Friday Find - Traeger Lil' Pig Grill

It's squarely grill season in the Heart of Dixie. As much as I love pigs and grills, it was natural that when I saw the Lil' Pig from Traeger that I'd be in love.

Now, if you're not familiar with Traeger Grills and their pretty sweet Wood Pellet Grill system you should absolutely check it out. At first, I was a bit skeptical that it could beat out a traditional charcoal or even a big gas monster like the one I normally use at home, but look at just how the grill works...

Between an automatic start function and convection cooking(all you foodies just perked up, huh?), the Traeger system is easy to use and function extremely efficiently. Traeger Wood Pellet Grills use considerably less than most wood grills.

If you're in the market for a new grill(but can't handle a pig on your deck), contact your local Traeger dealer and get cooking!

Grills Gone Wild!

It's that time of year again... Time to break out the grill and fire it up! BUT... got to be safe. No sense in burning down the castle for a burger.

What kind of grill do you use?

Camping at the Opera?

Yesterday was my birthday and I was fortunate enough to have dinner with my parents and some friends at a campground on nearby Lake Martin. My parents are 'campers' even though I'm not sure that a recreational vehicle with flat-screen tvs and wi-fi can necessarily be called 'roughing it'. 

RVs and travel trailers are commonplace with the tailgating that goes on around the South and I think I've found an addition that could be the talk of the campground.

This is the Opera Camper. Tell me now... what could have inspired designer Axel Enthoven to create such a vehicle?

Is that not awesome?! It's the Sydney Opera House on wheels!

The back deck is teak and the trailer features a wine cabinet and espresso bar. Camping is tough, you know?

pictures via opera 

I'll give them this... The camping demographic has changed. Where once primitive sites were covered with tents and picnic tables, million dollar motorhomes dot the camping landscape. The Opera is just more affordable luxury. I dig it.

The Opera is currently available in the Netherlands and Australia. They are seeking dealers elsewhere and are showing positive sales results. Looks like the Opera is here to stay. Can't wait to see one in the states!

Guest Post: Outdoor Kitchen Design Tips

Thanks to Marissa from OutdoorLiving.com for stepping in and sharing a great post today! Have a great weekend!

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Outdoor Kitchen Design Tips

In the last 5 years or so, the outdoor living space emerged as one of the top trends when designing a home. People wanted a place to enjoy the comforts of the inside with the ambiance of the outside and that’s just what they got. As always, trends change with time. Now that the outdoor living space has become accepted, the new thing popping up is the outdoor kitchen. It’s a natural addition in the outdoor space, as it’s another way to enjoy the comforts of inside while out in nature. If you’re just beginning to plan your outdoor kitchen, here are 4 tips to help you get started.

Consider the Type of Entertaining You’ll Do

• If you’re putting in an outdoor kitchen, chances are you’ve got a pretty good sized outdoor area. The big consideration here, though, is the size of gatherings you’ll be having. If it’ll just be something you and your family use, a small kitchen with simple bar seating may be all you need. Conversely, if you plan on hosting outdoor gatherings with a lot of guests, you may want to add more cooking space and extra accessories, like a built-in drink cooler. A dining area next to the kitchen is a great idea as well, as it gives everyone a place to gather before, during, and after the meal.

The Grill is the Centerpiece

• Don’t forget that the centerpiece of your outdoor kitchen is the grill – it’s where the food gets cooked and where you’ll be spending a lot of time. With that said, don’t just go with any cheap grill you find here. There are certain things in an outdoor kitchen that you can spend less on, but you’ll want to invest money in a high quality grill. A cheap model will burn out after a few seasons and need to be replaced. A quality grill will last through years of cooking and hundreds of meals, easily paying for itself over time. As a bonus tip, go with a propane grill – it will cost less than running a natural gas line or an electric line out to your kitchen.

Accessorize Properly

• While the grill is the centerpiece, you can’t forget about the accessories. These are what make it an outdoor kitchen and not just a fancy grilling spot. Staple accessories every kitchen should have include a sink, storage cabinets, and a small refrigerator. With these, you’ve got the basics and can do all you need to have a great meal outside. If you want to get a little fancier, you can add things like a wine chiller, lobster boiler, or a warming station. For a real treat, consider adding a pizza oven. These have become the top accessory in outdoor kitchens over the last year, as they’re easy to install and give you a quick way to cook a food everyone likes.

Plan for Mother Nature

• Finally, you’ve got to take the elements into consideration when designing your outdoor kitchen. A well planned one will have the main cooking and (if implemented) dining areas covered so the space can still be used in rain or other bad weather. If you’re in a cooler region of the country, adding a heating element like a nice stainless steel patio heater is an easy way to make sure you and your guests are always comfortable in your outdoor kitchen. For warmer regions, an outdoor fan or misting system always makes a good choice for keeping cool.

When you consider the value outdoor kitchens provide, both in terms of hosting guests and in the resale of your home, it’s no surprise they’re becoming so popular. Let these tips guide you when you start designing yours and you’ll have the perfect one together in no time!

About The Author – Marissa Alan is a writer with Outdoor Living and enjoys cooking, outdoor decorating, and making her own wind chimes. For more on products like fire pits, grills, outdoor kitchen accessories, and garden water features, visit OutdoorLiving.com. 

Arkema Solar Showers

Summer(officially) is just one day away. Even though we have been sweltering in the hot Alabama sun for over a month now, there's no better time take a look at some outdoor plumbing options.

In recent years, there has been a shift toward outdoor showers, and not just for those with pools/spas. If you've never taken a shower outside(enclosed for privacy in areas where neighbors are close by), you're missing out. It's got to be one of the most cleansing(literally and emotionally) experiences I've had. It wouldn't be that hard for you to have one, too!

This is a solar powered shower by Arkema.

This Italian innovator has showers with various configurations that are destined to fit any space and serve any function. Whether just a quick rinse after a trip to the beach or a more permanent private set up, the simple and elegant design of the Arkema shower will fit right in any outdoor space. 

The water heating element is solar, but some models offer an electric water heating method as well.

On top of the eco-friendly and physical design aspect, Arkema even allows for special color choices. Make it your own! 

Shower outdoors! Visit Arkema here. 

Nick's KBIS Picks: Dimplex PowerChef Grills

This is the first of seven posts about my recent trip to the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show(KBIS) in Las Vegas. It was a ton of fun(and exhausting), but I've got lots of neat stuff to share.

I will probably take some heat(no pun intended) from some of my hardcore barbecue buddies for even uttering the words "electric" and "grill" in the same sentence, but times have changed!

 via Dimplex

This is the PowerChef electric grill by Dimplex. My only previous experience with Dimplex was with their line of electric fireplaces and knowing the quality of those, I was excited to see a line of cooking products.

Electric grills have notoriously underachieved when compared with more traditional outdoor cooking. Dimplex set out to change that and may have hit a home run. Many apartment and condo owners aren't permitted gas or charcoal cooking systems and the PowerChef offers a comparable(and easier) way to prepare those grilled feasts.

One of the features that really stuck with me was the direct-heating system. A lightning hot stainless steel upper grill is for searing and a lower element cooks via radiant heat. The grill has an even temperature surface that eliminates cold/hot spots and can crank up to a warm 650 degrees to sear in flavor. Optional rotisserie components allow for endless possibilities.

The PowerChef is also startlingly automated. The touchpad allows you to scroll through and choose your food and how done you want it- it does the rest! This grill even lets you know when it's time to flip the burgers!

via Dimplex

Now I haven't had the opportunity to use one of these grills yet... But I will. I've already contacted the dealer nearest me and look forward to test-driving one of these bad boys.

What's your take on electric grills? Would you be willing to ditch the propane tanks and charcoal for the ease of electric?

Come in to my Bubble Hut!

CristalBubble

Say what you want, but if John Travolta would've had one of these in that plastic bubble movie it would've been a much better watch. 

*smile*

I've become a big fan of the new eco-tourism movement and even though I am a "country boy", the idea of really "roughing it" is not as appealing as it probably should be. The thought of a 360 degree view on top of a hill isn't a bad one- maybe even on the beach.

What do you think? Check 'em out... CristalBubble

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