle back and enjoy dining outdoors.