Thanks, Lindac Years ago I had an electric grill with two flat plates and two waffle plates. It did OK hamburgers, sausages, pancakes, eggs, bacon, and waffles. Worthless for steaks and anything that I wanted to sear. I am hoping to be able to get this one hot enough to grill steaks. I like them rare, so it has to heat enough to sear the outside without cooking the steak all the way through. Maybe closing the adjustable lid gently so juices aren't pressed out and searing both sides at once will work? Like you say, I don't want a grilled cheese sandwich type steak. Guess I'll find out. It's gotta get HOT though. And the top ribbed grill has to just touch on the steaks, not smash them. (When the weather is bad and I don't want to go outside to the wood/gas grills, I frequently cook steaks on a big flat grill over two burners because the broiler in my 8 yr old Jenn Air is totally useless. That's also how I sear steaks cut from sous vide' roasts. I am hoping this expensive toy will tide me over until I can get a CC to replace the Jenn Air. I think fish and shrimp will work--again, if it gets hot enough. Hamburgers and other patties of any ground meat, brats or other round sausages, I am sure will work. Bacon and ham should work. Panini type sandwiches will work, of course. I wonder about grilling veggies--asparagus, sweet potatoes, green beans, which I usually do in a big skillet or the big two-burner grill when it's just too hot to heat up the oven and roast them. I think I will try sliced apples, pancakes, bacon, and eggs, using a flat grill and a ribbed one. I'm hoping that someone who uses a Breville will comment about how they use theirs. Sandra

AmericaâÂÂs Test KitchenâÂÂs Grilled Potato Hobo Packs 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes -- (about 3 large) scru 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 garlic cloves -- peeled and chopped 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper Cut each potato in half crosswise, then cut each half into 8 wedges. Place potatoes in large bowl and wrap tightly with plastic wrap. Microwave until edges of potatoes are translucent, 4 to 7 minutes, shaking bowl (without removing plastic) to redistribute potatoes halfway through cooking. Carefully remove plastic and drain well. Gently toss potatoes with oil, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cut four 14 by 10-inch sheets of aluminum foil. Working 1 at a time, spread one-quarter of potato mixture over half of foil, fold foil over potatoes, and crimp edges tightly to seal. FOR A CHARCOAL GRILL -- Light large chimney starter filled with charcoal briquettes (6 quarts, about 100 briquettes). When coals are hot, spread them evenly over bottom of grill. Set cooking grate in place, cover, and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. FOR A GAS GRILL -- Turn all burners to high, cover, and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Clean and oil cooking grate. Grill hobo packs, covered, until potatoes are completely tender, about 10 minutes, flipping packs halfway through cooking. Cut open foil and serve. MAKING POTATO HOBO PACKS To ensure tender potatoes with charred, smoky flavors of the grill, here's what to do: Microwave the potatoes first to help them cook quickly on the grill. Arrange the microwaved potatoes on foil, fold over, and crimp. Flip the packs halfway through grilling for evenly charred potatoes.

We love to try new things on the grill. Most of my recipes are from Steve Raichlen (I have 3 of his books). We probably do "beer can chicken" the most; sometimes with wine. We also love to just set mussels and clams on the grill and when they open we baste with herb butter. This we don't make often, but it is a show stopper and goes well with pork loin. Barbecued Cabbage (whole) ========================= 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter 4 slices bacon (1/4 pound), cut crosswise into 1/4 inch slivers 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 medium-size green cabbage (about 2 pounds) 1/4 cup of your favorite Barbecue Sauce Coarse salt and black pepper 1. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and onion and cook until just beginning to brown. Drain the bacon and onion in a strainer over a bowl and reserve the drippings. Crumble a piece of aluminum foil and shape it into a ring about 3 inches in diameter (the cabbage will "sit" on this). 2. Cut the core out of the cabbage and discard. Cut the remaining butter into dice. Stir the bbq sauce into the bacon and onion mixture. Prop the cabbage up right on the aluminum foil ring, cavity facing up. Place the bacon and onion mixture in the cavity and top with as many pieces of butter as will fit. Using a basting brush, paint the outside of the cabbage with bacon drippings. Season the cabbage lightly with salt and generously with pepper. 3. If using a gas grill, place wood chips in the smoker box or make a pouch and preheat on high until you see smoke, then reduce the heat to medium. 4. Place the cabbage on its aluminun foil ring in the center of the hot grate away from the heat - you want indirect heat. 5. Grill the cabbage until very tender (when done it will be easy to pierce with a skewer), 1 to 1/2 hours. To serve, peel off any dired-out or charred outside leaves and discard. Cut the cabbage into wedges and serve. This one makes a great presentation - it is so easy. We like to do these as an appetizer for guests - they take only minutes once they are prepped. Rosemary-Grilled Scallops ========================= 1 2/3 pounds sea scallops 28 to 32 rosemary sprigs (each 3 to 4 inches long) 3 ounces prosciutto, sliced paper-thin 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or basil oil 1 lemon, cut in wedges Caorse salt and black pepper 1. Pull off and discard the muscles if they have it. Rinse and blot dry. Strip the bottom leaves off the rosemary sprigs. Cut the prosciutto into strips just large enough to wrap around the scallops (about 3/4 by 3/2 inches). 2. Lay scallop flat on your work surface. Wrap a piece of prosciutto around it and skewer it with a rosemary sprig. Arrange the scallops on a plate or in a a nonreactive baking dish. Drizzle with oil over both sides of the scallops, squeeze lemon juice over them, and season with salt and pepper (easy on the salt, as the prosciutto is fairely salty). Let marinate for 15 minutes while you light the grill. 3. Set up the grill for direct grilling and preheat to hight. Brush and oil the grill grate. Place the skewered scallops on the hot grate and grill until cooked, 2 to 3 minutes per side. The scallops are done when they turn white and feel firm. This we make often: Ginger-Soy London Broil ======================= 1 piece (2 inches) fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced 1/2 red onion, cut into 1-inch chunks 4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley 1/4 cup dry red wine 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 flank steak (1/2 to 2 pounds) 1. Prepare the marinade: Place the ginger, onion, garlic, and cilantro in a food processor and process until a smooth paste forms. Add the wine, soy sauce, oil and pepper and process to combine. 2. Place the steak in a baking dish just large enough to hold it and spread the marinade over it. Let marinate in the refrgerator, covered, for at least 4 hours, ideally 6 hours, or even overnight, turning the steak a few times. 3. Set up grill for direct grilling and preheat to high. Brush and oil the grill grate. Remove steak and drain well. Place the steak on the hot grate and grill, 6 to 8 minutes per side for medium-rare, 2 minutes more per side for medium, rotating the steak 90 degrees after 3 minutes if a crosshatch of grill marks is desired. Let rest for 5 minutes. Using a sharp knife, carve it into broad think slices, holding the knife blade at a 45 degree angle to the top of meat. I have more - I will have to come back later. Grilled Eggplant with Caprese Salsa and Yagatori Chicken.

I have been using Lock & Lock containers for my veggies and fruits. They have different sizes and different materials - ceramic, glass, plastic. I bought a couple sets when woot.com had a deal going, but I see they have a site. May buy some more things that are on clearance. I have plastic stuff which I like because it can go in the fridge, freezer and microwave. We have had them about a year now and so far so good. What kinds of fruits and veg are you looking to store? If you give us more of an idea size-wise and material-wise maybe someone will have additional ideas. The folks on the Cookware and Cooking forums may have ideas too. Cookware Cooking Here is a link that might be useful: Lock and Lock