For years I tried to get my husband Steven interested in becoming our family griller but it never came to pass. So a few months back I decided I was going to give it a try and we went out and bought a small gas grill.
I was now sitting at the dining room table looking through some grilling cookbooks, a friend of ours had loaned me, when Steven came into the room. “What are you up to?”
I held up the book to show him the cover. “There are some great recipes for the grill in here.” I placed the book back on the table. “But some of them are really advanced.”
“The recipes are advanced?”
“No, the grilling technique.” I shook my head. “I don’t think Bill realized that I’m a beginner griller when he loaned me these.”
I began leafing through the pages. “I’m pretty sure these cookbooks are for people who have mastered grilling like he has.” I looked up at Steven and shook my head sadly. “I’m still at the Easy-Bake oven level of grilling.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
“I’m trying not to be but when Bill was asking if I’d tried using brickets and a chimney starter.” I stopped and shook my head. “I had no idea what he was even talking about.” I closed the book and sighed. “The only thing I’ve cooked on our grill so far are hot dogs.”
Steven smiled. “And they were delicious!”
I had to laugh. “Thank you. But that doesn’t help me decipher what’s in here.” I pointed to the cookbook. “I think they’re just assuming I’d know to cook with the lid closed or opened.” I looked at Steven and shook my head again. “But I don’t.”
Our son Alex came into the room. “What are you guys up to?”
Steven looked over at him. “Mom’s getting new recipes to try on the grill.”
“Oh, that’s great!” Alex said.
I looked at Steven with a confused look on my face. “I just finished telling you that these are too advanced for me.” I looked over at Alex. “So far I’ve only cooked hot dogs on the grill.”
“That’s not true.” Alex said. “Last week you made a steak on the grill.”
“That’s right.” Steven chimed in. “I forgot about that! That came out perfect!”
“It did.” Alex agreed.
I looked at both of them and had to confess. “I kind of cheated with the steak.”
“Cheated?” Steven looked at Alex. “What’s that suppose to mean?”
Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I have no idea.”
They both looked back at me.
“Well, I kind of started the London broil in the oven and when it was almost ready I put it on the grill so it would get the grill marks.”
Steven started to laugh. “Well it still tasted good.”
“It did.” Alex agreed. “So what are you going to try on the grill next?”
“Well, considering my skill level, I was thinking about hamburgers.”
“There you go!” Steven said. “You can start them in a frying pan first and then go put them on the grill for the grill marks!” Steven asked.
“Don’t think I’m not considering doing exactly that.” I said as I got up and went into the kitchen to start dinner.
Slice of Life 