Charcoal Chimney Starter Reviewed

 Over the years I have been back and forth between charcoal and gas grills. Five years ago my daughter gave me a Char-Griller Smokin Champ combination offset smoker and grill. Ever since I've been all about the charcoal grilling and smoking.

If you're cooking with a charcoal grill or a smoker, then a chimney starter is a must-have. The chimney starter is the easiest and fastest method of lighting any kind of charcoal. Getting your charcoal started and ready to cook is really easy. To me, the chimney starter is the safest option. You could use charcoal lighter fluid but the chemicals found in lighter fluid could leave your food tasting like the fluid.

The chimney starter in the photo is my Weber Rapidfire Charcoal Chimney Starter. I have had this one for five years now.

Features of my Chimney Starter:

It measures 13-inches High

7.5-inches in diameter

Cone shaped grate on the bottom

Ergonomic handle with heat shield

Lightweight

Durable Construction

How to use a Charcoal Chimney Starter:

The first thing that I do is flip it over and wad up 3 sheets of newspaper placed in the bottom of the cone-shaped grate. You can buy charcoal starters specifically made to light a chimney, but I find the newspaper works just as well.

Turn the chimney over on the grill grates and light the newspaper. I use a small grill and set it up on a picnic table. When you light the newspaper you'll see a lot of white smoke as seen in the photo. Don't worry this stops once the charcoal gets going.

In this photo, you can see the red glow of the charcoal moving up to the top. Looking at the top the coals are starting to turn white on the corners. This chimney is ready to dump into my grill. The process will be about 15 minutes and you'll be ready to cook with hot charcoal.

A word of caution: For dumping the hot charcoal into your grill you should have a grill glove made for high heat. I use heavy leather gloves when I'm dumping the charcoal. The hot charcoal can be 500 degrees or more. The charcoal chimney is a fast and easy way to start your charcoal.

Rapidfire Chimney StarterBBQ Fireproof Gloves, Grill Cut-Resistant Gloves 1472°F Heat Resistant Gloves, Non-Slip Silicone Oven Gloves, Kitchen Safe Cooking Gloves for Oven Mitts,Barbecue,Cooking, Frying,13.5 Inch-Red

 

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Char-Griller Smokin Champ Review

 Ghar-Griller Smokin Champ Review: The Smokey Goodness of Grilling

Most people love the taste of smoked food. And, if you are one of those people you need a good quality smoker grill in your life. The Char-Griller Smokin Champ is one of the best affordable smoker grills for the market, and it's perfect if you love to cook with smoke.

This grill is designed to give food that perfect smokey flavor, and it will not disappoint you. The Smokin Champ will deliver consistent results with its even heat distribution and adjustable vents. Whether you're grilling, smoking, or even baking the Smokin Champ will help you get the perfect results every time.

In the photo above is my Smokin Champ just after we assembled it. My daughter got this for me four years ago for Father's Day and it's everything that I expected. This grill has served us well for the last four years and I expect many more.

My Char-Griller Smokin Champ is made of high-quality steel that lasts years. It has a large cooking area of 614 square inches with a warming rack of 315 square inches, making it easy to cook for a large group of people. Or, it's just as convenient to cook for two people as most time it's just me and Fran grilling some burgers and veggies.

Features of my Smokin Champ:

• Large cooking area
• Warming rack
• 3 cast iron cooking grates
• Side firebox
• Easy slide-out drawer to clean the firebox
• Built-in thermometer to monitor the temperature 
• Side shelf for utensils
• Ashpan with hangers for charcoal grilling

This is a photo of the firebox, it is also made of heavy-duty steel with a drawer that pulls out for easy cleaning. The firebox is separate from the main chamber making it easy to add wood or charcoal without losing heat in the main chamber.

My smoker is known as an offset smoker. There are many other types of smokers on the market. But, I prefer the offset smoker, it takes a little time to learn how to control the temperature, so there is a little skill involved. Once you have mastered it you will be very happy with the results of the food you cook. 

Overall, Char-Griller Smokers are an excellent and affordable choice for anyone who just loves to cook with smoke. Or, if you don't want to use the smoker you have the option to just grill over charcoal. It's perfect for backyard barbecues and family gatherings. This smoker and grill has served our family well over the last four years and I'm looking forward to this year's grilling season. Every grill master in the family needs a fun apron. Check out my article on Funny Grill Master Aprons.

Here is a link to some of my favorite grilling and smoking recipes:

Main Dishes/Grilling

If you like cooking with charcoal, Char-Griller has a great affordable selection of Smokers and Charcoal Grills.

Char-Griller E1224 Smokin Pro 830 Square Inch Charcoal Grill with Side Fire Box, 50 Inch, BlackCheck the Price

 

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Aprons For Cooking and Entertaining: A Resource Page

Welcome to our resource page for aprons where we will review a few resources to help you find the apron that you are looking for. Whether you are looking for one for cooking or for entertaining, you are sure to find a link here to an apron that suits you perfectly. You'll find everything from pretty aprons to practical aprons; from adult aprons for both men and women to children's aprons; and, of course, fun holiday-themed aprons. You'll even find a link to some great resources for making your own apron. I know you are going to love all these aprons!

(Find the practical and sturdy apron shown above on Amazon by clicking right here.)

SIX APRON-THEMED REASONS YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THIS PAGE 

On this page you will find links to pages dedicated to the following apron topics:

Aprons for Everyday

Celebrity Aprons

How to Make an Apron

Children's Aprons

Aprons for Holidays

Aprons for Men

And More!

APRONS FOR EVERYDAY

Crazy About Cupcakes? Tie on a Cupcake Apron!
If you love cupcakes, you will love this cupcake-themed aprons.

Old-Fashioned Cross Over Apron

Looking for an apron that you can slip on over your head rather than messing with apron ties? Check out this crossover apron.

Cobbler Aprons

If you prefer an apron that resembles a lightweight vest with pockets, you should consider a cobbler apron. 

CELEBRITY APRONS

Julia Child's Apron

There are many styles of aprons but, if you want to follow the lead of Julia Child, the famous American chef, cooking teacher, author, and television personality, you should check out her preferred apron.

HOW TO MAKE AN APRON

How to Make an Apron: A Resource Page

If you are looking for resources to make an apron, you'll enjoy looking through the ideas and links on this page. 

Ellyn Geisel's Apron Book Reviewed

The Apron Book: Making, Wearing, and Sharing a Bit of Cloth and Comfort by EllynAnne Geisel, is a guide to old and new aprons. Learn more here.

Discover all of the apron pattern books available on Amazon.

There is no shortage of books to give you ideas for making your own apron whatever your preferred style.

CHILDREN'S APRONS

Eric Carle's My Apron, A Children's Book Review
If your child loves or would love to have an apron just like dad or mom, he or she will enjoy this children's picture book, My Apron, by Eric Carle.

APRONS FOR HOLIDAYS

Gingerbread Man Aprons

Do you love gingerbread, gingerbread men and Christmas? If you do, you are going to love these fun gingerbread aprons

Cooking For The Holidays? Tie On A Christmas Apron!

Christmas aprons are a recipe for holiday fun! If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen at Christmastime, you should definitely own a Christmas apron!

A Christmas Cookie Apron

Tucked in on this page dedicated to making a cookie-themed gift set, you will find a fun Christmas cookie-themed apron.

Do Your Haunting In A Halloween Apron
Looking for a Halloween apron? You might find just what you are looking for here on this page.

APRONS FOR MEN

The Best Sizzlin' Hot Barbecue Aprons

Grilling something on the BBQ? Throw on one of these fun aprons first!

Real Men Don't Wear Aprons, Do They?
This page is dedicated to the issue of whether or not real men wear aprons and whether or not you wear one? Features a fun selection of fun men's aprons! 

Five Great Grandpa Aprons

For the barbecue master in your life who is also a grandpa!

Funny Grill Master Aprons

The grill master needs a host of important pieces of equipment but maybe most importantly, a funny apron...

A Batman-Themed Apron
If you have a Batman fan, he is sure to love this Batman-themed apron.

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Well that's it. Our page of apron resources. Strap one on the next time you are in the kitchen, the art studio, the workshop...

You never know

what aprons I might have 

in store for you!

Brenda
Treasures By Brenda

Quick Link:

Check out the aprons in my eBay store.

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Funny Grill Master Aprons

 It's still winter here in Western New York, but grilling season will be here soon. There is nothing I like better than being outside cooking or smoking meats on my grill and smoker. 

There are many essential tools needed for the grill master, meat thermometers, gloves, towels, cooking utensils, cleaning equipment, and most important of all a funny apron.

Grill Masters funny aprons - Reviewed

In the photo above I'm preparing to wrap my Babyback Ribs to go back on the smoker for another two hours. Whenever I'm grilling or smoking meats you will find me wearing my funny apron. 

My son got this funny apron for me a couple of years ago for Father's Day. In case you can't the whole thing, the apron reads:  "I LIKE MY BUTT RUBBED AND MY PORK PULLED" Whenever we have friends over and I'm grilling they all just get the biggest kick out of it.

Not only is my apron funny, but it does protect my clothes from any splashing of sauces that I'm using, and any sparks from the wood when I'm tending the firebox on the smoker. It also has two handy pockets up front to hold my phone, meat thermometer, or towel while I'm cooking.

Back to the photo, yes, that is a bottle of Bourbon in my hand because I'm smoking my Honey Bourbon Babyback Ribs  Click the link to get the full recipe and method of these delicious ribs. If you don't have a smoker that's okay you still make these on your grill, or even in the oven, either way, don't forget your apron.

By the way, it's easy to clean your apron, just wash it on the cold cycle and air dry cycle in your dryer.

You will find a full range of funny aprons on Amazon. Any one of them is a perfect birthday or Father's Day gift for the grill master in your life or for yourself.

Grill Gifts for Men - Funny Apron for Men Grilling - Grill Apron for Dad, Husband, Boyfriend - Adjustable Bib Aprons Waterproof with Pockets - Black Apron Gift for Fathers Day, Birthday, ChristmasFunny apron for men, BBQ aprons for men, Grilling aprons, Chef cooking apron, with two tool pocket, Adjustable Neck Strap Waterproof and OilProof Best for Grilling, Birthday Gifts for Dad, Mens gifts.Fay People Funny Aprons for Men in 2 Colors; As Seen On Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS Funny Grilling Apron for Men can be BBQ Aprons for Men or Funny Aprons for WomenMacorner Funny Cooking Apron Gifts for Men - I Love My Butt Rubbed And My Pork Pulled - Dad Gifts - Birthday Christmas Gifts for Dad Husband Boyfriend Him - Cooking Grilling BBQ Apron

 

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The Best Sizzlin' Hot Barbecue Aprons

Grilling Something on the barbecue? Put on an apron first! It is summertime and the living is easy. Great weather, good music and your trusty friend, the barbecue, will help you prepare good food but before you throw your meat on the grill you might want to throw on a fun, spirited and practical grilling-themed apron. Here I review six. That is, six sizzlin' hot BBQ aprons. Six of the best. 'Cause only the best will do for you!

GRILL MASTER APRON

This grilling apron by Attitude Apron is a one-size-fits-all (which is usually the case) apron made of a polyester blend perfect for cooking and grilling.  One reviewer said, "We gave this and a grilling cookbook as a gift to my father-in-law and he loved it! The apron is just as pictured and was a perfect fit for my 5'9" father-in-law."  Find the Grill Master apron here on Amazon.

REAL MEN DON'T USE RECIPES

This Real Men Don't Use Recipes apron is another one-size-fits-all apron. It is made in the United States from a polyester blend, perfect for cooking and grilling. Perfect for any man who likes to ad-lib as he cooks. Find the Real Men apron here on Amazon.

A MAN AND HIS GRILL

This a man and his grill BBQ apron is a 65 percent polyester, 35 percent cotton blend and features an adjustable neck and back ties. Just throw it in the washing machine after those big grilling events! "We bought this for my brother in law's birthday (along with grill utensils) and he loved it." Find the A Man and His Grill apron on Amazon here.

BOSS OF THE BBQ

This Boss of the BBQ - Smokin' Hot and So Is My Grill apron, is yet another black, one-size-fits-most apron that will delight any man who is in charge of the BBQ...or who is just plain hot, LOL. Find the Boss of the BBQ apron here on Amazon.

WHO REALLY IS THE KING OF THE GRILL? 

This video will leave you smiling. It captures barbecuing stereotypes, whether they are true at your house or not. At our house, my husband cannot take a book out with him when he tends the grill because that only leads to disaster. The lesson we have learned the hard way is don't get between a Little and his or her reading material even if food is involved.

KING OF THE GRILL

Do You Know Someone Who Is The King of the Grill? They should definitely have their own King of the Grill Apron! Also made of a polyester blend, it is perfect for all of the king's cooking and grilling! This is an apron with attitude, making grilling even more fun! Order your King of the Grill apron from Amazon here.

Are you loving your barbecue? How about these barbecue aprons? And for interest sake, who Is The King of the Grill At YOUR House?

Tie one on! 

Brenda

MORE APRON READING:

How to Make an Apron resource page.

The Apron Book by EllynAnne Geisel reviewed. 

Discover a life time of wisdom, memories and recipes from the Great Depression.

Find a fun cookie-themed apron here.

Check out the aprons in my eBay store.

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ThermoPro TP-20 and TP-18 Food Thermometers Reviewed

 

Three years ago I received my Char-Griller offset smoker as a Father's Day gift. I was so excited and could not wait to use it. My Char-Griller is a combination smoker and charcoal grill.

As I was in a hurry to get started, I quickly realized that I needed some additional tools to help control the temperatures of the grill and the food. Even though the grill has a thermometer on the lid of the grill the temperatures can vary by 40 to 50 degrees throughout the grill.

After much research, I found the ThermoPro TP-20 remote food thermometer with dual probes. Now, I can remotely monitor the internal temperature of the food that I'm cooking along with the inside temperature of the grill.

ThermoPro TP-20 Features:

LCD Display (Liquid Crystal Display) - Displays all icons temperatures and time

Dual probe temperature display

Programmable alert with preset temperatures for different foods

Tolerance for internal food temperature is + or - 1.8 degrees

Displays in Fahrenheit or Celsius

Count down or count up timer

Remote Transmitter

The dual probes allow me to monitor the internal temperature of two types of meat or two sections of a large piece of meat.

With the 40 to 50-degree variance that I mentioned earlier, you want to be sure that you are cooking the meat at the proper temperature.

 

I always use the second probe to monitor the grill temperature of the cooking surface of my grill. The unit comes with a handy clip so you can clip the probe onto the grill grates. With the remote transmitter, I can monitor the grill and the food from anywhere. 

ThermoPro Instant ReadTP-18:

I have the old-style meat thermometers but you have to insert them into the meat and wait for the temperature to read. When your cooking over a hot surface this presents a problem.

The TP-18 is an ultra-fast digital instant-read thermometer you will get reading in about two seconds. This comes in handy for checking different portions of the meat while cooking. 

I also use both the TP-20 and TP-18 while cooking inside. The wires on the TP-20 are long enough to have the probe inserted into your favorite roast in the oven and have the monitor on the countertop.

I am very satisfied with the performance of both of my ThermoPro thermometers for the past three years and would recommend them to anybody.

Check out just a few of my favorite smoking recipes:

Long Smoke Pulled PorkSmoked Bone-in Chicken BreastsSlow Smoke Pork Ribs

 

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ThermoPro TP18 Ultra Fast Thermocouple Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer for Grilling BBQ Smoker Kitchen Food Cooking Thermometer for Oil Deep Fry Candy ThermometerCheck the PriceThermoPro TP-20 500FT Wireless Meat Thermometer with Dual Meat Probe, Digital Cooking Food Meat Thermometer Wireless for Smoker BBQ Grill Thermometer, 2.67 x 4.94 x 1.10Check the Price

 

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Ninja Foodi Grill Review

 

Our daughter got this Ninja Foodi Grill as a Christmas gift and I just have to tell you how amazing this kitchen gadget really is.

Fran and I are both retired but we both work part-time jobs. On the days that we work, we don't always prepare a meal for when we get home. 

With the Ninja Foodi Grill, we have a nice hot meal in 30 minutes or less. You can grill, air fry, bake, roast, and dehydrate with the Foodi Grill. Take foods from frozen to grilled juicy perfection in 30 minutes or less.

Ninja Foodi Grill Features and Settings:

Grill Control, Low, Medium, High, and Max

Time Setting button in minutes

Air Crisp Setting

Dehydrate Setting

Roast and Bake Settings

Above is a photo of everything in the Ninja Foodi Grill box:

Recipe Book

Quick Start Guide

Owner's Guide

Foodi Grill

Splatter Shield

Removeable Cooking Pot

Grill Grate

Crisper Basket

Cleaning Brush

The recipe book has 15 great recipes for you to try. There are also charts for grilling, air frying, and frozen food. The charts give you the amount of food, preparation tips, Cooking temperatures, and recommended cooking times. 

We made these Sausage and Pepper Grinders, the recipe is on page 26 of the included recipe book. 

First, Fran cut 2 bell peppers and one onion and tossed them in a plastic bag with 2 tablespoons of canola oil. 

Then, insert the grill grate and close the hood. Select Grill, set the temperature to low, and set the time to 28 minutes. Then, select start/stop to begin preheating. The unit will beep to indicate that's time to add the food, I love this feature it really takes the guesswork out of preheating. 

Add the peppers and onions on top of the grill grate and close the hood. The timer will begin to count down. Grill the peppers and onions for 12 minutes, when the timer counts down to 16 minutes lift the hood, place them in a bowl and cover with tin foil for later.

Add the sausage and close the hood, the timer will begin to count down again. We cooked the sausage for 7 minutes per side for a total of 14 minutes. The recipe cooks the sausage for 6 minutes per side but I added 2 minutes at the beginning of the process knowing that I wanted my sausage cooked a little more.

Lift the hood and remove the sausage. There will be 2 minutes left on the timer, add your sausage rolls on the grill top and close the hood for the last 2 minutes. Now you'll have nice toasty rolls for your sandwich. These sausage grinders were delicious, I went a little overboard and ate 2 of them myself.

I like the fact you can cook your whole meal by setting one time. We've also made shrimp and fish fillets in the air crisper from frozen to perfection.

Last week I made a couple of ribeye steaks. I brushed them with canola oil, seasoned them, and grilled them for 6 minutes per side, they were a perfect medium-rare. Let's say someone in the family likes their steak cooked medium, all you have to do is leave one steak on the grill and add another minute or two.

So far this has been a great addition to our kitchen gadgets. We've been having a lot of fun experimenting with different foods and time settings.

By the way, the splatter screen, removable cooking pot, grill grate, and crisper basket are really easy to clean.

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Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 4-qt. Air Fryer, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate Indoor Electric Grill (AG301), 10inch x 10inch, Black and Silver (Renewed)Check the Price

 

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Smoking Meat for Beginners Book Review

Everyone knows that I have a passion for preserving old family recipes. These are recipes passed down from my grandmother, mother, and aunts. You can find these old family recipes along with some new ones on my blog, Sam's Places.

During grilling season here in Western NY I love cooking on my grill. I'm always looking for new ideas and recipes to try on the grill.

A few years ago I started to follow David Farrell's blog oldfatguy.ca. I quickly became a fan and very interested in David's recipes and methods of smoking meats.

At the time I didn't have a smoker, I had a gas grill. I really wanted to try one of David's methods. So I followed his method for his 3-2-1 Spareribs on my gas grill. I picked up some wood chips wrapped them in tinfoil then poked some holes in them. 

I followed his method for seasoning, temperature to maintain, and cooking time. They were delicious and I was hooked.

 

The Old Fat Guy's Guide To Smoking Meat For Beginners

When his book came out I couldn't wait to buy it. I knew that I wanted a smoker but had no idea what type of smoker to buy. After reading the very first section of the book where David explains the benefits and downsides of every type of smoker. I decided that I wanted an offset smoker.

 And, low and behold, for Father's Day my daughter bought me this Char-Griller offset smoker. Now I was all set. 

 I had the book and the smoker.

The next part of the book will explain all about accessories for your smoker. What you need from temperature control, cleaning your equipment, cooking utensils, types of wood for smoking, and much more.

Then, David tells us how to get your smoker ready no matter what smoker you have. There is a whole section dedicated to food safety. I found this to be very helpful with tips on cross-contamination, dangerous ingredients, and improper storage.

You will find classic recipes and methods along with appetizers, rubs, sauces, and marinades. Read about David's many successes and some of his failures along the way. 

This is my go-to book along with David's blog whenever I'm preparing to smoke something. You'll find this book easy to read and non-technical. This is a perfect gift idea for not only beginners, but even the most experienced smokers will find useful information in this book.

The Old Fat Guy's Guide to Smoking Meat for Beginners

 

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Shish Kabob Grilling Baskets

 

Shish Kabob Grilling Baskets Reviewed

We like to take advantage of the grilling season here in Western New York because around here the snow will be flying before you know it. Fran saw an advertisement for these shish kabob grilling baskets and she knew we had to have them.

Fran bought two sets of four of the grilling baskets. We had them for about three weeks, and I just couldn't wait any longer to give them a try.

I picked up two 10oz. steaks, one Rib Eye, and one Strip steak along with three boneless chicken breasts. For the vegetables, we used one green and one red bell pepper, one large onion, and fresh mushrooms.

Kabob Grilling Baskets:

I cut the steak and chicken breasts into cubes to fit the baskets, about 2-inch cubes. I marinated the steak and chicken overnight in Chiavetta's Barbeque Marinade. This is a perfect marinade for chicken and beef, we use this faithfully.  After marinating, I sprayed the kabob baskets with cooking spray and filled the baskets with the meat. We used six out of the eight baskets we bought.

 The cooking spray makes for easy clean up of the baskets.  Then, I seasoned them with Penzeys Chicago Steak Seasoning.  

Close the top of the basket slide the ring up to lock in place and you're ready to grill. I choose to load the baskets with all meat. But you can alternate meat and vegetables if you like. 

 I cleaned the mushrooms and removed the stems, cut the peppers, and onion. I marinated the vegetables for about 30 minutes with an 8oz. bottle  Wegmans Basting Oil. Then, I grilled the vegetables in a separate grilling basket.  

This is the end result right out of the kabob baskets. The steak grilled to an internal temperature of 125 degrees for a perfect medium-rare, and the chicken grilled to 165 degrees internal temperature. The vegetables were grilled until they were nice and tender but still a bit crispy.

In my opinion, the Kabob Baskets are amazing, I'll never use skewers again. As long as you spray them with cooking spray before grilling clean up is fairly easy.

Tip: The kabob baskets have wooden handles which makes it difficult to close the grill lid. I used a mini bread pan to stop the grill lid from touching the handles. This kept the grill lid about 3-inches from the handles and allowed me to keep some heat as they grilled.

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Set of 4 Kabob Basket, Black

 

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