I’ve been trying to come up with something fun to make for my family for the Labor Day holiday this weekend, but haven’t gotten much beyond the old standbys of hamburgers and hot dogs. I hadn’t even thought of doing steak and vegetable skewers, but it’s such an easy and fast meal that I’ve added it to next week’s menu plan!
In the video above, Mike Hedrick, a barbecue expert, does a great job demonstrating how to put skewers together using steak, peppers, squash, zucchini and onions.
I like that you can use pretty much any meat on the skewers — you …read more

Labor Day is just around the corner, can you believe it? In many places around the United Sates, this is a big barbecue/cooking out holiday, and invitations to friends’ and neighbors’ events usually have a “bring your own beverage” appended!
One issue (if you can call it that!) is that a lot of people bring bottled beverages (especially beer) to these get-togethers. The only problem is there’s usually only one bottle opener to go around, so folks are either constantly looking for it or are just get so relaxed they don’t want to even bother looking for it and will use …read more

What’s on your menu for this 4th of July? Whether you’re planning on keeping things low key at home or are bringing a dish or two for a big get-together, I always think it’s fun to do a little planning ahead of time to bring something that’s both fun and delicious!

I like that the 4th is on a Saturday this year so that we have the whole day to celebrate, instead of just the evening. We’ll be hanging out at home this year, though sadly we don’t have a barbecue at our new house yet (my husband has some big …read more

I grew up in Memphis, which means my appreciation for ribs is in my bone marrow. I spent many-a-summer sizzling at Memphis in May just to catch a sniff of the contestants’ entries in the annual barbecue rib contest.
Memphis’ Rendezvous serves up a great dry rib. Folks from Alabama will argue that Dreamland is the best. I prefer Rendezvous to Dreamland. I especially like eating at Rendezvous restaurant because they give you get a complimentary bowl of Red Beans and Rice and no matter how much you beg they will not give you the recipe.
My ribs are far from award-winning, …read more

Isn’t this the cutest thing?  For apartment dwellers, folks with limited space, or those who like to grill on the go, the Portagrillo Gas Grill may be just the ticket!  Open it up, pop up the legs, and let the good times roll!  It even has a carrying case!
I’m thinking summer picnics and fall tailgating…

Image: Chef’s Catalog

The new Fireplate by Radius Designs offers you the stylish solution to outdoor cooking and campfires.  It’s a nice looking unit, with an optional grate system that allows you to enjoy using it for different purposes.

The circular plate is made of black painted steel and comes with a diameter of 29,5 Inches.
The attachable grill completes the FIREPLATE and provides a perfect BBQ experience.
The ideal solution, not only for boy scouts with an eye for aesthetics.
While I really don’t think boy scouts would be too interested, anyone who wants a sleek looking design for the back yard or patio certainly might!

Image: …read more

Heather Tyree, over at Epicurious, reported on the best (and silliest) new trends in barbecue and grilling gear according to Bill and Cheryl Jamison.  It seems that pizza, pizza, and more pizza continues to be the top of the list in what outdoor chefs are wanting to cook.

Some new grilling utensils from Cuisinart also topped the list of must haves, which the Jamisons feel are better balance and more user friendly than many of the tools you might already have.
Check out this excellent article to get yourself educated on the up-to-date and the what-can-wait categories!

This cute little grilling gadget is magnetic so that it attaches to your grilling tools, allowing you to actually see what you’re doing long after sundown! It’s a bright LED light, with a strong magnet and a pivoting head…great idea! And just in time for grilling season.
An under $20 gift for your grill team!

Foodie Question of the Month: What’s your favorite thing to grill or barbecue?
My friends and I (aka The Grill Team) start to grill before the ice is even off the porch.  But I found out that the National Barbecue Association considers May to be National Grilling Month, so I got extra inspired.

Lately, our favorite thing to grill is lemon pepper chicken or spare ribs.  We’ve been experimenting with lots of different sauces for the ribs to see which we like best.
So how about you?

Just in time for summer barbecue season comes a comprehensive cookbook with 300 recipes for grilled items. And it’s not just meat. There are recipes for grilled fruit, grilled vegetables, and a variety of fish and seafood. The authors of “300 Big & Bold Barbecue & Grilling Recipes,” Judith Fertig and Karen Adler call the book’s theme “global goes local” because the recipes incorporate ingredients and techniques from around the world.
Among the recipes included are Flamed-Seared Fennel and Potato Salad, Island Grilled Papaya with Fresh Lime, Planked and Pepper-Crusted Maple-Glazed Salmon, Wasabi-Grilled Scallops with Japanese …read more