September for me is the official end of summer. School is back in session, pools close, temperatures start to drop (well hopefully). As much as I love the lazy days of Summer, I am excited about one of my favorite times of year- fall. But I also don’t want to rush things and so for September’s cookbook of the month I am choosing Emeril Lagasse’s Emeril At The Grill: A Cookbook For All Seasons. Even though grilling is typically considered a summertime activity, I believe it can done year round; epically in these parts of the country (I remember some years here in Texas where it is so hot outside that we are cutting down our Christmas tree wearing T-shirts and shorts!). Even if you live up north where it might actually get cold; September is still warm enough for grilling and grilling goes hand in hand with Labor Day and football season.
End of Summer
I love this cookbook. Not all of the recipes require the use of a grill. There are side dishes, desserts, and drinks- not to mention a yummy selection of meat /protein entrees. Since I live in an apartment and don’t have access to a grill a lot of the time, for the recipes I have chosen to feature from this book I have adapted them to to be made in the oven, on the stove top, in the crock pot or on the George Foreman grill. Thus, enabling anyone, anytime of the year to have great tasting ‘grilled’ food.
This book has variety of recipes and has many pictures. Almost all of the recipes call for ingredients that you don’t think would work together but somehow Emeril makes it work and it is absolutely delicious. So far everything I have made from the book tastes amazing and has been relatively easy (a crucial thing with grilling-easy-right?).
The only negative thing I have to say about the book is that a lot of the recipes call for Emeril’s products (his BBQ sauce, his creole seasoning, etc). I know that it is his book and I guess if I had a line of specialty food products and a cookbook that I would plug my products in my book too; but I did not run out and buy his products. I have his book (that should be ample Emeril support) but when a recipe called for Emeril’s creole seasoning or BBQ sauce, I simply used my favorite or what I had on had and it still turned out great.
So I am celebrating the end of summer this month; by trying to squeeze in my favorite summer foods before I have to wait a whole seven months to have them again! : )