Tag Archives: BBQ

Outdoor Dining: Three-Course Simple Summer Meal

There’s no better way to enjoy the dog days of summer than firing up the grill and eating outdoors. Sure, it’s warm outside and in some parts of the country the mosquitoes are the size of lab rats, but in a few months you will be kicking yourself if you don’t take advantage of the opportunity to bond with your family over a meal in the great outdoors. When designing a meal to devour in your backyard, on your deck or in the park, think simple. The following recipes are not labor intensive, yet they pack a powerful punch in … Continue reading →

Spend Less on Your BBQ

Are you ready for the Fourth of July or summer BBQ? You might be discouraged from having your party this year because of the high food prices, but don’t worry. There are still ways to reduce your spending for your BBQ without making your guest feel as though they are deprived. Know what to grill Fortunately for us, cheaper cuts of meat actually do better on the grill than do more expensive ones. For example, chicken thighs stay nice and juicy and hold up to a lot of rubs and seasoning, more so than do the more expensive chicken breasts … Continue reading →

Buying a Grill: Questions to Answer

In the good old summer time, there is nothing better for dinner than something cooked on the grill. Here in my home, we are lamenting a lack of BBQ, since our old grill has broken, and we haven’t gotten around to investigating the cause. If the diagnosis is fatal, then we just might be looking for a new grill. If you are thinking about buying a grill, a great way to get ready for this purchase is to ask yourself the following basic questions. Once you have them answered, then you can look into the different features that are available. … Continue reading →

Summer Gathering Safety for Pets

A backyard barbeque or garden party can be fun for the whole family — including your pets. Here are some tips to help ensure that your four-legged friends have a good and safe time. Take your dog on a nice, long walk before guests arrive. If he’s already tired, he will be less likely to jump, bark, or be over-enthusiastic in his greetings. Set up a safe place for your pets to get away from the activity of a cookout or party. Maybe a bed or blanket in a shady spot; maybe a safe room inside where the guests won’t … Continue reading →

Happy Memorial Day (from our home to yours)

Are you ready to celebrate this Memorial Day? Will you be having a big BBQ party to celebrate the beginning of summer, or a quiet remembrance of those who have earned our freedom? Perhaps you will be doing a little bit of both? For my family, we tend toward the more quiet celebration, but we are also looking forward to coming together with others in our community. This morning, I really have been reflecting on those brave men and women who have made my country the wonderful place that it is. I can’t imagine how much strength, determination and dedication … Continue reading →

Ready, Set, Grill—-SHRIMP

The Memorial Day holiday weekend is upon us… time to ditch the oven and fire up the grill. For the past few days I have been guest blogging in FOOD sharing some of my favorite summertime recipes, most of which can easily be prepared in the great outdoors. Over the next couple of days millions of families across the country will dust off their grills, drag them out of their garages where they have been hibernating for the winter, and tear open a package of hot dogs or hamburger meat. Both are tasty and traditional options to throw on the … Continue reading →

Frugal Memorial Day Ideas

Let’s take a little break from Paperback Swap to talk about fun weekend plans. Are you ready to celebrate Memorial Day? Face it, food is getting expensive, but you can still have a great BBQ or other fun time to celebrate without spending a fortune! Here are some ideas. Take advantage of local celebrations. Just doing a little bit of research in my area, I’ve located three Memorial Day parades, two free carnivals, a free cook out for town residents, two Memorial Day events at veterans cemeteries, and numerous pancake breakfasts. There are also other celebrations, such as a children’s … Continue reading →

Finger Lickin’ Good Times on the Road

May is National BBQ Month and to celebrate I would love nothing more than to make a lifelong dream of mine come true. Regular readers of this blog know that I have fantasized of crisscrossing the country in search of the nation’s best ribs. But with gas prices nearing record highs it looks like my dream trip will be put on the back burner for at least another year. However, if you have the time, money and appetite there’s no stopping you from heading out to some of the country’s biggest cookouts. I’m not just talking about any ol’ barbeque; … Continue reading →

Frugal Barbecue Grill

There is still plenty of summer left to do some great grilling and barbecuing outdoors. And, if you live in a mild climate, you might even get away with extending the BBQ season into much of the fall. And since there is still time to use your grill, there is still time to save money with it. Using the grill can be very frugal in itself over traditional oven cooking, since the grill keeps the heat out of the house and reduces your cooling costs. But if you really want to save when you barbecue, read these tips! Now is … Continue reading →

Memphis for a Day

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Memphis is a pretty cool town. While you may not find it ideal for an extended stay, a day or two. or a long weekend could be perfect. The city of Memphis can provide your family with a steamboat full of fun activities. The city is steeped in history, be it the civil right movement, the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination or the musical styling of B.B. King, Johnny Cash and some dude named Elvis (among many other legendary performers), and should provide an exciting weekend for families interested in music, American history and amazing food. The … Continue reading →