Archive for the ‘Barbeque’ Category

BBQ Sauce Recipes – Regional Differences In Taste

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

No one ever willing to give up their BBQ sauce recipes, but that doesn’t mean you can not take some well-known information and basic know-how to make your own fantastic BBQ sauce. Depending on the part of the country you live in, the type of barbecue that is common in your area may be a certain type. Specifically, the bases for your area’s barbecue may be certain items. For example, the Carolinas have sauces that are vinegar and mustard based, while Texan BBQ sauce starts with a tomato base.

It is obviously not required that you use the popular ingredients for BBQ sauce recipes in your region, but it is good to know so that you can figure out specific tastes you like and incorporate them into your own delicious sauce.

The varieties that can be found at any grocery store are usually lack-luster and do not have the same punch that the ones made at home do. While it would be nice to say that it is because they are mass-produced, the bulk of it is because the sauce-making companies can not cater to every region of the country. On top of that fact there are just some ingredients that seem to be popular all over the country. That being said, do not let the ones found in stores entice or confuse you: real BBQ is made a certain way and if you want to be able to make a sauce that is truly delectable, you are going to need to really delve into the world of barbeque.

You will find that most sauces are mustard, vinegar, or tomato based. It is fairly easy to determine which type is the kind you have grown to love over the years considering the extremely varied tastes between the three bases. Those that are based with vinegar are more sour, while those that are mustard-based are more tangy. Sauces that are tomato-based are often more thick than the other two and can be used to host a whole array of flavors at once.

Besides the bases are, of course, the other seasonings. Common seasonings are: Worcestershire sauce, onion, paprika, molasses, lemon, salt and pepper, bourbon, cayenne, and even some fruits. Though do not go with what is most common, go with what you think is delicious. Depending on where you are from and the type of barbecue you grew up with, you could like certain flavors that are vastly different from what someone on the other side of the country would.

There is one wonderful thing about barbecue sauce: no two people’s recipes are the same, and those that make it put their heart and soul into making an irresistible sauce. There’s no question that the flavor of BBQ sauce recipes is a regional thing BBQ sauce recipes are definitely regional, but the joy that comes with eating good food with friends and family is irreplaceable.

Barbecue is one of the world’s favorite foods, and with the wide array of flavors available it’s not hard to see why. Learn more about the wonderful process of making your own barbecue and roasting, grilling, or even frying it to perfection at my site. Bon appetit!

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace

Expand The Outdoor Living Enjoyment With A Propane Patio Heater

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

A patio or outdoor living area is a great way to make a small home seem much larger. Many people are now buying outdoor living furniture that includes sofas and chairs. During the late spring, mild summer and early fall, these areas are a great place to relax and spend time with friends or family. A propane patio heater allows you to use that patio even when the nights turn cold.

If you live in an area where nights are very cool, even during the summer, you may find that a patio heater allows you to spend more hours outside enjoying your patio in early mornings or late evenings.

Patio heaters are available in several styles. The umbrella heater is designed to conceal a five gallon propane tank in its base. The base supports a pole that elevates the heater into the air to prevent the possibility of burns. Heat from the flames is returned to ground level by the umbrella shaped topper above the heating unit.

Owners of outdoor fireplaces may be interested in installing propane logs in the fireplace to offer the necessary heat for the cooler months. The propane or gas logs do an excellent job at warming an area without all the bother of burning real wood.

Other patio heaters have the appearance of a fire pit. The fire pit can be metal or brick, but has a flame that warms the air in the patio area. The propane or gas flames in the fire pit are much easier to maintain and create no smoke or ash. You will not have to carry heavy firewood from a woodshed to the fire pit in order to keep warm. When you go in at night, your hair and clothing will not be covered in the smell of wood smoke.

A propane heater can effectively heat a normal sized patio. If you have a large patio, deck or outdoor living area, you may need more than one heater.

Many restaurants and bars are have installed patio heaters on their outdoor drinking and dining area. This allows them to cater to customers without breaking the new anti-smoking laws. Customers can still have a drink and go out to smoke without having to stand in the cold to smoke. This is a great way to increase your number of customers, especially those who are tired of smoking in the cold.

In restaurants, patio heaters make it possible to use patio seating after there is a bite in the air. Since many customers prefer patio seating, you can increase the number of available seats in your eating establishment without having to build more walls. Patio heaters provide the necessary warmth.

There are also patio heaters available that use different energy sources such as natural gas or electricity. Be sure that you check those heaters out in order to find what will work best for you. Enjoy the extra hours that a patio heater can add to the time you spend enjoying outdoor living on your patio.

Everyone is trying to get outdoors more these days. Even in the winter, you can enjoy being outside with a propane patio heater. Get great deals on gas patio heaters, now! Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace

Three Simple Steps To The Best Barbeque You’ve Ever Tasted

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

Barbeque, to a traditionalist, means slow cooking. This generally means using either a barbeque smoker or a grill with a large surface and a snug lid. Your goal is to keep the food separated from the direct heat. You can do this by rearranging the briquettes, or by having a flame on only one side of the grill. This will give you an area of lower heat that will allow you to get started on infusing, the first of three steps to the best barbeque ever.

With infusing, your objective is to get all of the flavorful ingredients into the meat before the surface layer is cooked sufficiently to seal the inside. Sauces, rubs, fat and the meat’s juices intermingle with the heat and smoke to create a symphony of effects within the meat. The exterior and interior fats melt down and mingle on the surface layer. Now the conditions are right for the spread of flavor compounds throughout the meat. Some killer BBQ is right around the corner.

During the second step, the actual cooking happens, and this usually takes a while. While the inside temperature of the meat increases, the proteins break down and convert to amino acids. Sugars change their composition and spread their sweetness. Enzymes get active, and salt becomes ionized. The final effect of this fired up chemical process is to transform raw meat into a delectable entree.

Throughout this stage, smoke from any wood which has been added lends flavor to the finished product. The surface of the meat becomes sealed and the inside juices are trapped; as they heat up they alter their composition. The meat will spend most of its cooking time in this phase. The temperature has to be lower than what you’d use indoors to cook.

After the interior temperature of the meat gets to 200F, it’s ready to be taken off the smoker or BBQ grill.

The third step is where your meat completes the cooking process. As it cools, the internal heat is still high enough to continue to affect the meat. During this step, the tenderness of the meat will peak, creating a superb texture.

When the temperature drops below 165F, it’s ready to serve. Make a cut to check the color. If you’re cooking beef, it should be dark red; chicken needs to be white, and its juices should be clear. Pork should be a grayish white. The flavor should be delicate and the texture easy to chew.

And there you have it: the best barbeque you can imagine.

Nothing says summer like some great backyard BBQ. But it’s not always that easy to prepare a delicious meal on the grill. That’s why you need to learn some BBQ tips and learn about things like the difference between a barbeque smoker and a grill. Visit our site for the tips and tricks that will make you a chef of renown in your neighborhood.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace

Designing And Planning A Built In BBQ Grill

Monday, April 19th, 2010

It is the dream of nearly every backyard chef to build his own backyard BBQ grill. You could hire the project out to a landscape architect and contractor but the bill will be very expensive. Planning and designing your own built in BBQ can be a very involved project, but it will save you quite a bit of cash and nothing tastes better then grilling steaks on a grill that you built with your own two hands. Planning the grill is the most important part to ensure that the final product fits your grilling style and taste.

Built in BBQ Plans can be purchased from a variety of online vendors or at a local home improvement store and can be fairly expensive. You can design your own grill using one of two methods: pencil and paper or with computer design software. I recommend starting with the pencil and paper until you have a good idea where you are going, then move into the digital world. There are a variety of design software packages available at many price levels. When I designed my backyard BBQ grill I used Google SketchUp, a free software package that is easy to use.

There are three basic designs to start with. You can customize them once you have decided on a basic design. The first design is a simple island. It can be as long and deep as you like, but the minimum size is really six feet long by two and a half feet deep. The second design is an L. A bar extends perpendicular to the island. This allows for a bit more counter space. The third design adds another bar on the other side of the island forming a U design.

The space that you have for the outdoor kitchen will dictate which design you use. If you are limited on space you will probably need to choose the simple bar design; if you have a large space available you may opt for the U Design. Once you have chosen a starting design you can customize it to fit your style.

Customizing your grill is the most fun part of the whole design and planning process. What do you want the grill to look like? You could choose a classic red brick look, or maybe a light colored stucco. The choice is yours. Choose a durable countertop that can withstand the elements; both slate tile and marble work well. If you will have wood trim or cupboards I would recommend either cedar or redwood because both hold up well under the elements.

The last choice that you will need to make in the planning process is the type of grill insert to use. Most people choose to go with a stainless steel gas insert, but you can choose a cast iron or charcoal model as well. If you choose charcoal and are low on funds, you can just brick in a grilling area and purchase a couple of grates to finish it off.

When choosing a grill insert remember the following tips. I know that you will want to purchase the largest and most powerful model available, but it is not necessary. Think about the amount of food that you will be cooking at one time. If you have a small to medium sized family and don?t entertain large gatherings as 400 to 500 square inch model ought to work well. Make sure to have the insert handy when construction begins to ensure a proper fit.

Following the steps outlined above when planning and designing your backyard kitchen will ensure that your built in BBQ grill will fit your style and needs.

The author gives Grilling Tips and tips on how to construct a Built In Gas BBQ Grill on his Backyard Grilling Blog.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace

Concrete Is Not Your Only Choice For A Patio

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

There are a great number of material choices to think about when you consider building a new patio. Your house doesn’t have to have the same tired patio as every new home in your neighborhood; you can create a unique look easily with material choice.

Stone patios are not that common and this is because they are on the expensive side and they are also difficult to build. Stone is very heavy but it is also very durable and once you have it built, your patio will definitely add value to your home when you go to sell it. There are all sorts of deferent types of stone you can use and you will be able to find all the options at an outlet that specializes in stone.

If stone is not to your liking then brick provides a nice alternative. Brick can be laid in a virtually endless number of patterns and designs and patios of this kind can be created in any size. Brick is relatively easy to lay and lends a substantial look to the property. Laying brick is less difficult than stone and many people know individuals who know how to do this so you might be able to spare yourself the expense of hiring a professional. Brick is available at many retail outlets and stores so supplies are easy to find. Bricks make lovely houses and they also build attractive patios.

Flagstone is yet another alternative that will look different on every patio as it is a rock that you can be creative with. It will look so much better than the usual slab of concrete and it should raise the value of your home when time comes to sell. A flagstone patio can be used to compliment a garden and make an outdoor environment that you can be proud to entertain in.

Even concrete if concrete is your material of choice you can update the look by stamping a pattern on it. It’s an easy decision to create a fresh look rather just pour a plain flat slab. Stamping creates a whole new look, adding style and texture that standard concrete slabs just don’t have. If you want to add another level of personalization you can color your concrete patio with a dye of your choice. A dyed and stamped concrete patio can create the visual interest of any number of other materials including more labor intensive brick or stone allowing you to impress your friends with an easy affordable material.

To learn about patios such as concrete patio ideas, please go to my website Patio Ideas.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace