Episode 29 Techniques for Cooking over an open fire
The magic of fire will inspire you to think outside the pit. When I had my outdoor kitchen built, my blacksmith installed a big fireplace with a trammel or swinging black hanging iron arm with notches in it so I could hang a black pot over the fire with ease and adjust the temperature by moving the pot to a different notch. This return to “no-tech” cooking has given me a new appreciation for cooking over open fires. The secret of success is the vessel or the vehicle to bake i


Episode 28 Tuscan Chicken Under A Brick
The Classic Pollo al Mattone literally means Chicken a brick in Italian. This dish originally hails from Tuscany. and was probably cooked over the famous Tuscan grill I would imagine outside. The photos reflect 2 chickens being cooked, however, I gave you the recipe for one because they are easier to handle, if you want to cook two simply double the recipe for the marinade and use an extra-large pan like the one in the pictures. This is somewhat of a fussy recipe but the resu


Episode 27 Sizzling Salmon on the Grill
#pestosalmon #grilledsalmon Grilling salmon is an easy and tasty way to eat fish. Loaded with protein and Omega 3's combined with easy availability makes it a natural choice for a lazy summer dinner. I love to grill whenever I can when the weather is warm, it gives me a break from the stove. Cooking with friends on the patio is a way to be outside, socially distance, share, and connect in a casual yet, satisfying experience. One of my favorite contributions to a communal din


Ep. 26 Summer Entertaining Tips & Local Maple Brined Chicken on the Grill
A good while back, when I was involved in the local foods movement we held a fundraiser called “The Dance of the Ripe Tomato” to introduce the newly formed Lake Superior Slow Food Convivium. What I remember most about this event is how we put it together on a shoestring. Even after all these years, there’s still talk about how much fun that event was and how locally grown and raised ingredients played the starring role. Since then, I have been holding my own “tomato dance” at

