The Holidays always bring back fond childhood memories. One of those memories is the flavor of the holiday ham. These days we simply pick up a pre-smoked ham at the market and heat it up in the oven. It is simple and convenient, yet somehow it just isn't the same. How do we get back the woodsy smokey flavor of years gone by?

Some like to start with a fresh ham and cure and smoke it right from the start. Although this is probably the optimum method, most of us have to work and tend to our daily activities. We just don't have the time to sit at home for an entire day or two tending to dinner. There is another way to get the true smoke flavor you love and remember and you can do it right on the bbq grill in just a few hours. Kettle Grills and smoker grills work best. If you have a lower profile grill you can always cut your ham in half to make it fit under the lid. Trust me it is worth it.

Get your favorite Hickory Wood Chips and smoke your ham with them to give it that authentic wood flavor. The key is to moisten the ham before you begin smoking it so it doesn't get too dry. You can do this by soaking it in a pot of water for 2-3 hours prior to putting it on the grill. Now here is the tricky part, you want your grill to remain right around 300 to 350 degrees throughout the smoking process. Keep a meat thermometer on hand and when the internal temperature reaches 160 it is done. This should take a little over three hours for a ten pound ham. It is important to check the temperature often during the last hour to ensure that your ham doesn't get overcooked and become dry. However, be sure to replace the lid as soon as you are done to retain as much heat as possible. This will result in a ham with a true smokey flavor and the difference is absolutely amazing.

Ingredients for BBQ Grilling sauces and glazes can be costly and with spring right around the corner, you definitely want to be ready for it. Keeping an ample stock can add up over time, but there is a solution.

The holiday shopping season is the perfect time to get stocked up on many of the ingredients you will need when the summer months arrive. The stores are full of sales and overstock discounts from now until well after the holidays. A lot of these discounts are for the same ingredients we use in the summertime.

Look for things that you can keep in dry storage that might not be so inexpensive in the spring and summer months. Most of these will be in the baking section and this is precisely where most grocers have their biggest sales during the holidays. Take advantage and stock up now.

Here is a short list of things you may find on sale during the winter holiday shopping season for making your favorite sauces, rubs, and marinades this next summer:

• Brown Sugar



• Honey
• Molasses
• Ginger
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Oregano
• Basil
• Garlic
• Peppercorns
• Sesame Oil
• Peanut Oil
• Olive Oil
• Liquid Smoke
• Wood Smoking Chips
• Steak Sauce

The list goes on and on. Make a note of your favorite BBQ ingredients before you head out to do your shopping and see if any of them are on sale at your local market. And while you are at it, take note of the other ingredients that are on sale and try to determine if you can incorporate any of them into the home made BBQ flavors you already love.

Now if you are like me and use more than your fair share of herbs and spices, you can buy large quantities for nearly the price of a small jar even when it is on sale. Check out the selection here for Marshalls creek Herbs and Spices

Get lots of them while they are cheap and stash them in your pantry. Then, when the sun comes out again, open up your stash cupboard and begin creating new masterpieces with your bounty of BBQ grilling ingredients. Enjoy

This Sanyo Indoor Barbecue Grill and Griddle,

model #HPS-SG4 comes in extra large. It as received great reviews by customers at amazon. To me this says quality. If you enjoy barbecuing but hate doing it in the snow? Then why not try this barbecue grill and griddle as a great alternative.

The Handy Sanyo Indoor Barbecue Grill HPS-SG4

also makes a fantastic Christmas gift that anyone would be happy to receive. Perfect for a family member of coworker. Not to mention the fact that this barbecue grill and griddle fits nicely under the tree. At under $50 it is a great tool to have for winter barbecues. Who says the sun has to be shinning to have great bbq? Just use the indoor grill and griddle to satisfy your hunger for outdoor flavor in any weather.

Sanyo HPS-SG4 Extra-Large Indoor Barbecue Grill and Griddle