The holidays. They are here and they are starting right now. To many of us that means holiday cooking, baking and celebrating! But that's not necessarily so with all of us.

Now I love cooking during the holidays. But I know for a fact not everyone does. And for those people who prefer not to cook during the holidays– I have catfish. Whenever I think about holiday foods (and not cooking) I always think of catfish! I am sure you do too. Right?

Hmmm... I can see quite a few of you wrinkling your brows in disbelief. Maybe you think Sup! sipped a little too much witches brew preparing for the advent of these holidays. Which may or may not be the case, but let me explain "anyhows", as they say south of the M-D line.

You may already realize that I spent a few years in the southern part of "these United States". Southerners have wacky food traditions (and I mean that with the greatest respect!) It seems these traditions always get started by someone's Great Aunt Delores and then somehow they get incorporated into the culinary lives of all kinds of unrelated folks. I mean think about that cake with the little plastic baby baked inside. And speaking of cake have you ever tried Coca-Cola cake? Now who do you think thought up those recipes? Why it was somebody's Great Aunt Delores of course!

This contest is really heatin' up.

It seems I am going to be around at least one more week! How can I thank you? I don't think a tray of cookies is enough anymore. Nope, cookies are kinda like a kiss on the cheek. Both are sweet gestures and nobody could ever turn either one away. But let's face it– be it a cookie or a kiss on the cheek, there's no real passion involved. And I gotta admit– passion is exactly what I am starting to feel every time I look into those voting eyes of yours. Red Hot, Red Blooded Passion.

When you get a hankerin' to express that kind of passion there is only one course of action. That's right. It must be the animal in me– but stand back, 'cuz I'm gonna pull out the meat. A manly man's gesture of thanks. So I got rib-eye for you. Chili Rubbed Rib-Eye with Cilantro Butter. If that doesn't prove my affection and appreciation (and a few other things), well– nothin' ever will!

Besides I have a feeling I need to ignite a little passion for the bloodsports starting here and now. Have you seen these contestants? Not only are the phenomenally good looking, but they've got talent, ambition, and an appetite for blood! This is gettin' fun. Real fun.

I am going to eke out a bit more summer with this recipe for Spicy Grilled Tri-Tip with a trio of interesting salsa tastes that includes something for every palate.

I say "eke out a bit more summer", but that's not quite true in two regards. First– technically, there are 6 more days of summer to be had. Secondly– summer never really came to Los Angeles this year. I kept waiting for it to get hot, but the heat never sat its big butt down on this town.

So I have decided before the summer ekes away I am going to bring this city a little heat of my own. My brand of heat comes from chili– several kinds. Including: cayenne, habanero and Serrano. Because if Mother Nature hasn't been able to make this Angelino sweat, then I am going to bring the heat in my own delicious way.

But just to let you know how sensitive I am to whatever heat may have come your way this summer (I hear it was blazing on the East Coast nearly all summer long) one of the salsas I am featuring is quite mild. It is a grilled corn salsa featuring one of the mildest chilis I know Anaheim chili.