We’re in the thick of grilling season and I couldn’t be happier. We’re out in the backyard as much as possible soaking in the sunshine and grilling up amazing meals.

Are you taking advantage of the beautiful weather and grilling out?

If so, how’s it going? If you’re like me, you may need a Grilling 101 refresher course to make sure your summer grilling sessions go smoothly. It’s easy to forget over the long, hard winter.

Luckily, we’ve got a refresher course right here. Ready, set, go grab the grill!

Grilling 101
Top 10 Grilling Tips – Grilling the best steak is not as easy as it seems. It’s all in the details. Check out these Top 10 Grilling Tips for making your steaks the best they can be.	How to Clean a Grill – You want your steak to be delicious, right? A clean grill makes a big difference in the outcome of your steak. Follow these step-by-step instructions to set the stage for the perfect steak.
A Guide to Steak Cuts – Looking for something tender? Or thick and hearty? Make sure to choose the cut that’s right for you with this handy dandy guide to steak cuts.	Best Tools by Cut – To grill properly you’ve got to have the right tools for the job. And, believe it or not, different cuts require different tools. Learn why here and you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.
Get the Most out of Your Grill
Grilling Vegetables	Grilling Seafood
Grilling Favorites – A great recipe can really take your grilling experience to the next level. Fantastic marinades, rubs, seasonings and sauces can bring a whole new life to the grilling experience. Try something new for a unique flavor sensation.
Grilled Ribeye Steak Recipe	Grilled, Smoked Prime Rib Recipe

Memorial Day is the unofficial time to wrap up spring and usher in summer. It’s my absolute favorite time!

It’s a time to stop and remember those who sacrificed for our freedom and that’s very important to me to teach our kids.

And it doesn’t hurt that it comes at the most beautiful time of year in my mind.

Warm weather is everything to me. Okay, add great food in there. And my family.

Put all of those together? Perfection.

This Memorial Day, let’s all take advantage of the time we have to be outside, enjoy some steaks at a cookout and welcome summer!

Here are my tips for making this holiday celebration one for the record books:

1. Make everything you can ahead of time. Bake a dessert the day before. And plan ahead.
2. Get your steak recipes in order beforehand. Try something new. Ribeye steaks are my favorite.
3. Need a refresher on how to grill a steak? The right way? Read these tips to ensure everything goes smoothly.
4. Try serving that delicious food on colorful plates. Melamine works great. It’s MADE for outdoors. And steaks look fantastic served on wooden boards. Make it special and different and it’ll be a cookout to remember.
5. Beverage dispensers are a great idea for a crowd. Not only are they beautiful to look at – they’re self service! Try floating fruit in water or refreshing juice.
6. Put your “relaxed hat” on. We have lots of “hats” around our house that I ask my family to wear at times – patience hat, kindness hat, helpful hat. This cookout requires the relaxed hat. Wear it and all the other hats will come into play, too!

Plan to have a great time at your cookout and undoubtedly you will. Work ahead of time and this will be a sizzling Memorial Day to remember!

When it’s shorts weather, we all want to spend as much time outside as possible. There’s something so freeing about being outdoors. So, we lounge on our patios, pool decks or balconies. And eventually, we get hungry.

So that we can stay outside, we fire up our grills and take the eating adventures outdoors. There’s nothing more enjoyable to me than a gorgeous day and a meal out in nature.

And people seem to share that sentiment, so it’s no wonder that May is National Hamburger Month – because this time of year when it’s time to cook something outside, we want burgers on the grill. Plain and simple. So why not celebrate it?

Now, it’s always time for steaks at my house, but sometimes you just want a really good STEAK BURGER. This month, we celebrate those times you crave a good ‘ol steakburger.

Whatever you call it – steak burger, burger, hamburger, steakburger – it deserves to be done up right. And when you choose to grill it, there are a few rules to live by to do the burger justice.

1. Buy quality burgers. It matters.
2. Use coal or wood for cooking.
3. Sprinkle both sides of patty with kosher salt and coarse ground white pepper.
4. Sear burgers 1 minute on each side over direct heat to seal in juices.
5. Move to indirect heat.
6. Grill for approximately 6 minutes per side, checking to ensure patties are not burning.
7. Do not press burgers with spatula.
8. Add burger toppings as desired.
9. Enjoy!

Experiment with times and check the bottom of the burger periodically to make sure you are getting the doneness you crave. Keep watch so you don’t overcook them. Hockey puck burgers are the worst! But this method should help you avoid that and get the most out of your National Hamburger Month celebration!