Fun in the Sun

 

 

 

 

              Of EGGS, EGGheads and EGGcessories

             A Glossary

 

EGG— It’s a grill, smoker and oven made out of space-age ceramics, shaped like a very large egg and green in color. It turns out the juiciest, most flavorful food you’ll ever taste.

 EGGhead — an enthusiastic owner who believes an EGG® is the only EGGceptable cooking appliance there is and he/she wants to convert the entire world to this viewpoint. Talks about the EGG to anyone who will listen and would give up his/her dog, truck and vacation before parting with the family EGG.

EGGtoberfest  — an annual migration of EGGheads to Atlanta, Georgia, the original home and current World Headquarters for the Big Green Egg®, where hundreds and hundreds of EGGheads gather for a weekend of camaraderie, cooking incredible food and sharing it and their many recipes, EGGsperiences, and EGG tales with each other. It’s an EGGstraordinary event that attracts EGG owners from all over the U.S. and Canada. 2007 will mark the 10th Annual EGGtoberfest, which is always the third Saturday in October.

 EGGfest — Regional replicas of EGGtoberfest held at different times of the year from California to Colorado, Texas, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. New ones are popping up all the time so keep your ears open for one near you. Attending an EGGfest is a great way to observe how the EGG cooks, to join in the fun and to determine that you want to become an EGG owner yourself.

 

 EGGcessories— the myriad of accoutrements that make it even easier to prepare many specific foods — from a pizza stone to a plate setter for indirect cooking, an EGGstender that adds additional cooking tiers, a variety of cleaning tools, cooking grids, barbecue utensils, tables and more seasonings.  

 

EGG Nest — a four-leg metal stand that the EGG® fits into to raise it to waist height for convenient cooking. The nest has wheels to help you move the EGG more easily, since a large EGG weighs 140 pounds and an extra large EGG weighs 205 pounds. 

 

 

EGGmates— the wooden side shelves that attach to the EGG to provide handy work space.

 EGGcellent — what you will say when you taste food cooked on an EGG.

 

 EGGmania — what happens when you get a bunch of EGGheads together to EGGschange ideas and recipes.

 

 

 

 

 

 STAYCATION

Vacation season isn’t complete without a backyard “staycation” and HPBA is spreading the word and offering advice to make everyone’s staycation a success.

OUTDOOR ROOM BASICSAnyone can easily create an outdoor room. In general, the concept encompasses a grilling and eating area, pulled together with a hearth product, such as a fireplace, firepit or chiminea. Some outdoor rooms are similar to indoor kitchens, with expansive counter space and full food preparation areas complete with sinks and plumbing. It’s even possible to add a dishwasher and a refrigerator to make trips inside to clean up or grab cold drink a distant memory. Other outdoor rooms take the concept further with the addition of pizza ovens, cocktail bars, fountains, trellises, patio heaters, spas and pools. Landscaping, lighting and sculptures are additional elements that can help create a cohesive feeling within an outdoor space. 

 

Pulling together an outdoor room is less about the quantity of product and more about creating an outdoor living area that meets a homeowner’s idea of comfort and relaxation. Here are some simple steps to help create the perfect outdoor room: DETERMINE THE IDEAL USE OF THE OUTDOOR SPACE.

 

 Use a notepad to jot down ideas about how the space will be used in all of its applications, from entertaining to relaxing.

CREATE A WISH LIST.

 The increase in the number of magazine and newspaper articles has created an abundance of information on outdoor rooms or outdoor living spaces. Clip or print pictures and put them into a notebook.

REVIEW THE HOME’S STYLE.

 It’s important to have an understanding of a home’s architectural style when creating an outdoor room so that the outdoor spaces accentuates the home’s indoor spaces. There are products available for every taste and style.

VISIT A SPECIALTY RETAILER.

 Take the notebook and wish list to a specialty retailer that sells hearth, barbecue and patio products. A specialty retailer can help determine the materials and outdoor room products available in an area and guide the final plan, as well as coordinate installation.

RESEARCH THE PRODUCTS.

 After obtaining the details from a specialty retailer, go online to review products and manufacturer information.

CONSIDER FIRE AND FOOD.

 These are key elements in every well-designed outdoor room. Position the fireplace as the focal point, blend in the cooking and eating areas and then consider additional features.

THINK FOUNDATION.

 Stone patios, retaining walls, fences and decks are basic foundation elements.

DRAW A PLAN.

 The best way to achieve the desired end result is to sketch out a plan. Don’t worry about picture-perfect drawings – it’s the general idea that counts!

BUILD THE SPACE.

 Have fun putting the space together. Consider multiple conversation areas for enhanced functionality and interest.

USE LANDSCAPING AS AN ACCESSORY.

 Carefully placed trees and shrubs can add important texture and appeal to an outdoor room. Select plants that change with the season, offering different colors, blooms or scents depending on the time of year.

ADD THE FURNISHINGS.

 Select comfortable patio furniture that invites people to settle in for an extended period of time. Regardless of style, outdoor furnishings are available to add beauty and character, creating the atmosphere of a lush oasis. In addition to tables and chairs for the eating area, consider chaise lounges, couches and side tables.

CONSIDER LIGHTING.

 To extend the amount of time spent outdoors, consider lighting for pathways, around pools, or to accentuate landscaping.

DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS.

 After all is said and done, there is always still more that can be added.

DECORATIVE DETAILS

An attractive table or a favorite work of art can help turn a backyard patio into a stunning outdoor room.

GETTING STARTED WITH A PROFESSIONAL

 A specialty retailer is a key partner in creating an outdoor room. In addition to expertise and products, a specialty retailer can offer key insights about what’s available in a particular area and what works best in a certain climate.

 

 

 

EGGFEST 2009

We took our family camping in Oklahoma City, OK for a weekend in April. Eight  of us in a pop up camper. But, the reason we went was for the Eggfest that Everything BBQ was hosting.  OK, so what is an Eggfest? It is simply a bbq. The Eggheads (people who love the Big Green Egg) get together to cook and teach others about the Big Green Egg. The Eggheads want you to love the egg. It is not a competition, but an opportunity to taste food cooked on the egg. They held classes about how to cook a perfect brisket, ribs that fall off the bones, and Egg 101. We recently became an authorized dealer for the Big Green Egg, so we went to learn the basics that we will pass on to you.  If you ever have an opportunity to attend an Eggfest, we recommend that you do so. The Big Green Egg website has a list of events that you can attend. Every Saturday in May, come by Campell’s Stoves  in Butler, MO  and we’ll cook up something special for you.   Below are some pictures of the fun we had, and the food we ate. 

An oversized version

Pigs in a Blanket

Lil Smokies

Brats and Vegetables

The Mini Egg

Turkey

Missouri Gator Tail

Rum Cake

The Crowd

 

EGGstraodinary

 

EGGcited

 

EGGxecutives

 

EGGsperts

 

 — retailers who can tell you all about the EGG, sell you one of the five sizes that are available, and assemble and deliver it for you.— the men and women who manage the Big Green Egg Company.— how a new EGG owner will feel the first time he/she cooks on the EGG.—what family and friends will decree after enjoying the meal you prepared on your EGG.EGGspendable— the gas grill that may be sitting in your yard. The EGG does it all so— retailers who can tell you all about the EGG, sell you one of the five sizes that are available, and assemble and deliver it for you.— the men and women who manage the Big Green Egg Company.— how a new EGG owner will feel the first time he/she cooks on the EGG.—what family and friends will decree after enjoying the meal you prepared on your EGG. 

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