Let's Have A Barbecue

"The brighter you are, the more you have to learn."

I have hitch-itch.  Most of us know what that is.   I'm ready to get moving but Terry's not been feeling well so our departure has been delayed by a few days. It's that time of year and the germs are out there. Not sure where we're going or when but the road is calling.  In the meantime besides sewing, reading and watching TV, I've jotted down a few nonsense blogs.  This is one.

RVers love the out of doors.  Well, they do sometimes and that’s if things go right.  If the weather is at least a little warm being outside to barbecue with friends is close to the top of the list.   Almost all RVers carry a barbecue grill of some kind.  Some even cook breakfast, lunch and dinner on their grills.

When we first started out we had a small charcoal grill and a small gas grill.  Cooking with charcoal and wood chips definitely gives the food more flavor and hands down the finished food is much tastier.  However, starting those grills isn’t quite as easy as starting a gas grill.  In a gas grill it’s either a push of a bottom or a strike of a match.  Charcoal many times takes a little lighter fluid.  Depending on the size of the grill and whether it’s for warmth in an outside fireplace where friends and fellow RVers can circle or at the bottom of the cooker, it can be difficult.  Here’s a little idea that really works and gets those charcoals burning.  It’s an egg carton.  This works either as a six-pack or a twelve pack.

In looking for other barbecue ideas the other day I ran across an old newspaper article.   Even Homer Simpson enjoys barbecuing.  He had a few grilling tips.  

These are Homer's tips – not mine.

1) To make grilled food taste terrific, add beer.  It’s a secret ingredient.  Add 72 ounces to the stomach first, then cook.  Add half a pound of meat to a veggie burger.  It really wakes up the flavor.

2) Keep kabob skewers handy but don’t use them for kabobs.  They are for the unwanted guests that tend to arrive when the smell of barbecue floats through the air.

3) Grilling vegetables for the vegetarians in your life is important.  You’ve got to keep them happy but no matter how you do it, veggies are healthy so they always taste bad.

4) Every get-together should have a theme.  The guests love it.  A couple favorite themes have been “Quadruple Bypass Anniversary Party” and “The Great Smoke-Out.”

5) Leftovers?  What’s the best thing to do with them?  The answer is not to have them.  Eat everything the first time around.

Now speaking of barbecue.  Having an outside campfire many times means that marshmallows and hot dogs are also planned.  Not everyone is lucky enough to have a fancy hot dog roaster stick with them.  Making a couple for yourselves or even as extras is easy. 

Start with 1” wood dowels and cut them into pieces about 10" long. Next drill a hole in the center and glue a straightened recycled wire hanger into the hole.  The fun part comes with decorating.    Cheap, fast and fun. 

Sometimes when we're outside trying to enjoy that barbecue we get bombarded with mosquitoes.  Spraying Raid around the barbecue or even our site isn't something we're always fond of doing.    “Original” Listerine works well to repel mosquitoes.  We sometimes also discover friendly ants want to join our barbecue.  They weren't invited and we'd rather not have them around.  We sprinkle Comet or Ajax around our tires and the cords that touch the ground.  That helps keep them out of our motorhome and away from our picnic table. 

Sometimes all those spices and seasonings we tend to carry with us takes up way too much space.  Those old Tic Tac containers can come in handy to downsize the spice container.  Check this out.

That’s it.

‘Tis life on the road.