My first experiences in grilling ended with much less than desirable results. I completely destroyed the first couple of meals I attempted, and my wife was not too pleased. She said something about wasting time and throwing my hard-earned money away. However, I'm not one to give up on anything, so I set out on a mission to find out what I was doing wrong. After a few weeks of research and a few more grilling sessions later, I slowly got the hang of it. I finally was able to produce a dish on the grill that was not half bad. It was a Flank Steak that one of my wife's friends had given us the recipe for. At least I didn't ruin it this time. That was it - I was bitten by the barbecue bug.

I challenged myself over the next few years to try new and different things like complete meals done on the grill. It's truly amazing the amount of foods available that really taste so much better on the grill. Of course there's the traditional favorites such as burgers, dogs, T-bones and barbecued chicken. But you can even do things like baked beans, veggies and appetizer dips and many other things you normally wouldn't think you could do on the grill. I've even done desserts on the grill, and yes, they are incredibly good.

I've learned that the different types of fuel you use to cook with has a direct bearing on the flavor of the food you prepare. For instance, there is a much different taste between steak cooked on a gas grill and one grilled over a charcoal fire. You can also add soaked wood chips to the fire to impart a deeper smokey flavor. And then to add to the mix, you can use Mesquite chips for one flavor, Maple chips for another taste, but the most popular is Hickory chips for a true barbecue flavor. There are even more types of wood you can use like Pecan, Apple and Oak, each has it's own distinctive taste.

It's been a great experience to learn the sometimes complex art of grilling. I've learned a lot and love to share my knowledge with anyone who will listen. Now almost 20 years later, I and my Weber Performer grill (a present from the wife, by the way) crank out some awesome feasts for our many family and friends. I can't begin to tell you how satisfying and rewarding barbecuing can be. It's a great way to relax, socialize and spend time with the people who matter most to you.