Did somebody say the barbecue is a man's domain? What's that? The little woman is too delicate to master the flame and tongs?
Well. The gauntlet has been thrown down. Or, at least, the oven mitt. And don't forget the goofy apron with the invitation to Kiss the Cook.
Women have actually been "manning" the grill for longer than you think, so join the crowd.
If you've never done it before -- and if you've bought into the stererotype that women are too feminine to cook with fire -- you may be a little intimidated around the smoke and flames.
Have no fear. Starting up the heat and tossing on the food is not as tricky as you've been led to believe.
Will you be using a gas barbecue, or charcoal? Reluctantgourmet.com presents the pros and cons of each type of barbecue.
Gas grills are more convenient. You can turn it on, put the food on the grill, and be well on the way to having dinner.
Charcoal grills on the other hand take more planning. You'll need to start getting the coals ready well in advance of meal time. Coals are messier, and more temperamental than the easy switch on and off of a gas barbecue.
Still, the general consensus is that if you're willing to put in the extra time and effort, charcoal grilling provides better flavor.
About.com weighs in on the barbecue question as well. The convenience of the gas barbecue extends to its placement options.
You wouldn't want a charcoal barbecue to sit too close to the house or open windows. Neither would you want to have it placed too near the picnic table or lawn chairs. A gas grill offers more leeway, and doesn't require as much space.
Still, don't be fooled by the tidy little on-off switch of the gas barbecue. You can still have flames flaring up, so place your barbecue accordingly.
Gas barbecues are more expensive at the onset, but you'll be buying alot of charcoal to fuel your charcoal grill.
If your days are hectic and you need to be able to run home and fix a quick dinner, gas barbecue is the way to go.
But if on the other hand you have some time to spare, or enjoy the extra time needed for charcoal grilling as your wind-down time, throw in your coals and kick back.
Convinced? Grab yourself a pair of tongs, and pull on your best Kiss the Cook apron. And let the grilling begin.
Sources:
What better? - A gas or charcoal grill. Reluctantgourmet.com.
http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/barbeque_grills.htm
Charcoal vs Gas. About.com.
http://bbq.about.com/od/grills/a/aa121298.htm
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