1.   But at this point in the grilling season, even the most patriotic of backyard cooks could be forgiven for wanting to introduce a little variety to the menu.

2.   It allowed backyard cooks to smoke-roast large items and to approximate true barbecue.

3.   Lazzari is increasingly sold to backyard cooks at local grocery stores and from the office in Brisbane.

4.   Some of the newest charcoal models feature a thermometer on the grill cover, she said, helping the backyard cook maintain the low temperatures needed for smoking.

5.   The authors are excruciatingly precise with their instructions, enabling even the most fumble-fingered backyard cook to look experienced.

6.   The freedom to thread any kinds of food together onto skewers has inspired backyard cooks to create particularly inventive combinations of meats, fish, vegetables and fruits.

7.   These people are no mere backyard cooks, firing up the coals and standing out of the way.

8.   Unlike other such pursuits, though, a perfectly grilled whole fish is within reach of any backyard cook.