ArcaMax

Clean Grillin'

I’ve never been that fond of the grill. I think I can trace it back to when I was about 20 years old. I bought a charcoal grill that came in a box. I had to put it together. Even with perfectly clear directions, it still took me five hours to get that thing ready to cook a hotdog. It wasn’t the most expensive grill so it didn’t last more than one summer, either. I was so disappointed.

I’ve always had a healthy respect and even a fear of propane. Now that we have a gas grill I’m never the one to change the tank. I leave that to my husband.

Some people grill out all year round. I used to be that kind of person. When I lived in Madison, Wisconsin, we had our grill on a big, concrete back porch. It was easy to buzz out the back door to grill a steak. You could stay warm and cozy and just bolt out to turn the steak at the proper moment.

Ever since I was a little kid I remember the day that the grill got cleaned was a big, dirty deal. Now I realize you really shouldn’t wait for a big day to clean the grill. It should be done much more often than that. But as a kid I can remember my mom getting out the bucket, the big rubber gloves, a hose and cleaner. I think she used oven cleaner on the grates. I can still conjure up that smell and see the grit and grease and...

Read the full column at PlanZDiet.com

Italian Burgers

Related Recipes at PlanZDiet.com:
Barbecue Burgers
Famous Burger Meatloaf

This is a ZReduction recipe. This is a great way to spice up a plain burger. Make it Italian-inspired. I found a recipe online and it just about perfectly lines up with Plan Z.

To make this burger taste extra special, consider topping it with a soup spoonful of spaghetti sauce. You can find one with no sugar in the spaghetti sauce aisle. Just be prepared to read a lot of labels before you find one with no sugar, or I suggest you grab the Rao’s brand. I know that one has no sugar. Just subtract a bit of your veggie portion to compensate for the sauce.

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