From my kitchen to yours !
Inspired Cooking with Margie Morelos-Galvan
Barbecuing with passion !
Images by Sara Morales and Margie Morelos-Galvan
Margie Morelos-Galvan earned her degree in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management at Cabrillo College ( Aptos CA ). She received her culinary and catering training at Session House ( Aptos , CA ), and has served as catering chef , The Grove ( Hollister , CA ), and private and special events chef , Rosewood Cordevalle ( San Martin , CA ). She founded her company , California Inspirations ( Gilroy CA ) in 2018 , and has been voted Gilroy ’ s Best Caterer in 2021 and 2022 . Contact Margie at : californiainspirations . net / 408-310-8718
There are two smells that bring me the happiest feelings of nostalgia . Motor oil and charcoal . Crazy combination yes , I know , but both smells remind me of my dad .
My dad was known for all things to do with cars . He earned a living owning a small yet successful transmission shop in our great town of Gilroy . He also came with a lot of magic that not everyone knew about . However , if you were lucky , you got a glimpse at some point . That magic lived in his eyes . It was heard in his jokes , his singing , and his guitar playing . It was experienced through his cooking . Barbecuing was one of his specialties .
Being from Texas I ’ d say he got a huge “ one up ” over most . He was passionate about his grill . Because of my dad , I grew up not only learning a few things , but also falling deeply into the art of cooking . Not everyone knows this but that little extra bit of fire that ignites when I ’ m cooking , well I got that from my dad . We had hoped to one day open a business together , but life doesn ’ t always go as planned ( sigh ).
I grew up in California , giving me the best of both worlds . California is known for its amazing culinary techniques that continue to push boundaries ! Although we haven ’ t reached the top ten chart of best BBQ states yet , I ’ m sure we will get there in the future . Personally , I found a way to fuse my culinary style with the lessons I learned growing up . As a result , I am a “ pretty decent ” BBQ ’ er , or so I ’ ve been told ( ha !).
There ’ s no right or wrong to what you can put on your grill . If you want to keep it “ American classic ” and grill a few burgers and dogs , you can . If you want to get a little more intricate with fancy proteins and fresh veggies , you can ! Or if you want to do as I do — pretty much everything — you can ! I ’ ve never been known take a simple route to my barbecuing , so of course for this article we are going all out !
Gas , Charcoal , and Wood Oh My !
How to choose the right grill :
Consider all things like taste preference , budget and cooking style . Here ’ s a few pros and cons to consider .
Gas Grills : Pros : Quick prep and cooking , temp control , easier cleaning . Cons : lack of flavor , bulky , and the added cost of propane
Charcoal Grills : Pros : Taste and far less expensive to buy and operate . Cons : longer prep time , long clean up , and less healthy . ( charcoal fires release high concentrations of carcinogenic compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAHs ). Reference : https :// www . menshealth . com / nutrition / a19544561 / healthiest-grill / )
Fire Pit aka Wood burning Grill : Pros : Stylish , healthier , better flavor Cons : longer cooking time , longer clean up , and practice needed .
I love to barbecue , and I barbecue a lot . I can barbecue entire dinners with one grill . Though I barbecue year-round , summer is the absolute best time of all to barbecue . So , get ready , we are going to have ourselves a little BBQ feast !
What ’ s on the menu ? I thought you ’ d never ask . I ’ ll be sharing a recipe that is dear to my heart — dad ’ s beer can BBQ sauce . We will be smothering it over some crispy yet tender chicken thighs . I ’ ll also be sharing one of my favorite summer salads , and to kick it up a notch I ’ ll be sharing a delectable grilled bone marrow stuffed with all kinds of goodness that we will spread like butter on herb grilled bread ! Grab your appetite and let ’ s get this fire going !
Dad ’ s Beer BBQ Sauce
Ketchup Brown sugar Splash apple cider vinegar Worchester Garlic minced ( continued ...)
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