Technology has certainly changed the world we live in and do business in. Although it can make our tasks faster it sometimes doesn’t make it all that easier. Some of you might have tried to access my website this past month and found the site out of order. No I haven’t burned the kitchen down (although my husband insists I will every time I grill bread and forget about it!), I was simply affected by a recent technology glitch from the hosting company I was using (not anymore). But I’m happy to say that thanks to the wonderful people at Compuville Systems I am back on line and open for business! It’s amazing how something like this that is out of your control can slow you down and affect your business. Gone are the days that we just simply pick up the phone for more information. Today’s business world demands as much information as possible and as quickly as possible at the tip of our fingertips.
As for the food that is at our fingertips, it too has been influenced by science and technology. Sometimes for the better and sometimes not so much! Take for instance the growing popularity amongst chefs to turn food into something that rivals any lab experiment. Probably the most well known chef for this culinary philosophy is Miguel Sanchez Romera, a neurologist by day and chef by night at his popular Spanish restaurant L’Esguard. He has combined his neuroscience background and the culinary arts to create dishes that have been wowing chefs and critics alike. Dr. Foam as he is known has also invented Micri, a magical new powder that is starch derived from yucca and tapioca for making emulsions. Some things I think are better left in the lab!
Now I’m all for technology when it comes to things like speed of communication, information gathering and other aspects such as this but as for food, well I’m a traditionalist and a purist. The simpler the better for me. A beautiful fresh off the vine tomato, a chewy piece of artisan bread and a cold glass of Pinot Gris has always set my beta bits on fire!
Summer is the perfect time to keep your menus simple and light. Fire up the grill the way our ancestors used to and enjoy this beautiful weather.

• Move over boys, the girls are back in town! How did it become common practice for men to be deemed the masters of the BBQ grill? In my house, it’s an argument over who gets to BBQ. My husband thinks he’s the better griller and it should be only his domain but quite frankly I love nothing more than heating up the grill and cooking our entire dinner over the coals. I love the simplicity of a meal cooked on a BBQ and the beautiful flavours that come from grilling everything from fresh vegetables to succulent peaches and plums and of course the ever popular steak. But hands down my favourite recipe for a great summer time BBQ is Grilled Shrimp & Chorizo Skewers with Spicy Bourbon Mustard. These are so easy and quick to prepare, can be used as an appetizer or as a main meal and pair nicely with a cold beer or a glass of Pinot Gris.
  To help get you started this BBQ season I’ve given you a few general grilling tips as well as this fantastic recipe. So for this Father’s Day why don’t you pamper that special dad in your life and show him just how great us Girl Grillers are! Enjoy!
  
  General Grilling Tips
  · You can check the level in your propane tank by pouring a cup of boiling water along the side and feeling the metal; where there’s still propane, it will be cool to the touch.
  · Never light a gas bbq with the lid shut
  · If you are grilling with charcoal, avoid liquid fire starters and self-lighting briquettes, which can flavour food. Use an electric starter instead.
  · First brush grill with vegetable oil or spray with cooking spray to prevent foods from sticking then preheat the grill on high for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-high to grill.
  · Cook with lid closed for best flavour, even cooking and energy efficiency. Every time you raise the lid you drop the temperature.
  · Leave space between food items on the grill so smoke can surround and penetrate.
  · Sugar or tomato based bbq sauces burn easily and should only be applied in the last minute of grilling.
  · Don’t keep turning meat on the grill. This actually makes meat drier by lowering its temperature and extending the cooking time. Instead get the grill to the right temperature, put the meat on to sear, and then only flip once to evenly cook it.
  
  
  Grilled Shrimp & Chorizo Skewers with Spicy Bourbon Mustard
  Serves 4
  Preparation 20 minutes
  Cooking 4 minutes
  Notes: If using bamboo skewers make sure to soak for 30 minutes first to avoid them burning on the grill. The Spicy Bourbon Mustard sauce will keep in an airtight container, covered and refrigerated for up to 1 week.
  
  Ingredients:
  Skewers:
  16 extra large or jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
  Salt and freshly ground pepper*
  8 oz (250g) smoked, spicy chorizo (or spicy sausage of your choice)
  1 half onion*, quartered, separated into individual pieces
  2 tbsp vegetable oil* (for brushing shrimp)
  
  Spicy Bourbon Mustard:
  ¼ cup whole-grain spicy mustard*
  ¼ cup honey*
  2 tbsp bourbon (Jack Daniels or other)
  1 tsp hot pepper sauce*
  
  1. For the Mustard sauce, combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Remove 2 tbsp of sauce for basting shrimp and set remaining sauce aside.
  2. Heat bbq to high.
  3. Season shrimp with salt and pepper
  4. Cut chorizo into ½ inch (1-cm) round pieces.
  5. On each skewer, place a piece of onion, then skewer shrimp through the fattest part. Tuck the chorizo inside the rounded edge of the shrimp, and skewer through the rind of the chorizo. Finish by skewering through the tail end of the shrimp so the shrimp circles around the chorizo.
  6. Place 4 onion/shrimp/chorizo combo on each skewer.
  7. Brush shrimp with oil and grill for 2 minutes each side or until the shrimp is pink and the sausage is cooked through.
  8. Baste the skewers with the 2 tbsp of reserved Spicy Bourbon Mustard during the last 30 seconds of cooking.
  9. Serve immediately with remaining Spicy Bourbon Mustard for dipping.
  
  *Denotes recommended pantry item.