Paula: As the temperatures begin to climb in Texas, my thoughts turn to seasonal vegetables, and the best way to prepare them on the grill. Ratatouille, the fragrant vegetable dish that’s the pride of Provence (and yes, a Pixar film), always leaps to mind. The secret to making this dish sing is cooking each vegetable on its own, and taking your time. Caramelizing sweet onions, slow simmering the tomato mixture, and grill-roasting fleshy sweet peppers over a wood-infused fire delivers a subtle smokiness and concentrated flavors--the essence of each vegetable. Fragrant with Mediterranean herbs and a touch of heat, Fish Monger, our seafood blend, is an easy ally with this mix of veggies (you might also shake it on a big piece of grouper, as I did, for the main event).

On a recent Friday, I found myself restless and in need of inspiration. Blame it on a full year of relative quarantine, or the recent ice storm that brought Austin to a screeching halt. Either way, I needed to break out of my daily orbit and see something, anything, new. So, I swung by Salt & Time, an upscale butcher shop, salumeria and restaurant that features fresh cut meat from sustainable Texas ranches (bonus: they were also selling fresh produce, and many of the grocery stores were wiped out after the storm).

In this recipe, a few easy steps elevate grilled beef patties from great, to Holy Garlic! First, the outside of the burgers are generously seasoned in Holy Garlic (think garlic salt, with a lot more depth and dazzle), of our newest spice blends. To echo that lusty flavor, whisk together a quick aioli, or garlic mayonnaise, spiked with lemon zest and black pepper. The rest of the burger can come together as you please, but you can’t go wrong with toasted buns, lettuce (or your favorite greens), and crisp, tangy pickles or pickled peppers.

Grilled meats are typically slathered with sauce towards the end of cooking, so added sweeteners (sugar, honey, molasses, etc.) don’t blacken and burn over the fire. This time-honored thinking is solid, but what if you want your chicken to sing with more sauce? Marinating chicken thighs (or drumsticks) in Major Mustard infuses the meat with a bright, tangy flavor and results in a richer texture. To avoid the scorched skin scenario, “grill-roast” the chicken over indirect heat in a closed grill.