1. COFFEE ICE CUBES: Iced coffee is a summertime favorite for many of us but keeping that brew cold and undiluted can be a problem. I brew enough coffee to fill a couple of ice cube trays.
After frozen, I empty the cubes into a freezer bag. I use my coffee cubes in my drink to keep it cold, and as they melt they enhance the flavor of the coffee rather than watering it down like regular cubes.
2. ROSEMARY SKEWERS: Rosemary has a nice, sturdy stalk so why not use it? I like to skewer my meat with the rosemary stalk and then cook it on the grill. The Rosemary infuses a wonderful garden-fresh taste through the grilled meat. Your family and friends will be impressed by this easy hack!
3. SPIRAL DOGS: If I haven’t skewered my hot dogs with Rosemary, I like to spiral cut them and then grill on the BBQ. The hot dogs look awesome and it’s so easy to do. There are various online videos showing the easiest way to do the spiral cut. Check them out!
4. FOAM FRENZY: Your blender can be a nightmare to clean after you’ve chopped and blended all those great foods (and drinks….Mmmm) for your BBQ. After you’re done with the blender, add some water and a dab of dish soap and turn it on. You’ll get a lot of the food off and it will make the cleanup much easier!
5. DEBUG YOUR SPONGE: After that incredible BBQ you’ve had, there is always clean up (Ughh!) If you use sponges to clean up, it is extremely important to keep your sponges bacteria free. Place your sponge in a bowl of water and microwave it for two minutes.
This will kill bacteria on the sponge. An alternative method is to soak the sponge in a bowl of bleach or vinegar overnight. After you’ve used your sponge, make sure to prop it up rather than lay it flat so that it can dry and avoid some of the bacteria build up.
6. JUICE SPRITZERS: If I’m BBQing meat that I want to infuse some sweet flavor into, I put some juice into a small spray bottle and spray my meats during the cooking process. In addition to infusing the sweet flavor, it helps to keep your meat nice and moist. I’ve used apple, orange and cranberry juices to flavor my meats. Mmmm, Mmmm good!
7. EASY PEEL EGGS: Deviled eggs are a staple at any BBQ! If you have eggs that are a little bit older, they are perfect for hard boiling. They are a little more alkaline, which makes them easier to peel. You can also add about a teaspoon of baking soda to the cooking water and this will make them even easier to peel. So, use up those older eggs and make some Deviled Eggs!
8. CLEAN UP AISLE 3: Inevitably, you will have a broken glass or dish that needs to be cleaned up. After you’ve cleaned up all the larger pieces, take a piece of bread and dampen it just a little. You can move this around the floor in the area of the broken item and it will clean up a lot of those little shards that are just waiting to cut your fingers or feet!
9. SIMMER DOWN: All of us have cooked something that has left a lingering smell in our homes. I like to put orange peels and a little bit of clove in a pot and simmer on the stove to get a heavenly spicy orange smell throughout the house. You can also simmer lemon peel or a little vinegar to get rid of those strong smells you want to banish!
10. DAYDREAMS: At the end of the day after the BBQ is done and the guests have all gone home, take a few minutes for yourself and relax. Find a quiet spot, lay back and daydream for a few minutes. Daydreaming lets your imagination flow and causes instant relaxation and relief from stress. You worked hard today, so treat yourself. You deserve it!!
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