Lookin' for some HOT Stuff: Summer Grilling with Georgia Pecans

Atlanta, GA - Grilling is hot stuff. While its appeal has always been its laid-back, dress-down spirit, consumers are discovering that this cooking method has another great advantage: versatility. A wide variety of foods, including pecans, can be easily cooked on a grill and enhanced by its subtle smokiness. 

Backyard chefs are no longer limited to the traditional burgers, steaks and hot dogs, because hot-coal cooking is now open to interesting-and healthy-foods like vegetables, pizzas, and seafood as well as fruit and nuts, including Georgia pecans. Almost anything can be grilled deliciously once you realize there's more to it than just a hot fire. The secret to great grilling is actually in what you do before and after. 

According to the Georgia Pecan Commission, a little dressing up of the food - not your guests - is all you need to do. Rubs and marinades, spiked with robust ingredients like mustard, honey and pecans, applied before cooking can bring out the best in ordinary cuts of meat, ho-hum chicken or simple vegetables. Likewise, seasonings and pecans can be mixed into burger mixtures to boost their flavor and add moisture and crunch. Georgia is the number one producer of pecans in the U.S., and the nutty, slightly sweet taste of Georgia pecans is just right paired with the smoky flavors of the grill.

After cooking, a dressing of tangy sauce or colorful fruity salsa can instantly enliven an otherwise plain grilled entrée. Homemade sauces and condiments require little effort to prepare; yet the rewards in flavor and texture are great. Include fresh herbs, pungent spices like fresh ginger and garlic, plus chopped pecans give grilled sauces and marinades a really tasty, colorful makeover. The amount of sauce you'll want alongside depends on how potent your ingredients are, but in general, allow about 1/4 to 1/3 cup person. That should be enough add variety to everyone's plate -and make them forget about the ketchup.