Anyone with a grill can flip a burger... But if you want to take it to the next level, you need these essential techniques and recipes!Picture a summer's day, the kids playing and the sun beating down on the backyard. You're surrounded by friends, the beer's flowing, and the smell of grilled meat wafts through the air...

You only need a grill to make this happen... But there's grilling... and then there's grilling.

You don't just want a hasty burger or the kids' favorite sausages thrown on the grill...

You want artfully grilled meat with delectable flavor - the kind of fare that leaves your friends asking when you're next firing the grill up and reminiscing about that time you wowed them with honey-glazed grilled pork chops paired with the perfect side dish.

And you know there's more to outdoor cooking than the grill... What about smoked meats? Smoked fish and cheese? Show-stopping sides and perfect marinades?

Outdoor cooking is as old as cooking itself, but with the modern understanding of flavor combinations and techniques - not to mention the wide availability of ingredients - you can turn what was once a basic necessity into an art form.

Smoking and grilling give you the opportunity to shine - and with a solid foundation to build on, you can grow your repertoire and develop your skills until you're certain that your backyard is the place everyone wants to be when the sun's out.

This sizzling guide of delicious recipes and clear guidance is everything you need to sharpen your skills and get to work on that foundation. Inside, you'll discover:

The full range of grills and smokers explained clearly - so you can pick your trusty sidekick with confidence Essential safety and maintenance tips to see you through every cookout How to choose the perfect ingredients and create rubs and marinades that will bring every dish to life The grilling techniques that will take you from novice to expert (we're not talking "cooked"... we're talking "beautifully cooked") Why your choice of wood is the most important decision to make before you smoke a thing - and how to choose wisely for each food you add to the smoker Mouthwatering sides that go beyond the perfunctory salad and really make your main dishes sing (smoked mac and cheese, anyone?) A tantalizing crop of delicious grill and smoker recipes - complete with precise grilling and smoking instructions Everything from the classic cheeseburger to garlic and herb marinated tenderloin - find recipes to suit every taste and occasion The art of producing succulent fish every time (no more dry filets or chewy shrimp!) A beautiful collection of vegetarian grills that will steal the show and convince even the most diehard of carnivores that it's not all about the meat All the things you didn't know you could smoke made simple and tempting (fish... cheese... vegetables... you name it!)

And much more.