My husband would say that if it isn’t raining, sleeting or snowing, it’s ALWAYS grilling time. But let’s face it — it sure is a lot more enjoyable when the breeze is warm and the air smells like freshly cut grass (and whatever you’re cooking).

This season, you might want to try out a new product from the makers of Weber grills. I guess they figured that if they can make grills well, they might as well try making grilling spices.
The new line of Weber Grill Creations and Grind’N Grills includes Six-Pepper Fusion, Roasted Garlic & Herb, Kick’n Chicken, Chicago Steak, Twisted Citrus Garlic and Mango Lime Seafood Seasoning.

They’ve also got some powdered marinade mixes like the Southern Whiskey Marinade, which I assume will be sold with the other powdered seasoning mixes.

Another neat addition to your grilling accessories this year is a cookbook called “The New Vegetarian Grill” by Andrea Chesman, which includes 250 recipes for meat-free grill dishes.

I know it can seem a little odd to fire up the grill if you don’t have a big, fat sirloin or some brats waiting in the fridge. But when I took a grilling class at Hotel Roanoke last year, I realized how many wonderful, meat-free dishes can be made on the grill. Even if you just want to cook a side dish along with the meat without heating up the stove, it’s an option.

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It’s one of those days when I have a bunch of little food news items to pass along. So, without further ado, here goes:

1. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts are at it again; dreaming up yet another crazy doughnut flavor combination. This time it’s the Caribbean Kreme doughnut, which features “the intense flavors of freshly ripened tropical fruits.”

If that sounds good to you, keep reading: The new doughnut is filled with a blend of mango, pineapple and passion fruit and topped with white frosting and shortcake crunch. The KK company suggests that you pair the doughnut with their new Caribbean Kreme Chiller, a blend of pineapple, mango and orange flavors that can be ordered in the creamy version or a frozen fruit version. I’m guessing the latter is a bit healthier, and as soon as I hear back from the PR folks, I’ll let you know.

UPDATE: Boy, when I figured the creamy version would be more fattening than the fruity version, I never imagined just how big a difference there’d be. According to the Krispy Kreme spokeswoman, the fruity Chiller has 170 calories in the 12 oz. size and 280 calories in the 20 oz. size — and 0 grams of fat in both. By comparison, the 12 oz. creamy version has 620 calories and 28 grams of fat, while the 20 oz. has 960 calories and 40 grams of fat. So if you’re on a diet, choose the fruity one!

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