The Labor Day is a big event around my house. It is a day for relaxing, barbeque’s, parades and marking the end of summer. Hopefully, wherever you are, you will have good weather for Labor Day, this year.

You will need a warm and sunny day, in order to enjoy your outdoor cook out or grilling. The food choices for your BBQ are endless and can be the ever popular hamburgers and hot dogs, or you can throw some chicken or pork chops into the mix. However, the one thing that must be included, each year, is corn on the cob. My family enjoys grilling the corn and prefers it to when I boil it on the stove top.

There are also so many other food items that I look forward to each year, pasta and macaroni salads, homemade potato salad and of course all the yummy desserts. Desserts that are top on my list are jello and strawberry shortcake, with tons of Cool Whip on top.

When it comes to Labor Day you think outdoor fun. Whether you are in your backyard, at the beach, or sailing, under the sun is where you want to be! It is important, however, that you remember sunblock for you and your children and a hat, if possible. If your family enjoys swimming, a day by the lake or river would be fun and you can cook out there or bring a picnic lunch.

My absolute favorite thing to do on Labor Day, is the annual volleyball game my family sets up. No matter whose home we are celebrating at, we put up a net and split into teams. It is great fun and everyone gets involved. The games are usually stop and go, taking brakes to eat and drink, and by the end no one even remembers what the score is.

Whether you decide to stay in your backyard or go swimming by the lake, just make sure you are safe. Be sure not to drink and drive, and when near water with small children always be sure that you teach them about water safety. Hopefully everyone can have a safe and Happy Labor Day.

1. The All Important Sight Sense Test. Most people walking along the street will give you and your food cart, whether it is a small stand or large enclosed concession trailer, the once over eye test before they even consider walking toward your location. If they do not like the way you look or if they don’t like the appearance of your concession stand, chances are they are not going to approach you. They will keep walking.

2. Smell Test. Certain foods give off very enticing scents. The aroma of steaming hot dogs, grilled onions or fresh warm pretzels waifing through the air will draw your customers in. Even if they just ate or are on a strict diet, the temptation to resist is just too strong.

3. Taste Test. The products you serve must be the best quality. You want your customer to enjoy the experience, to return and to recommend you to others. Never save old product for use the next day. Never skimp on quality. Buy the best even if you have to charge more.

4. The Sense of Speech Test. When a customer approaches your concession vehicle, know what to say in advance. You should have a number of scripted introductions that you know by heart. Always smile and be pleasant. Don’t be over exuberant to the point of appearing insincere. Be natural. Be helpful and offer suggestions. For example you might point at your menu board and ask them how they like their hot dog dressed. Make sure you know how to upsell. Take a cue from the fast food giants and ask if they want a soda and chips with their order.

5. The Sense of Hearing Test. Listen closely to what the customer is saying. He or she may be offering you buying clues and opportunities for upsells. For example if the lady says she has a train to catch, ask her if she wants a soft pretzel to eat on the way home. Make it more appealing by telling her you have insulated bags that keep the pretzels warm and fresh for hours.

6. Feeling Test. Always smile and be friendly. Try to leave your problems at home. After a while you will start to see the same faces over and over again. People will start talking to you like you are their friend. You will eventually remember their names and what they like. In time youll become a popular concession stand where people like to go. And in time very wealthy too.

7. The Common Sense Test. One of the biggest traps most people fall into is greed. Some people start to cut corners; they look for cheaper inferior products in an attempt to increase their profits. They become overwhelmed with their success. They see all the money they are making and figure they could make more if they cut some costs. This type of thinking eventually leads to their demise. What they should be doing is looking for ways to improve the products and services, to increase their customer base and perhaps expand their business. That is the proper way to make more money.

8. The Touch Sense Test. Always follow the health department guidelines in your area. Never touch the food with your hands. And try not to touch food surfaces either. In some jurisdictions you will have to wear plastic gloves and adhere to local rules and regulations. Always use your tongs when handling the food products. Handling the money is the tricky part. Money can be a source of germs. Use one hand for your money transactions and wash or sterilize your hands frequently.

Every year, people gear up their grills, stock up on their favorites meat and prepare for many mouth-watering barbecues. But how much do we really know about the art of barbecuing? Do you want to wow your friends at the next neighbourhood barbecue! This list will provide you with all the details you need.

1) Whole pigs were cooked and eaten by the crowds in the southern states at feasts before the Civil War.

2) The meat was exposed to smoke and low heat in order to prevent bacteria and enzymes from growing.

3) In Australia, a barbecue is commonly referred to as a barbie. The famous statement Ill slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for you, which appeared in Australian tourism advertisements, is often used to refer to the country.

4) What most North Americans partake in today isnt actually barbecuing. Barbecuing is cooking at temperatures around the boiling point of water (180-220*F) for a longer time period, in order to make the meat tender while preserving its natural juices. Today, the method most commonly used is in fact broiling: cooking at 475-700*F in much less time.

5) According to the statistics, half of all marshmallows eaten in the U.S. have been toasted using a grill.

6) For an simple way to check how much propane you have left in the tank, bring your bathroom scale outside and weigh it.

7) The origin of the word barbecue is unclear. Some believe it came from the American-Indian word barbacoa for a wood on which foods were cooked. Others say it came from the french words de barbe queue, meaning whiskers to tail.
Do you want to add a smokey flavour to your gas-grill-cooked foods. Use liquid smoke. This is a condensation of actual smoke, that can be easily added to your barbecue marinade or sauce.

9) Briskets can take a long time to barbeque! This extremely hard cut of meat taken from a cows chest, takes one to two hours per pound to barbecue. Thats an average 12 hours on the grill for a basic 8-pound cut!

10) Kansas City, Missouri and Lexington, North Carolina both claim to be the barbecue capitals of the world. Memphis, meanwhile, stakes a claim to being the pork barbecue capital.

Now youre set to impress your family and friends! Do you want even more barbecuing tips. Competition barbeque secrets are revealed here!

Which is better when it comes to a barbecue grill – gas or charcoal? People have been arguing this point for many years. There are pluses and minuses to each, but many people have a strong loyalty to whichever type they prefer. But if you’re just starting out with barbeque cooking and trying to decide which to buy, here’s a look at what each has to offer.

Gas

* Quick. In just 10 minutes, the grill is ready.

* The heat is controllable. You have more leeway when it comes to timing the meal. Sometimes you need to cook something over low heat for an extended period, and other times it needs to be at a higher temperature for less time. Gas can help you easily manage these requirements.

* Versatile. The side burner can be used for cooking veggies, and the rotisserie is useful for slow roasting of large cuts of meats.

* Taste. Some people don’t like the flavor of food prepared on a gas grill. And it certainly doesn’t offer up the distinctive wood smoke taste of food cooked over charcoal.

* Easy cleaning. There are no ashes to clean up. Drip trays will take care of most of the mess, and turning the heat up for 10 minutes or so will burn off the rest so it can be easily scraped off.

* Cost effective. You can get eight hours of grilling out of a single propane tank.

* The initial cost may be high; however there is a wide range of prices to suit any budget.

* It may prove to be more cost effective in the long run especially if taken good care of, but this depends on the changing prices of gas.

Charcoal

* The flavor and aroma of wood smoking can’t be matched.

* The purchase price is pretty reasonable initially, but over the long term it might be less so.

* They require a lot more time, not just to cook but also to prepare. From the time the briquettes are lit and have burned down enough to start cooking, 40 minutes have probably gone by. This won’t work for the times when you have a sudden desire to barbeque.

* Timing is important. There’s no way to regulate the heat, so it’s important that you watch your food carefully while it’s cooking.

* If you barbeque a lot, the expense of charcoal briquettes can really add up.

* Ashes are a pain to clean out. The grate is hard to clean, and it takes a long time for the unit to cool down enough to clean it.

So there you have some BBQ tips to help you decide between gas and charcoal. You should choose the one which fits not only your budget, but also your lifestyle. Those who lead busy lives might prefer a gas barbeque because they require less time in order to fully cook a meal. But if you have lots of time, charcoal grills win hands down for flavor.

It’s fun to look at magazines that have perfect patios all prepared to entertain guests, but go easy on your self! Here are 7 quick ways to have a fun backyard BBQ bash.

[1] Invite your guests with an emailed invitation service online. It’s fast, you can send it out to everyone in minutes and they can respond immediately. They can leave a comment or see who else is coming. Another perk is that you can list any item that would be helpful for other people to bring and when they RSVP they can choose one or more. It doesn’t have to be just food either; it can be yard games (remember lawn darts?); extra chairs, special music on an ipod, or even paper plates.

[2] Don’t worry about making the house spotless. If you are able, lead people around to the backyard from the side of the house. Put up some twinkle lights and solar tiki torches for a fun pathway with atmosphere. If people have to come through the front door, throw everything messy into back bedrooms. Just clean the kitchen and wipe down the bathroom and put out some room fragrances that smell like the beach. Then dim the lights and turn on some battery-powered tea lights around the house, even in the bathroom.

[3] Bring the inside out. Pull out blankets, pillows, lamps with extension cords, and table cloths to make your deck or patio comforting. If you can do it easily, choose a theme.

[4] Buy items like potato salad or baked beans pre-made in bulk and then add a few of your own ingredients. Store bought potato sale can be great with some celery and boiled eggs mixed in and sprinkled with paprika. For meat to grill, choose something easy. You can ask a spouse or friend to do the grilling. Consider grilling some food in advance and then just warming it up, including items like salmon wrapped in foil with herbs and oils that can just steam on the grill. Use some smoke-flavored grill chips and the scent will leave everyone drooling.

[5] Go for paper plates and utensils. You can find bright colorful items at most discount stores.

[6] Locate a teenager who wants to make $10 and let her be in charge of all the childrens entertainment. Set up the kids table and let them do some of their own activities, like making home-made ice cream and then having a toppings bar to choose from. Turn on the sprinkler or let them make a simple craft like sand art. If someone is feeling adventurous a treasure hunt prepared in advance is sure to be a hit with all ages.

[7] Skip making fancy drinks that will only tie you to a blender all night fighting chunks of ice that refuse to break up. Buy a variety of sodas, including the long bottle necked old-fashioned root beers and orange cream sodas. Serve sparkling water and make a large self-serving jug of ice tea. If you want to be impressive, prepare in advance ice cubes with berries and mint leaves inside and float these in the ice tea. Get the kids juice boxes. To display, throw an old plastic table cloth in a wheel barrow or other big bucket, dump in the ice and arrange.

Remember, it’s all about getting together with friends and not trying to be the perfect hostess who never sits down. Relax and leave the clean up until the next day.

With the summer finally here for another year (at least by here, I mean where I am), it is usually the time where you can go outside and experience the smells and sights of barbequing. Nothing is better than enjoying a nice barbeque with friends and family.

Bbqing can be a bit tricky at first but with some practice and a bit of knowledge, you will soon become quite a barbecue chef.

The first and probably the most important thing has to be to remember to keep everything as clean as possible. Keeping things like your bbq tools, grill and everything else clean will not only keep you from getting sick, but will also make sure nothing affects the taste of your food.

Cross contamination is also a factor. Make sure to never let raw meat touch anything else that may stay raw when you eat it. This includes any utensils that may touch the raw meat and then come in contact with something like salad or raw veggies. This is the number one way to get sick.

When choosing barbeques, it is basically just a matter of preference. Gas or propane are a bit mroe convenient since you do not have to wait for charcoal to heat up before using it. However, I find that charcoal has a bit better taste from the burning coal. Both types can be found in just about any hardware or deaprtment store.

So these are just a few things to remember in the summer time with barbeque season. Invite a few friends or your entire family for fun in the sun and an enjoyable meal on the barbeque. And remember, even in the winter, you can get some good barbequing going as well — just have to dress a heck of a lot warmer!

Charcoal or gas: which is the best choice in a BBQ? The debate has been going on for quite a long time now. There are pluses and minuses to each, but many people have a strong loyalty to whichever type they prefer. But if you’re just starting out with barbeque cooking and trying to decide which to buy, here’s a look at what each has to offer.

Gas

* Fast. In just 10 minutes, the grill is ready.

* The heat is controllable. You have more leeway when it comes to timing the meal. Sometimes you need to cook something over low heat for an extended period, and other times it needs to be at a higher temperature for less time. Gas can help you easily manage these requirements.

* Versatile. You can use the gas burner on the side to cook some vegetables, and the rotisserie attachment is ideal for slow cooking a roast.

* Taste. There are those who don’t enjoy the taste of food that’s been cooked over a gas flame. And it certainly doesn’t offer up the distinctive wood smoke taste of food cooked over charcoal.

* Easy cleaning. You don’t have to sweep away ashes. A tray to catch the drippings handles most of the cleaning, and you can increase the heat for several minutes in order to burn off the remains so that they can be more easily removed.

* Cost conscious. You can get eight hours of grilling out of a single propane tank.

* The initial cost may be high; however there is a wide range of prices to suit any budget.

* It can save you money over the long term if you maintain it properly, provided gas doesn’t skyrocket in price.

Charcoal

* The taste and aroma of smoked wood can’t be beat.

* The purchase price is pretty reasonable initially, but over the long term it might be less so.

* They’re slow, both to get started and throughout the cooking. Lighting the briquettes and letting them burn down sufficiently can take up to 40 minutes. This can be a problem if you have a sudden urge for barbeque.

* Timing is critical. There’s no way to regulate the heat, so it’s important that you watch your food carefully while it’s cooking.

* The cost of briquettes may prove to be quite expensive in the long run.

* Cleaning out ashes is a tedious job. The grate is hard to clean, and it takes a long time for the unit to cool down enough to clean it.

Hopefully you’ll find these BBQ tips useful in your choice of charcoal or gas. Pick the one that fits both your lifestyle and your budget. Those who lead busy lives might prefer a gas barbeque because they require less time in order to fully cook a meal. However, if you have some time on your hands, you can’t beat the flavor that charcoal gives.

Among the most practiced techniques to serve wild game of all types incorporates the barbecue grill, genuinely an open-air tradition. American families apply fine family cooking that represents mutual understanding to just about all sportsmen. The aroma of venison chops, cooked out turkey, or duck breasts will leave any sportsman ravenous.

There are two schools of thought for the outdoor grill gas or charcoal. Although gas grills are becoming more and more prominent, the old-school charcoal grills are still preferred by many of us. There’s just something about that grilled flavor that’s hard to let go of. Those red coals fill the mouth-watering meat with an incomparable flavor that can’t be forgotten.

The gas grille in all likelihood doesn’t quite afford you the natural flavor of charcoal, but it affords several convenience vantages. The gas grille is easily and quickly lite, and the fire remains continuous for an extended time period.

A simple charcoal grill is very easy to use throughout the summer. What better time to cook out with family and friends. Anything from venison steaks to steamed corn to elk roasts can be flamed on one of these classic cookers. The heat and smoke from the charcoal add an amazing flavor to any meat of choice. There are even hickory chips that can be added for an additional enhancement.

The options we face when buying a grill are quite different than what our parents faced. Gas, electric, infrared, and portable just to name some of the basics. Personally I have used a charcoal grill since I was a child. These smoky, simplified wonders are hard to let go of. While some friends tell me gas is all the rage these days, and the coal isn’t as healthy as we once thought, I still can’t abandon the taste.

Anyone who has grilled on gas and charcoal can tell you that there’s a difference. When it comes to charcoal, the flavor is phenomenal. A gas grill might be slightly better for a quick grilling job or a long grill project such as a turkey. It usually gets down to a matter of convenience or taste.

When browsing some for a charcoal grille that’s good for you and your home, make certain to take into circumstance the size and amount of people feasting. The charcoal grille leave you with a distinguished flavour, nevertheless for swiftness and convenience the Gas grill constitutes a dandy alternative. There is an assortment of grilles to accommodate the necessity of a large household get-together or merely a individual man or woman merely looking to a variety in the everyday meals.

Clean your metal grate with a wire grill brush, loosening particles of food from past use. Rinse with hot soapy water. After you’ve taken everything off your grill, place aluminum foil over the metal grate. Using the aluminum foil will attract the heat to the metal, burning off any food particles. After grilling, let your metal grate cool down enough to handle. Rinse under warm water.

Nothing completes your backyard entertaining experience like a genuine barbecue grill. To keep your grilling both delicious and fun, it’s important to stock up on high-quality tools and accessories. Tool collections can include spatulas, forks, tongs, basting brushes, knives and skewers. These are all great gift ideas for the grilling enthusiast in your life, especially since many clothing items can be highly personalized to suit different tastes, hobbies and personalities. This refillable fire starting device, which is identical to an old fashioned wood match -only larger, is something your guests will love.

Omega 200 Gas is a small enough entry-level model. It has a dual control burner and is made with a chrome finish cooking grill. It comes with two foldable side tables and gas bottle holder and is accessorized with an all-weather cover. It has fold down side tables and is made with a one-piece painted hood. Trooper 2 Burner Gas comes in a traditional green, outdoor color and wooden trolley. It also comes with stainless steel burners and a cool touch wooden hood handle.

Grilling outdoors and indoors can be a fun and entertaining experience. Even gourmet chefs like to use grill every now and again. Many experts believe that this is because of their high cost. Grills are valuable which is one of the main reasons why it is common to see them popping up in higher end areas of different communities across the country.

If you are like most people you might find yourself taking a trip every spring to the discount store to buy another grill. A good quality grill, with proper care, will provide many years of use. The quality of the materials that are used make the biggest difference. Oxidation caused from heat is the leading reason grills rust through quickly. Cheap grill grates are made of steel that is coated with a chrome surface to prevent the steel from rusting. The reason for this is because the heat degrades the chrome plating causing it to crack.

Always check the internal temperature of food to be certain it is done. Of all the grilling tips, this is one that can assure your food is safe to eat. There are two primary types of grilling methods; They are indirect grilling and direct grilling. When the juices are released, the food tends to dry out rather quickly from the heat of the grill. Many people depend upon the exterior appearance of food to determine whether it is done or not but this is really not a reliable method and can result in food borne illness.

Following the right grilling tips also means making sure you know how to properly handle the food. Many people make the same mistake of handling the food too much while grilling it. A meat fork will pierce the skin of the meat and release juices while tongs help the food to retain moisture. Following these grilling tips can help you to produce perfectly and deliciously grilled food every time.

Indirect grilling involves cooking the food away from the heat while direct grilling involves cooking food directly on the fire. One of the most important grilling tips that should be followed, no matter what type of grill or grilling method you are using, is to make sure that you use a meat thermometer in order to test the interior temperature of the food that you are grilling. Also, one of the most important grilling tips you can follow is to make sure that you use tongs instead of a meat fork when grilling. Instead, avoid ‘playing’ with the food and allow it to cook evenly. Indirect grilling is best for foods that can be cooked in less than 30 minutes while direct grilling is better for foods that can be cooked in more than 30 minutes.

Other grilling tips include using the right grilling method. Grilling is a favorite pastime and it is a wonderful way to enjoy time outside with family and friends as well as prepare a meal that is second to none. Are you looking forward to putting some meat on the grill and enjoying a wonderfully grilled meal? If so, you are not alone.

There are some grilling tips that you can follow which will aid you to achieve delectable food time after time. This can result in cold spots in the food and can increase the chances of uneven cooking and food borne illness.