For those of us who live in cold climates, wintertime makes it difficult to enjoy grilled foods without freezing to death while tending an outdoor grill. If you have a fireplace, you can enjoy grilling while the snow is on the ground using a Tuscan Grill. In Europe, fireplace cooking has been a common cooking method for centuries. The Tuscany area of Italy is especially known for its grilled specialties and fireplace grills.

What is a Tuscan grill? It's a cantilevered grill that fits into your fireplace. This grill has a cooking grate made from 1/4" square steel bars welded to a metal frame. The grill is removable from the support bracket and may be adjusted to three different levels above the fire.

Build a fire and let it die down to a hot bed of coals and then put the grill in place with the food rack over the coals. For grilling be sure to use hardwood only, no pine. Hickory, oak, maple or any wood from fruit or nut trees works well.

Here the grill is shown in place over the hot coals and ready to cook.

Toss on a couple of steaks and enjoy that wonderful wood grilled flavor without taking a step outside the house.

Enjoy!

The Smoke Ring

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