Fire up the grill and delight your family and friends with great meals from Woodsy Woman! Whether it’s a cool breezy summer day or a chilly evening, we have all types of recipes for you, including great beverages for all times of the day.

Before you start grilling remember to have tools and accessories ready to use. Include in your grilling kit long-handled tongs, spatula, basting brush, heavy-duty mitts, and a thermometer.

Woodsy Woman always recommends safety first. Your grill should be set away from shrubbery, grass and overhands. Make sure your grill is sturdy. Grills can get extremely hot whether you are using a charcoal or gas grill. Always wear heavy-duty mitts when cooking and handling the grill and tools.

If using a gas grill, preheat your grill according to your grills instructions (usually 10-15 minutes). If you are using a charcoal grill, light the coals before you start preparing your food as it could take about 15-25 minutes (depending on the number of charcoal used) for the coals to be hot enough for grilling.

Recipes provided here in Woodsy Woman’s Cook’s Corner are designed for medium-high to medium heat grilling.

If using a charcoal grill, lightly coat the grill with cooking spray to present sticking. Make sure you spray the grill away from the hot grill.

So many factors can affect your grilling, i.e., cool or extremely hot weather, windy or rainy days. Make sure you keep your grill cover closed when the food is cooking, unless you are turning your food. This will minimize flare-ups and will allow the grill to maintain its heat keeping your food cooking consistently.

Watch your food carefully as you don’t want to leave a hot grill unattended, not to mention your food can over cook or burn. Sometimes there are hot spots; therefore, you will need to move your food around. Food may appear to be cooked before they actually are. The best way to determine doneness is to use a thermometer.

Wash hands thoroughly before beginning your food preparation and after handling meats and fish. Store raw meat and fish separately in sealed plastic bags to prevent juices from dripping onto each other. Keep raw food away from cooked food to avoid cross-contamination. Do not use the same plate or utensil that held raw food. Also, do not use marinades that have been in contact with raw meats or fish.

These same tips apply if you’re using a fire pit as a grill. Again, follow safety precautions when grilling. Enjoy cooking with Woodsy Woman!