Start Up the Grill - It's BBQ Time

As the tantalizing aroma of grilling wafts through the air, ignite your taste buds and embark on a culinary adventure where sizzling meats and smoky flavors reign supreme. 

The summer is heating up, and it's time to fire up the grill to celebrate the summer with BBQ! 

Whether you're a seasoned griller or a novice looking to impress, it's the perfect opportunity to elevate your grilling game and create unforgettable culinary experiences.

**Choosing the Right Grill**

The first step to grilling success is selecting the right grill. There are two main types of grills: gas and charcoal.

Gas grills: offer convenience and quick ignition, making them ideal for quick and easy grilling sessions. I have the Monument grill with rotisserie kit and I love it!

Monument Grills 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill with Rotisserie Kit, Side Burner, Stainless Steel 

Charcoal grills: impart a smoky flavor to food and provide a more authentic grilling experience. 

Consider the size of your grilling area, the frequency of use, and your budget when choosing a grill.

**Selecting the Best Meats**
The heart of any BBQ is the meat. Choose high-quality cuts that are full of flavor and well-marbled. Some popular BBQ meats include:

Beef: Ribeye, strip steak, brisket
Pork: Ribs, pulled pork, pork chops
Chicken:  Whole chicken, breasts, thighs
Seafood:  Salmon, tuna, shrimp

**Preparing the Grill**

Before grilling, it's essential to prepare your grill properly.

Clean the grill grates:  Use a grill brush to remove any residue from previous grilling sessions.
Heat the grill:  Preheat the grill to the desired temperature. For most meats, a medium-high heat of 350-450°F (177-232°C) is suitable.
Oil the grill grates:  To prevent food from sticking, lightly oil the grill grates with vegetable oil.

**Grilling Techniques**

There are several grilling techniques that can enhance the flavor and texture of your food.

Direct grilling: Place the meat directly over the heat source for a quick and intense sear.
Indirect grilling: Cook the meat over indirect heat, away from the heat source, for a more even and slower cook.
Two-zone grilling: Divide the grill into two zones, one hot and one cool. Grill the meat over the hot zone to sear, then move it to the cool zone for indirect cooking.

**Marinades and Rubs**

Marinades and rubs add flavor and moisture to grilled meats.

Marinades: Soak the meat in a flavorful liquid for several hours or overnight. Marinades tenderize the meat and infuse it with flavor.
Rubs:  A dry spice mixture that's applied to the meat before grilling. Rubs enhance the natural flavors of the meat and create a crispy crust.

**Sauces**

No BBQ is complete without a delicious sauce. Here are some popular BBQ sauce styles:

Kansas City: (my personal favorite) A sweet and tangy sauce made with molasses, ketchup, and vinegar.
Carolina:  A vinegar-based sauce with a mustardy flavor.
Texas: A spicy sauce made with chili peppers and brown sugar.

**Sides and Accompaniments**

Complete your BBQ feast with delectable sides and accompaniments. Some popular options include:

Potato salad: A classic BBQ side dish made with boiled potatoes, mayonnaise, and other ingredients. Click here photo for a delicious potato salad recipe. 

Coleslaw:  A crunchy salad made with shredded cabbage, carrots, and a creamy dressing. Click here photo for a delicious potato salad recipe. 

Baked beans: A sweet and savory dish made with beans, bacon, and brown sugar. Click here photo for a delicious potato salad recipe.  

**BBQ Safety Tips**

• Always prioritize safety when grilling.
• Keep the grill away from flammable materials: Place the grill on a stable, non-combustible surface.
• Never leave the grill unattended: Stay close to the grill while it's in use.
• Use long-handled grilling tools:  Keep your hands away from the heat.
• Clean the grill regularly: Remove grease and food residue to prevent flare-ups.

BBQ Week is a celebration of the art of grilling. By following these tips, you can create a mouthwatering BBQ that will impress your friends and family. So, fire up the grill, gather your loved ones, and enjoy the ultimate grilling experience!

Do you have some helpful grilling tips? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below.

Keep it sassy,

Kelly

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read our blog! We really appreciate it. We believe that our blog is a great way to share valuable information, such as tips, tricks, and advice, to help our readers improve their lives. We strive to create content that is interesting, informative, and entertaining so that our readers can always find something valuable to read. We do our best to provide content that is timely and relevant, so our readers can stay up to date with the latest trends. We also aim to provide content that is unique and engaging, so our readers can learn something new and be inspired. We hope that our blog provides you with the necessary information and resources to make your life easier and more enjoyable. Thank you again for taking the time to read our blog!

FTC DISCLAIMER:  This page informs you of our disclosure statement regarding the advertisements we use and disclosure of our Service and the choices we have associated with it. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics, or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third-party ad network or affiliates. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements. The owner(s) of this website is not compensated to provide opinions on products, services, websites, and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this website are purely the owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This website does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

Easy Homemade Popsicle Recipes

***UPDATED 7/14/23***

It’s been hot and sticky in Virginia lately. What would make it tolerable is a cold & refreshing treat. My grandkids love popsicles and I have them ready when they come over for a visit. You don’t have to have anything fancy to make popsicles. All you need is some fruit juice, fruit, and some sort of mold. I’ve made them in small cups with a popsicle stick and I’ve made them in a silicone mold. 

Here are some delicious recipes that you can make for your kids, grandkids, or just for yourself. 

The link to the recipes is highlighted in this post. Thanks to all those bloggers that share their love for food and family.

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At Live Eat Learn she has the most delectable popsicles using fruit, yogurt, coconut milk, and even veggies in some of them. Got to sneak in the veggies, they won't even know they are getting a healthy snack.

        Sneaky Spinach

1.5 cups milk, 1 cup fresh spinach, 1/4 cup honey, 2 bananas

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Lemon Tree Dwelling has fruit smoothie popsicles. You make a smoothie and freeze it in molds. Super easy and delicious.

Eat on a Dime has a recipe using Jell-O. Who knew you could freeze Jell-O? The variety of flavors of Jell-O could make for interesting popsicles. 

• Strawberry, Black Cherry, Lime, Lemon, Cherry, Peach, Raspberry, Watermelon, Apricot, Island, Pineapple, Strawberry-Banana, Grape, Orange, Cranberry & Tropical Fusion

Cooking Classy came up with the Neapolitan Popsicles. This particular recipe takes a bit more time because you have to wait between layers to freeze. But, they will be worth it. Do you like Neapolitan ice cream? Then you might like these popsicles. 

Don't Waste the Crumbs has the simplest ice pop recipe. All you need is fruit and a bit of liquid of your choice. I think you could easily make this an adult ice pop using your favorite wine or liquor. You can get the Zipzicle Ice Pop Pouch on Amazon.

Living on a Dime has a 2 ingredient Kiwi popsicle recipe. Kiwi is one of my favorite fruits and I think I just might make these myself.

2 Ingredient Kiwi Popsicles

4 kiwi, 1 1/2 cups juice (grape or pineapple), 1-3 tsp. sugar (optional)

Blend until smooth. 

Add sugar to taste. 

our into molds and freeze.

Do you happen to make homemade popsicles? We’d love to know what you use from the recipes to your molds. Please comment and share. 😊

Keep it sassy,

Kelly

Sassy Silver Sisters

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Thank you for reading our blog post. If you haven't already subscribed to receive our weekly blog post and Recipe of the Week, just click the SUBSCRIBE button on the right of the page and you will be the first to find out what's going on in our sassy brains. 😜

The Recipe of the Week is a bonus for our subscribers and goes out via email mid-week.

So, don't miss out, and SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

FTC DISCLAIMER:  This page informs you of our disclosure statement regarding the advertisements we use and disclosure of our Service and the choices we have associated with it. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics, or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third-party ad network or affiliates. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements. The owner(s) of this website is not compensated to provide opinions on products, services, websites, and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this website are purely the owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This website does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

Easy Ice Tea Recipes for National Ice Tea Month

***UPDATED 5/31/24***

It's National Ice Tea Month and I love iced tea. Typically if I'm going through the drive-thru at CFA or McDs, I get a sweet tea half cut, meaning the tea is way too sweet to order it full strength so I order a blend of sweet and unsweetened. Can you relate?

I make iced tea on occasion with a tea maker and add simple syrup I've made. Normally it's just family-size tea bags with no other flavors. Sometimes, making flavored tea is on the agenda, like strawberry or mango flavors are delicious.

Below are some thirst-quenching sweet tea recipes you'll have to try. 

How to Make Southern Sweet Tea

How to Make Sweet Tea

INGREDIENTS

• 3 family-sized black tea bags ( or 12 individual tea bags), such as Lipton or Luzianne
• 1 Cup granulated sugar
• Ice
• Fresh mint leaves or lemon slices (optional)

EQUIPMENT

• Small saucepan
• Long-handled spoon
• 1 Gal pitcher, or multiple smaller pitchers

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Boil the water. Bring 4 cups of the water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove from heat.
2. Steep the tea for 5 minutes. Dunk the tea bags a few times in the water to fully hydrate, then leave them submerged with the strings hanging over the pot's side. After 5 minutes, remove the bags and discard them.
3. Add the sugar to the tea until completely dissolved.
4. Pour the tea base into the pitcher.
5. Top off the pitchers with 3 quarts of water to the tea base to make a gallon of sweet tea and store to combine.
6. Refrigerate until very cold, at least 4 hours, or ideally, overnight.
7. Serve over ice. Add a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon to each, if desired.

PINEAPPLE ICED TEA

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups water
• 7 tea bags
• 2 T sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• OPTIONAL: pineapple wedges, lemon slices, and fresh mint leaves

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil; remove from heat. Add tea bags; steep, covered, 3-5 minutes according to taste. Discard tea bags. Stir in sugar until dissolved. Transfer to a pitcher; cool slightly. Stir in fruit juices.
2. Refrigerate, and cover, overnight. Serve over ice. Garnish as desired.

Cherry Limeade Sweet Tea

INGREDIENTS

• 8 cups water
• 6 tea bags
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 can (12 oz) frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
• 1 cup chilled cherry juice blend
• Ice cubes
• Lime wedges and pitted dark sweet cherries

• DIRECTIONS

1. In a Dutch oven, bring water to a boil; remove from heat. Add tea bags; steep, covered, 10 minutes. Discard tea bags. Stire in sugar until dissolved; cool slightly. Transfer to a pitcher; cool completely.
2. Add limeade concentrate and cherry juice to the tea. Serve over ice with lime wedges and cherries.

• Raspberry Iced Tea
• • 
    

Raspberry Iced Tea

• INGREDIENTS

• 6 cups water
• 1-3/4 cups sugar
• 8 tea bags
• 3/4 cup frozen apple-raspberry juice concentrate
• 8 cups cold water
• Ice cubes
• Fresh raspberries, optional

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large saucepan, bring 6 cups water and sugar to a boil; remove from heat. Add tea bags; steep, covered, 3-5 minutes according to taste. Discard tea bags. Add juice concentrate; stir in cold water. Serve over ice, with raspberries if desired.

• Blueberry Iced Tea

Blueberry Iced Tea

Refreshing summertime brewed tea with homemade blueberry simple syrup.

INGREDIENTS

• 6 black tea bags
• 8 cups filtered water, divided
• 3/4 cup blueberry syrup
• Lemon slices, mint for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Bring five cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add tea bags. Steep 10 minutes.
2. Discard tea bags. Pour the tea into a pitcher. Add the blueberry syrup, stirring until totally incorporated. Add the remaining 3 cups of water.
3. Chill for a minimum of one hour. Serve with lemon slices and mint leaves.

Many thanks to thekitchn.com, tasteofhome.com, and peelwitzeal.com for the great recipes.

How do you like your iced tea? Please comment below and don't forget to share these recipes.

Keep it sassy,

Kelly

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read our blog! We really appreciate it. We believe that our blog is a great way to share valuable information, such as tips, tricks, and advice, to help our readers improve their lives. We strive to create content that is interesting, informative, and entertaining so that our readers can always find something valuable to read. We do our best to provide content that is timely and relevant, so our readers can stay up to date with the latest trends. We also aim to provide content that is unique and engaging, so our readers can learn something new and be inspired. We hope that our blog provides you with the necessary information and resources to make your life easier and more enjoyable. Thank you again for taking the time to read our blog!

FTC DISCLAIMER:  This page informs you of our disclosure statement regarding the advertisements we use and disclosure of our Service and the choices we have associated with it. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics, or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third-party ad network or affiliates. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements. The owner(s) of this website is not compensated to provide opinions on products, services, websites, and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this website are purely the owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This website does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

TerraShield for those Pesky Summertime Bugs

***UPDATED 4/29/23***

Make TerraShield your traveling companion whenever you head into the great outdoors. Formulated with woody and flowery essential oils like Cedarwood, Arborvitae, Ylang Ylang, and Lemon Eucalyptus, the oil blend creates an aroma that’s wholesome and comforting.

TerraShield is perfect for the whole family! Diffuse it at your next outdoor event to create an inviting atmosphere for those you love. The TerraShield Outdoor Blend is now offered in a 30 ml spray bottle. TerraShield Spray will give you all of the benefits of doTERRA TerraShield oil while adding in the convenience of a spray lid and top, allowing you to access its benefits quicker and easier. The shape of the container also makes it a great fit for a pocket or bag and can be easily carried and stored for on-the-go use.

☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ 

doTERRA products are fantastic and I'm here to share with you another amazing oil.

Summer is upon us.  Hot, sticky, bug-infested summer.  I personally don’t spend a lot of time outdoors. If the heat doesn’t get to me, the bugs do.  I don’t like putting poison on me to keep the bugs away either.

When I joined doTerra, I found they have an oil blend to help me keep the bugs away.  It’s called TerraShield.  You can apply TerraShield on your legs, arms, and neck before going outdoors. You can also diffuse TerraShield.  It comes 15mL bottle or in a 30mL spray.

The ingredients are Fractionated Coconut Oil, Ylang YlangFlower, Tamanu Seed, Nootka Wood, Cedarwood Wood, Catnip Plant, Lemon Eucalyptus Leaf, Litsea Fruit, Vanilla Bean Absolute, Arborvitae Wood.

For the DIY people out there, I would recommend buying the oil blend and making your own spray.  If you want to buy both then you would already have the spray bottle to reuse. I am sure you can find many recipes online.  doTerra advocates are great at sharing recipes for making all kinds of products for your home.  Here is just one recipe you can use to make more TerraShield spray when you run out.

Homemade Bug Spray using doTerra Terrashield Oil

Ingredients:

• One 8-ounce spray bottler 

• 1/2 c, boiled or distilled water

• 1/2 c. witch hazel

• 30 drops of the Terrashield blend

Here are some links for these doTerra items:

Terrashield Blend & Terrashield Spray Oil

I hope everyone enjoys their summer.

Have you ever used Terrashield? If so, please share in the comments your thoughts about the product.

If you have any questions about doTerra products,  contact me Rhonda Byler, I am always happy to share. 

~ Rhonda

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Thank you for reading our blog post. If you haven't already subscribed to receive our weekly blog post and Recipe of the Week, just click the SUBSCRIBE button on the right of the page and you will be the first to find out what's going on in our sassy brains. 😜

The Recipe of the Week is a bonus for our subscribers and goes out via email mid-week.

So, don't miss out, and SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

FTC DISCLAIMER:  This page informs you of our disclosure statement regarding the advertisements we use and disclosure of our Service and the choices we have associated with it. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics, or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third-party ad network or affiliates. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements. The owner(s) of this website is not compensated to provide opinions on products, services, websites, and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this website are purely the owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This website does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

Old Fashioned Peach Jello Salad Recipe

***UPDATED 7/14/23***

Old Fashioned Peach Jello Salad

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I just had to try this🍑 Peach Jello Salad. Peach is a favorite and it has been so hot lately, I thought I would try it out. It was sweet, crunchy, creamy, and peachy goodness!

You can change it up by using whatever fruit and Jello you desire.

Peach Jello Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 Small Boxes of Peach Jello
• 2 Cups Boiling Hot Water
• 1 Large Can of Peach Pie Filling or Fresh Peaches
• 1 Small Can of Crushed Pineapple (drained)

Directions:

1. In a medium-large bowl, mix peach Jello and hot water until it dissolves. Add in Peaches or Peach pie filling and crushed pineapple. Once mixed, put in the fridge for 3 hours or until it sets up.

Topping:

• 8 Oz Cream Cheese
• 8 Oz Sour Cream
• 3/4 Cups Sugar

Directions:

In a medium-sized bowl, mix the topping ingredients with an electric mixer. Spread on the top of your chilled salad then top with chopped pecans. Chill for another 30 min. and serve.

This recipe was found on YouTube Cooking with Shotgun Red Channel.

Do you have a cool summer dessert you'd like to share? We all love new recipes, so feel free to share in the comments.

I hope you give this a try! 

Cathy

Sassy Silver Sisters

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Thank you for reading our blog post. If you haven't already subscribed to receive our weekly blog post and Recipe of the Week, just click the SUBSCRIBE button on the right of the page and you will be the first to find out what's going on in our sassy brains. 😜

The Recipe of the Week is a bonus for our subscribers and goes out via email mid-week.

So, don't miss out, and SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

FTC DISCLAIMER:  This page informs you of our disclosure statement regarding the advertisements we use and disclosure of our Service and the choices we have associated with it. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics, or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third-party ad network or affiliates. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements. The owner(s) of this website is not compensated to provide opinions on products, services, websites, and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this website are purely the owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This website does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.