Portable Fun

Make a Day of Apple Month

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Apple Orchard - Apple Month

September is Apple Month, and it’s the time of year when thousands of families look forward to heading out to the local orchard for some apple picking fun.  My family is no exception.  In fact, we live in a part of the country where apple orchards abound.  Picking our peck is a big deal, so we like to make a day of it.

Picnic Basket-ToteAn increasing number of apple orchards have expanded their offerings beyond picking fruit.  Many have on-site cafes where you can enjoy a meal after you’ve spent time meandering the rows of apple trees searching for the perfect specimens.  Our family prefers to take along a picnic basket filled with our favorite foods — chicken salad, crispy veggies, cheese chunks, and buttery crackers.  Just in case the orchard we’ve chosen doesn’t have any picnic tables, we bring along our portable chairs — comfort is a must.  Once we finish our picnic, we can kick back in our chairs and take in the crisp, clean pre-autumn air.

Orchards may not always have restaurants, but it’s not uncommon for them to sell baked goods containing the very treasure you came to pick from the trees.  Apple pies, apple dumplings, and — our favorite — apple cider doughnuts provide the perfect accompaniment to our delicious picnic lunch.

At the end of the day, with bags of apples and packages of pies in hand, we head home with full and happy tummies until Apple Month rolls around again next September.

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 >.

Storage Solutions

How to Store Firewood Properly

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Pile of Firewood is Messy

Firewood Pile is a Mess

In some parts of the country, it’s not too early to start thinking about firewood.  Storing your seasoned firewood properly is an important consideration, and there are any number of options available. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when deciding how and where to store your seasoned firewood.

Convenience and Insect Deterrence

Seasoned firewood that you plan to use for the upcoming winter should be easy to access, but storing logs against an outside wall of your home is not recommended. Firewood can attract insects, and if logs are stored next to the house, pests can enter your home or cause damage to your home’s exterior. Some of the best, most convenient places to keep seasoned firewood are next to a fence or next to the shed or other outdoor storage building. If you suspect that your firewood may be crawling with critters, do not give into the temptation to spray the firewood with pesticides because burning these logs will create harmful toxic vapors.

Protection From Moisture

So that your firewood burns efficiently, it should stay dry while outdoors. If there is enough room available inside your outdoor shed or storage building, then firewood can be stored easily there. Alternatively, a simple tarp can be used to cover your firewood to prevent it from taking in moisture from rain or snow. Tarps are inexpensive and can be tied down easily to prevent them from blowing away. If your stack of firewood is stored in a place on your property that is not visible to passersby, then choosing to cover the stack with a tarp will not negatively affect your home’s “curb appeal.”

Elevation and Air Circulation

If stored directly on the ground, firewood can soak up moisture and attract insects. Storing your firewood in a sturdy Firewood RackFirewood Rack will keep your logs elevated, promote air circulation, and deter pests and wood rot. A Firewood Rack can be hand made from wood, but a rugged tubular steel-framed Firewood Rack is rot-proof and rust-proof, easy to assemble, and comes in multiple sizes, so you should be able to find one that fits the space in which you plan to store your firewood.

Properly storing your seasoned firewood will ensure that you have easy access to it when it’s needed without also sending an invitation to pests to invade your home. Proper storage will also keep your firewood dry while at the same time encouraging air circulation. By following these simple tips, you will be sure to enjoy long-burning, low emission fires throughout the winter season.