Abandon Nest

With the unofficial start to the summer party season, Memorial Day, rapidly approaching, I’ve decided to compile some hints to help you host a successful barbecue.

• Spray your grilling surface with a nonstick cooking spray or rub some olive oil on it to prevent your meat or vegetables from sticking. Do this before igniting your grill because some sprays contain alcohol.
• For steaks, slash fat edges to keep them flat during cooking. For optimal results, resist the urge to keep poking at them and turn only once. You should not have to cook the second side as long as the first.
• For poultry, cook bone side down first and then turn. It should take 25 to 30 minutes for each side. To be safe, cut into the middle of one of your pieces when you think it’s done to make sure it’s thoroughly cooked.
• For the ever popular kabob, if you’re using wooden kabobs, make sure you have soaked them in water to prevent their catching on fire. Also, make each stick contain only one ingredient. Meat takes longer to cook than vegetables, so if they’re on the same stick, your veggies will be overly done. Even if you’re making vegetable kabobs, make each stick a different vegetable since certain veggies, like squash, can take longer to grill than, say, bell peppers or tomatoes.

I have also compiled a supply checklist of items you may need for your BBQ:

spatula

tongs

basting brush

apron (might I suggest one adorned with the phrase “Kiss the Cook”)

extra seasonings and/or sauce

heavy aluminum foil

skewers

a meat thermometer

For a charcoal grill:

charcoal (of course)

fire starter fuel

matches

water (for quenching)

hickory chips (if you want that smoky flavor)

Hopefully your barbecue won’t involve the local fire department or any trips to the emergency room.

When renting any items, beware of hidden costs. Many rental companies automatically charge an additional percentage for insurance or what may be labeled as a damage waiver charge. The theory is that if any damage or breakage occurs, as long as you return the equipment you will not be charged a replacement fee. Be sure to inquire as to what exactly this insurance will cover. To save yourself some money, ask to waive the fee if you are only renting larger items such as tables and chairs. (You may have to sign or initial a contract confirming your intent to not carry the insurance.) Unless you party hard and polka on top of your tables or reenact your favorite wrestling moments with chair bashing, breakage of such items is very rare. However, I highly recommend and encourage you to get damage insurance if you are renting equipment such as china and glassware. Replacing a single plate can cost up to $30!!

Depending on what items you are renting, some companies may also charge an automatic cleaning fee. Have it waived and simply clean the items yourself before returning them.

Be a savvy customer by taking the time to actually read your contract - especially that annoying fine print. Bust out your magnifying glass if necessary. You’ll be surprised at how much you can save!

So maybe after considering the questions in my previous post, you have decided to pursue a long distance relationship and you are asking yourself, “How can I make this work?” To begin, I believe communication is key.

• Try to talk to each other at least once a day. While it may be tempting to just shoot emails back and forth, talking on the phone, even for only 5 minutes, promotes and fosters a deeper connection. Your voice can provide something special that a computer screen would never be able to.
• Try to establish a certain time to call each day. With the wonder of cell phones, calling to or from your way to work or school can be a convenient time for you. Another idea is to call when your unwinding from your day, maybe getting ready for bed. However, BEWARE of falling asleep at this time. Your loved one would surely not appreciate hearing your snoring on the other end of the line when he/she is in the middle of sharing something with you.
• Don’t let the conversation be one-sided. Unless, of course, your significant other only wants to talk about him/herself — but then why would you want a relationship with a person like that anyway? At the very least, talk about your plans for the day or how your day went. If you tend to be absentminded, jot down notes throughout the day you can refer to later.