Gas or Electric Grills?

Charcoal fired barbecue grills are usually a real pain to get going and in some locations or seasons you may be constrained from using them. Also, for those who live in a unit or would like to have an indoor barbecue grill then they are just not a choice. As an alternative gas and electric grills are much more practical and suitable for all places, seasons and for indoor or outside use.

You will find kettles and single or double box-shaped grills that use natural or bottled gas. Both the electric, natural or propane gas barbecue grills save you the work of building the fire not to mention cleaning up the ashes.

Because most of these grills need only a short preheating time, there is little waiting for the grill once the food is ready to cook. For some families, the choice of the electric grill is simply a matter of convenience. The only thing you need to concern yourself about with a electric grill is a power outlet to connect to.

Then its simply waiting a few minutes to allow for preheating then you can start cooking. There is no need to mess with connecting gas bottles or having to get the charcoal beads to fire up. When you install these grills indoors for permanent use, its a good idea to locate them close to an existing range hood if they do not have there own.

Gas grills are simple to use and are very convenient because they can be ready at a moments notice. If you realty want the food you cook to have that authentic somkey barbecue flavor you are able to get these grills with lava rocks which are heated by the gas burners below, and will give you the same smoky taste as charcoal grills.

Rotisserie cooking is also an option for most of the larger gas grills. Just make sure you turn the gas off at the bottle when you have finished cooking to avoid any possibility of a gas leak.

From the two types of gas grills the natural gas grills are more practical as they save you the time and cost of having to drive to your nearest LP gas depot to refill your gas bottle and you will never run out of gas half way through a BBQ. Also natural gas is much cheaper and burns a lot cleaner then propane gas.

You will need some basic tools for cooking with and maintaining your barbecue grill and they are; a pair of long handle tongs for turning food, a metal slice with serrated edge for turning burgers and eggs, to give the food extra flavor you will need a brush for basting and a metal brush for cleaning outdoor type grills.

Finally, another great option that would work for some is a wood pellet grill. To learn more about this type of BBQ grills or Traeger Grills in general, check out this website.

Make Your Own 4th of July Napkin Rings

The 4th of July holiday is not only a time of for an awesome BBQ, but it's also a great opportunity to indulge in the art of designing your own table décor.

July 4th themed napkin rings are easy to make, whether you're planning an indoor gathering or an outdoor barbecue. Your Fourth of July handmade napkin rings will draw compliments from your guests. They're easy enough to make for other holidays as well. Here are some ways to design your own.

Red, White and Blue Beaded Napkin Rings

To make beaded napkin rings, you will need to purchase the following items from your local craft store: steel memory wire in 2 inch coils (the wire must be "memory wire", as memory wire holds it's coiled shape), round nose pliers, wire cutters and an assortment of red, white and blue beads. These items will usually be located in the jewelry making section.

With the pliers, make a small loop in one end of the wire, to keep the beads from sliding off. Then string the beads on the wire in the order of red, white and blue. When the napkin ring is as full as you want it to be, cut the wire but leave approximately ½ inch of extra wire. Use the pliers to form a small loop in the end of the wire and trim off any excess wire. You might even be able to find some American flag beads and you can add them in with the other beads.

Patriotic, Corded Braid Napkin Rings

To make braided napkin rings, purchase red, white and blue cording from a craft or fabric store. You will also need a hot glue gun, tape and a narrow piece of cording in red, white or blue.

Cut three 10-inch lengths of cording and tape them together at one end. If you are using twisted cording, also tape each individual end to avoid the cord from unraveling while you are working. Braid the red, white and blue cords together until you have your desired length necessary to wrap around your napkin.

Wrap a piece of tape around the braid at the point you want and then cut the excess cording. Use hot glue to attach the ends of the braid together, and use the narrow cording to cover the tape and glue. You can tie the narrow cord around the tape and glue and make several knots, then cut and leave an inch or two for decoration.

Paper Towel Napkin Rings

Napkin rings made from paper towel tubes are a true form of recycling. You will need paper towel tubes, sticky paper from the craft store and American Flag fabric and fabric glue from the fabric store.

Cut lengths from the paper towel tube into the desired width. Then reinforce with sticky paper. Cut the fabric to fit over the tube and squeeze glue on the fabric. Then attach the fabric to the tubes and trim the excess fabric.

For a formal party, you can make name tags, attach the tags to the napkin rings and use them to assign seating arrangements. To find fancy, embellished name or gift tags, browse the scrapbook section of your local craft store. Then pick out red and blue pens and some American flag stickers. Write each person's name in red or blue and then decorate the tag with a sticker. Use the string on the tag to attach to the napkin ring and your place setting is now complete!


Finally, you can't have a July 4 event without a good 'ol American barbecue. You'll need a grill to cook those luscious steaks so make sure to check out this site to find what's best for you:



http://www.justgreatsteaks.com/