Grilling Must-Knows

Posted on July 11, 2016 by admin

Grilling is an art form, it’s a skill that is learned and acquired through practice. If you own a Cal Flame BBQ grill, then you will most likely know the following grilling must-knows to survive the summer season. If you are a new to the grilling world, then follow us this way to simple tips & tricks to get the most out of your grill:

grill-a-la-cart-series

1. Set up 2 grill zones — one for direct heat, and the other for indirect heat. Use the direct heat to sear meats and veggies, and move them to the cool side to allow the food to finish grilling without overcooking.

2. Leave the lid off for ingredients that cook quickly like shrimp and vegetables and put the lid on for longer-grilling items like poultry and steak.

3. Season burger meat liberally with salt, pepper and canola oil. Allow cheeses to melt completely by closing the lid for a delicious melted cheesy goodness.

4. If you don’t have time to marinate your meats, a dry rub is a quick way to add flavor to grilling. Keep a well stocked spice rack for the kitchen and the grill! Double points!

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5. Keep vegetables whole or in larger sections so they’re easier to manage on the grill and keeps them from falling through the grates. For smaller items, use water-soaked wooden skewers it makes transferring and flipping easier and quicker.

6. Do not open and touch the food too much. Let the grill do it’s job and let is stand a bit before flipping. If you check on the food and it’s sticking a little, it’s not done cooking. Turn the food only once and let the fire be your guide.

If you are a master chef, visit our website to become the lucky owner of a Cal Flame BBQ. Cal Flame offers a variety of patio and hearth products ranging from grills, islands and accessories to make the most of your back yard, this summer and beyond!

www.CalFlameBBQ.com

Grilling in the Springtime

Posted on February 23, 2016 by admin

Spring… the snow is melting, the birds are chirping, and the grill is heating. Springtime is around the corner which means there will soon be an abundance of produce available to take your grilling to the next level. Next time you are in the grocery store make sure to grab some fresh spring fruits and vegetables to add another dimension of flavor to your plate.

Artichokes
Asparagus
Avocadoes
Broccoli
Carrots
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Vidalia onions
Zucchini

Vegetables cook quickly and delicious with just the right hint of smoke from the grill. Add a pinch of salt, a pinch of pepper and just the right amount of oil to keep them drying and sticking to the grill.

A helpful hint to remember is that although vegetables cook fairly quickly, they all vary in cooking times. Some take about a minute or two while denser vegetables, like potatoes, will take longer.

An easy way to cook a variety of vegetables is by putting them on a skewer. This will also prevent smaller vegetables from falling through. If you chop larger vegetables up, take into consideration cooking time. Relatively larger pieces will take longer than smaller pieces.

If you don’t have a diligent grill to use this springtime, don’t fret! Cal Flame BBQ has got you covered! We offer an array of drop-in grills, barbecue islands and accessories to complete you dream outdoor kitchen.

Tips for Grilling in Winter

Posted on December 14, 2015 by admin

Cal Flame wants to ensure that you enjoy grilling all year long, including Winter! In some areas of the United States, extreme weather conditions can make grilling outdoors more difficult. Follow these tips for grilling in winter:

1. Cal Flame Grills are Built to Last
The porcelain-enamel is glass fused to high-quality steel, and it is baked on at an estimated 1700 degrees Fahrenheit. This superior quality that means that your grill will hold in heat well during the colder weather, and keep you grilling through the winter. Cal Flame BBQ grills are built to last and have been rigorously tested for performance.

2. Cover Your Grill
Cal Flame BBQ Grill Covers are a must-have not only during the colder winter months to protect your grill from snow, but also during summer and fall to keep your grill scratch free and debris free. During the winter, your grill may be covered in snow so we suggest dusting snow off with a shovel.

3. Keep it Charged
It’s a good idea to keep an extra tank of gas next to your grill for extra power. During the colder winter months it will take more gas to keep your grill hot how you want it. Having an extra tank will keep your grill going and prevent the need for returning to the store.

4. Don’t Open Your Grill
It is cold outside, opening your grill will reduce your grill’s temperature and extend your cooking time. Instead of peaking inside your grill to check on your food, get your grill to the desired temperature, set your meat, set your timer and close the lid. Keep the lid closed! Once your timer goes off, check on your meat.

5. Stay Warm, Stay Safe
Make sure to keep yourself protected. Wear your protective grilling gloves and warm gear to protect yourself from extreme weather conditions. A Cal Flame outdoor fireplace or firepit also makes a great addition to your patio.

Cal Flame has a grill or outdoor kitchen perfect for your backyard or patio. Find it here: www.CalFlameBBQ.com

Healthy Grilling

Posted on December 8, 2015 by admin

Millions of Americans promise themselves on January 1st to live a much happier and healthier lifestyle in the New Year. Most of those New Year’s resolutions involve either becoming wealthier or losing weight. Though, wealth is contingent on several other factors, did you know an efficient grill is an effective way to help you achieve your fitness goals? As a rule of thumb, weight loss is generally 75 percent diet and 25 percent exercise. Which means, its more important to watch what you put in your body than what you do to your body.

Unlike cooking on a conventional stove top, grilling gives you the versatility to cook with more flavors while excess fat drips right off. Additionally, choose lean meats to cook to reduce fat intake, or trim any skin or visible fat to reduce fat. Marinade meats before cooking to transform recipes into a flavorful dish ready to be enjoyed. Some favorite marinade ingredients include wines, vinegars, lemon or lime juice, low-sodium soy sauce, honey, garlic, onions, herbs, and spices. Grills can also be used to cook vegetables and fruits to prepare healthy and delicious side dishes.

Meal Preparation – Instead of having a cookout for a single day, have a cookout for the week and retain your meals in containers to be enjoyed throughout the week. This way you’ll be able to enjoy a delicious homemade meal that can be reheated and consumed at your convenience. This will save you money and will save you the extra calories by practicing portion control.

Cal Flame BBQ also offers convection grills that allow you to bake your favorite meats and vegetables without any extra calories. Find the prefect grill for your home today at www.CalFlameBBQ.com. Make your resolution and keep it this year, with Cal Flame and healthy home grilling.

Find your local Certified Cal Flame Dealer, here.

Grilling Thanksgiving Day Turkey

Posted on November 16, 2015 by admin

The big day is upon us, Thanksgiving is only a few short days away. Many of us may have tucked our grills away from the remainder of the year, but there are some true barbecue enthusiasts who insist on grilling their Thanksgiving Turkey!

Grilling a turkey doesn’t sound too bad, right? I mean, a chicken is a bird, a turkey is a bird, there aren’t many differences, right? Wrong!

Beside being much larger than a chicken, whole turkey must be paid close attention to while grilling (you only get one shot a year to make this scrumptious perfection).

Butterball has got the perfect step-by-step guide on how to grill a Turkey on a Charcoal and Gas Grill this Thanksgiving:

OUTDOOR CHARCOAL GRILLING

Charcoal grilling can give you an amazing flavor when you use the right technique. For tasty results use these instructions:

Prepare charcoal-covered grill by removing cooking grate and opening all vents.
Position drip pan in center of charcoal grate and place 25 to 30 briquettes along each side (lengthwise) of drip pan. Burn briquettes until covered with gray ash, about 30 minutes. Place cooking grate in grill over coals.
Prepare fresh or thawed turkey by removing giblets and neck, draining juices and patting dry with clean paper towels.
Turn wings back to hold neck skin in place and tuck legs. Brush or spray entire turkey with cooking or vegetable oil.
Place turkey, breast up, on cooking grate over drip pan. Cover grill, leaving vents open.
Add 6 to 8 briquettes to each side every 45 to 60 minutes.
Using meat thermometer, cook turkey to internal temperature of 180° F in thigh and 170° F in breast.
10 to 16 lb. turkeys will take 2 to 3 hours to grill. When done, remove and let stand for 15 minutes before carving.

For the gas grill directions, click here.

To give the gift of a perfect grill this season, shop Cal Flame BBQ to find grills, island, firepits and fireplaces to extend your outdoor living space.

Find a local certified Cal Flame BBQ dealer near you, click here.

Grilling Orange

Posted on October 8, 2015 by admin

The season of orange is here. No, not the fruit, the color! Leaves change to different shades, pumpkins grow and, of course, pumpkin spice! This sort of fascination with the color not only gets us ready for the holiday season, but it also brings back memories of Autumns past. Why not incorporate the color orange into you home grilling this Fall?

Fine Cooking has a delicious Honey-Glazed Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Peach Skewers recipe ready to enjoy on your Cal Flame barbecue grill. Check it out below:

Juicy chunks of chicken, sweet potatoes, peaches, and onions are grilled with a sweet-tart glaze, then sprinkled with crunchy grilled spiced pecans. Here’s what you’ll need:

1 medium sweet potato (about 3/4 lb.), peeled and cut into sixteen 1-1/2-inch pieces
1 cup sherry vinegar
1/2 cup plus 1 Tbs. honey
2 Tbs. canola oil; more for the grill
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 16 pieces
4 small ripe but firm peaches, quartered and pitted (about 1-1/2 lb.)
1/2 small sweet onion, cut into 1-1/2-inch chunks, layers separated (about 4 oz.)
1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Directions: Prepare a medium gas or charcoal grill fire. Soak eight 12-inch wooden skewers in water.

In a 4-quart saucepan fitted with a steamer basket, bring 1 inch of water to a boil over high heat. Steam the sweet potatoes until nearly cooked but still a bit firm, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the heat; cool slightly.

Put the vinegar, 1/2 cup of the honey, 1 Tbs. of the oil, 2 tsp. salt, and 3/4 tsp. pepper in a 3-quart saucepan. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until reduced to 2/3 cup, 13 to 15 minutes. (The glaze should brush on easily but be thick enough to coat the chicken. If it’s too thick, add a few drops of hot water.) Meanwhile, thread the onion, chicken, sweet potato, and peach onto the soaked skewers.

Reserve half the glaze. Brush the skewers with the remaining half of the glaze. Thoroughly oil the grill grate. Arrange the skewers on one side of the grill grate and grill, covered, until well marked on one side, 4 to 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, toss the pecans in a small bowl with the remaining 1 Tbs. honey and 1 Tbs. oil, the cumin, pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 tsp. salt, and a pinch of pepper. Put a large piece of foil on the other side of the grill and scatter the nuts on the foil. Flip the skewers. Grill until the chicken is cooked through and the nuts are bubbling, 3 to 5 minutes more. (Keep a close eye on the nuts; stir if they threaten to burn.) Transfer the skewers to a serving platter, brush with the reserved glaze, and sprinkle with the pecans.

Delicious!

www.CalFlameBBQ.com

So Many Delicious Things!

Posted on August 4, 2015 by admin

Well, looks like July came and went really fast this time, didn’t it? The hours of Summer are now slowly drifting away as we welcome August with wide arms and sweater vests. But the grilling fun doesn’t need to stop here, no sir! Many of our favorite vegetables and fruits are in peak season and make a perfect companion to go with our grilled meats!

Thanks to BUZZFEED for providing a handy-dandy list of everything fresh and ready to be devoured this August.

SO MANY DELICIOUS THINGS! Obviously, last-chance summer berries are the perfect excuse to eat dessert twice a day. Also, to drink sangria on the regular.

(This will vary depending on the time of the month and where you live):

- Apricots
- Basil
- Bell Peppers
- Beets
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Boysenberries
- Cantaloupe
- Chard
- Cherries
- Corn
- Cucumbers
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- Figs
- Grapes
- Green beans
- Green onions
- Kiwi
- Mangoes
- Melons
- Nectarines
- Okra
- Peaches
- Peas
- Plums
- Raspberries
- Scallions
- Strawberries
- Summer squash
- Tomatillos
- Tomatoes
- Watermelons
- Zucchini

Many vegetables, and even fruits, can be grilled and enjoyed directly from your Cal Flame BBQ Outdoor Kitchen. Crowd favorites include grilled avocados (brush with olive oil, season with salt and place face-down on your grill), eggplant (do I really need to explain this one?), Summer squash (get ‘em while they’re hot!), and roasted tomatoes (for your burger, salsas and everything in between).

Get more August Cooking Recipes at Buzzfeed by clicking, here.

For more information about Cal Flame BBQ product and service, and to find a Cal Flame store near you, please visit www.CalFlameBBQ.com.

Kamado Smoker Grilling

Posted on July 8, 2015 by admin

There isn’t much difference in cooking with a Kamado than with a traditional grill, however it is something you must accustom to before feeling comfortable. Kamados are capable of holding low temperatures for extended periods of time, which is excellent for slow cooking, which might cause a learning curve. Kamado smoker grills also provide the flexibility to achieve a variety of cooking styles, it’s up to the grill master to choose

Kamados naturally produce a natural convection effect, perfect for grilling and even baking, although it may take a little longer to enjoy your barbecue food, the end result will be well worth the wait. With that being said, here is my favorite brisket recipe you could use to your advantage on your kamado thanks to www.bbqguys.com.

SMOKED BRISKET

INGREDIENTS

5-7 lb. beef brisket
3-4 cups wood chunks or chips
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 T. dried rosemary
2 T. garlic powder
2 T. turbinado sugar
2 T. paprika
2 T. cayenne pepper
1 T. dried oregano
1 T. dried thyme
2 T. kosher salt
2 T. fresh cracked black pepper

DIRECTIONS

After trimming the fat layer down on the brisket to about 1/4 inch and removing any large membranes or “silverskin”, rub generously with olive oil and rub in your spice blend with the backs of your hands (this is more fun than it sounds).
Next double wrap your brisket tightly with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, but preferably over night.
While waiting, soak your wood chips and set up your grill or smoker for indirect cooking.
When ready, remove brisket from refrigerator and place straight on a 225°F degree grill, fat side down.
If spraying your brisket, blend the apple cider and apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz every 2-3 hours.
Your brisket will take between 1 1/4 – 2 hours per pound, depending on many different factors. With that said, insert an internal temperature probe into the thickest section of meat on your brisket at around 1 1/4 hours per pound of actual cooking time and begin to monitor.
When your brisket reaches an internal temperature of 180°F, remove and double wrap with heavy duty aluminum foil; followed by wrapping tightly with a clean towel or newspaper.
Now place the whole package inside of a cooler. When the internal temperature reaches 190°F, you are ready to un-wrap one of the best tasting cuts of beef you have ever had.

For more information about Cal Flame BBQ products and services, please visit www.CalFlameBBQ.com

Fourth of July Cookout

Posted on June 26, 2015 by admin

Okay everyone, this is it: the biggest barbecue day of the YEAR! While some of us might be preoccupied wondering what the headliner on their plate will be at this year’s Fourth of July Cookout, and others have made up their mind after wrapping up last year’s feast. But this isn’t about the main dish, oh no ladies and gentleman, contrary to popular belief the delicacies are only a portion of what makes a cookout a real EVENT. It’s really all about coming together on a warm evening to celebrate with friends, family and food. Here are some Independence Day-inspired activities you could share with family at this year’s Fourth of July Cookout!Fourth of July is, for the most part, a warm day/evening, cool off with some water activities that the entire family can join in on. Water balloons are a fun, and cost-effective way to cool down while waiting for the food to be ready. Hot Potato is an all time favorite.

For dessert, host a watermelon eating contest. Whoever wins gets first-pick on fireworks or an extra sparkler. How about having a ring-toss game with glowsticks? Stake down some sticks upright and toss glowstick necklaces, and see how many you can make in.

When your Fourth of July get together begins to wind down, get in a last sugar rush with some tabletop s’mores. Place a foil cover inside small terracotta pots, drop-in some charcoal and let the sparks keep flying.

Of course, these are only a few of the many activities that can supplement your enjoyment this Fourth of July. For the ultimate Fourth of July Cookout experience, why not get a Cal Flame BBQ Outdoor Kitchen? The ultimate customizable BBQ Island that will cater to each one of your needs Make sure to visit www.CalFlameBBQ.com to shop through our extensive BBQ Island selection.

June Gloom Summer Kickoff

Posted on June 2, 2015 by admin

The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming and June Gloom is in full swing. What better way to kickoff Summer than with a June Gloom Summer barbecue?

It seems although burgers might be the unpopular option this Summer during your big backyard barbecue. Ground beef prices in April rose to a record $4.23 a pound, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as beef prices have risen 14 months in a row, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Just five years ago, hamburger prices were almost half that, at $2.36 a pound. Americans spent about $298 per person on beef in 2014, and $170 on pork, according to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the highest dollar amounts in 25 years.

The good thing, however, is that pork prices have fallen the lowest in nearly five years, and half of what they were a year ago. Bacon and its beloved smoky taste have become ubiquitous, popping up in foods like all-bacon burgers, bacon-flavored milkshakes and even bacon-topped maple and chocolate doughnuts.

This year, why not grill something new? Try the following recipe at your outdoor barbecue:

Caribbean-Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Peach Salsa Recipe

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 min. Grill: 20 min.

MAKES: 4 servings

Ingredients

3/4 cup chopped peeled fresh peaches

1 small sweet red pepper, chopped

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion

2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 garlic clove, minced

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon Caribbean jerk seasoning

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

1 pork tenderloin (1 pound)

Directions

In a small bowl, combine the first nine ingredients; set aside. In another small bowl, combine the oil, brown sugar, jerk seasoning, thyme, rosemary and seasoned salt. Rub over pork.
Grill, covered, over medium heat for 9-11 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 145°. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with salsa. Yield: 4 servings (1-1/3 cups salsa).

For more delicious pork recipes, visit Taste of Home, here.

Find the perfect barbecue grill to suit your BBQ style at Cal Flame BBQ. Find a local dealer near you, here.

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Category Archives: Grilling Recipes