I bought my little red grill a few years ago because I wanted to teach myself how to bbq. It was honestly always something the men in my life did – grilling out, bbqing, grilling…..call it what you like. And I felt like it was time to get in some girl power and learn how to char things on my own.

So, let me tell you why I feel like a badass when I grill:

1. There is something about fire that just makes you feel sassy. The swoosh as I turn my burners to “on”!! Feel the power!! Right?!

2. I ordered my grill on Amazon so I wouldn’t have to carry it – obvious badass move!! Work smarter, not harder!

3. I tried putting it together myself. Imagine 900 pieces of said red bbq spread across my back deck, screws and paper instructions rolling about. I was super proud of the assembly until I got to the propane tank part and it wouldn’t stop hissing. I ran across the street to my Uncle who came over and found that the hissing was said propane tank leaking and I hadn’t screwed it on tight enough….and oh wait the screws on most of the bbq also tended to be a bit on the loose side….could have caused bbq collapse upon using it. He fixed my propane tank and tightened all of my screws and well probably saved me from blowing up my entire neighborhood. True badass move on my part!

4. I don’t burn food. As many of you know I am a pretty decent cook. But this whole bbq thing is a whole new ballgame. Don’t get me wrong I have had some wins – this chicken recipe from Smitten Kitchen is bomb!! However, I have also charred the fuck out of some salmon, lost a few onions to the grates and destroyed my tofu kabobs the other night (massacre might be a better term). Its truly like learning how to walk again and I am loving every minute of it. Bad ass!

5. I have bbq tools!! Just when I thought I had mastered all kitchen gadgets, I found that when you start to bbq, you get an excuse to buy more kitchen gadgets because really they are “grill gadgets.” I absolutely love my grill basket and since this purchase I have lost less onions and other vegetables to the grate Gods. Hallelujah!

6. I grilled in the rain! The weather here in my neck of the woods is super unpredictable so if you buy grill food at 10am there is no guarantee for grill weather by 6pm. So, I decided that I must take one for the grill team and grill in a rain coat, fur boots and a hat. I am pretty sure the food tasted better because of the level of effort that I put into this grill occasion. True badass move and I kind of think it’s a certain level of grill initiation when you do this! Holla!!!

7. I haven’t set anything accidentally on fire such as myself, the deck, the apple tree, pot holders, etc. Think this is a sign that I am kind of a badass and pretty much winning!

I am continuing to enjoy my new found cooking form of expression and I feel like I learn a little more everyday. Would love to hear about your grilling wins and losses – please share your stories!