What's Hot

Team Grills

Team Grill today began shipping its new Patio Series ALL-STAR BBQ grill featuring the logos and colors of National Basketball Association teams. With the longest "wing-span" in the league, these professional-grade grills are priced at $999 and are available for ten teams including the San Antonio Spurs, LA Lakers and Boston Celtics. Log on to www.teamgrill.com to find a retailer near you that carries these very cool barbecue grills!

Outdoor Rugs

If you’ve got an outdoor room, consider an outdoor rug. And in no way, shape or form should it resemble that horrid, neon green, indoor/outdoor astro-turf stuff that never should have left the putt-putt golf green.
I’m talking good-looking, quality pieces that can stand up to spills, foot traffic and weather. I think you would be surprised at the selection that is available now. Just be sure to treat rug buying like you would if you were purchasing a piece of household furniture.

Consider function

• Will you have a caboodle of kids pushing it to its limits? Or do you have more of a show house space with little foot traffic? If you plan to use your space hard (like I suspect most of you do or will!) synthetic yarns will hold up best. Some rugs are made wholly from this material, others in part. But also consider eco-friendly bamboo rugs and mats.

Size

• Get out your garden hose and use it to create the size and shape rug you want. Use that info for buying.

Color

• Do you prefer the neutral beige and gray tones that give you the most design versatility? Or are you a trendsetter who will want to opt for this season’s colors – which by the way for 2010 are deep pastel colors such as turquoise and dark bubble gum pink.

Other considerations

• Just as a mention, Colonial Mills in Rhode Island makes all their rugs in the U.S.A., and they have eco-friendly products too. The company is a manufacturer/wholesaler, but if you log on to their site at www.colonialmills.com/retailers, you can find where their products are sold near you. Costco carries their products as well.
• For ease of clean up, look for rugs that can be cleaned with dish soap and a hose. Some rugs will need professional cleaning, so be sure to check before you buy.

Price

• There are so many variables in size and material that it’s hard to talk about price. There are a ton of places to check on the web, but also be sure to check your local club stores and big box stores.
A rug can really help pull your outdoor area together, or even define an area. It’s definitely worthy of the “for consideration” list.

Face your Grill

You, our subscribers, Facebook fans, and Twitter followers are What’s Hot! Thanks for all your support in 2009, and here’s to more great outdoor living in 2010. There’s lots of cool stuff coming to the website next year!

It’s Time to be Bratty

These brats for the barbecue are the real deal, and it’s a cryin’ shame that Sheboygan is so far away from me.

One of our Facebook fans suggested that Miesfeld’s made the best sausage, so like any blue-blooded barbecuer, I felt I was required to check out that claim. So I dialed up the Wisconsin-based meatery, and checked them out.

I was able to speak with Chuck Miesfeld, who is just a darn nice guy. He tells me that his grandfather started this whole brat business in 1941. Today, they make more than 50 homemade sausages, and at any one time are selling about 25 varieties of brats – but not always the same 25. Now I don’t know about you, but I think that 50 varieties is pretty impressive. Apparently a few people think the brats themselves are impressive—back in the late ‘90s, Miesfeld’s won all sorts of awards for their Grand Champion Brats.

Chuck also mentioned that there are competition barbecuers who phone in orders, and there are Green Bay Packers who belly up to Miesfeld’s brats too. I figured if they were good enough for that bunch, I had better give them a try.

I ordered the infamous Grand Champion bratwurst, the Jalapeño bratwurst, and the Cheddar Cheese bratwurst— the three most popular flavors. And man, oh man, I was not disappointed. I followed the grilling instructions (and tips from the aforementioned FB fan), and soaked the hefty brats in a little water before grilling, and prepared them over a charcoal fire. These large, luscious links were to die for.

The Grand Champions are crafted from a tasty mixture of fresh, lean pork and U.S. Choice beef, flavored with Grandpa’s secret, 60-year-old spice mixture. They were perfectly seasoned and juicy. The Jalapeño brats are the same recipe, but with the addition of the peppers. These are not so hot to be uncomfortable—I like hot foods, and while these had a definite hit of heat, it was not overwhelming. The Cheddar Brats are made like the Grand Champs but with a touch of Wisconsin Cheddar cheese tucked inside. Sublime.

That having been said, you can imagine that shipping fresh sausage halfway ‘cross the country ain’t cheap. If you live by Sheboygan, or are passing through for any reason, I strongly recommend you beat feet over there today. If you’re not within driving distance, consider these a fabulous treat, and order a bunch for a special occasion.

Eat Neat Party Plate

Tired of trying to juggle a plate, a fork, a drink, and the need to cheer on your favorite team while you’re tailgating? Get yourself some Eat Neat Party Plates.

This unique plate is ergonomically engineered to ease hand fatigue and features a drink holder that slides down when you're standing, but glides up when the tray is placed on a table. Very clever!

The plates are about 12” x 8.5”, and they’re stackable, so they’re easy to store. They’re very durable, and are top-rack dishwasher safe. They come in packs of four, and include the four sliding cup holders. You can choose from six colors – white, yellow, orange, blue, red and green. Cost is $13.

Not a tailgater? Consider the many other uses that these plates will have – picnicking, boating, camping, parties, corporate events and more.

Check them out at www.eatneatpartyplate.com, and as their tagline goes…stick your left hand with all the work, so your right can cheer!

 

Fire Pots

We’re getting to that time of year that no matter where you live, the temperature is settling into somewhere around the “comfortable to be outside” range.

As the weather transitions from sizzling summer to crisp autumn, changes are being made in our outdoor living area too. Pool toys are being put away, furniture cushions are being put back in deck boxes, and you may even be thinking about cleaning and covering up the grill (GASP!). But if you live in an area of the country that allows you to enjoy being outdoors year ‘round, I’ve found something that is sure to brighten up your space.

These new products are called Firepots. They’re made by a company called Bird Brain, and in a sentence, they are hand-crafted, artisan-glazed ceramic pots that produce a flame when you add environmentally-friendly fuel gel to a built-in reservoir. They can be used indoors if you want, but if you’re using them outdoors, the fuel is available with citronella. Each Firepot comes with a metal snuffer so you can safely extinguish the flame.

I won’t pretend that these little beauties are inexpensive, but they are gorgeous. They range from $24 for some of the smaller 5” models, to $70 for the 19” models. There are a number of different shapes and sizes of Firepots, so it would be easy to find the perfect one to use as a table centerpiece, or anywhere that is a flat, stable surface.

If you can’t find Firepots at a neighborhood store, click on to www.coolgardenthings.com.

Weber Introduces a Mobile Grilling Companion

Those of us who consider ourselves to be avid barbecuers like to think that we’re pretty dialed in. Now we can be—literally.
 
Weber-Stephen Products Co. has introduced an application for the iPhone and iPod touch. The app has hundreds of recipes from Weber’s extensive cookbook library. According to the company, it is the first app of its kind featuring a recipe database where consumers can tag favorites and create a master grocery list that can be taken to the supermarket. It can be downloaded at the Apple iTunes App Store for a mere $5. The app also features a grilling timer, so when your food is ready, your phone or device will ding and vibrate when the timer goes off.

The app is being called a “mobile grilling companion”, and currently has 250 classic recipes, as well as recipes for more than 40 rubs, marinades and sauces; 100 quick grilling tips; and grilling guides for red meat, pork, poultry, seafood, veggies and fruit. It also includes information about food preparation techniques and short demonstration videos, and you can tag favorite recipes and techniques. You can add as many recipes to the grocery list as you like, and the app will organize the products by category. A simple check box will let you mark the items off as you put them into your grocery cart.
How cool is this?!

 

Foiled Again

I don’t consider myself an environmental extremist, but I do actively try to reduce my “footprint.” I was really excited a few years ago when I realized that aluminum foil could be put into the recycle bin instead of the trashcan.

So recycled aluminum foil, in a recycled box—all of which can be recycled again—makes me positively giddy.

It turns out that Reynolds Wrap is now making “foil from 100% recycled aluminum.” It’s a food-safe mix of post-consumer aluminum and industrial aluminum, made by melting down the aluminum products to a temperature of 1,200 degrees; when it’s molten liquid, it’s sent through a filtration process, poured and rolled into thin sheets. A note of interest—there is an 80 percent reduction in the amount of energy used during the process of turning recycled materials into foil, as opposed to using “new” materials. But it’s not just the foil—the core and paperboard packaging are made from 100 percent recycled materials too, and the inks used on the package are water-based.

I figured the foil would be paper-thin, so I went to buy myself a box. Keep in mind that I was in a hurry. So…on the shelf, there were two options—35 sq. feet and 50 sq. feet. Oddly, the 50 sq. feet was .50¢ less. I couldn’t figure out why. I actually stood in the aisle, weighing the boxes in my hand, convinced that the 35 sq. foot box was heavier. I was confused, but figured it was best to buy more. So I bought the less expensive, but larger quantity box. I thought $2.50 was an acceptable price for helping to keep trash out of the waste stream.

It turns out that the foil is every bit as hefty as the foil we’re all used to. And I was able to solve the weight vs. price issue. In my haste, I didn’t realize that the 35 sq. foot version is actually Heavy Duty Reynolds Wrap—hence the increased weight of the smaller quantity.

In short, you won’t know that this aluminum foil is any different than the old Reynolds Wrap (non-recycled) aluminum foil that you’re used to. Which makes it a perfect option. Don’t be afraid to use it—again, and again, and again…

Team Grill

Quite a few things cross over my desk every week, and this one caught my eye. I’ve been watching the evolution of “grilling paraphernalia as sporting goods” over the past few years, but it’s really never taken hold. I think it has a lot do with the licensing process&mdashI understand it’s fairly arduous. I know that DiversiTech, maker of The “Original” Grill Pad, has done a line of products that offers more than 80 collegiate logos, but other than that, it seems to be pretty random.

Team Grill is another company that seems to have nailed it. It offers both a Patio Series and a Tailgate Series, all of which have been designed specifically for sports fans. And these are not little blow-away-in-the-wind kind of appliances. The Patio Series is made with a patented, triple-fired porcelain-enameling process that results in true team colors. But here’s the cool factor – the lids and doors are interchangeable so you can switch teams whenever you want, without having to buy a whole new grill.

In the nicety department, it’s got a concealed control panel that makes the whole grill look very sleek. It also sports extendable stainless-steel side shelves, and an infrared searing burner. You can choose stainless steel or cast iron burners, stainless steel or porcelain-coated grates, and if you want to complete the cooking experience, you can also opt for the side burner and rotisserie unit.

The Portable Series has the same professional-grade cooking capabilities as the Patio Series. In some cases, the logo is different, simply because it has to be smaller. This version can be collapsed and transported just like a suitcase on wheels. The heavy-duty wheels and carry handle make it a cinch to haul over the river and through the woods, or across the parking lot.

Team Grill products are going to be available this Fall, and will run from $500 to $1500 depending on the model. Meantime, you can check them out at www.teamgrill.com.
  

Cover Up Already!

Most of us have at least a grill on the patio, and others have created an elaborately-decorated outdoor room. But regardless of how much money we’ve spent to outfit the backyard, we would be smart to keep the appliances and furniture covered up when they’re not in use.

I suspect that I’ve been as guilty as the next guy (ok, gal) when it comes to spending money on patio accoutrement. I spend what I have budgeted, with nary a thought to extending the life of said products by setting aside some money for decent covers. Foolish. I have one of those high-dollar table and chairs sets, and although it has lasted an impressive ten years already, the sun is beginning to really take its toll. If I had covered it up, I’m sure I could get another five or ten years out of it – easily.

This personal “cover conversion” started because I recently was reminded of a company called Two Dogs Designs (the name was suggested because each of the two women who own the business, own a dog – hence Two Dogs). I first noticed their booth at a trade show years ago, and with each passing year, their product selection became more varied, and the designs much more eye-catching. These women aren’t fooling around – their products are durable, decently priced, and they look darn good.

In a nutshell, Two Dogs Designs offers covers for various sizes and styles of grills, all styles of patio furniture and a range of fire pits and log racks. The products are made of heavyweight 600-denier polyester and are weather resistant. Elastic tie-downs and Velcro tab closures protect against damage from wind and dirt, and grill covers have a PVC lining that protects the grill. The rich and vibrant colors are the result of an exclusive color infusion process.

From what I can tell, most all of their products are less than $100. There’s an 88-inch grill cart cover that ranges from $70 to $90. Dome, kettle and portable grill covers range from $26 to $40. A 60-inch fire pit cover runs $70 to $85. You can check them out at www.twodogsdesigns.com.

Whether you’re looking to extend the life of an appliance and/or furniture you already have, or if you’re in the market for something new, you can extend the life of those items simply by covering them up. It seems that this small expenditure is a good way to protect the investment you’re making outside your back door.

Smoking Cones

Have you ever wanted to smoke cook some small or quick-cooking foods such as fish steaks or boneless skinless chicken breasts, but by the time the smoke got going, the food was already cooked? Frustrating, right?

Someone has now solved the problem. Rutland Products has created Olde Barbeque SmokeCones, which allow you to “cold smoke” food before it’s cooked.

This was such an intriguing idea that I couldn’t wait to try them. It sounded really easy, but I was skeptical about how much smoke I would really get from this relatively small item. After all, each cone is only about 2-1/2 inches wide and high. The instructions tell you to start with the grill off, and then place your food and a SmokeCone on the grill grid, light the cone like a candle, and close the lid. The outer shell of the SmokeCone burns down to light the real wood pellets that are inside.

I decided to try an Apple flavor one with some salmon fillets. Well. In very little time, I had a cloud of smoke that would make most all of your senses snap to attention. In fact, there was such a wonderful amount of smoke that I would have sworn I had a full-fledged “smoke” fire burning.

After the smoke subsided (as much as 25 minutes or so), I removed the cone, lit the grill, and cooked as usual. The salmon was awesome.

These things are a definite thumbs up, and readily prove that good things come in small packages. They’re available in hickory, mesquite, cherry and apple flavors. Look for SmokeCones at Ace Hardware at a retail price of $3.99 each or a 3-pack for $11.97



 

V-Shaped Gas Grill Smoker Box

If you’re a long-time backyard barbecuer, you probably recognize the Charcoal Companion name – it’s pretty much synonymous with good quality, creative products and eye-catching packaging.

With its newest product, the V-Shaped Gas Grill Smoker Box, the tradition continues. The smoker box is available in two sizes: 13.5"L x 4.1"W x 2"D and 6"L x 4.29"W x 2"D. And, both sizes are available in non-stick and stainless steel.

This particular smoker box is different from the traditional style, because the V-shape allows it to nestle in the bottom of the grill, between the flame deflector bars that are present in many gas grills. The close proximity to the heat source seems to do two things – it gets the smoke started quickly, and it produces a lot of it!

I received the longer, stainless steel model to try, and it was so pretty right out of the box that I hated to get it dirty. But hey, it’s a tough job and someone’s got to barbecue! So I put a pile of wood chips in water to soak, pulled a rack of ribs from the fridge, and got ready to grill.

After the chips had soaked for about 30 minutes, I placed the smoker box down into the flame deflector bars, opened the well-made hinged top, and filled it with chips – it took about four very generous handfuls. I had decided to go ahead and fill it so that I didn’t have to try to remove a hot food grid later in order to replenish the chips.

Then I turned on the grill. In no time, I had a serious cloud of smoke pouring from 25 holes in the box that are a whopping 3/4” wide. I spent the next couple of hours tending the ribs – but not the fire – and I have to say, the ribs were awesome.

One of the things I liked best about this product is that it provided me with a way to have great smoke taste without having to check the grill every 15 minutes or so to see if wood or charcoal needed to be added. All I had to check was the meat. So on a busy Saturday afternoon, I was able to have “smoker food” with gas grill effort. I’m not ditching my smokers, but I also have no intention of taking this smoker box out of my gas grill!

A few other points to make: The boxes are dishwasher safe and have a five-year guarantee. But before you buy, be sure that your gas grill has bars rather than a flat grate at the heat source.

The cost of a V-Shaped Gas Grill Smoker Box is reasonable – the large ones run $12 to $20, the shorter ones $8 to $13. The non-stick models are more widely available right now, and the SS models are about to hit store shelves. Meantime, look for them where barbecue accessories are sold, including Bed, Bath & Beyond, Sur La Table, and at www.barbecue-store.com.

Kingsford Competition Charcoal

Kingsford has once again proven why they are the king of the charcoal briquet hill.

This year, six-time Memphis in May world-champion Chris Lilly is helping the company introduce its newest product – Kingsford Competition Briquets. (There’s a good line in here somewhere about these briquets gilding the Lilly, but someone more clever than I is going to have to find it…)

These little black flavor-makers combine the ease of grilling/barbecuing with traditional charcoal briquets with the high heat that staunch competition barbecuers say they get from lump charcoal. It’s like combining peanut butter with chocolate – the peanut butter and chocolate are quite good separately, but putting the two together is just unbeatable.

I’m tempted to say that this is going to be my favorite new product this year, but the peak season is just about to get started so that would be foolish. So let me just say that as of today, this is my new favorite product this season. I’ve got pretty good game when it comes to barbecuing, but I feel like these babies took my game up a notch. I’m actually sitting around trying to figure out what I want to barbecue next, just so I can use these things.

I know I’m gushing, but let me tell you why. I piled up the all-natural ingredient briquets in my charcoal grill and lit them. A mere 12 to 15 minutes later, my fire was ready for cooking. No kidding. And it had taken only about 5 minutes for them to generate smoke, and it smelled like heaven – or maybe Memphis in May! I cooked chicken pieces, oiled and salted baked potatoes, ingredients for Grilled Caesar Salad and Grilled Blue Cheese Coleslaw, and planked Crabmeat Stuffed Mushrooms. Honest to Pete, I was rummaging through my fridge just looking for more things to toss on the grill because I didn’t want the sensational smoke and heat to be wasted.

The new briquets are available most anyplace where barbecue items are sold, and a 12-pound bag has a suggested retail price of about $9. According to Kingsford, the 12-pound bag lasts as long as the 14-pound bag of the original briquets. Do yourself a favor and run, don’t walk, to get yourself a bag. Oh, and stock the fridge…