Summer vacations are one of the best things about the month following Memorial Day — sun, sea, surf and the delicious seafood. Summer food at the beach or in your backyard can be tasty and fun, especially if you’re grilling your food which can be a fun activity for everyone to join in with. Here are some great grilling ideas for creating wonderful grilled feasts this summer:

1. Pick the right Grill

There are so many grill options available these days, from pellet grills to gas grills, so pick one that best fits the type of food your want to grill and your lifestyle. If you like that smoky taste to your grilled food or if you want a backyard smoker, consider choosing a pellet grill to infuse your BBQ food with a great smoky flavor.

2. Spice up your grilled food

Grilling already brings out great flavor in your food but consider amplifying the tastes by adding extra spice to your grilled food, like sprinkling ground chili peppers on top of your vegetables before tossing them on the BBQ.

3. Think of interesting foods to grill

We all love barbecue chicken or ribs, but what about BBQ fajitas? Tossing wraps, rolls or Mediterranean dishes like halloumi cheese on the grill makes for inventive and fun beach food.

For help picking the right grill for this summer, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

The Daily Meal

With so many types of grills on the market today, it can be a lot more complicated to buy one than it used to be. If your old grill has finally worn out, or if you’re buying one for the first time, here are some pointers on finding the right grill for you.

First off, gas grill, pellet grill or charcoal grill? Many will tell you it’s charcoal or nothing. We don’t agree. It’s a personal preference based on what you like to cook, how often you grill and how much you want to spend.

For example, if you mostly cook steak and burgers, a gas grill is just fine. You can cook those meats quickly, and when they’re done, you just turn it off and there isn’t much clean-up.

If you are more of a brisket and pulled pork person, then a smoker or charcoal grill might be best. These bigger cuts of meat are slow-smoked and the smoke flavor that comes from cooking with charcoal plays a big part. A gas grill just can’t give you that.

Also think about how often you barbecue. If you are planning to barbecue a lot, then invest in something durable and versatile. If it’s just once in a while, then there’s no need for a big, expensive grill, in my opinion. Get something simple, and you’ll get your money’s worth.

If you’re feeding a lot of people you need a larger grill surface for larger cuts of meat or a lot of burgers, dogs or chicken. You don’t want half the group waiting while the other half is enjoying their food.

You could also personally have a gas grill, a fire pit grill and a smoker! A smoker is a beautiful thing. Smoked brisket, smoked ribs, smoked turkey. You have to be a dedicated (think 10-12 hours) cook if you want to get into smokers, but the modern ones are a lot easier to use. But “kamado” style ceramic smokers (like The Big Green Egg), are other choices too. Do your research, because there are a lot of brands, styles, sizes and price levels. No matter what grill you choose – charcoal or gas, big or small, smoker, the important thing is that barbecue season is finally here –fire it up and get cooking!

For more information, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

Parade

More and more homeowners are discussing ways to improve outdoor living space and increase home value. Outdoor kitchens accomplish both goals, which is why in the Metro West Boston area, the trend toward outdoor kitchens is growing. Outdoor kitchens give homeowners more room for entertaining  and relaxing, and more room for family.  What used to be a deck with a grill is now an outdoor living area.

The perfect built-in grills for any outdoor kitchen is American Outdoor Grills. AOG built-in gas grills are  made of the finest commercial-grade stainless steel and features a large cooking surface with stainless steel rod cooking grids.

American Outdoor Grills are ideal for your outdoor kitchen. They are designed and manufactured for long-lasting, gourmet style performance. Choose from three popular sizes- 36”, 30” and 24”- depending upon your cooking needs and your outdoor space. All built-in grill models give you a wide range of cooking options, you will be able to slow rotisserie or high temperature sear.

People are spending more and more time entertaining and relaxing in their homes rather than going out. So outdoor kitchens are becoming a very popular trend. And, the most important part of your outdoor kitchen is your cooking area. Therefore, it is recommended that you purchase the best grill you can. You want your grill to last at least 15 years and use a 304 grade stainless steel for a long life.

For more information on outdoor kitchens and built-in gas grills, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

Easter is this weekend. Are you interested in grilling Easter dinner in order to take advantage of this beautiful weather? Of course, you also need the perfect excuse to buy and show off a new gas grill! Below, see one of our favorite grilled lamb chop recipes.

Curry- and Ginger-Rubbed Lamb Chops with Apricot-Lime Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 tablespoons curry powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 8 (6-ounce) lamb shoulder chops, trimmed
• 1/2 cup Apricot-Lime Sauce

Preparation

1. Prepare grill.
2. Combine the curry, ginger, oil, salt, and pepper; rub paste evenly over lamb.
3. Place lamb on grill rack, and cook 4 minutes. Turn lamb; brush with 1/4 cup Apricot-Lime Sauce. Cook for 4 minutes. Turn lamb, and brush with 1/4 cup sauce. Cook 2 minutes, turning once.

Apricot Lime Sauce

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup apricot preserves
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
• 1/3 cup golden raisins
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh mint
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Preparation

1. Melt the preserves in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Remove from heat.

My recipes – recipe and image

The warm weather is fast approaching and you need a new gas grill. You could buy one at a big box store, but what happens when it breaks or you need a part. When you buy a gas grill from a local retailer, you establish a relationship for years to come. In fact there is even no assembly required. Have your grill assembled and delivered right to your home and placed right where you want it. Have a problem, no problem, your local retailer will find the part and fix your gas grill for years to come. At West Sport in Sudbury, when you buy any gas grill, you also get free assembly and free delivery, and we service all the grills we sell.

Right now at West Sport in Sudbury, we are holding a grilling season grill special on all Broil King Baron Series gas grills made for gourmet grilling in your backyard. You have spent time and money on your beautiful home and your gorgeous backyard. Don’t  settle for just any gas grill, come check out Broil King gas grills.

Contact West Sport for more information.

Homeowners are always wondering what remodeling project will bring them the best return on their investment. Is it a third bathroom, a revamped kitchen, a bigger closet in the master bedroom? After an especially brutal winter, why not treat yourself and your backyard to a present this spring? Build an outdoor kitchen.

Not to mention, a top selling point when you put your house on the market is an attractive outdoor kitchen on your patio. Not just a charcoal grill plus a picnic table; it’s got to be a space that will invite family and friends to visit your backyard and stay a while.

Just to give you an idea of how hot grilling is in America: The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association says that 8.2 million gas grills, 5.9 million charcoal grills, and 280,000 electric grills were shipped from factories to stores last year. America is really cooking outdoors.

Of course, the start of spring is a great time to set up that second kitchen outdoors. Here are some ideas to remember in building a brand new grilling/dining area or remodeling an old one:

Think carefully about the best possible position for the outdoor grill and the dining table. You need to create an environment for your outdoor living space.”

Remember that existing or new “walls” can help you create an outdoor room. You might want to build a small privacy wall near your house and then put your kitchen up against it. You might want to use a column of a covered patio as the anchor for a counter and barbecue space.

Think shade. Creating an outdoor room that is inviting for family and friends means you need lots of shelter from sun. Possible additions to your plans: umbrellas, pergolas, shade sails, or a cover for your patio. Of course, by the time dinner starts, the sun may have set, so make sure to add extra outdoor lighting so you can see what’s on your plate.

It’s desirable to have a patio kitchen as close as possible to your indoor kitchen. When you are just a few steps away from all your indoor appliances and supplies you will end up keeping costs down. After all, if your kitchen is way out there you might need to add more conveniences like a sink, a dishwasher and a small refrigerator. Those amenities can be costly; running gas, electricity and water out to those appliances can be pricey, too.

You can keep down costs. Build your hardscape in stages. Maybe start with a standalone grill and try it in several spots before deciding on a built-in gas grill so you don’t make a costly mistake.

For more information on outdoor kitchens, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

azcentral.com

Spring is here, and warm weather will be approaching, we promise! This time of year the grill starts to call to us. Cooking on a new gas grill at the start of spring gives you the opportunity to spend some relaxing time outdoors after the long hard winter. It also makes it easy to cook and clean up while enjoying time with family and friends. Plus, the flavor outdoor grilling gives to food is like no other. Just the aroma wafting from a neighbor’s grill can shift the salivary glands into overdrive.

Unlike barbecue, grilling is a hot and fast. The food is cooked over direct heat to create the characteristic grilled flavor.

Steven Raichlen, grilling cookbook author said, “Grilling is very fun and theatrical to do. It’s the performance art of the culinary world. And I think it is the best method of cooking for most foods, from seafood, meats and vegetables to even desserts.”

One of the biggest debates in the grilling world is whether to use gas or charcoal. Gas grills are the most convenient way to grill. The flame is instantaneous and easily adjustable. Plus, it is clean—no black charcoal grime on your hands and no ashes to clean up later. Gas is perfect for cooking at short notice or after a long day at work.

Charcoal grills generate more heat than gas, which increases the grilled flavor of the food. It is easier to smoke foods over charcoal and you get a more intense smoke flavor. And charcoal grills typically cost less than their gas counterpart.

Still, it is harder to control the temperature of charcoal. The coals take time to heat up and more may be needed for longer cooking times. The answer for most of the chefs is to own both a gas and a charcoal grill for any grilling situation.

Here are some of the grilling tips for the start of the grill season:

• Do not have your grill heated to one single temperature. Ideally you will have a hot side and a cooler side. For a charcoal grill, this means banking the majority of the coals to one side.
• Learn to check the grill’s temperature with the hand method. Hold your hand over the fire and count (one Mississippi, two Mississippi, etc.) Two to three seconds is a hot, high fire; four to five is medium-high; six to eight is medium; 9 to 10 is medium-low; and eleven to fourteen is low.
• Before using, get the grate hot, brush it clean with a wire grill brush, and lubricate the grate with oil (a paper towel wad and tongs do the trick) just before you add the food.
• Do not use water to tame flare-ups. Just move the food to a different area on the grill until the flames subside.
• Do not put too much food on the grill at once. There should be room to maneuver, whether it is to avoid a flame-up or to slow down the cooking if the temperature is too high in one area.
• Put barbecue sauce on at the end to prevent burning.
• Be sure to have the tools you need—long, spring-loaded tongs and a long-handled spatula. The tools should not be too heavy and fit well in your hand. An instant read thermometer and a timer are also useful tools.
• Over-turning can be a problem, especially with something as delicate as fish. Figure out the approximate cooking time and then turn the food once halfway through.
• When you remove meat from the grill, the internal temperature will continue to rise as it rests. By the time you eat, the meat could be overcooked. Try removing the meat while it is just under the desired temperature by five to ten degrees.

For information on our pre-season grill sale, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

cjonline.com

It is March and it may not feel like it, but spring is just a week away. You may be looking out your window now and seeing snow, but soon, that snow will be gone and you will get the urge to grill. Right now, you can take advantage of the pre-season gas grill sale.

The Broil King Baron series 3 and 4 burner Gas and LP grills offer both power and performance to suit all types of grillers. The legendary Broil King cooking system includes heavy-duty cast iron cooking grids, stainless steel Flav-R-Wave technology, and powerful stainless steel burners. Easy to maintain, the style and performance of these gas grills rivals any other grill on the market.

Grilling is meant to be casual and relaxed, a get together around the grill with family and friends enjoying a delicious meal. Broil King 3 and 4 burner gas grills are built to perform and provide you with unparalleled versatility in outdoor cooking. These Broil King Grills give you the ability to cook almost anything anyway on your grill. You can sear steaks, rotisserie cook chickens, or you can bake fish or desserts. Broil King gas grills are for those who love casual outdoor living and great tasting food.

Contact West Sport in Sudbury to take advantage of the pre-season grill sale.

With the continued cold weather in the Boston area, the National Fire Protection Association issued a renewed warning about safely heating your homes with gas and wood stoves and fireplace inserts.

Following these tips to keep safe and cozy for the remaining winter:

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from the fireplace, wood stove, or fireplace insert.
• Have a three-foot "kid-free zone" around fireplaces, stoves and inserts.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Have a qualified professional clean and inspect chimneys annually.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy fireplace screen or glass fireplace doors to prevent sparks from flying into the room and burn only dry, seasoned wood. Allow ashes to cool before disposing in a metal container, which is kept a safe distance from the home.
• Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms to avoid the risk of poisoning.
• Make sure all fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Have a qualified professional install heating equipment like wood and gas stoves and fireplace inserts according to the local codes and manufacturer's instructions.

For more information on wood and gas stoves and fireplace inserts, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

Times Herald Online

Let’s face it, this has been a long, cold winter. Many of you may think it is too late to do anything about your home heating. Not true. It is never too late to be thinking about how to heat your home more efficiently. Do you heat with oil or propane? If so, you should be thinking a lot about a better way to heat. If you have natural gas in your house already, a great option is to convert a wood burning fireplace to gas. By adding a gas fireplace insert to your home, you not only make your home more beautiful, but you make it more efficient too.  You will reduce the price of your oil bill and you will have an easy-to-use, beautiful fire.

A new gas fireplace insert is almost always more efficient to run than your existing furnace, this makes heating your home with gas more cost effective. If you have an open wood fireplace, adding a fireplace insert makes your fireplace more efficient too.  If your home already has natural gas, you are already halfway there.

For today’s busy lifestyles, many homeowners who are considering adding a wood burning fireplace insert realize that gas will fit their lifestyles better. No stacking, cutting or hauling wood; no mess and no dust. With a gas insert you push a button and the fire is lit with an automatic igniter switch. Gas inserts can also be controlled with a thermostat, so you can have more consistent heat.

Natural Gas is actually the least expensive heating fuel, and there is no work involved. Another benefit to a natural gas fireplace insert is that you can turn it on at any time of year with no hassle. So on those chilly May and June evenings, you don’t have to go outside and get wood to start a fire, and you don’t have to turn the heat back on. Just push the button and enjoy your natural looking gas fire.

No gas in your home, but there is gas on your street? No problem. Call your gas company and have them run a line for next year and avoid the rush!

For more information on gas fireplace inserts, contact West Sport in Sudbury.