What A Roast

BBQ is, apparently, not a term to be used loosely. History has proven that propane-grilled, lime marinated chicken and roasted vegetables can produce looks of surprised disappointment on those individuals who arrived in our backyard with a specific image in mind.

The fact of the matter is, mounds of meat smothered in thick dripping sauce, soaking in pools of additional drippings -- courtesy of 80% "lean" ground beef -- are not likely to be found at our house. David can grill up a mean burger, don't get me wrong. But if the food starts to take on a stew-like quality, if the term "BBQ" is supposed to masquerade as some sort of excuse to indulge in excesses of molten animal fat, then it is not likely to be found at our house.

Likewise with the tub full of baked beans. Beans that have started to congeal together due to the intense mixture of brown sugar and -- lest we forget -- a good helping of margarine. Canned green beans sloshed into a bowl then sprinkled with bits of dried bacon bits to add some "color" to the table tend to make the color drain from my face.

Even in Portland, where "healthy eating" is typically as common as, say, sleeping, people often expect a certain type of food when they hear the word BBQ. So, I have learned to carefully avoid using this word. I don't want to provide false hope for those who secretly eat Pork Rinds after hours, and I don't want to repulse those who wouldn't know how to prepare canned vegetables after a nuclear war.

Instead, we have "backyard grilling." This is not a convenient phrase, nor a common one, but it tends to get the point across. Fresh roasted veggies, tender marianted meat, homemade dessert, and an assortment of tasty beverages are really all we need to round out some good conversation and comfortable company. The weather yesterday was perfect, the meat was perfect, and drinks and chat were delectable. Most of the veggies were roasted to perfection, and those that had a little extra crunch just reminded me that these were real, grown in the ground, and picked by a person.

Too bad I didn't make enough berries & cream pops for David and I, but rumor had it they were extra tasty. Now I have impetus to make more, just for us.