Easy Summer Meals
In Texas, the arrival of June means that the heat and humidity are here to stay. To counter that heat, here are a few ideas to keep the kitchen a bit
cooler while you enjoy your meal with a delicious glass of Texas wine...
Outdoor cooking is a great way to keep your house cooler and add unique flavors to your favorite foods.
However grilling and barbequeing are not the same thing; each method has its own nuances and techniques.
Barbequeing iis a style that uses indirect heat at low temperatures and long cooking times. Grilling is cooking
directly over a hot fire for a short time. In each case, the unique flavoring comes from the type of wood
selected for the fire.
Wine and the Barbie
While it is true that the old "white with fish - red with meat" rule is now considered archaic, meals prepared outdoors
almost beg for red wine, though there are exceptions. Grilled meat tends to develop a slightly bitter flavor when
charred or smoked, so a medium tannic wine such as Sangiovese or Syrah will balance out the bitterness of the meat.
Of course, most of us just don't toss a naked slab of meat on the Barbie. We like to sweeten things up
a bit with BBQ sauce, relish, ketchup and garlic. Those coatings work well with wines that are not too dry and slightly sweet,
providing both a challenge and an opportunity to experiment with both red and white wines.
For instance, BQ ribs with grilled corn goes nicely with either a Syrah or a Riesling, while grilled porkk chops and grilled
pineapple pairs well with a Merlot or a Chardonnay. Another match made in heaven is grilled chicken with bell peppers
and a Sauvignon Blanc.
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