"basting" news and stories

Pastry brushes aren't just made of boar bristles these days. There are now a variety of styles and uses.

That rosemary branch can do more than just garnish your steak. Find out how.

I have had mixed feelings about silicone kitchen supplies in the past, but generally, I think it only makes unsatisfying bakeware and great tools - especially outdoor tools. In this case, I'm talking about silicone basting brushes. Once I got one last summer, I didn't want to go back to a regular bristled brush.

The silicone brushes are ideal for use in grilling because they are heat resistant and durable. You can spread on any amount of sauce or glaze without having to worry about the brush drying out or charring due to heat and, best of all, you'll never have a bristle come loose onto your food. They are also dishwasher safe, which makes cleanup a breeze. I use a short handled one most of the time, which works very well, but the serious griller might be more interested in long-handled versions, like the Grill Friends Angled BBQ Brush or BBQ Basting Mop.

Budweiser will release a line of barbecue, grilling and wing sauces this summer, according to its parent company Anheuser-Busch, Inc. The sauces will include small amounts of Budweiser, but not enough to qualify as an alcoholic beverage ("Someone's been chugging the wing sauce again..."), according to a St. Louis Business Journal article. The sauces, distributed by Vita Foods Products, should be on shelves in grocery stores by July 4.