Book Reviews GOOD EATING: Indoor Grills Are Hot Items for the Kitchen August 16, 2001 in the Orlando Sentinel copyright 2001 By Sheldon Margen and Dale A. Ogar One of the most popular and useful new products of the past few years must be the indoor electric grill. First promoted on television by boxing legend George Foreman, the grills are now found everywhere; more than 10 million were sold in the United States in 1999 alone. At this time of year, many of us are enjoying the pleasure of grilling outdoors on charcoal or gas grills, but it's also sensible to cook food quickly and in a relatively fat-free environment on a regular basis. The new indoor electric grills have drip plates or holes that allow the fat to drain into a reservoir. There are several types of indoor electric grills, and the kind you choose should depend on how you plan to use it. The hibachi, or open-hearth style, is a lot like a charcoal or gas grill. It has no cover and allows the fat to drip away from the food. The design advantage in this indoor version is that the fat never comes into contact with the heating coils, so there is no smoke. Some grills are a combination grill/electric frying pan and offer even more versatility. You get the advantages of a grill surface and the ability to cook almost any kind of food you want. Infusion grills let you grill and steam at the same time, thereby giving you the look of grilled food, but with the moisture and flavor of steam. And then there's the champion of electric grills: the double- sided version, which is great for small kitchens, cooks quickly and is essentially idiot-proof. The grills make it easy for anybody to cook food that tastes good, they promote good health and conserve precious time in a busy schedule. It's important to read the owner's manual to find out about cooking times, cleaning techniques, food safety issues and the like, but if you want a great source of information, pick up Grill Power by Holly Rudin-Braschi (QVC Publishing, 2000). The book has included more than 125 recipes adapted to each kind of grill. Check out grillpower.com for recipes and more information. In addition to electric grills, these inexpensive kitchen gadgets can be useful in healthful cooking: A steamer. You'll find electric steamers on the market, but you can just as easily use a perforated metal colander or a fold-up wire basket that fits into the pots you already have. Stackable bamboo steamer baskets work well when placed inside a stock pot. They'll hold larger foods, such as ears of corn, and allow you to steam more than one food at a time. Steaming cooks quickly, requires no fat and retains most of the nutrients in foods. Be sure you have a tight lid to keep the steam inside. A fat-removing gravy pitcher. This looks like a cup with a big spout. You pour the pan juices into it, the fat rises to the top and you pour out the fat-free gravy. A rack to place beneath meat. These racks allow the fat to run to the bottom of the pan, away from the meat. If you want to rescue any of the tasty drippings, try pouring them into a container, refrigerating and skimming off the fat. To speed up the process, add a few ice cubes before you put the drippings in the refrigerator. You can also find special meatloaf pans that allow the fat to drip through, while keeping the meatloaf intact. A small cheese grater. You can add a great deal of flavor to a dish by adding just a little cheese, especially the tangy, hard varieties, such as Parmesan and asiago. Just grate a bit into or onto whatever you're cooking. This is also a good idea for salads and adds enough pungency to cut down on the amount of dressing needed. A yogurt funnel. You can buy these or make your own with a coffee cone and filter paper; or use a small colander lined with several layers of cheesecloth. Spoon your favorite nonfat, gelatin- free yogurt into the funnel, and let the liquid (whey) drain out while it sits in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours. You'll end up with a nice, thick yogurt cheese you can use for dips, spreads, salad dressings, baked potatoes and, yes, even cheesecake. It will keep for about four days covered in the refrigerator. Order Grill Power Now!

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