
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 30, 1995                   TAG: 9508300100
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 8   EDITION: METRO   
SOURCE: ALMENA HUGHES FOOD EDITOR
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THE THRILL OF THE GRILL

A recent Weber Grillwatch survey found that Labor Day is surpassed only by the Fourth of July as America's favorite cook-out day, with most people grilling up traditional hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks and chicken.

Then, of course, there are the nontraditionalists and those cookout connoisseurs ever in search of a bigger, better barbecue repertoire. These are the cooks who might find among Minnesota's strong Scandinavian and German influences new exciting flavors for basic burgers. These cooks' fancies might take flight at the surprising ease of grilling a turkey. They might make pork ribs magically delicious with a vanishing marinade; they might see in the sea potential for Southwest-influenced food.

The following swordfish fajitas are grilled over briquets imbedded with nuggets of hickory and other hardwoods that create the smoky, flame-flickering effect and flavor of cooking over a campfire, but with a lot less effort. To obtain the manufacturer's free brochure of recipes and cooking tips, write to: Gourmet Grilling with Wildfire, c/o Hickory Specialties, P.O. Box 1669, Brentwood, Tenn. 37024.

If you can't find, or don't care for swordfish, another firm-textured, full-flavored fish, such as salmon or tuna, can easily be substituted. The National Fisheries Institute's new 50th anniversary brochure includes alternative fish listings, along with some tasty recipes. To request it, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: 50th Recipes, NFI, 1525 Wilson Blvd., Suite 500, Arlington, Va. 22209.

And for questions about grilling almost anything, Weber's Grill-Line experts will be on call 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Friday through Sept. 4 at (800) 474-5568.

If you asked them about fruits and vegetables, for example, they'd probably tell you that they taste great grilled and make super side dishes and meat toppers. Prepare some extra peppers to pep up the new Gardenburger patties of mushrooms, brown rice, onions and rolled oats - available at the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op, Nature's Outlet, Eats and Annie Kay's in Blacksburg, and Harvest Moon, in Floyd - for your nonflesh eating friends.

Have a happy and safe Labor Day.

Recipes for: COUNTRY-STYLE BARBECUED RIBS WITH BENNIES DISAPPEARING MARINADE

SWORDFISH FAJITAS

CARIBBEAN SLINK KABOBS

BARBECUED TURKEY WITH HERBS

MINNESOTA BURGERS

DINAH'S SWEET BARBECUE SAUCE

Memo: ***CORRECTION***

by CNB