Fall Is the Perfect Season for Grilling

I have to say that fall is my favorite time of year, especially for grilling and dining outside. It's when my outdoor kitchen gets the most use.

A touch of cool air has finally hit Florida and I've been inspired to spruce things up. I've added some white bar stools to the table and the transformation is amazing. It really perked the space up. I also bought some new dinnerware made in the USA to brighten up the tabletop.

The new grill lights I ordered should be here this week and the transformation will be complete. My husband has been complaining about that corner being to dark to cook so I fixed him up. Whatever it takes to keep the chef happy, right?

Now I have to decide what we're grilling this week. Shall it be salmon, chicken, shrimp or all three? I may even go all out, pull out the smoker and have a rib feast. What can I say, I'm from Tennessee and smoked pork is always high on my list.

The 5 Second Rule?

Do you believe in the five second rule? When I was a kid I did. I mean, what kid wants to have to throw away a chocolate chip cookie, especially when it was the last one in the cookie jar?

But after growing up a little, I realized just how much gunk is on a floor. Think about where your shoes have been! Even if the floor has just been mopped, do you really think there's nothing there to worry about?

What got me going on the subject was a little video I just watched on Huffington Post on the subject. It seems they did an experiement where the floor was cleaned, covered with salmonella bacteria and left to dry. They then came back and dropped a sandwich, waited five seconds and picked it up. Testing showed 10,000 salmonella bacteria on the sandwich.

So, do you still believe in the five second rule?