Category Archives: Backyard Fun

Primo Porcelain Grills: A Breakthrough In Cooking

Primo Porcelain Grill
Sometimes, products come along that revolutionize an aspect of your life. Have trouble parallel parking? There are now cars that take care of this task for you – no hands required! Get lost all the time? A GPS can prove to be a life saver. The hot new product in grilling is the Primo porcelain grill, and it is truly a revolution! Unlike traditional metal grills, the Primo is based on the ancient Japanese tradition known as Kamado. In this 2000 year old method, heat is trapped and stored in the thick walls and dome of the kamado oven creating a unique environment of moist, even heat around and above the grill surface. Because heat is radiant, as well as direct from the coals below, food not only crisps, browns, sears, and/or smokes but it stays moist and tender. The thick walls surrounding the cooking area create a consistency of temperatures that further contributes to the succulence of all food cooked in the Kamado style. It uses natural lump charcoal to grill, roast, and smoke food year round thanks to the high-tech material. It makes the grill resistant to any changes in temperature, thus allowing you to cook without worrying about rain or snow. You get an even, moist, and delicious cook every time! The owner’s manual even comes with great recipes for your Primo, like the ones below! Experience ancient Japanese techniques transformed with modern, state-of-the-art grilling technology, and you will never go back to traditional grilling again!

Puerco Adobo

Ingredients:

2 lb pork tenderloin(s)

12 oz. jar of jalapeno  peppers, undrained
4 Tbs. oregano

4 clove garlic, chopped
2 tsp. ground Cumin

4 tsp. cider or red wine vinegar

4 Tbs. olive oil

1 tsp. black pepper

½ tsp. salt

Preparation Directions:

  1. Combine all the ingredients, except the pork, in the blender or food processor.
  2. Place the pork tenderloin in a large plastic food storage bag, or glass dish and immerse in the marinade from the blender.
  3. Cover and marinate in refrigerator 4-24 hours.

Cooking Directions:

  1. Combine all the ingredients, except the pork, in the blender or food processor.
  2. Place the pork tenderloin in a large plastic food storage bag, or glass dish and immerse in the marinade from the blender.
  3. Cover and marinate in refrigerator 4-24 hours.
  1. Let the tenderloin sit out when you start your cooker, to get to room temperature.
  2. Fire up the Primo grill and bring it up to 300-325. A light wood, like apple or cherry would be appropriate to the delicate nature of the pork, or no wood at all. Up to you.
  3. Stabilize temperature, and place pork on, direct.
  4. Turn after ten minutes & spoon on some of the reserved marinade.
  5. Repeat after ten minutes on other side.
  6. Now’s the time to throw on any veggies you’d like to cook, too.
  7. Keep an eye on your temps, and pull your tenderloin off when internal temp hits 145-150, lower if you like a little more pink in the middle.

Baked Bananas Balinese

Ingredients:

½ cup butter (room temp; not melted)

¾ cup Brown Sugar, firmly packed

1 tsp. Cinnamon

½ cup Walnuts or Pecans, finely chopped (pieces size of small pea)

1-2 Tbs. Liqueur of Choice (brandy or rum seems best)

1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream, whipped and chilled

8 Bananas, large and Yellow, with a little green on skins

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

¾ cup Coconut (sweetened, flaked)

1 qt. Vanilla Ice cream

Preparation Directions:

  1. Put the grid accessory in the grill.
  2. While charcoal is heating up to 350 F temp, stir together butter, brown sugar, walnuts, coconut, vanilla, liqueur, and cinnamon in medium mixing bowl until well-combined. Note: this topping may be made up to 2 days ahead, covered and refrigerated.
  3. Cut stem ends off bananas.
  4. Carefully cut bananas into even halves lengthwise. Do not peel them.
  5. Place cut bananas on baking sheet, skin side down.

Cooking Directions:

  1. Spread topping on banana halves, allowing about 2 Tablespoons per banana half.
  2. When bananas have been topped and grill is at 350 F, place halves on grid, skin side down, leaving ½ inch space around each.
  3. Close lid. Top vent should be quarter way open. Bottom vent open about ¼ to ½ inch. Temp is forgiving with this recipe but should keep a range between the 325-350. Cook 17-20 minutes. Finished bananas will pull slightly away from sides of skins and coconut will be slightly crispy. Skins will be dark brown. Do not let coconut blacken. A little charring around edges is okay.
  4. Remove bananas with long spatula.
  5. Allowing 2 halves per serving, place on plate and top with scoop of ice cream, dollop of whipped cream and an additional dusting of cinnamon, if desired.

A Mosquito Eliminator That’s Different from the Rest

Mosquito Eliminator

I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting products that can safely reduce mosquito populations in my backyard.  With pets and kids running around, I’m wary of using foggers or other chemicals to kill the pesky blood suckers.  But, because I have pets and kids, eliminating mosquitoes takes on a higher priority.  Enter the Mosquito Eliminator.

This nifty gadget doesn’t look, smell, or work like most existing mosquito devices, which is why I was so intrigued by it.Mosquito Cartridge  It looks like an attractive piece of outdoor decor, doesn’t emit any noxious odors, and traps mosquitoes using a unique method of attraction.  Using ultraviolet black light technology and specially formulated attractants, the Mosquito Eliminator lures mosquitoes and other flying insects into the unit where they are captured on the patented auto advancing cartridge trapping system.  The Mosquito Eliminator provides a coverage area of 1,000 square feet, and it can hold about 6,000 mosquitoes before the cartridge needs replacing.

It’s refreshing to be able to enjoy the backyard without first dousing our bodies in chemical sprays or lighting up an ineffective candle.  Thanks to the Mosquito Eliminator, the pets can romp, the kids can play, and we can all have a relaxing, bug-free summer outside.

Unique Hammocks for Relaxing Outdoors

Double Rope Hammock

Looking for a great way to relax outdoors? Traditional hammocks are great, but there are some modern alternatives that you are sure to love. A double rope hammock will look great on your porch or on your lawn. No where to hang it? The steel swing stand option will allow you to swing anywhere. It has the beautiful look and feel of a regular hammock, but gives you the ease and comfort of a chair and allows you to swing side by side with a friend or loved one.

A hammock lounger requires not hanging at ALL! This hammock is ideal for instant relaxation at poolside or on the patio. Escape to the backyard and into a hammock that is great for kicking back.  The four point mounting system makes it very sturdy and secure for ease getting in and out. It even comes with a small foam pillow, which is green to match the stylish green and white stripped pattern.Hammock Lounger

A Little Slice of Shade for Outdoor Loving Kids

Kids Chair with Shade Canopy

For many kids, going indoors in summer time is simply not an option.  It’s summer, after all, and outside with friends is the only place to be.  On super hot days, kids can get pretty resourceful when it comes to staying cool — they sit together in the shade under a tree, soak in the coolness of a shallow backyard baby pool, or make a homemade shade shelter using a tarp and some patio chairs.  

Creative approaches to staying cool deserve some kudos, but most parents like to know that their kids have access to reliable shade at all times.  Providing kids with an easy to carry, kid-sized canvas folding chair with an attached shade canopy gives them a comfortable and shady spot they can use any time and any place.  Kids can take a portable chair like this to friends’ homes, to the pool or beach, or to the park, and they never have to be concerned about lack of shade.

All too soon, the days will grow shorter and school will begin again.  Kids can feel it coming.  So, even if intense heat and sun prevent them from engaging in high-energy activities, outside is still the best place to be.  With their own little slice of shade, kids can stay comfy and cooler during the doggiest dog days the summer has to offer.

Options Abound with Vinyl Playhouses

Vinyl Playhouse

Does your swing set have a space at the bottom? Perhaps a sandbox that has gone unused for years or an open area that seems like wasted space? Spruce it up with a custom vinyl playhouse. You provide the dimensions of your fort, and we create a custom solution that will fit perfectly. The options are abundant. You can choose windows that are open, marine grade vinyl rollup flapped, clear plastic, or sturdy mesh. They are all weather resistant and mildew repellant. Strong seams and custom fasteners are also standard. You can pick red, green, blue, yellow, tan, or a combination of these colors. Since they are custom, these playhouses will fit all major swing set brands (including Rainbow Play Systems, PlayNation, Swing-N-Slide, Plan-It Play, and many more). Give your children a dry, creative retreat today!