Lil Rhody BBQ Fest

Today from Noon - 10PM at the Slater Mill in Pawtucket.  The Stirring Spoon will be there with tastings of BBQ Sauce.  I will also have a show special.  Get $2.00 off of this gift pack.or more details go to Rib Fest 
I hope to see you there!

The Sauce Lady

Stop in and see The Stirring Spoon at Festival Fete Today

The East Greenwich Festival Fete is Today 10-5 at 1408 Division St.  There will be a variety of handmade items from jewelry to food. There will also be entertainment so be sure to stop by.

Festival Fete

The Sauce Lady

Are You Ready to Fire Up Your BBQ Grill?

If you haven't cooked on the grill yet this season, this weekend would be the perfect time.  The weather in Southern New England promises to be fantastic for the long weekend.  Here are a few tips to get you geared up as BBQ Champion.  
Safety first.  Remember the blog 'Grilling Ribs, Sleepy Hollow Style'?  Definitely not the way to grill.  Here is a link to some safety tips from NFPA's "Selections From Home Fires Involving Cooking Equipment - Grilling,"

Here are the Facts & Figure

•  In 2003-2006, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 7,900 home fires involving grills, hibachis or barbecues per year, including an average of 2,900 structure fires and 5,000 outside fires. These 7,900 fires caused annual average of 10 civilian deaths (to the nearest ten), 120 reported injuries and $80 million in direct property damage.
• Although gas grills are used roughly 1.5 times as often as charcoal grills, they were involved in five times as many fires.  Gas grills were involved in 6,400 home fires, including 2,100 structure fires and 4,300 outdoor fires.
• One-third (33%) of the home structure fires involving grills started on an exterior balcony or unenclosed porch, 18% started on a courtyard, terrace or patio, and 11% started on an exterior wall surface.
• Flammable or combustible gas or liquid was the item first ignited in half of home outdoor grill fires. In 51% of the home outdoor fires in which grills were involved, 56% of the outside gas grills, and 29% of the non-confined gas grill structure fires, the fire started when a flammable or combustible gas or liquid caught fire.

Next is what to cook on the grill.  My favorite for a group is Sampler Chicken.  Everyone can choose the BBQ sauce that stirs their appetite.  Start out with chicken on the bone with the skin on.  The skin and bones protect the meat from charring and delivers a moist piece of poultry.  I always purchase my chicken with the skin and bones even though I don't like to eat the skin.  Watch Sampler Chicken to learn how I serve a juicy chicken breast basted with gourmet BBQ sauce and no skin. The same can be done for thighs.  Happy Grilling!

The Sauce Lady

Share Your Favorite BBQ Story

Unless you are new to this planet, you have a BBQ story, whether you were the host or a guest.  Sharing our stories enriches not only the lives of those who read them, but also our own.  In my last post I shared my story about my father, the BBQ Hero  Tell us your story about:

• something that happened - like the time we had a yard full of hungry people and as my husband turn around from the grill to bring the hungry crowd their burgers, they slide off of the tray and right into the pool!  There is no saving cholrinated food.  Unlike the 38% of those backyard bbq masters that admit to putting it back on the grill to sanitize it after it hit the ground.
• something you ate - what was the most delicious thing you've ever had off of the grill?  Was it bbq chicken, ribs, the bbq sauce or something vegetarian?
• something you created - a recipe, a technique, a gadet, a new way to grill ribs or perhaps a sauce?
• someone you met - a new best friend, neighbor or heart throb?

The backyard bbq cook outs are a large part of the American summer social culture.  Therefore there are alot of stories out there and we are anxious to hear them.

The Sauce Lady

Remembering Dad, My BBQ Hero

Father's Day is just over a week away.  It forces us to think about Dad and to show our appreciation for the role he plays in our lives.  The role of provider, protector and teacher.  Dad is not always right but most Dads are doing the best they can.

My Dad has not walked this earth for many years.  As Father's Day approaches I find myself nostalgically remembering some events of my life.  After all once a person is no longer among us, what else do we have but memories.

We did not have a large backyard and we played mostly on concrete.  On any given Sunday my Father would say "Who wants to have a picnic at the park?" and 5 screaming kids would say "Me, Me, Me!"  He would pack us into the car, Mom would get the food ready and we would stop for charcoal, ice and whatever else we needed.  He could of easily taken us to the park near our house.  It was so close that as kids we used to walk.  However that would not be a special day so he took us to the really good park with more swings, slides and stuff to climb on.  They had a small zoo but best of all they had a really good swiming pool and a lake to swim in.

I don't remember my Father ever preparing a family meal outside of that park.  But there he became the BBQ Hero, standing over the grill, smiling and flipping.  The hot dogs were lightly burnt and decorated with the grill lines transforming them from the bland look of boiling.  The burgers picked up the flavor from the grill and sat handsomely on grilled buns waiting for the ketchup.  The chicken was generously painted with BBQ sauce. 

A sentimental warmness accompanies the visual memory.  Our large family was altogether, everyone was happy, safe and having a good time. There was nothing wrong with the world.  If Dad was still here, I think he would look back at those days as probably some of the best of his life.

Most Dads don't want you to spend alot of money, they want you to create memories for both you and him.

The Sauce Lady