When it comes to cooking during the summer I don’t think there is any better way to cook than to grill out. Grilled food just tastes better and has the added bonus of helping keep the kitchen clean because we don’t have to use any pots and pans. Our landlord left his grill and so we have had a grill sitting on our patio for the past two summers but it has never worked so I was really happy when I had the chance to go shopping for a new grill and some grilling accessories to make grilling easier.
I looked online at Sears.com because I knew they had a great selection of grills. I was also searching for a few other pieces to make my backyard feel more relaxing and less like a children’s play zone.
The Simply Outdoors catalog on the Sears.com website had some amazing outdoor setups that I would love to have.
A table to gather around to eat, a nice conversation area by the pool, a relaxing lounge chair to sit and sun myself… oh wait…. only in my dreams! I knew I would have to be more realistic in the items that I chose. After looking at all of the outdoor setups it was time to search for what I had really got online to find- a grill!
I looked on the website and was excited to find a side by side comparison of grills. There is also a grill finder on the website to help you find your perfect grill. I also checked out the local deals online and then headed to Sears.
I didn’t even have to walk into the store to find the grills. They were right outside the door.
I quickly found the grill that I had decided upon online. At $80 it was perfect for our small budget. I liked that the corresponding grill covers were with the grill so I could easily find the one that I needed. Next us I looked at grill accessories.
I didn’t realize that there were so many grilling accessories available on the market! I knew for sure that I needed the basic items like tongs, a spatula, and a brush to clean the grill but other than that I wasn’t sure what else to get.
After about 30 minutes I managed to fill my cart up with a grilling tools set, a wok for cooking veggies, a kabob basket, and a fish grilling basket. I also considered purchasing a fajita skillet but figured I probably had enough grilling accessories already. I headed to the checkout and told the employee which grill I wanted and was pleasantly surprised to find out that they had one already assembled that I could put together. When I asked about cost I was told that it was free! I told him I’d love one that was put together because I was short on time and saving even an hour of time on a busy day was a huge help. I paid for my items {and got my Shop Your Way rewards points} and pulled my car around to the loading area of the store. My grill was loaded into my car and then I headed home. {You can find even MORE pictures of my shopping trip on Google+}
Once home we rolled the grill to the backyard and hooked up the propane tank. A couple hours later we were already grilling on it since we had a family party to celebrate Jake and Luke’s birthdays.
We made cheeseburgers and hot dogs. Of course I was so busy running around during the party that I neglected to take pictures of the food we enjoyed, other than the dessert table.
We have used our grill multiple times since the party. We’ve made shish-kabobs, steak, and brats.
When it comes to grilling, I don’t know a whole lot so I turned to my dad to get some of his best grilling tips. Some people just make amazing food and he is one of those people. He used to own his own restaurant and I haven’t ever had anything he made that wasn’t fantastic so I knew he’d have some great tips to share. Here are four of his top tips to help you this grilling season:
1) Start with a clean grill. To do so, start the grill and lay aluminum foil on the grates. The particles will turn to ash.
2) Most meats should be seared before cooking to hold in the juices. To do so, turn the grill on high. Spray the meat with cooking spray and then put it on the grill. Turn the meat over so both sides are seared and then continue cooking on medium heat.
3) When cooking for yourself and your family, get to know how long it takes to get your food just how you like it. Once you have figured out the timing your food will always come out perfectly if you always cook it for the same amount of time. Also, having a timer will help keep you from burning your food if you get preoccupied with another task.
4) Cook your entire meal on the grill. An easy side dish can be made by throwing some sliced potatoes, peppers, onions, salt & pepper, and olive oil together in a foil packet and sticking it right on the grill.
Live in the Chicago area? Join me at the Naperville Ribfest! I am so excited to be joining Ty Pennington and some other bloggers in the Sears tent! On June 30th, from noon to 6 p.m., those at the Ribfest can experience demonstrations by Sears grilling experts, take a picture with Ty Pennington, and even enter to win a grill and other wonderful prizes. Joining us at the Sears “Grilling is Happiness” tent are television host and author George Hirsch, “Grill Grrrl” Robyn Lindars, and “Burnin’ Love BBQ” chef Perry Perkins. You can join us online during the event by following the #GrillingIsHappiness hashtag on Twitter. Hope to see some of my local friends and readers at the live event!
GIVEAWAY:
One lucky winner will receive the Grillfinity Gourmet 3-Piece Grilling Tool Set pictured above {$50+ value}
HOW TO ENTER:
{Do any or all of the following, leave a separate comment for each you do}
1) Tell me what your favorite food to grill is
2) Share this giveaway on a social network
3) Follow me on Pinterest
4) Like Making Time For Mommy on Facebook
5) Like Sears on Facebook
6) Follow @aliciamarie112 on Twitter
7) Follow @Sears on Twitter
Giveaway ends June 30, 2012 at 11:59pm Central time. US only. This giveaway is not associated with Facebook in any way.
Want to buy your own grill or items to make your backyard fabulous? Check out these deals:
- Great grill bundles at Sears ~ valid online & in-store 6/10-6/17. http://bit.ly/LdTcFm
- 1 day only 6/10 ~ Online Only at Sears~ 10% off Outdoor Living
- 6/10 Only get 30% off Patio + Extra 10% using YARD10 coupon code at Sears online
(Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ #CBias #SocialFabric #GrillingIsHappiness )