Summertime is for tan shoulders, beachy hair, and big, icy umbrella drinks.  And after a day of fun in the sun, who doesn’t want to come home to a backyard barbecue?  We’ve got you covered with all the essentials to blow the guys away as you DIY your way to hamburger heaven.

Roll up those sleeves, girls; here’s everything you need to cook like Giada…or at least look as good as she does while you guess your way through marinades and spices. Read More »

The first time I ever grilled my own burgers was for a boy that I loved. I wanted so badly to impress him, that when I realized we were the only two people on campus for summer term I invited him over for dinner and Sangria on the porch. I spent all day shopping and preparing.

And that was just for my outfit.

Then, just before he was set to arrive I started pulling together whatever I could find for dinner. I had quite the menu planned: turkey burgers, salad and corn on the cob made on the grill. Mmmm. I had seen my mom make the meal a thousand times before, so I really felt confident that I could pull it off.

Of course, I didn’t. While my outfit was sexy and super saucy, my meat was flavorless and sorta over-done. Who knew I had to season the meat before I threw it on the grill? Clearly, I missed that part of my mom’s meal prep. Thank God the boy was oh so cute and polite (not to mention sorta drunk, thank you, Sangria!); he ate every last bite and offered to take me out for ice cream. Then he let me invite him over for a re-do the following week.

This time I did my work and found the perfect recipe to woo him. The dinner was actually edible and turned out perfectly from our first glass of wine to our serious make out session on the couch. I could say it was the wine that did it again, but I have made these burgers many times since and they always produce the same tremendous results. Try ‘em out for yourself:

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Ok, so I’ll be honest: I’m completely broke and can’t really afford an amazing gift for my dad for Father’s Day. To make matters worse, last year I had to go out of town on Father’s Day weekend making it the first year I didn’t see my dad on his day. I have a lot of ground to make up as far as good daughters go.

For anyone else in my position, never fear; you can still have a good day without shelling out wads of cash. Here are a few ideas for spending time with your dad instead of money.

Day at the Park – Some of my best memories with my dad are from when we’d go to the park to fly kites during the summer. Why not relive some childhood memories that were equally as good for dear ol’ dad? Even if you didn’t do stuff like this when you were a kid, there are plenty of ways to hang out with dad outside: toss around the football, go for a hike, have a picnic. Options abound in the great outdoors.

Day in the Kitchen – This is for the dad’s who cook/grill. Why not plan a big Father’s Day meal and cook/grill it together? Dad will love showing off his skills (I know mine does), not to mention get some quality time with you. You could also bake him some special “I Heart Dad” cookies or cupcakes… and let him lick the bowl. How could he not love that?

Day at the Game - Fitting with our low cost theme, look into local sporting events for cheap tickets. In my hometown we have an indoor football league with $10 tickets and colleges who have free admission to their baseball games. Dig enough and I’m sure you’ll find something you and your dad can enjoy together. Read More »

Sure, the Fourth of July has passed, but we still have a couple months of lovely summer left, and what goes better with summer than throwing some food on the barbie and chowin’ down? Oh, and some beers. Afraid of the BBQ? Don’t even know where to begin? Used to letting the guys take care of it?

Ladies, grilling isn’t just for the boys! You too can become a master griller and show up those braggarts who claim the grill is man territory.

I learned how to grill at a young age because my dad is a phenomenal griller (his BBQ ribs are some of the best you’ll ever have…not that you will be having them anytime soon) and taught me the tricks of the trade right from the womb. The truth is, grilling is easy…as long as you know the rules. So, here they are.

There are two kinds of barbecuing: direct and indirect heat.

Direct heat is when you place the food directly over the source of heat/open flame. This type of grilling is best for thinner cuts of meat and items such as hot dogs, bratwurst, burgers, fish and pork chops.

Indirect heat is when you grill items outside of the main source of heat so they cook at a slower pace, more thoroughly, and without burning the outside of the meat. This is used for thicker pieces of meat such as whole chickens, beef and pork roasts. (Note: most of the “basic grilling” people do uses the direct heat method.) Read More »

I hereby announce to all ye partying people that BBQ season is upon us!

I grew up in a family that used just about any occasion to throw stuff on a grill and stand over it with tongs, and therefore, I’m completely licensed in the art of barbecology.

Some people can write math equations a mile along, some people can paint amazing pictures of a stormy sea, but yours truly…she can BBQ like nobody’s business.

I’ve been asked to share my knowledge of open-flamed gluttony with you.

JALAPENO, STUFFED WITH SHRIMP AND CHEESE, WRAPPED IN BACON.

The name might be long, but it’s tastefully accurate. These little treats impress the masses and leave you pondering whether pigs and shrimp were soulmates in past lives. Split jalapenos in half, smooth in cream or cheddar cheese. Plop a little shrimpy in there and wrap that sh*t in bacon. Booyah. Read More »

Just because it’s August doesn’t mean it’s time for school. Ignore those back-to-class commercials, put off buying that dorm furniture for a few more weeks, and wait for that fall fashion to go on sale in September.

Its still summer, bitches, and I’m enjoying it until the last of the Labor Day barbeque smoke disappears.

A celebration is nothing without food, so in honor of a summer that is NOT over, here are some munchies that are only truly fun to eat June-August.

• Jell-O Pudding Pops: Oh yeah. Remember these things from childhood? So. Freaking. Good. Apparently, they were taken off the market for a few years, but an actual petition circulated around the Internet until Popsicle started to remake them. Just staring at the box is making my 7-year-old inner child start to climb the walls in anticipation.

• Margaritas: You can drink ‘ritas any time you want, but these alcoholic treats are truly at their best when you’ve got one in your hand at the end of hot day. Besides, no one but little girls with fake I.D’s order a blended frozen drink in the middle of winter.

• S’Mores: There’s not much to say except yes ma’am when it comes to chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers. And sure, you can make these in the microwave in the dead of January, but how celebratory is that? Plus…have you ever had to clean up exploded marshmallow? It’s an all day affair. Read More »