Category Archives: Outdoor Entertaining

When the weather warms and your parties move outdoors, try these simple ideas. Entertaining doesn’t demand any elaborate decor, just simple food, good company, and your patio.

Outdoor Entertaining, Portable Fun

Tailgating Recipes Sure To Be Devoured!

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It’s officially tailgating season…and it’s about time! The first game was a success with great food and a fun atmosphere. While our team might not win every game, we never lose a party! We cooked the following recipe for this week’s game, and it was a HUGE success. The gumbo-esque recipe was made using the CanCooker Outdoor Food Steamer. It is the perfect tailgating accessory. It has a heavy-duty air tight rubber seal, to hold steam in where it belongs and cook food to perfection. The CanCooker is easy to use, clean, transport and store. You add your ingredients, place on a heat source, and cook to perfection. The shrimp and sausage supper was the perfect meal for an afternoon of tailgating and was enjoyed by all. We hope that you love this recipe from the CanCooker website as much as we did! Happy tailgating!

SONJA’S SHRIMP AND SAUSAGE SUPPER

INGREDIENTS:

 2 pounds new potatoes, quartered 

1-2 onions, quartered 

12 half ears of corn, placed on end 

2 lemons cut in half

1-2 pounds of large, fresh un-pealed shrimp 

1 package of kielbasa sausage, whole

4-3 oz. packages of shrimp or crab seasoning

CanCooker All Purpose Seasoning 

1-stick of butter 1 or 2 12 oz. liquid (water or beer)

 

First, place in the CanCooker ears of corn standing on end. Add potatoes, onions and lemons. Place kielbasa on top of vegetables. Add shrimp or crab boil seasoning, All purpose seasoning, butter and beer (or water). Latch the lid and place on heat source. Once the cooker begins to vent steam, keep on heat source for additional 25-30 minutes (approx).

CAREFULLY open lid and add shrimp. COOKER AND CONTENTS WILL BE HOT. USE OVEN MITTS. Re-latch lid and cook for an additional 5- 10 minutes. Remove from heat source and let stand for a minimum of 5 to10- minutes. Place food into large serving tray and enjoy.

 ****Always spray the inside of the CanCooker with Non Stick cooking spray before you add contents

 

Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living Spaces

A Beautifully Unique Outdoor Fireplace

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Chiminea Outdoor Fireplace

There’s a cold front coming through soon — will you retreat indoors when evenings grow chilly?  Frankly, there’s nothing quite like inhaling the crisp air of an early autumn evening (coming soon to a neighborhood near you).  The only thing to make that moment better is the warm, aromatic glow of a fire.  Outdoor fireplaces allow homeowners to safely create that delicious combination of crisp air and crackling wood, but the most unique way to bring the two together is with a most unique outdoor fireplace — the chiminea.

Chimineas are a different kind of outdoor fireplace. They were originally developed in Mexico as a means for heating the home and cooking food. The design of chimineas, which is reminiscent of the pot belly stove with a round, mostly enclosed firebox and tall stack, allows fires to light quickly and burn longer than in a traditional outdoor fireplace, which has an open firebox. Additionally, the design of chimineas prevents rain from extinguishing the fire.

Chimineas were traditionally constructed of clay or terra cotta and worked well in warmer, drier Mexican climates, but for superior durability and performance in colder climates, the preferred material for backyard chimineas is heavy duty metal, such as cast iron or cast aluminum. In cold temperatures and harsh weather conditions, clay or terra cotta chimineas tend to flake, crack, or crumble. Metal chimineas are beautifully designed and easily become the decorative focal point in any elegant outdoor living space. Chimineas are outdoor fireplaces with real character and style.

Backyard Fun, Holidays & Gift Ideas, Outdoor Entertaining

The Perfect Burgers For Your Labor Day Party

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Burger Grilling
Looking for the perfect burger recipe for  your Labor Day cookout? The one below from Food Network star Bobby Flay will bring amazing flavor and win raves with your backyard bbq guests! Fire up your charcoal grill, have plenty of cold beverage and friends, and let the party begin!

Bobby Flay’s Basic Burger

Shape 6 ounces of 80% lean ground beef chuck into a uniform patty, no more than 3/4 inch thick (don’t overwork the meat). Make a depression in the center with your thumb so the burger won’t bulge; the indent will rise as the patty cooks. Preheat a grill to high. Brush the burger with canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until golden brown and slightly charred, turning once (7 minutes for medium-rare). Avoid pressing with a spatula! Add cheese for the last minute of cooking.

For a special Labor Day treat, add the toppings to make Bobby’s Philly Burger. Simply add Provolone cheese, pickled hot peppers and roasted red peppers, and sautéed onions to your grilled burgers.

Source: Flay, Bobby. “Philly Burger Recipe : Bobby Flay : Food Network.” Food Network. Television Food Network G.P. Web. 26 Aug. 2011. < http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/philly-burger-recipe/index.html >.

Outdoor Entertaining, Portable Fun, Shade Solutions

Essential Tailgating Supplies That Score Big

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Football - Time for Tailgating

It’s official — the NFL strike is over, and the games will begin in only a few short weeks.  It’s time to gather the tailgating supplies so you don’t have to scramble at the last minute.  Here are a few essential pieces of portable tailgating equipment that you’ll want to bring with you to every game:

  • Portable Grill — Cold sandwiches just don’t cut it at a football game.  Tailgating is all about hearty grilled delicacies like burgers, brats, and even steaks.  Better quality portable grills offer plenty of surface area that allows you to cook for a crowd.  Many come with top-notch features like folding legs with wheels, detachable side shelves for keeping grilling tools handy, and trailer hitch attachments so you can save your table space for other necessities.
  • Portable Picnic Table — Once you prepare your tasty meal on the grill, where will you enjoy it?  Sitting in a folding chair trying to balance a plate full of food on your lap is an awkward situation that can end up as a messy disaster.  Portable picnic tables fold from an easy-to-carry compact size into a comfortable table and chair combination that can be shared with several friends.  Focus on conversation rather than on keeping your food from falling on your shoes.
  • Auto-Mo-Brella Umbrella — The Auto-Mo-Brella portable umbrella was made for tailgating.  It attaches quickly and easily to any vehicle’s receiver hitch, and it provides instant shade and protection from the sun.  A little shade is all it takes to create a comfort zone around your personal tailgating space.

The best way to enjoy any tailgating experience is to come prepared.  It doesn’t take a lot of equipment to have a great time at the game, but it’s important to cover your bases — food, seating, and shelter.  When you’re prepared, you can be sure that the tailgating party will be just as fun as the game itself.  Go team!

Backyard Fun, Innovative Solutions, Outdoor Entertaining

Multitasking in Your Backyard!

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Convertible Bench
In my busy world, multitasking is important. The ability to do multiple things at once saves me time and money. I also enjoy products with dual functions to get the most bang for my buck. In the office, my printer/copier/scanner allows me to perform several jobs with one unit. For cooking, a combo grill and smoker offers variety without having multiple cooker littering the backyard area. My most recent multi-tasking buy is one of my favorites! The Convert-A-Bench transforms quickly and easily from two beautiful garden benches (above) into a fully functional picnic table (below). They are perfect for my backyard. Guests can sit comfortably while my husband fires up the grill. When the food is ready, the back of the benches transform into a convenient table top with dining for six! It is a perfect solution for multitaskers like myself. The resin wicker design is sturdy and will last for years. These benches would also be perfect for camping and can even be used inside your home.
Convertible Picnic Table