Grilling Beyond the Main Course

Grilling Beyond the Main Course

by | May 31, 2018 | Grilling & Outdoor Living, HPBAC Blog

With spring here andsummer around the corner, we begin to enjoy the pleasures that come with enjoying more of our outdoor spaces for the season. Whether quietly enjoying breakfast with a view, soaking up some sun over lunch, or hosting friends and family evening apps, outdoor entertaining is made simpler and more creative by exploring how to use our grill for beyond the main course!

Internationally acclaimed chef Andreas Rummel’s recent book Finger Food From The BBQ and Grill is the place to start! Published in collaboration with Napoleon Grills, and with chapter titles such as With Your Hands, On a Stick, On a Spoon, In a Roll, and With Your Fingers, you can start to guess how diverse the recipes in this book are. These amazingly creative finger food recipes take their inspiration from the vibrant street food scene and present ideas for rolls, wraps, waffles, gyros, quesadilla, hotdogs, ribs, kebabs, gyozas, tataki, wings, pancakes, pulled meats, toasted sandwiches and bruschetta, as well as salads, sauces and dips to accompany these dishes.

The recipes can make ideal starters, small snacks or form part of a multi-course menu. Each one shows how long it takes to prepare and there is a star system indicating the level of difficulty. Many recipes are easy, some are more sophisticated, but with the help of numerous tips and a little practice you will turn out success every time.

Chef Rummel, a celebrity speaker and guest chef at the 2018 Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo in Nashville Tennessee, graciously provided two recipes, as a preview of those available in his book.

 

Coppa Baskets with Melon

Makes 12
Cooking Time: 30 Minutes
Difficulty: 1 of 3 stars

Ingredients
  • 12 thin slices coppa
  • 1 cantaloupe melon
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 8 mint leaves
Preparation

Make 12 balls out of aluminum foil with a diameter of about 4 cm. Cover with a coppa to create the shape of a small bowl. Place the balls with the coppa in the barbecue and cook indirectly for 45 minutes at about 150°C (preferably on the warming rack). This will dry out the coppa and make it crispy. In the meantime, peel and de-seed the mellon. Use a vegetable peeler to shave the flesh into fine strips. Mix the honey with the lemon juice and marinate the melon in mixture for 20 minutes. Cut the mint leaves into fine strips. Take the coppa out of the barbecue and leave it to cool. Arrange uniform amounts of melon strips inside the coppa bowls and sprinkle with the mint.­­­­

Mozzarella Sticks

Makes 8-12
Cooking Time: 20 Minutes
Difficulty: 1 of 3 stars

Ingredients
  • 4 slices toasting bread
  • 1-2 mozzarella cylinders, very cold
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper ­­­­(or Thai Seven Spice seasoning)
  • 4 bacon slices
  • 100ml barbecue sauce
Preparation

Cut the crust off the bread and roll the bread slices out flat with a rolling pin. Cut the cheese into four strips, lightly season with the cayenne pepper and roll tightly inside the bread. Gently flatten the bacon strips on a chopping board and wind one tightly around each of the bread and cheese rolls. Cook the sticks indirectly o­­­­n the barbecue with medium heat, turning several times, until the bacon is crispy. Finally, glaze the bacon with the sauce and cook for another 5 minutes with the lid open. Cut the mozzarella sticks into bite-sized pieces and serve.

The Pizza Oven: A New Addition to Outdoor Grilling

The Pizza Oven: A New Addition to Outdoor Grilling

by | May 31, 2018 | Grilling & Outdoor Living, HPBAC Blog

Pizza ovens have erupted onto the grilling scene over the last few years. These products offer a fun spin on grilling and expand your cooking options during the grilling months. Rather than order delivery, why not buy fresh ingredients and make your own masterpiece at home? It’s a great way to get the family involved!

The range of products available now fit any budget and lifestyle – products that sit on top of the grill, stand-alone portable units, or built-in stationary units are all available. Whether you are a grilling fanatic or you’re a fair-weather griller, there’s a product that is right for you, and we promise you won’t be disappointed in the delicious food you create.

An Extension of Your Grill

Smaller grill-top products can offer you versatility while keeping the cost low. Some products sit on top of the grill and hold the pizza inside. Others require a pizza stone to cook right on the grill itself with a separate cover over top to keep the temperature high. These are often sold as a kit. Products are available for both classic gas grills or kettle charcoal grills. Cooking on a charcoal grill offers the option to cook with charcoal or wood chunks, offering you the smoky wood flavours you miss when cooking on a gas grill. These units typically range from $125-$300.

An Appliance All On Its Own

Stand-alone portable units are a great option if you don’t have a grill large enough for a pizza oven accessory, or if you want the option to use different fuels. These appliances can also be portable, making them easy to bring to a friend’s backyard party or on a camping trip. There are units that cook with wood chunks, charcoal, gas, or wood pellets, offering the results of an authentic pizza oven but that can fit within a modest budget. Additionally, they are great for cooking a variety of foods – whether it be pizza, meat, bread or desserts. Stand-alone smaller units range from $300-$750.

A Key Piece of Your Backyard

Large, built-in pizza ovens can be a true focal point in your backyard space. There are many masonry oven options or units that can be built into an outdoor kitchen. On summer nights when you are entertaining but are looking for an alternative to lighting the barbecue, these ovens can prepare delicious food and offer a lovely ambiance at the same time. As with the smaller units, there are a variety of fuel options. For those looking for an authentic pizza oven taste, a wood-fired appliance is the way to go. However, a gas appliance offers more convenience for homeowners. It is important to consider how much space you have available for a built-in oven before you move ahead to purchase and install. And keep in mind, you can’t take this style of unit with you if you move. Factory-built units that are installed in a backyard setting or in an outdoor kitchen typically range from $1,500-$5,000, while masonry units that are built on-site run $5,000-$10,000

Why not consider mixing it up this summer with a new grilling toy? With so many different products to choose from, you’ll have no problem finding the right product that fits your needs and your budget.

Designing the Perfect Outdoor Kitchen

Designing the Perfect Outdoor Kitchen

by | May 31, 2018 | Grilling & Outdoor Living, HPBAC Blog

Relax, socialize, eat… These daily activities take place largely outside in summer months of the year. Current barbecues have multiple functions and offer different cooking possibilities. With so many different cooking options, we can prepare the entire meal outdoors!

Creating a kitchen area around the grill allows the cook to enjoy family and guests while cooking – making the grill not only a utilitarian appliance, but also a social gathering place. There are a wide range of home kitchen appliances built for outdoor use. Fridge, ice machine, pantry, beer keg… everything you need.

Quality is Key

It’s important to choose quality appliances and products that are designed for outdoor use. Quartz or granite countertops are suitable for an outdoor kitchen, but a protective sealant must be applied every year to preserve the luster of the stone. Concrete also needs to be sealed regularly. Another option is a non-porous material such as neolith, not requiring any yearly maintenance. Appliances and materials of good quality are essential for the sustainability of an outdoor kitchen. Even with protective coverings for the winter months, appliances must be able to withstand extreme temperature ranges, so buying good quality appliances that are suitable for outdoor use is crucial. Specialty retailers generally offer good warranties.

Plan Ahead When Designing

Be sure to always check dimensions and sizing of new appliances in order to integrate them without trouble into the kitchen. Although you may be only installing a few features now, proactively think about what else you would like to add in the future so you have the space to do so. Accounting for counter space is crucial – side burners, sinks, portable appliances and a work area all take up counter space. If the area is small, you may want to stick to a grill, a prep area and a space for the trash. Installing a sink with running water available in your outdoor kitchen is very practical. However, this requires plumbing work and the convenience may not outweigh the costs, depending on the configuration of your outdoor area.

Smart and Stylish Design

Make your outdoor kitchen an extension of your home – both in use, but also in style and design. Be sure to choose colours and styles that flow with the rest of the home and consider tying in different features to match your indoor kitchen, whether it be your cabinet colour, backsplash or countertop. This will harmonize the feel of your home. Also, remember to consider the amount of direct sunlight your outdoor space receives – dark colours can become very hot. You may want to avoid a dark counter if your outdoor kitchen is exposed. It’s important to prioritize what is important for you and your family to make the most of your outdoor living area. Don’t be afraid to start by brainstorming your dream outdoor kitchen and working backwards to ensure you meet your budget.