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The Grill: Is Gas or Charcoal Better?

June 13, 2009

Brand your steaks with Bite Me Dad or traditional Rare/Medium/Well. Just $26.05 each at BachelorsHome.net

Brand your steaks with "Bite Me" "Dad" or traditional "Rare, Medium,Well." Just $26.05 each

Which is better, gas or charcoal for grilling? I like ‘em both: they produce great-tasting results and have about the same flare-up issues. But I have to say gas is by far the easiest to start, control and clean, before and after use.

I only use charcoal if I have to – it’s a hassle cleaning out the old ashes (messy), filling a chimney and lighting it half an hour before cooking, never knowing the temperature of the grill. Charcoal’s more expensive in the long run ($5/meal vs. $.20/meal), since you end up buying charcoal more often than refilling a gas tank. Sure, I think food tastes good cooked over charcoal, but recently Consumer Reports testers said gas-grilled food had a “cleaner” taste, and I can’t really disagree.

Outstanding 13-piece Barbeque Tool Set at BachelorsHome.net

Outstanding 13-piece Barbeque Tool Set at BachelorsHome.net

Give me a gas grill any day. Come home from work, enjoy the quick start-up (500-degrees in five minutes), get a nice, even heat across the entire surface or, if desired, make warm spots and hot spots for better control. Or, opt for indirect grilling or slow cooking at low temperatures. Then, of course you also have that nice little rack to keep food warm while the rest of the meal cooks.

If you’re going to buy a gas grill, I don’t think you need one with that additional side burner – I’ve never missed having one, and hey, you’re grilling, not sautéing. And, have the store assemble and deliver it; while a bit more expensive, you’re paying to avoid a bunch of headaches and worries about safety.

Finally, to get the most out of your grill, plunk down a few pesos for a decent cookbook. I like REAL GRILLING, by Jamie Purviance, which has great, easy-to-follow recipes for rubs and cool dishes like Jerk Chicken. Now, on to your next finger-lickin’ good date! — Jake Nesbitt

And a note from The Crew of BachelorsHome: We’ve got special gear for your grilling adventures:
Western Steak Brands: Distinguish your barbeque with these branding irons. A ‘Rare’, ‘Medium’ and ‘Well’ Steak Brand all wrapped up in a red western bandana and placed in a branded wooden gift box.  And just to keep the mood light, BachelorsHome.net is also stocking individual brands that say “Bite Me”  “Rockin’ Dad” “Circle Star” and “Longhorn.”  Check ‘em out.

Weber Hybrid Grill: The first hybrid gas grill that can act as both a full-functioning backyard grill and a portable gas grill. A 280 square-inch porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grate lets you grill up to 10 king-size strip steaks or 15 burgers and brats at the same time.  Rust-proof cast aluminum lids and bottoms. Plus a porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grate. Everywhere you look, the Q has quality written all over it, unlike those other inferior grills that end up looking like an old car after one season.  Just $209 from BachelorsHome.net
Filed under: "Crib Notes" — Tags: — Jake Nesbitt @ 6:00 am

BOUDOIRE FAIRE

May 25, 2009

Does your bedroom still look like it did in college? I don’t mean the piles of dirty clothes. How does it look when it’s picture perfect? Don’t like that picture? Well, neither will she. Time to suck it up and commit a few bucks to making your bedroom look more inviting.

First, the bed itself. Choose a piece of furniture that is solid and won’t creak when used properly. Sleigh beds are a good choice – all curves, no sharp angles…like her.

Soften it up with lots of pillows. Pillows just make a bedroom look fuller, richer, cozier, softer…better. You need big ones in the back row and little ones in front. The big ones are called shams and the smaller ones are standard. Since you’re spending at least a third of your life in bed, invest in a padded mattress cover – it’s guaranteed to get an “mmmmmmmm…ahhhhhhhh” every time you hit the sack.

For sheets, you can’t go wrong with white cotton, and remember that the higher the thread count – like 300-400 – the softer and higher quality the material. And remember, the more you wash them, the softer they get!

Comforters are next. Down-filled duvets are warmer in winter but not too warm to use in summer when you remove your top sheet. Make sure it’s quilted (i.e. sewn into small square sections to keep the down evenly distributed). The duvet cover is your first foray into the world of color and patterns and “artistic choices”. Look at magazines for what suits your style and talk to someone you trust about what looks good…embossed stripes are a pretty safe bet.

Now, toss those piles of clothes in a hamper and you’re ready to entertain.

Filed under: "Crib Notes" — Jake Nesbitt @ 2:25 pm

The Walls Have Y-ears

May 6, 2009

Look around at those sad, bare walls of yours. That’s not you. Think you don’t know jack about decor?  Well, you have a history. You have family. You have good taste. You have something to say. So, let’s get some of your rich, untapped resources up there!

What looks good? Well, here’s the big secret: the photo/relic is important to you – the FRAME is important to the “look” of the room.

First, decide what you want to use to represent you: pix of loved ones, friends at the barbeque, good times around the keg, your best golf scorecard, travel -  artsy shots you’ve taken with your 10 mega-pixel camera that are just wasting away; even nice magazine covers will work.

Take stock of your photo library. Maybe you have iPhoto or something similar. Create an album called “Frame-ables” and start dragging your faves in one-by-one. Use a scanner to grab photos, etc. buried in your sock drawer all these years. Soon, you’ll have a nice collection from which to choose.

Next, start printing. Use off-the-shelf, high-quality photo paper. It costs a bit more than regular paper, but it will make your photos pop, and hold their color over time. Print in sizes that will fit in standard frames: 3×5, 4×6, 8×10.

Now, shop for some classy-looking frames in colors that work for the photos and complement your best furniture - not your soon-to-be junk. You will have to suck it up and commit to spending a little money on frames but they’re as much about you as your clothes. Always use a matte around the photo (cream, white or gray)…it’s an extra step, but really makes your material look better than it really is.

Cluster the frames in high-traffic places that need the most help. Lay them out on the floor to get an idea of how to hang them. Use tiny nails - real picture hooks for the heavy ones.

Bottom line: spend time on selecting the right photos; spend money on the frames/matting.

Filed under: "Crib Notes" — Tags: , , , , — Jake Nesbitt @ 6:00 am

Wireless iTunes Through Your Speakers, No Problem

April 2, 2009

After all the money and time you’ve spent building that awesome music library - you really need to hook your stereo up so you can crank your iTunes….loud, and often…or soft and for hours at a time…you know - launching more than just a CD’s worth of play time. Let’s face it, you should have more important things to do than juggle CDs, right?

Yeah, I know – you’ve got a 500 CD jukebox (so last century) - or a receiver you can plug your iPod right into. Sorry, been there, done that, still not your best solution. I’m talking about wireless between your laptop and the big, nasty, honking towers you’ve got parked on either side of that gi-normous HD screen in your living room.

Now, if you’ve got a Mac, listen up. All it takes is Airport Express and a wire and you’re as good as your best playlist. I realize $99 is a lot for some, but hey, this is the answer. The wire is simple: male mini-plug on one end that goes into the Airport, with enough length to make it to the back of your receiver. The other end of the wire must have two RCA male plugs (red & white) that go straight into the audio inputs for a CD player…a $10 item at Radio Shack.

You then use Airport Utility to welcome the new Airport Express to your Mac and your home network…give it a good, descriptive name like “Stereo Speakers”. There’s a little toggle button on the lower right side of iTunes so you can select your output.

Then, when it comes time to entertain, just click on that killer playlist, and once again, you are the man…for an added thrill, download the REMOTE app and control your tunes from your iPhone.  How’s that for portable?

(Post your own ideas for wireless tunes, remotes..etc… here)

Filed under: "Crib Notes" — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Jake Nesbitt @ 11:19 am

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