So I think part of the reason some people never cook is because sometimes the food you make doesn't look like the magazine or cookbook or whatever. What people fail to realize is that for every great recipe in a magazine, there is an amazing food stylist. Food stylists can use sharpies and clear nail polish to create perfect grill marks or steak and say, asparagus.
Here's a tip for any veggie you're going to put on the grill. Don't coat it with any oil first. Just put your asparagus or tomatoes or zucchini or whatever on the grill, turn once and take off. Then drizzle with olive oil and/or balsamic, etc and, of course, salt. Olive oil, especially EVOO, has a lot of solids that burn easily. Then your vegetable will take on the smoke smell, instead of it's own, fabulous nutty grilled flavor.
