Lumps of coal for your birthday!

Ken Johnston

My dad thought I was kidding when I told him he was getting a lump of coal for his birthday this past Sunday.
But the truth of the matter was he was getting a whole bunch of lumps of coal.
About a month ago I had him over for a barbecue. I decided to cook for the family on my charcoal grill which I received as a gift last summer.
I was exposed to charcoal grilling for the first time in about 25 years when my friend bought a charcoal grill at a yard sale for $5. I could not believe how much better the meat tastes coming off a charcoal Q.
When we were kids that is all we ever had for grilling. A gas Q was a luxury. Now it is the opposite.
Gas Q’s are the norm and charcoal is really more of a treat as very few people have them or use them all the time.
So when my dad ate a charcoal Q’d burger a month ago and never stopped talking about it for weeks, I knew we were going to get him some lumps of coal.
Sunday Uncle Bob and I assembled it and when the birthday boy showed up at his party we cooked in the snow on it. Everyone said the burgers were awesome... looks like more family members may want some lumps for their birthdays!
–Until then, Ken