Delicious grilling recipes are all about spices and seasoning. Whether you like things fancy or simple, there are a variety of ways to season foods that are going on the grill and a few tricks to making things taste terrific. You can make your own blend, purchase something ready-made or use individual ingredients:

• Make your own blend. You can create your own seasoning blend for the grill by combining the basics: salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder. Mix together and add some crushed red pepper flakes if you like a bit of zing. Sprinkle the mix on vegetables or use as a staple for poultry or beef recipes.
• Use a store-bought blend. There are plenty of these to choose from in the grocery store, and some are made specifically for the grill. Browse around and see what you can find.
• Season as you go. If you prefer to spice things up as you cook, have seasonings on hand so that you can use them as you see fit. Some commonly-used spices and seasonings include ginger, rosemary, parsley and chili pepper.

Spices are the key to good grilling flavor. They help brown the meat and add interest to vegetables. Even easy beef recipes call for some basic spices. The same goes for chicken, fish, kabobs and other common items. Don't be afraid to experiment around a bit with unusual flavors. Try making a small batch of something to see how it tastes.

Chicken is delicious with a little bit of lemon pepper seasoning; it really brings out the flavor of the meat. Easy beef recipes include hamburgers with a little salt, pepper and garlic powder, and steak with fresh black pepper, or even a "rub." Rubs are dry spices or a spice and herb mix that coats the meat and adds flavor and crunch all at the same time. You literally rub them into the meat and grill--just remember to cook at a lower temperature to prevent burning the seasonings. As far as easy beef recipes go, it doesn't get much better.

As you continue to experiment with various grilling recipes you'll start to understand which spices and seasonings go well with particular foods. Try to avoid piling too many different spices onto a particular dish, as that can be a little overwhelming. Simple is often better, and many times you can grill items with nothing other than a little bit of salt and fresh pepper.

Next: Spice Up Beef Recipes

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