Gas Grill Reviews: Broil King Monarch 40

Our GrillJunkie Product Review of the Broil King Monarch 40 just hit the wires. Is it of Royal status or Caveat Emptor?

Our formal review reveals our ratings on the following categories:

• Power & Temperature
• Features
• Construction
• Customer Service & Support
• The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
• Verdict along with an official GrillJunkie™ GPR (Grilling Product Rating)

See how the Broil King Monarch rated on our 5 Firepot Rating scale .......http://grilljunkieguy.com/gas-grill-reviews-broil-king-monarch-40-caveat-emptor/

Luscious Grilled Pears and Havarti

Grilled Pears with Havarti, Almonds, Honey and Heaven

Grilled pears are a great complement to grilled pork, sausages and even some seafood such as sea bass, tuna steak and lobster tails. They're even better when served with ice cream or frozen yogurt for dessert. The smokiness of the grill highlights pears' natural sweetness. In addition to grilled pears as a dessert, this incredible fruit can be served somewhat like a side dish, dare we say, a vegetable, when grilled with melted, creamy Havarti cheese!

Ingredients

• 6 fresh, ripe pears, Bartlett, D’Anjou or Bosc

• 1/3 cup (80 ml) brown sugar

• 1/2 cup (125 ml) coarsely chopped almonds

• 1 tbsp (15 ml) canola oil

• 7 oz (200 g) Canadian Havarti, sliced

• OPTIONAL: honey or maple syrup

Preparation (Instructions):

1.  Preheat grill to medium.
2.  Cut pears in half and remove core.
3.  Brush them with canola oil so they do not stick.
4.  Cook on grill with cut sides face down for 3–4 minutes.
5.  Turn cut sides face up, fill cavity with brown sugar and half the almonds, then garnish with Havarti and the remaining almonds.
6.  Let melt, then serve hot with drizzled honey as a topping.

Note: If you enjoy spices, add a pinch of ground cinnamon or nutmeg along with the brown sugar.

Cheese alternatives: Canadian Swiss, Cheddar, Mozzarella, Gouda.

Grilling Joke - Innappropriate Marshmallow Roast!

As the coals from our barbecue burned down, our hosts passed out marshmallows and long roasting forks. Just then, two fire trucks roared by, sirens blaring, lights flashing. They stopped at a house right down the block.

All twelve of us raced out of the back yard, down the street, where we found the owners of the blazing house standing by helplessly.

They glared at us with looks of disgust.

Suddenly, we realized why………we were all still holding our roasting forks with marshmallows on them…

A BBQ Joke - What Makes a Real Man?

Barbeque–it’s the only type of cooking a “real” man will do. When a man volunteers to do the ‘BBQ’ the following chain of events are usually put into motion.

1. The woman goes to the store.
2. The woman fixes the salad, vegetables, and dessert.
3. The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils, and takes it to the man, who is lounging beside the grill, drink in hand.
4. The man places the meat on the grill.
5. The woman goes inside to set the table and checks the vegetables.
6. The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is burning.
7. The man takes the meat off the grill and hands it to the woman.
8. The woman prepares the plates and brings them to the table.
9. After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.
10. Everyone praises man and thanks him for his cooking efforts.
11. The man asks the woman how she enjoyed ‘her night off’ and, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there’s just no pleasing some women.

October is National Chili Month - Steak Chili Recipe

Steak Chili Recipe with Coffee and Dark Chocolate

October is one of our favorite month's of the year. It's harvest time and the cooler air makes the GrillJunkie team dream of comfort foods and memorable times with friends and family. As food lovers we are in our glory during October due to the fact that the month is filled with food festivals across the country while also hosting several national food holidays including cookie, apple, dessert, pretzel, and two of our favorites...pizza and chili!

We tackled grilled pizza in a recent blog, now we set our taste buds on chili. There's nothing quite like the aroma, texture and taste of a great bowl of heart and soul warming chili!

A bit of history. Chili is believed to have originated in Mexico and literally translates to “chili pepper” in Spanish. However, it didn't take very long at all long for the U.S. to adapt this versatile and irresistible new dish. American settlers combined dried beef, suet, dried peppers, and salt and then boiled it in pots along the trail.

Chili quickly gained popularity through the U.S and restaurants started branding their unique blends of meat, spices and herbs as their own “secret recipe.” This is what makes chili so unique. Chili's inherent quality of individual customization is what makes it wildly popular for food competitions, festivals and enjoyment at home.

While there are thousands of variations, one of our favorite chili recipes includes hearty steak, spicy jalapeños, chipotle and two extra special ingredients...coffee and dark chocolate. 

Chocolate gives the chili additional depth of flavor while Coffee is the perfect ingredient to round out the dish and add some depth. In fact the bitterness of coffee will help bring out the sweetness of the meat.

Steak Chili Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb. sirloin steak, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
• 2 Tbsp. cooking oil
• 6 cloves garlic minced
• 1 Vidalia or sweet white onion, diced
• 2 jalapeños minced (or for a smokier flavor, you can substitute with chipotle peppers)
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 2 cans (15 oz or 200 mg each) crushed or diced tomatoes
• 1 cup of beer, pilsner or lager
• 2 Tbsp. chile powder
• 1 teaspoon ancho chile powder (if available, otherwise use an additional teaspoon red chile powder)
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar or lime juice
• 3 cups of  cooked kidney beans or other beans of your choice (canned beans work just fine)
• 2 oz. (55mg) dark chocolate with chili (we prefer Lindt Excellence Chili Dark Chocolate Bar
• 1/2 cup coffee (traditional dark roast or house blend, avoid flavored coffees)
• Grated cheese of your choice (we prefer sharp cheddar)
• Fresh sour cream (optional)
• Sea salt and freshly ground peppercorns

Directions

1. Salt and pepper the 3/4" cubes of steak. Bring a grill or heavy pan to high heat, oil the pan with cooking oil and then quickly sear the sirloin meat approximately 1-2 minutes, making sure to give it time to get some good caramelized color.
2. Move the steak to one side of the pan and sauté the onions and jalapeños (or chipotle) for 1-2 minutes, followed by garlic. Be sure not to burn the garlic.
3. De-glaze the pan with the wine and let it cook down for about a minute, then mix in your tomatoes, beans and the two chili powders. Sprinkle in the basil, cumin, paprika and brown sugar.
4. Add the beer at this point, enough to make the mix soupy and cover most of the ingredients. Add the cider vinegar or lime juice. If there is not enough liquid covering everything at this point, add some fresh, clean water. Do not add more beer.
5. Simmer for at least two hours. This gives the steak a chance to break down and evolve into scrumptious, melt-in-your-mouth pieces. Sample the meat as you get near the two hour mark to check for tenderness.
6. When the meat is tender, add the coffee, chocolate, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors, then serve.
7. Top individual servings with grated cheddar and sour cream if desired.
8. Now ladle yourself a big bowl, admire the creamy beans, robust chunks of steak and deep red concoction you've just created. Notice the depth of intense and elegant flavors, and lingering tastes that the coffee and dark chili chocolate add to this dish.
9. Last step, enjoy.

Pizza on the Grill - Yes Pizza Can Be Grilled!

Pizza on the Grill! 

Grills mimic a wood fired oven than your conventional indoor oven. Whether using charcoal or gas, the smoke from the grill will help give your pizza more flavor. It’s also dead easy. No, the pizza dough does not fall through the grill grates. Assuming you've properly heated the grill, your dough will form a lovely lightly charred crust. The trick is that you cook the plain dough first, on one side, on the grill. Then remove it, flip it, brush the grilled side with sauce and toppings, and return the pizza to the grill for final cooking. It's a great idea for having the kids make their own pizza, a fun Halloween grilling activity, or anytime of the year!

Ingredients

Dough - Enough for 3 (16-inch) round pizzas:

• 16 ounces all-purpose flour, plus extra for countertop, peel and rolling
• 1 envelope instant or rapid rise yeast
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 10 ounces warm water, approximately 105 degrees F
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus 2 teaspoons for bowl
• 1 tablespoon malted barley syrup

Roasted Tomato and Basil topping - Enough to top 1 (16-inch) round pizza:

• 1 large ripe tomato, cut into 1/3-inch thick slices
• 5 to 7 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 2 cloves roasted garlic, minced (see our recipe)
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2-ounce grated Parmesan
• 1 1/2 ounces part skim mozzarella, shredded
• 1/2 cup Parmesan Reggiano cheese, grated
• 4 to 6 large sweet basil leaves, shredded

Tools and Equipment

• Gas or Charcoal Grill
• Long-Handled Grill Tongs
• Pizza Peel
• Stand Mixture
• Patience

Preparation/Directions

Dough:

• Combine the flour and yeast in the work bowl of a stand mixer. Add the salt, water, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and malted barley syrup. Start the mixer on low, using the hook attachment, and mix until the dough just comes together, approximately 1 1/2 minutes. Increase the mixer speed to medium and knead for 15 minutes.
• Tear off a small piece of dough and flatten into a disk. Gently stretch the dough until thin. Hold it up to the light and look to see if the bakers windowpane, or a see-through, taut membrane has formed. The dough will be quite sticky, but manageable. Fold the dough onto itself and form it into a smooth ball.
• Oil the bowl of the stand mixer or other large canister with 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Put the dough in the bowl and roll it around to coat with the oil. Cover with a tea towel or plastic wrap and leave at room temperature to double in size, approximately 1 hour. The dough will rise and double.
• Split the dough into 3 equal parts using a knife or dough scraper. Flatten each piece into a disk on the counter top. Form each piece into a ball. Roll each ball on the counter until they tighten into rounds. Cover the balls with a tea towel and rest for 45 minutes.

To shape and cook the Roasted Tomato and Basil pizza:

• Fire up and preheat a gas grill to high and make sure the grill grates are clean and free of debris.
• Toss the tomato with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, the garlic, salt and red pepper flakes in a medium mixing bowl and set aside.
• Lightly flour the countertop and flatten 1 of the dough balls. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a 16-inch round, rotating and stretching the dough as you go. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured pizza peel and stretch to re-shape if necessary.

• Oil the grill grates, by rubbing the grates with an olive oil soaked paper towel held by long-handled tongs. Decrease the heat to medium. Brush the dough with 1 to 2 teaspoons of olive oil and flip onto 1 end of the hot grill, leaving room for the tomatoes on the grate.
• Carefully place the prepared tomatoes on the grill, close the lid and cook until the bottom of the crust is golden brown and the tomatoes are softened, about 1 to 2 minutes. 
• Brush the raw (un-grilled) side of the dough with 1 to 2 teaspoons of olive oil, then immediately flip using the peel. Top with the grilled tomatoes, smashing and spreading the tomatoes to create a sauce. Sprinkle with the Parmesan, mozzarella and basil. 
• Close the lid and cook until the bottom of crust is golden brown and the cheese has melted, another 1 to 2 minutes. Using the peel, remove the pizza to a cooling rack and let rest for 3 minutes before slicing.

Smile and Enjoy your addiction to grilling and your newly found skill as the neighborhood Pizza GrillJunkie!

Grilling for Halloween? Scary yet Delicious Grilled Excuses to Fire it Up!!

Halloween Grilling? Some Scary Ideas!

This post comes from an article that was written by Derrick Riches from About.com. http://bbq.about.com/ We thought it was worth posting as it fits in with our GrillJunkie theme that the grill is never not fired up. As we approach Winter, we always seem to focus in on the next holiday to make up an excuse to fire up the grill. As summer has ended, Labor Day and Columbus Day are behind us, our thoughts are usually focused on Thanksgiving and possibly grilling, smoking or deep frying the turkey outside. However, don't overlook Halloween as an excuse to fire up the grill and get some real food in them before they fill themselves with candy!

You might think of Halloween as little more than an excuse for the kids to fill themselves up on candy, but it’s a good idea to get some real food in them before the bags of candy start being replaced with bags of empty wrappers. Believe it or not the grill is a great way to put together something hot and satisfying, quick and easily. So consider a fun family meal of grilled foods before or after the kids hit the streets.

Of course hamburgers are a favorite of the grill and children, but think outside the bun and try making up some great Halloween pizzas. If you use cheddar cheese instead of mozzarella you get a pumpkin face for the kinds to decorate with black olives, pepperoni, red, orange and green bell peppers or whatever else you like on a pizza. 

They’ll have a blast topping their own pizzas and since they cook up in a few minutes, they won’t drive you crazy waiting to eat. 

Anything finger food is particularly good for Halloween since the kids will be coming and going during the night. It’s also perfect for the parents out escorting the young ones. Whether you’re having a big Halloween party or not, little grilled treats like buffalo wings or yakitori are perfect little treats to carry around the whole evening. 

To top off your Halloween gathering you must have a Witch's Cauldron of Punch, Chocolate Spiders and Chocolate Covered Mice. So flame on the grill and have a safe and scary Halloween.

Source : http://bbq.about.com/

Grilled Sweet Vidalia Onion Bloom Recipe

Grilled Sweet Vidalia Onion Blooms

Vidalia onions are delicious, any way you slice them. But when they are grilled or roasted, then you've cooked up a little bit of sweet heaven. Add bacon, butter and cheese, and, well, there really are no words.

Ingredients

• 4 medium Vidalia onion or other sweet onions
• 2 tablespoon fresh parsley (or thyme) chopped
• 4 slices Havarti cheese
• 3 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• ¼ cup bread crumbs
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• Fresh ground pepper to taste
• Sea salt to taste

Tools

• Charcoal or gas grill
• Grilling tongs
• Parking knife
• Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil

Preparation

1. Light and preheat grill to Medium - High
2. Cut onion tops and "backtail" so onions can sit flat. Peel each onion.
3. Using a parking knife, cut a hollow cone-like shape into the center of each onion, being careful not to go all the way through the bottom of the onions.
4. Salt and pepper each onion from the top down into cavities.
5. Place onions sliced side up on individual aluminum foil squares.
6. In a bowl, add the butter, bacon, bread crumbs and parsley and mix until well combined into a butter mixture.
7. Evenly distribute butter mixture on and into the onion cavities.
8. Top each onion with Havarti cheese and add a pinch more of salt and pepper.
9. Fold aluminum foil around onion until all ends meet, gathering at the top to seal and create a tent.
   
10. Place each onion packet on covered grill over indirect heat for 30 minutes, rotating occasionally. Onion should be soft and “melted” with the bottom caramelized when done.
11. With tongs, remove the onion bloom packets from grill, let cool for 5 minutes before opening the foil packets. 
12. Serve as a side dish with grilled steak, or burgers.
13. Smile, be proud, and enjoy!

Winter Grilling Cleaning and Prep Up

Winter Cleaning and Preparation

Get your grill ready for winter.

As winter approaches each year, some of you may begin to think it's time to pack your grill away until signs of spring appear. There are a few things that should be done besides simply forgetting and just letting your grill sit under a foot of snow all winter. Of course that’s not what anyone plans on doing, however due to the quick onset of winter, especially in the Northeast, it frequently happens that way. The following will help you prepare your grill for winter and avoid finding your trusty barbecue rusted and populated with squirrels and field mice next spring. 

To those of you in warmer climates, we offer you the best of wishes during those mid January cookouts. Be sure to send pictures to encourage the rest of us GrillJunkies that hope is just around the “seasonal” corner. Those of you that live in lands of snow however are presented with a choice. You can pack the grill carefully into a nice dry corner of the garage or shed, or face potential frostbite by cooking outdoors in a foot of snowfall. 

After a long summer of grilling you probably have a good build up of black, greasy gunk in your grill. This gunk should be removed prior to winter storage. You will be glad you did come spring when that ad hoc cookout request comes along. In addition to cleanup, you should also make note of any part that is rusted through and is in need of replacement. It is always safe to assume that you may not be able to find those parts in the off season but you will know exactly what you need when the stores roll out their barbecue and grilling accessories selection next year. 

With the shell and all the components clean you can reassemble the grill, being sure that all gas connections are made you are leak free. Then Fire It Up one last time to make sure that it is completely dry. Now you can go over the metal parts with some cooking oil or spray. This little trick helps to repel any moisture that might build up during the winter. Now you should cover your grill and park it in a place where it will be sheltered from the elements. An important note about gas grills is that while a dry corner of the garage is the perfect place for the grill, it is not the place for the gas tank!. Never store propane tanks in an enclosed area. Even the slowest of leaks can flood an area with explosive gas. It's best to keep the tank in a well ventilated area, protected from the weather. 

If you have a charcoal grill the same basic rules apply. But because of the simplicity of a charcoal grill, you’ll have a much easier time of it. Charcoal grills and smokers tend to only need a light coat of oil over the cooking grates and don’t need to be oiled down like a gas grill. When spring arrives always let your grill or smoker heat up completely before you cook. This will burn off this protective oil covering. 

Be safe, be clean, and be prepared. Enjoy!

BBQ vs. Grilling! What Fires You Up?

What Fires You Up? Grilling versus Barbecue.

We would be remiss if we did not address the age old question regarding the differences between Grilling and Barbecue. In essence, what we are attempting to explain here is the difference between grilling and BBQ, or, as many refer to as the direct versus indirect method, while attempting to avoid taking a side among the purists of the two camps. At GrillJunkie we encourage the practice and experimentation of both methods, …..again fortifying our motto, “What Fires You Up!”

People often use the term barbecue when referring to foods that are grilled, but barbecuing and grilling are two very different processes.

Barbecuing

Barbecuing refers to foods that are cooked with a long, slow process using indirect, low-heat generated by smoldering logs, wood chips that smoke-cook the food. The fuel and heat source are separated from the cooking chamber, but the cooking chamber contains enough heat to slowly but properly cook the food over a long period of time.

Along with heat, the cooking chamber fills with smoke, providing the food with its characteristically smoky flavor, which varies depending on the type of wood that is used for the fuel. The best temperature for barbecuing is between 200°F and 300°F. If the temperature rises above 300°F, it is considered grilling.

Grilling

Grilling refers to foods that are cooked more quickly and directly over high heat. The fuel and heat source are not separated from the cooking chamber thus providing for an environment that provides for high heat.
Grilling temperatures typically reach 500°F or more, but any temperature above 300°F is considered a grilling temperature.The high heat of grilling sears the surface of meat, creating a flavorful browned crust.

What Fires You Up? Whichever you choose, enjoy and cherish your time with family and friends.

The Grill of Rights by GrillJunkie

Prior to delving into the "History of the Hamburger", in our Cookbook entitled the GrillJunkie Burger a Day Cookbook, we served up a definition of a GrillJunkie:

"If you derive inordinate pleasure from, or are addicted and/or obsessed with grilling, .....then you are a GrillJunkie!" 

There are thousands if not millions of us out there. Enjoy the addiction!

As there are many of us in this unique community, we believe that each and every GrillJunkie has inherently earned certain "rights" and fundamental principles upon which every self-respecting outdoor cook, griller, or BBQ master should conduct themselves and be treated while enjoying and celebrating the great pastime of grilling and spending time with family and friends.

During the early debates on the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, a "Bill of Rights" that would spell out the immunities of individual citizens was created. With utmost respect to the U.S. Constitution, we present The GrillJunkie Grill of Rights.

The GrillJunkie Grill of Rights

You have the right to:

– Celebrate Your Addiction to Grilling –

– Be Consumed by Your Quest for the Perfect Burger –

– Know, or learn about the Difference Between Grilling and BBQ–

– Boast That the Hamburger is an American Invention –

– Grill Well, Safely, and Enjoy Time With Your Friends and Family –

Thanks for having fun with us and sharing the Grilling Addiction!