Schwan's Grill Pack - Excellent Quality and Yummy

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Two Grill Wok Night with Schwan's BBQ Foods
Brandi contacted me on behalf of Schwan's Foods to see if I'd do a honest taste test and review. What she didn't know was that I graduated with a guy who drove a Schwan's truck and remebered that the company had some great foods. Of course, that was a LONG time back, so you just never know how a company fares over the years. In any case, I was game to try out Schwan's again to see.

First, I was surprised at how many foods Schwan's has geared toward grillers now. They even include the directions for grilling. Before, you could, of course, put their foods on the grill, but you'd have to figure out frozen/unfrozen on the grill and times and things like that.

Schwan's sent a big box which came by UPS, so I don't think we have a truck out on our route now. I know I've not seen one here in years - since my high school friend opened up a landscaping business.

I called the boys in to see what they'd like to try out. The beefs tips caught their eyes, and the youngest loves asparagus (though usually the mushy canned type - go figure).


Schwan's Beef Tips for Kabobs
The Schwan's beef sirloin steak tips came boxed for kabobs including the kabob sticks and directions. I could have made some beautiful kabobs, but I must confess to finding it tedious to string kabobs and turn them all the time to ensure even grilling. My solution to that is what I call deconstructed kabobs. You can call me a genius or lazy - either works.

What I did was season the kabobs with some Steak Splash out of Canada (can use Italian dressing or any favorite marinade) and with lemon pepper as you can see below.


Schwan's Beef Tips - Seasoned Up
The meat looked beautiful. It was bright red and had some marbling but not any fat blobs. No trim up needed. These are just right out of the Schwan's box.

I sprayed a little non-stick spray in my wok grilling basket and poured in the beef tips. They made a nice sizzle and colored up well. After around 8 minutes, I added the onions and green peppers. Beef really needs more grill time than those vegetables, so I start the meat and then add when the meat is about 1/4 to 1/2 done (depending on the heat on my grill).


Beef Tips Sizzling Away on the Grill with Green Peppers and Onions
Then, it was time for the Schwan's asparagus spears, but again they are easier to handle in a grill wok. I got a second wok for Christmas, so I woked the asparagus right beside the meat and covered the entire PK grill.

The aspargus went in frozen (and my Facebook friends thought I had fresh asparagus - should I tell them it's frozen?). I brushed it with some Garlic Gold (olive oil - my favorite) and just grilled until it had some grilled color. This took around 10 minutes - a little less than on the box directions (but my fire was pretty hot by this time).



It All Comes Down to the Taste - How Did Schwan's Do?
I was very impressed with the Schwan's grilling foods (and we still have some to test out and share).

First, the food was packed well and looked good. Brownie points for that. But, I've had some products sent that did look great but did not taste that great.

The meat (and our fresh veggies) which I ate with a knife and fork and the boys made into wraps with burrito wraps was moist and very flavorful. Some tips are kind of tough and fatty. Not these. In fact, I'd say the Schwan's are as good of beef tips as I've grilled out. Tasted like good restaurant quality. No leftovers though. Bummer on that. The boys put a hurting on the beef. Thumbs up - for sure on the kabob pack (even if I did not kabob them).

As far as the asparagus, I lived on a farm with a fresh bed. So, I spent a couple of summers eating tons of asparagus but not anytime recently. It's kind of hard to find around here. I'd never thought to get frozen asparagus and wasn't sure what I'd think of that.

If I'd not grilled the asparagus myself, someone could have pulled these off on me as fresh. The color was perfect, and the flavor was spot on. As I said, my grilling friends on FB thought I'd picked up fresh asparagus. It's grilled the same, so either one is fine (as I found with this pack). I'd not hesitate to buy Schwan's asparagus again. It really was excellent.

If you live in a Schwan's area, ask your Schwan's guy or girl about the grilling products. They really are high quality, and the directions for success are right on the box if you need them, or you can think outside the box as I did here.

Great dinner and Schwan's goes on my recommend list.

McCormick Grillerhood - Best and True Rule for Grilling

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 Barbecue Master Grilling on a Beautiful Summer DayI’m heating up my grill this summer with McCormick andGrillerhood. You can too. It’s easy to sign up and be part of the “hood” andhave a blast while getting new tips and ideas that will take your grilling from“just okay” to awesome.
Ready for the Grillerhood Challenge?
The challenge here at the height of the grilling season isto share and put together the “best ever” list of tips for grilling. Yes. Thatis a challenge, but you can win prizes for your ideas on grilling, and you canhelp create a pool of information that can pass down to others and share thegrilling love.
McCormick asked me what I’d share as my top three grillingtips. I had to give that some serious thought. There are many tips that I couldgive, but when push came to shove, these were my top ones:
McCormick True Rules of Grilling from the Barbecue Master
1. Grilling is about fun. So, do it your way. Gas, charcoal,pellet, or electric . . . it’s all fine if it works for you and your crowd. Youcan grill great food no matter what method you decide is best at your home.
2. It doesn’t have to take all day to rock the grill. Smokedsausages in a grill wok with flavorful rubs and seasonings takes only minutes,and they wow the crowd. So, have some easy recipes in your grilling file, soyou can grill on the fly and still impress.
3.  You don’t have tospend a fortune to have a grill out and your family and friends over. Itdoesn’t have to be steak or lobster. You can flavor up burgers or flank steakor even vegetables (very healthy) and have an amazing barbecue without takingout a loan.
Boiling it down to three top grilling tips was hard, and Iknow that there are lots of other great tips out there. You are likely justbiting your tongue and wanting to say what you think makes grilling good andfun. Really, I am sitting here thinking of about a thousand other ideas. Withevery cook out we learn something new that will help the next person.

Don't Miss Out on All the Fun - You Can Be in the Grillerhood Too
 Share your tips and help me pick the very best one to share with the Grillerhood.

Kinnikinnick Gluten Free Buns - Taste Like Real Bread

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Kinnikinnick Gluten Free Buns
 Shaina offered to send me some gluten free breads and buns made by Kinnikinnick. My crowd doesn't eat gluten free or have any special food restrictions, but some other family members do. I thought it would be worth a try to see if I could find some specialty items that usually just get skipped here. After all, I do like for my guests to get to eat and things they can have.
We have actually tried some gluten free breads, but they did not have good texture or taste very good. I must say that I'd be hard pressed to make baked goods without gluten (wheat), so I know it's a challenge.
I didn't mention that these were gluten free burger buns before putting them out.
The Kinnikinnick buns aren't quite as thick and fluffy as the ones with wheat, but the texture was excellent and flavor very good. Good enough that no one had any problems with the buns. That is "passing with flying colors," because I have a tough crowd, and they do say what they think. I've always told them to do so, since I do this blog and don't want to stear folks wrong.
You'll pay more for gluten free in general, but you'll actually get very good bread and buns with Kimmikinnick. I'd have no problem with this as our daily bread but don't need to pay extra unless entertaining someone who needs gluten free. In that case, I'm glad to have found an option that actually is excellent.
I wasn't sure I'd ever find gluten free bread that I could serve to the bread eaters, but this one even passed that test. So, it's really stand out in the area of gluten free. That's a lot more than I can say for those healthy chicken patties I grilled which were pretty bad.

If you are looking for really good gluten free breads for lunch or buns for cook outs, then Kimmikinnick is where I finally found gluten free breads that pass the texture and taste test even for the regular bread eaters.

Be the Grill Mayor and Go to NYC for a Great BBQ Blow Out Prize

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You can be the Grill Mayor with the Food Network Contest: Grill Mayor of 2012.

This is WAY more than just “bragging rights” where you impress your barbecue buddies with a cool title. The winner of this barbecue contest will feel like a rock star – no kidding.

The grand prize Grill Mayor wins a trip for two to New York City. If you are spouse-less and friend-less, then I’d be glad to fill your guest seat. Just kidding, but this is a terrific prize and one that I’d be thrilled to win as I know you guys would be too.

What does the grand prize to New York City include?

• 2 nights in the Big Apple in a first-class hotel
• $100 Food Network gift card
• Food Network grilling cookbook
• Omaha Steaks grilling kit
• Assorted Grill Mates products (I’ve been enjoying those all summer myself)
• Dinner at Food Network’s chef restaurant in NYC with your guest
• VIP access passes to a premiere New York City BBQ festival (along with your guest – of course)
• Tour of the Food Network kitchens in the Big Apple

See! I told you this is one massive trip to New York with all the trimmings and then some.

You do have to be a legal United States resident and 21 years or older to be eligible.

Now that I’ve got you dreaming of a fabulous getaway packed full of fun plus some terrific take home treasures, I’m sure you’re wondering how you can get your name in the pot. After all, you don’t win contests that you don’t enter (and this is one you barbecue guys and girls really don’t want to miss).

How to Enter to be the Grill Mayor 2012?

1. Complete the online entry form at Food Network.
2. Share a grilling tip or piece of advice along with a photo related to your tip (limit 100 words on the tip)

How easy is that? Share a tip and snap a photo, and you could be kicked back in luxury in New York City between special outings especially fun for barbecue folks.

If you aren't the contest type of person (gasp - that's cool though), then check out the McCormick Grillmates Facebook page. You don't have to do a thing other there than soak up great information about grilling and for free. You'll be surprised at how much grilling data they have at the site to get your grill cranking and your brain pumping with new ideas.

 The contest ends at 4:59 pm ET on July 31, 2012, so head over and sign up while it’s fresh on your mind.

Let me know if you win, because it’s great when my readers get something special like this.
Good luck all!

A. Thomas Steaks Now Sold Through Sperry's of Nashville

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A. Thomas Steaks - Now Available for Home Grillers
Natalie emailed to let me know that Sperry's of Nashville now offers their signature steaks from A. Thomas for delivery. We were down through Nashville this summer, and I wish I'd known about Sperry's then. It looks like a wonderful place to eat, and I have them on my list when I get back down that way. In the meantime, Natalie said that she could send out one of the new home packs if I'd like to try them and and let readers know honestly what I think.

Some people think all meat is created equal. This is not true and especially for cuts like steak. Of course, you've got a difference with round versus rib eye. But, there are quality differences in the same cut as well.

Sperry's used A. Thomas black Angus meats and partnered with the meat company and Mattingly Foods to offer these steaks for delivery purchase.

The gift pack I received was the A. Thomas Favorite which includes 6 center cut fillets and 4 center cut strips. The fillets run 4 ounces and the strips 6 ounces. No bones. Hardly any fat. Well marbled.

I had those steaks on my mind when they came in and I saw how pretty they were. The guys were out and about, so I had to wait a couple of days to fire up the barbecue grill - the PK grill in this case.


A. Thomas Steaks from Sperry's on the Portable Kitchen Grill
When everyone made it back home, I fired up the grill and put the strips on. They looked beautiful and smelled great.

 
It did not take long to grill the steaks off to a medium rare to medium. That's good, because the guys were starving as usual.


It was also getting dark, and I don't have good outside lights. So the sun was setting just as I pulled the strip steaks off the grill.

We sat down to enjoy our strip steaks, and WOW . . . this meat just melted. I can't say that I've ever had a better steak. It was obvious that this was premium meat. It just had that umph of flavor as well as being super tender.

Sperry's A. Thomas gift pack steaks are expensive, but they are a cut above. If you want a really special meal at home or want to treat your favorite home griller, this is certainly meat to remember.