food

BETTER COOK

NEW WAYS

WITH

crushed

red pepper

Hardened stainless-steel blades and a

micro-serrated edge easily grip and cut

through meat, herbs, vegetables, and twine.

W HAT W E LIKE

Cushioning pads on the

grip absorb pressure while cutting, and a

built-in herb stripper in the handle quickly

removes herbs from tough stems. OXO

Kitchen & Herb Scissors, $16.99;

oxo.com

Add bold flavor in unexpected

places with this kitchen staple.

SW EET-HEAT BUTTER

Melt together

/ 4

cup butter,

1

Tbsp. packed brown sugar,

and a half teaspoon crushed

red pepper. Brush on grilled

pork chops or shrimp.

BURNIN’ BURGERS

With a fork, mash a heaping

teaspoon of crushed red

pepper and a pinch of salt into

2 minced cloves of garlic. Gently

mix into a pound of ground

beef, form into patties, and grill.

HOT CHOCOLATE-DIPPED

PRETZELS

SWEET SHORTCUT

Homemade simple syrup gives you

a quick base for summer drinks

such as iced teas, lemonades, and

cocktails. In a saucepan, combine

equal parts sugar and water. Bring

to a boil, stirring until sugar has

dissolved; cool. Store in the

refrigerator up to two weeks.

COOK’S TIP

Save money and eliminate waste

when buying fresh ginger. Cover

pieces of ginger root in plastic

wrap and place in the freezer.

When recipes call for ginger,

remove a piece and grate away,

no need to thaw. Ginger root can

be kept in the freezer, tightly

covered, for up to three months.

Turn leftover coleslaw into a base for fish tacos. Layer slaw

on top of flat corn or flour tortillas, then top with chopped

cherry tomatoes and pieces of grilled whitefish fillets.

Garnish with snipped fresh cilantro or other fresh herbs.

In a microwave-safe bowl stir

together a half teaspoon

crushed red pepper and a

12-oz. bag of chocolate chips

Melt it according to package

directions. Then dip pretzel

rods in the melted chocolate

and cool on waxed paper. The

chocolate will set up in about

an hour.

>

VISIT BHG.COM/GRILLING

and watch grilling guide Charlie Worthington share tips and techniques for

amazing outdoor cooking. While there you can also find our favorite recipes for the grill, from main dishes to desserts.

1 7 0 JULY 2010 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS