FOODWORTHY

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Here’s an easy way to test that your grill is ready.  Once the coals have gone gray, remove the grill and place your palm at grill level.  You will be able to gauge if the coals are at the proper temperature by how long you are able to keep your hand above the coals.

HOT (SEARING) = 2 SECONDS

MEDIUM-HOT (GRILLING) = 3 SECONDS

MEDIUM (GRILLING) = 4 SECONDS

MEDIUM-LOW (COVERED COOKING) = 5 SECONDS

LOW (COVERED COOKING) = 6 SECONDS

On another note, I suggest checking out the photography of Peter Sutherland.  His work makes the everyday seem a bit more stylish, without the obnoxious or precious element that usually attaches itself.

JANUARY: blood oranges, grapefruit, guava, kiwi, kumquats, mandarins, oranges, pears, quinces, tamarind, and tangerines

FEBRUARY: avocados, blood oranges, grapefruit, oranges, pears, tamarind, and tangerines

MARCH: avocados, blood oranges, grapefruit, guava, oranges, and tamarind

APRIL: avocados, grapefruit, oranges, papayas, rhubarb, and tamarind

MAY: apricots, avocados, blueberries, cherries, mangoes, oranges, papayas, peaches, raspberries, rhubarb, and tamarind

JUNE: apricots, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cherries, lychees, mangoes, melons, nectarines, passion fruit, peaches, papayas, raspberries, and strawberries

JULY: apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, currents, lychees, mangoes, melons, nectarines, peaches, raspberries, and strawberries

AUGUST: blackberries, blueberries, cherries, currents, figs, gooseberries, huckleberries, lychees, mangoes, melons, nectarines, peaches, plums, raspberries, and strawberries

SEPTEMBER: apples, dates, figs, gooseberries, grapes, huckleberries, mangoes, melons, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, and strawberries

OCTOBER: apples, cranberries, dates, figs, gooseberries, grapes, kumquats, pears, persimmons, plums, pomegranates, quince, raspberries, and star fruits

NOVEMBER: apples, clementines, dates, grapefruit, grapes, kiwi, kumquats, mandarins, oranges, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, quince, star fruits, tamarind, and tangerines

DECEMBER: blood oranges, clementines, dates, grapefruit, guava, kiwi, kumquats, oranges, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, prickly pear, star fruits, tamarind, and tangerines

Here chickee chickee

• The US produces roughly 75 billion eggs a year with the help of some 280 million birds.
• The average bird can lay 250 – 300 eggs a year.
• If a recipe does not specify what size egg is needed, go with the large egg, as all baking recipes are based on their use.
• The chef’s hat, or toque, is said to have as many pleats as there are uses for eggs.
• The modern henhouse has controlled lighting, triggering the hens to lay an egg every 24 – 26 hours, with a half hour rest before starting the process over again.  Incidentally, most eggs are laid between 7 and 11 a.m.
• There is no relation between the size of the egg and the grade of the egg.  Size is determined by the weight of an egg per dozen eggs, while grade is a measure of quality of shell, white, yolk and the size of the air cell.  Also, laying eggs doesn’t get easier with practice.  The younger the hen, the smaller the egg; the older the hen, the larger the egg.
• A refrigerated egg left in its carton will last up to three weeks after bought from the store.  You can tell a bad egg when it has dried up on the inside.
• The yolk and whites of an egg will yield 3 tablespoons.  If you want to separate them out, the yolk will give you 1 tablespoon and the white 2 tablespoons.

For more facts, visit the American egg board website by clicking on the photo above.