Summer is coming to a close. It’s sad, but it doesn’t mean grilling has to stop!

On the contrary.

Keep those burgers, steaks, hot dogs, kabobs and whatever else you can dream up coming!

But there are a few end of summer grilling tips to prepare for the coming fall grilling season.

1. Clean the grill. You might not grill as often as you did in the summer. So start off the season with a good cleaning. The grill might sit for a longer period of time so let it sit clean.
2. Cover the grill. We’ll get some chilly nights (and days) ahead so cover up that grill so it stays safe – and leaf-free!
3. Make sure all knobs are on the OFF position. Seems simple, but in our haste sometimes we forget one or more of the burners when we’re finished. THAT would be a disaster if left for a while so double and triple check.
4. Shift to fall recipes! Searing a roast on the grill before letting it slow cook is oh so amazing! Check out more recipe ideas here.
5. Don’t forget to continue to invite lots of friends and family over to grill. Body heat will keep you warm when the temperatures start to go down! 🙂

Happy continued grilling!

Wanna take the “labor” out of your Labor Day grilling?

Try these grilling and pairing tips to make your Labor Day grilling runs smoothly!

1. Check out these “Top 10 Steak Grilling Tips” from a real-live chef. Advice like “season early” seems simple enough, but if it’s skipped it could lead to some sad steaks.
2. Sometimes seeing is believing. Watch these videos for step-by-step instructions for your specific meal. Whether you’re grilling a ribeye, a Chateaubriand or going all out with some Wagyu Kobe beef, you’re covered with these grilling videos.
3. Brush up on your how to thaw steak. Should you leave your frozen meat out in the hot sun to get it ready for the grill? Find out here!
4. Need some recipe inspiration for your Labor Day grilling extravaganza? You’re sure to find something you’ll want to try in this list of amazing recipes.
5. Find the perfect wine to go with your grilled perfection with this wine pairing chart. I like charts ’cause they do all the hard work for me!
6. Wanna know how long to grill a steak on each side for that perfect taste? Well, speaking of grilling charts, we’ve got one for that!
7. And not only do we have a chart for that, we’ve got a grilling app for the perfect steak, too!
8. Now you’re all set to hit it out of the park (or at least onto the grill) this Labor Day!

Photo courtesy of KansasCitySteaks.com.

Hot dogs, kabobs, burgers, baked beans — even s’mores! These are all campfire food favorites.

But have you ever thought maybe you’d like to step outside of the box on your next campfire excursion?

Here are some great campfire recipes that’ll help you do just that!

Heavenly Fish – this one uses the foil method and works perfectly with trout or any fish you choose.

Campers Stew – ground beef is used in this camping recipe, along with veggies and potatoes. Yum!

Cowboy Casserole – hamburger, beans and bacon over biscuits conjures up images of the Old West!

Fajita Marinade – put your flank steak or skirt steak in this and your campers will scream, “Yahoo!”

What do all these camping recipes have in common? They’re all incredibly simple and easy to cook over hot coals. Have fun!

Photo courtesy of KansasCitySteaks.com.