Archive for March, 2012
Three Tips for a Safe Cookout
Cooking outdoors makes for a wonderful family meal or a great dinner party. That’s all the more reason to make sure you follow a few simple safety tips. For many outdoor cooks, refrigeration and the closest sink, is located inside the house and away from the grill. Chances are there won’t be any food safety related problems during your next outdoor grilling session but I thought sharing three safety tips would be a good idea.
Wash Your Hands
Have you read the articles about shopping cart contamination? Research from the University of Arizona found that 72 percent of shopping carts that were tested were found to be contaminated with fecal matter and a solid 50 percent also contained E.coli. How does that translate to outdoor cooking? Simple, wash your hands. Because of the outdoor setting you may be separated from your sink. Think about it. How many times do you wash your hands, rinse items and wipe down surfaces when you’re cooking in your kitchen. Hopefully the answer is either “a bunch” or “too many times to count.” This act cuts down on cross contamination.
Preparing for a Pet’s 911
As an avid pet owner, I always hope that I am not put in a situation where a pet emergency occurs. But while I hope this situation never arises, it is always good to create an emergency prevention arrangement and have a plan for dealing with pet emergencies.
Information Tags
Having a pet tag on your furry loved one is a great way of preventing a disaster. Many times pets are lost and the information about their owners does not exist. A simple pet tag that you can get from your veterinarian will save you time and worry if your pet gets out. Also if there is a residential emergency, such as a tornado or fire, this information can help guide rescue personal on how to handle this lost pet.
Barbecue vs. Grilling: What’s the Diff?
Question: Do you know the difference between the barbecue and grilling?
Second Question: Do you care?
I was getting ready to grill a few burgers when my neighbor walked over. We struck up a conversation about yard work, planting and my grill. You would never guess that an innocent conversation would turn into an outdoor cooking learning experience. It started when he asked a very innocent question. “Getting ready for a barbecue?”
“Nope,” I responded. “I’m firing up the grill for some burgers.”
“That’s what I said; you’re getting the barbecue going.”
Add a Touch of Whimsy to Any Garden Space with Decorative Sculptures by Outdora
A garden space is not limited to plant material, but can also include decorative elements, such as stepping-stones, birdbaths, and decorative containers. Did you know that decorative sculptures are not limited to European plazas or museums? They can also be used in the home garden, but before you think that your home needs to be a castle to be able to afford decorative art, lets take a look at what Outdora sells and how to use it.
Brown Thumb Gardeners
Brown thumb gardeners can have a hard time creating and maintaining a healthy garden. Many gardens owned by this type of gardener can be seen as full of weeds and/or dead plant material. A simple solution to this problem is through the use of garden sculptures. Outdora sells many styles that mimic their natural counterparts. This includes several that look like flowers. Sprinkling a few natural rust patina garden iris or lily sculptures can go a long way in brightening up a brown thumb gardener’s space. The best part of using these “flowers” is that even the least experienced gardener can grow them.
Tips For Grilling In Small Spaces
A spacious backyard is not needed in order to create a great grilling environment. Even urban lifestyles with some outdoor space can have enough room to be able to have an ample sized barbeque and not the kind that is set up on two cinder blocks either. In reality, only a small space is needed even in the largest setting because the grilling space only takes up a couple of feet, so you really only need enough room for the grill and some space between you and the entrance to the home. Another thing to keep in mind is to not set anything combustible next to the house. Be sure to know the rules and guidelines of your apartment or condo for grilling outdoors, there may be some limitations to know beforehand.
How much room does a barbeque actually need in order to enjoy grilling and keep the space comfortable? 6 feet is the usually the norm for a small place to set up your outdoor grill and the biggest grill that will fit in the allowed space is the one you should get. Even if the grill is a tight fit, you will use it more and have better cooking results. Be sure to take down different measurement ideas to be able to accommodate this. There are many residents who have figured out a way to edge in a 7 foot grill and a cooking island to do all the preparation on the deck or allotted space. This is a very important aspect because a smaller grill will limit your size capacity for certain meats. Will you be content with just limiting your outdoor cooking to burgers and hotdogs, or is taking up a couple more feet worth more food options?
The True Facts About Cold Frames and Hotbeds
A great way of extending the growing season or getting a jump on the garden is by using a cold frame. But are you aware that a cold frame and hotbed is the same thing? If not, come join me in the world of cold frames, hotbeds and sustainability.
Whether you are talking about Outdora’s Redwood Cold Frame Starter Box Greenhouse or the Solexx Deluxe Cold Frame, the general definition is the same. A cold frame is solely heated by the sun and is normally used for cool-season or Cole crops. A hotbed is artificially heated in some way and is typically used for warm-season crops, such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants.
Both of these structures can be directly planted into or seeded flats can be placed inside each. To maximize the amount of sunlight that is typically available during the spring and fall when these structures are used, the cold frame/hotbed is normally painted white or silver on the inside. Both of these colors reflect the light back onto the plants, which aids them in the photosynthetic process.
The History of Finials
A finial is a terminal structure at the top of a spire, gable, gatepost, pinnacle or other point of relative height. This height can also occur at the end of flagpoles and even curtain rods. But are you aware that the concept of finials came from a unique type of architecture and culture? They did and without them our buildings would simply consist of four walls and a roof.
Finials are just part of a building structure that was invented by Asian cultures around 711 A.D. This type of style is referred to as a pagoda. In this type of architecture a building of stone, brick or wood is built around a staircase. There is always an odd number of floors and each eave is decorated with iron or copper accents and fancy woodwork. A central finial is placed on the very top with small finials decorating the upturned corners of each eave.
From this point, pagodas begin to change with the influence of the Buddhist religion. At this point, finials began to take the shape of an elongated lotus bud. This bud represents several things depending on its shape. A closed bud represents the potential for enlightenment while an open bud represents rebirth.
The Japanese designed roofs that were straight and topped them with a finial made of iron or copper. Symbolism was still used and represented concepts from Buddhist history. This included sacred wheel, the water flame, and nine rings stacked vertically to represent the Buddhist deities. Ones topped by a sphere, such as the Avalon or Gawain finial, represent heaven and earth.
The History of Birdbaths and Birdfeeders
The invention of birdbaths and birdfeeders came about when humans started living in villages. While we liked the convenience of city living we still desired to have wildlife around us. Some wildlife was easy to attract due to our habitats but quickly became a nuisance. Birds, on the other hand, were attracted to our crops and in doing so could become a problem. But through the study of birds or ornithology, we quickly learned how to attract birds that brought pleasure verses those that could destroy crops.
To attract birds to your backyard, one must provide the basic requirements of life. One of the easiest things that you can provide birds is a source of water. The first birdbaths were depressions in the ground, shallow streams, holes in rocks or any other surface that would hold water. Birds would land near the area to drink and bathe. As mankind observed this behavior, they desired to mimic it. The Pulham & Sons Company developed the first recorded birdbath in Europe in the 1840s. This company specialized in rockery, garden fountains and outdoor ornaments. They also made fountains, which became the forefather of the birdbaths. Today, many different styles of birdbaths can be found. This includes ones that light up, such as the Country Gardens Solar Birdbath and a hanging version, such as the Whitehall Rose Hanging Birdbath.
The History of Common Garden Tools
Garden tools are not a modern day invention. Their history coincides with human development and can begin around 10,000 years ago. This is the period when the earliest record of garden tool use can be found. This coincides with the Neolithic period and the domestication of plants.
The microlith was invented during this time period and consisted of a small sharp stone blade that was set into a handle made of wood, bone or antler. This was the first multi-tool. It resembles a small spade and can be used to dig, clip and cut plant material. It can also be used to clear land but this time period also gave birth to many other gardening tools. This included the hoe, garden plow, and scythe. All these tools were made the same and consisted of a stone shaped tool that was attached to a handle made from natural material.
The Bronze Age saw the development of the smelting process. This process took tin, copper, and iron and separated these into their ores. The purified ore was then turned into metals that could be worked easily. Tools made from this new material were solid pieces that were sharper and could last longer.
Patty’O Grillin’
Corned beef may not be a traditional Irish dish but it certainly is a popular one. Whether you’re Irish-American or just entertaining guests for the season of Saint Patrick’s Day, this tasty brisket will bring more than luck to the table at dinner time.
For brisket fans, corned beef is no stranger and most find the preparation a bit tricky. Most importantly, you want to draw out the salt used to cure it and then cook it slow using an indirect heat. The best grill for the job is the 27-inch Lynx grill with rotisserie because it uses radiated heat and allows the speed and intensity of heat to be adjusted. The importance of these features will be clearly defined when the time comes to cook the perfect brisket, especially when it pertains to the meticulous cooking process used to present tender meat. It is easy to cook a large cut of meat too quickly therefore leaving behind a tough dry texture, but with the Lynx your task will be simplified.
