by Marcus Brooks

Created on: September 04, 2008

I love cooking for myself and company. There is something about the scents of a charbroiled steak and green beans sauteed with lemon and butter. Cooking is all about creating. I call it "culinary painting". You have a skillet as a canvas. The tools are you spatula and two-pronged fork.

Typically, cooking requires some kind of vegetable oil. All oil does is burn. It also sizzles. But, vegetable oil takes from the flavor. If you use too much, all you do is taste the oil. Try a different approach. Try cooking with wine. It may be little more expensive. But, the result is worth it.

Cooking with red wine has its advantages. It keeps a food's natural flavors intact. Red wine heightens a food's flavor and taste. Red wine can be used as a way to marinate meat. Several ways to infuse red wine when cooking food. However, when doing so don't spurlge $200 on a Beringer Private Reserve cabernet. Also, refrain from buying Boonesbury Farm and Thunderbird from your local Q-Trip.

Leave the low quality "hooch" for the whinos. Pick up these inexpensive reds for your culinary needs.

Napa Valley Cabernet and Pinot Noir 2008

California is known for producing tasty, cheap wines. But, you're not drinking them tonight. Shell out the $7.99 and pick up a bottle. Generally, cabernets have cherry oak flavor. Plant that New York strip or Iowa pork steak. Season them first and grill them in a mixture of wine, water and vegetable oil. Listen to it sizzle! Sear in that terrific flavor!

Copperridge Merlot and Cabernet 2007-2008

Culinary chef enjoy using this wine. Iowa pork steaks and chops are constantly grilled with it. The bottle price is around $6.00. Copperridge is considered among the lowest brands of red wine. It lacks the popularity of a Napa Valley and Sutter Home. That makes for a cheaper price.

Any brand of merlot, cabernet and pinot noir carried by WalMart, Target and HY-VEE

A good shopper has to just hit the beer, wine and liquor aisles. They're usually all groupe together. Grocery stores sell restaurant wines are cheaper prices. The restaurants get their wine from the same distributor who services these stores. You can pick a bottle of red wine between $6-$15.

When grilling out, some people use beer. Beer-battered, onion rings and american fries are outdoor favorites. However, when cooking for your lady or man, step up your game and toss a little wine in the fire. Your food will thank you for it!

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