Pro Staff Article - Cousin Rick Say's "Want Better Tastin' Vittles? Than Clean Up Your Act!!"

Cousin Rick Say's "Want Better Tastin' Vittles? Than Clean Up Your Act!!"

Cousin Rick Say's "Want Better Tastin' Vittles? Than Clean Up Your Act!!"

Cousin Rick Say's "Want Better Tastin' Vittles? Than Clean Up Your Act!!" Mrs. Becky and I was invited as celebrity guests at a rather large Iowa Cookout last fall. I was happier than a wood tick to go because for this event I didn't have to do anything but eat! Everything was goin' great until I came across a young couple that insisted I try their grilled turkey drumsticks. Now I pride myself on smoked and grilled turkey legs and I have a great recipe on the subject. So when these kids begged me to try their flavor I thought "what the heck"! Good God Almighty! If flavor were dynamite, these turkey legs wouldn't have enough to blow their nose! Next to bad flavor nothing makes me bug out more than burnt particles of food and grime from a dirty grill. My thoughts are this, if your to dang lazy to clean your grill or smoker after using it, then your to dang lazy to be cooking on it. A clean grill will make your food taste better and your grill will last longer. Hey man, if your going to spend good money for great cooking tools like a Camp Chef Grill Box or The Big Texas Charcoal grill, or The bad boy of smoking, The Smoke Vault, Keep them clean! When it comes to a gas grill or a gas stove like the Pro 60 and the grill box I recommend a full cleaning procedure at least biweekly. Now I know not everybody cooks outdoors like I do day after day however, I would still recommend a complete cleaning. Many of wanna-a-be outdoor cooks think that by burning the grate without food on it for 10-20 minutes after each meal makes your grill clean. Not So! Although this does help in making your real cleaning easier, it by far is not an acceptable way to keep your grill clean and in great working condition. Just like the charcoal grill, you need to clean you grill box every time you use it. I always make sure the grates are cleaned after I grill and brush off all the sides and the lid. Yes I do preheat the box and this does help burn off the foods that have fallen down into the pan but I still lift out the grilling grates and clean off the barrier above the burners., including the metal plates. The Camp Chef Grill box works wonders in reducing flair-ups when the bottom heat plates are CLEAN. Of all the great things I love about my Big Texas charcoal grill cleaning it is a breeze! Immediately after dumping the ashes out I use a wire brush to clean the grilling grate and twice a year I use hot soapy water to give it a deep clean. I use cooking spray oil afterwards to ensure I have no rust. There is also some good grill cleaning supplies at most of those Dollar Stores if you're a tight wad like me. HA! If I had to guess I would say I have cooked well over 200 meals on my Big Texas Grill and although I keep all my cooking gear indoors, I have already had to repaint my Big Texas once. Not because the paint peeled off, because I USE IT and I keep it clean. I can always tell a good seasoned outdoor chef when I see one. How? Because this is the person who has a vintage grill that looks new! This tells me that the master behind the smoke keeps his grill clean and takes pride on how it looks! My dad had a sign above his grill that read, "Every Time You Use This Grill, Clean IT! And that goes for you RICK!" How about a GREAT recipe from my buddies from Camp Chef and Fire & Flavor Grilling Company? Spiced Rubbed Salmon with Maple Glaze- "Flavor Foundations Seafood Blend" 1 - 1/2 tablespoons Seafood Blend (Fire & Flavor Grilling CO) 4 - 6 oz salmon fillets 1 - tablespoon maple syrup 1 - 15" Fire & Flavor Cedar Plank Rub salmon fillets with Seafood Blend. Grill salmon on cedar plank according to package direction on your Camp Chef Grill Box. Drizzle salmon with maple syrup just before serving. The salmon will melt in your mouth when it ready! Yea Buddy! Make sure and check out the great products from my friends at Fire & Flavor Grilling Company by going to www.fireandflavor.com Tell them you found them on Camp Chef's website with your old Cousin Rick. And be sure to get more of my favorite recipes from my best selling cookbooks; Deer Burger Cookbook, Grillin' Like A Villain, Rick Black's Cabin Cookin' and my new one, Cousin Rick's Wild Game Chili's, Soups, and Stews! I really dig it when ya'all email me with all your questions, comments, or your best tasting recipes. Or better yet, you can see me in person at my book signings and outdoor cooking events including- The Midwest Dutch Oven Gathering/Expo The IDOS (Dutch Oven Society) will be hosting this great event to celebrate their 50th anniversary on September 19-21st 2008 at Pinicon Ridge Park in Central City, Iowa. There will be several cook-offs, live music, venders, and even me doing some outdoor cookin! Contact my old buddy Georgia Carr at 319-854-6413 and get the scoop. Tell her Cousin Rick said Howdy!