Independence Day is just around the corner and we’ve come up with some tips, tricks and design ideas to help you be the BBQ champion. Some of my favorite childhood memories were any given summer outside, circled around the grill with friends and family. Here’s to you and yours. Here’s to turning those summer days in to wonderful memories.  

Clean your Grill!

The key to having almost anything ready to use, is cleaning it up after you use it. But if you are like me, sometimes the food coma sets in and cleaning up is out of the question. Here are some ways to keep your grill ready for a cookout at a moments notice.

1. Leave your grill on for a few minutes with the hood closed. This is a super easy, coma-friendly way to burn off any excess foods and fats left on the grill.
2. Give your grill a good scrub with something abrasive. Grill brushes, tin foil, abrasive sponge. Put a minute of elbow grease in to it to remove any charred junk.
3. To ensure a non-sticking grill when you fire it up the next time, spray on some non-stick spray or a bit of vegetable oil. I’ve even heard that rubbing a 1/2 onion on the grate can do the trick.
4. That’s it. These easy steps will have your grill laying in wait, ready to pounce at any moment to help you keep your throne of Grill King- or Queen!

If you hate following instructions like me, here is the video version from diy network: How to clean your grill in 15 minutes

BBQ Hacks 

Here are a few hacks to make serving, eating and cleaning up after your festivities easy as pie!

Recipes

Here are some recipes that we either love or want to make this summer. And I may be a bit biased for bourbon. Not sorry. Photos and titles are linked.

Bourbon Bacon BBQ Chicken Kebabs

 Yes. All of those!

Bourbon Honey Glazed Ribs

These look amazing. I cant wait to make these. Ribs are such a guilty pleasure of mine. They’re messy, they’re not exactly on the skinny menu, but Lord they are delicious.

Bourbon Burgers

You read that correctly. Made these last year for a family gathering. I wish I had made more, there wasn’t nearly enough to go around twice. 

Pineapple Bourbon BBQ Sauce

This is another recipe I am looking forward to using this Independence day. I hope it has as much kick as they say. 

BBQ Grill Station Ideas

Maybe this summer your mind is set on remodeling or updating your back yard. Here are some BBQ stations that are functional and add to your back yard setting.

These concrete counter tops have plenty of room for prepping. I really like the clean and fucntional design, as well as the low cost of concrete.

This one is really great too, I think the portable design is perfect for a more laid back yard. And having a sink nearby is such a smart idea. You handle tons of raw meat when you grill, and being able to wash your hands is an obvious way to prevent food-born illnesses. It even has a built in chopping block…. ok, ok. It’s a cutting board. A girl can dream right?

If putting together a large permanent station isn’t something that your bank account will allow, this might be a good solution. You can set up a semi-permanent station by using cinderblocks and paver stones to accomplish a similar built-in feel. This way you won’t spend a fortune and you will still have all that work and prep space. 

We hope you enjoy these tips and tricks. If you’re feeling motivated, we’d love to see how your projects are coming along. And feedback on the recipes is always encouraged. Enjoy!

From our family to yours, We hope you have a wonderful and proud Independence Day!

God Bless America!

Team Tindall