My husband Niel decided yesterday would be a nice day to grill. So the weeks leading up to the holiday weekend he tried to find lump charcoal.

He had used it once before on a camping trip and liked working with it better than regular charcoal.

Niel learned not too put so much of it in the grill because it heats quickly and lets off sparks. Less is more.

The food tastes so much better than cooking with regular charcoal. It doesn't have that after taste. I heard somewhere if a person cooks too frequently with charcoal the gasses from aren't healthy for the person manning the grill.

So tastes better and better for for the chef. Win win.

Goodies from the Japanese market
Originally uploaded by foodiechickie4775

While in the city a couple of weekends ago. We spotted a Japanese market on the way home. I stocked up on some neat Japanese food.

I love corn fritters. So I was intrigued when I saw a healthy version from Veggie Patch at my supermarket. They could be microwaved or baked. I split the portion in half for Niel and my lunches. We both agreed they were the worst tasting corn and cheese combo we had ever tasted. The corn didn't taste like corn and where was the cheese? It was supposed to be real cheese! I've even tasted some fake cheese better than this. Blech. Very disappointing.