Browsing all posts in June, 2010.
Veggies on the Grill
Believe it or not you can grill more than meat. Shocking we know, but true. Summer veggies are delicious on the grill and with the farmer’s markets in full swing, it is the perfect time to grill your veg. If you want to find a Farmer’s Market near you, check out Local Harvest for the best organic food grown near you.
Here are a few recipes for you from Cooks.com.
Tuscan Grilled Summer Vegetables
1 (1 lb.) eggplant, sliced into 2″ thick rounds
1 white 1/2 lb. eggplant, sliced into 2″ thick rounds
2 summer squash, cut into 2″ thick slices lengthwise
2 zucchini, cut into 2″ thick slices, lengthwise
2 patty pan squash, cut into 2″ thick slices lengthwise
1 tbsp. Kosher salt
3 lg. ripe tomatoes, cut into 2″ thick slices
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded, deveined, cut into 2″ wide slices lengthwise
1 red bell pepper, seeded, deveined, cut into 2″ wide slices, lengthwise
1 med. red onion, peeled, sliced into 1/2″ thick rounds
1 c. coarsely chopped basil
2 c. Tuscan Marinade
TUSCAN MARINADE:
1/3 c. red wine
1/3 c. olive oil
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tbsp. grated orange rind
1/2 c. minced sage leaves
1/4 c. minced rosemary
1 tbsp. black peppercorns, crushed
Combine all marinade ingredients in glass bowl. Refrigerate in an air tight container for up to 3 days.
Place eggplant, zucchini and squash in a colander. Add salt. Toss and set aside to drain for 30 minutes. Rinse, pat dry, and place into a large shallow glass or ceramic dish. Add remaining vegetables and basil. Cover with marinade. Refrigerate 8 hours, turning once. Grill over hot coals until tender, about 5 to 10 minutes each side. Serves 6 to 8.
TUSCAN MARINADE:
1/3 c. red wine
1/3 c. olive oil
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tbsp. grated orange rind
1/2 c. minced sage leaves
1/4 c. minced rosemary
1 tbsp. black peppercorns, crushed
Combine all marinade ingredients in glass bowl. Refrigerate in an air tight container for up to 3 days.
Place eggplant, zucchini and squash in a colander. Add salt. Toss and set aside to drain for 30 minutes. Rinse, pat dry, and place into a large shallow glass or ceramic dish. Add remaining vegetables and basil. Cover with marinade. Refrigerate 8 hours, turning once. Grill over hot coals until tender, about 5 to 10 minutes each side. Serves 6 to 8.
This marinade is also excellent for chicken and flank steak grilling.
GRILLED SQUASH AND PEPPERS
1 zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 yellow squash (summer)
4 patty pan squash (small)
1 green pepper (cut into 1/2 inch strips)
1 red pepper (cut into 1/2 inch strips)
1 lg. onion (cut into sixths)
2/3 c. vegetable oil
1/4 c. white wine vinegar
1 tbsp. water
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. minced chives
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves
1/4 tsp. garlic clove, minced
1/4 tsp. pepper
Combine vegetables in shallow baking dish. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over vegetables. Let stand 15 minutes. Drain vegetables; reserve marinade.
Don’t let bug bug you this summer
Cutter Advanced -- The Best Bug Reppellent Over-all
Nothing can ruin an outdoor party like bugs. And the threat of Lyme Disease or West Nile Disease, can bring down the best backyard barbecue! So, what are the best bug sprays? The website consumersearch.com posted their top bug spray picks in their 2009 article — Insect Repellent: What To Look For. On a side note, we really love, love, love this site. There are expert and user reviews, you can find out where to buy the products, and the sponsored links are clearly marked.
The Top Four Insect Repellent Reviews from consumersearch.com are:
- Best Inset Repellent Over-all — Cutter Advanced ($6 for 6 oz)
- DEET Repellent for Long Period or Extreme Conditions — 3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent 12 Lotion ($8.50 for 2 oz)
- Best Natural Mosquito Repellent — Repel Lemon Eucalyptus ($7.50 for 4 0z)
- Safest Insect Repellent for Kids — Bite Blocker ($8.50 for 4.7 oz)
Here are some tips to keep the bugs at bay this summer:
- Remove any standing water in your yard, sucha as gutters, kiddis pools, buckets of water because mosquitos lay their eggs on standing standing water.
- Keep your trash and recycling bins as far away as possible from your house and make sure the lids are on nice and tight. Be sure to rinse out all your re-cycables before tossing them into your re-cycling bins.
- Keep food convered when dining outside.
For more tips, as to how to keep bugs at bay this summer, check out lifehacker.com.
Green (er) Summer Parties
Perserve Tablewear: On the Go TableWeare for $20.99
Summer is an entire season of celebrating Mother Earth. You can go greeen and through a great summer party too. Here are some green tips from Earth911.com to help you keep your summer festivities green:
- Use propane for grilling – According to the study by the Environment Impact Assessment Review , “The overwhelming factors are that as a fuel, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) is dramatically more efficient than charcoal in its production and considerably more efficient in cooking.”
- Plan a local, organic menu – According to the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, “Produce in the U.S. travels, on average, 1,300 to 2,000 miles from farm to consumer.”
- If disposable is a must, go for smarter choices — Preserve Tableware is made from a thicker resin of plastic that allows multiple uses. Also, Preserve’s products are made from 100 percent recycled polypropylene (plastic #5 or PP).
For more tips for Earth911.com, go to Green Tips for a Summer Parties. If you want to learn how to plan your next local organic summer meal, check out Local Harvest.com for the best organic food that’s grown closet to you.
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Father’s Day Gift Guide
Poor Dad he always gets stuck with the same ol’ same ol’ year after year. This year ditch the tie and get him something he really, really, really wants. Is your Dad a BBQ master? An avid golfer? Does he like to pump some iron or sit back with a fine cigar?
Here are some fun Father’s Day Gift ideas for every Dad from Moments of Elegance:
Monogram Steak Branding Iron with Gift Box ($59.95) — Dad can sear his initials into your grilled steak by choosing 2 – 3 letters of your choice. Constructed of quality iron for that authentic branding iron look. Branding irons are presented in a wooden gift box that is burned with the same initials as on the iron. Price includes branded wooden box & branding iron.
Cherry Finish Keepsake Box with 5 Cigars($59.99) — Perfect for the cigar afficionado. After smoking all the stogies, it’s a personalized keepsake box, with plush green velour lining and a rich cherry finish. Each 6″ x 4″ x 2.5″ cherry finished box features a silver plate, personalized with up to 20 characters.
Silver-Plated Pocket Watch ($39) — Give him a gift he’ll really appreciate. Our silver-plated pocket watch offers the sophisticated elegance that a wristwatch simply cannot match. This handsome timekeeper includes a 12″ chain. As an added value, may be personalized with up to three initials at no additional charge.
Golf Towel & Quilted Pouch Set ($31.99) — Our personalized Golf Towel & Quilted Pouch Set is a true hole in one! Ideally paired, this unique set makes a perfect gift for dads. He’ll be sure to stay in style while putting a game winning shot with this velour terry towel and quilted polyester pouch. Each item is personalized free of charge.
Deluxe Sports Duffle Bag($39.99) — Get out and play with our ultra versatile, Deluxe Sports Duffle Bag. Everything from trips to the gym after work to a weekend getaway with friends, this multipurpose duffle has all the features Dad’ll need to stay organized and together.
For more gift ideas, check out Moments of Elegance.
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Summer Party Planning Tips
Summer is here and it’s time for dancin’ in the streets or planning a perfect party. Where do you start? We have checked out a few sites, gathered some ideas to help YOU plan the perfect summer party.
Country Living has Simple Summer Party Planning Tips to help you plan a fun and stress free summer party. At your next summer party, you’ll have to make these adorable Shrimp Salad Rolls. So easy to prepare: For mini seafood rolls, thaw, then chop frozen cooked shrimp. Use enough mayonnaise to coat shrimp, then salt and pepper to taste. Season with fresh lemon juice. Stuff rolls, garnish with parsley.
Celebrations.com features 10 Tips for Your Summer Party. Here’s a sample of these helpful tips:
- Make a Plan B in case of rain — Often, summer parties take place outdoors. If you are throwing your party outdoors, make an alternative plan in case of rain. Make sure that at least some of the activities you have planned can be done indoors or you have a general idea of other activities that will fill the time.
- Expect an extra guest or two — As people may be returning from vacation and receiving your invitation late (even after the RSVP date), expect that some guests you haven’t heard from may just show up.
- Coolers keep hot food warm — If you are serving hot food, wrap it in foil and place it into a cooler after you’ve cooked it. Heat up microwave warmer pads and place them between and on top of the food in the cooler. Now you have your own portable oven to keep things warm when you serve them at your summer party.
And finally, iVillage.com features a Summer Party Planner featuring festive summer drinks, hot off the grill recipes, and party ideas. We love, love, love this idea Alfresco Game Night. Here’s how to host your very own under the stars game night:
We hope you enjoy your summer days & nights. Do you have a fun summer party planning tip? You do. Super. Leave your tip in the comments section below.
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Summer’s Best Wines by Food and Wine
Those summer winds are blowin’ in and so are those light and crisp wines. Food & Wine’s Ray Isle can help you sort out your Muscadet from your Sauvigion Blanc. Food & Wine just posted their Summer’s Best Wines.
Here are a few of our favs:
2008 Saracco Moscato d’Asti ($16)
Moscato d’Asti, the off-dry, lightly sparkling wine native to Italy’s Piedmont region, is exceptionally light in alcohol: usually only six percent or so. This graceful, tangerine-scented bottling from a top producer would be great either as an aperitif or with fresh fruit for dessert.
NV Broadbent Vinho Verde ($11)
Vinho Verde—a pale Portuguese wine named for its youth rather than its color—should be crisp, tingly and full of lemon and seashell nuances. That aptly describes this bottling from importer Bartholomew Broadbent.
2007 Domaine de la Batardière Muscadet ($10)
Muscadet, from the western part of France’s Loire Valley, is a summer classic. Its citrusy character pairs ideally with seafood, particularly raw oysters.
2008 Kung Fu Girl Riesling ($12)
Washington-state winemaker Charles Smith earned his reputation with some formidable (and fairly expensive) Syrahs, but lately, he’s been focusing on a line of quirkily named, inexpensive wines. This floral, slightly off-dry Riesling is one of the best.
For more summer wine recommendations, visit Food & Wine’s Summer’s Best Wines for wines ranging in price from $9 to $20.