Who has great BBQ tips? Naz haz.

BBQ Naz says it's all about the prep, baby

Barbequing is supposed to epitomize easy summertime living. So why do so many home cooks approach with a touch of trepidation? Weber's grilling expert Naz Cavallaro (AKA BBQ Naz) has a few suggestions for grilling without groaning.

First of all, says Naz, preparation is key. "Get it all ready before. Chefs call that mise en place – putting everything in place. If you’re doing skewers, do them beforehand. Prep the veggies and have it all ready to go.”

Good prep takes food safety into account, he adds. “People overlook it. You need to keep your proteins in a shaded area and on ice until you are ready to cook them. Don’t cook it all at once and let it sit on the table for too long – it’s better to grill some, have people eat it and throw more on as you need it."

 As with any kind of cooking, timing is everything, says Naz. “Time your cooking, and don’t get sidetracked and start chatting too much. It’s easy when you’ve had some practice. You could, say, start with sausages and then move them up to the warming rack before cooking chicken. When the chicken is almost done you can tent it and throw on the next item.”

The only situation in which a little inattention is appropriate is when you are cooking something low and slow. “Every time you open your grill, it takes 20 minutes to get temperature back up. Leave it!”

I'd like to know what you're smoking...

Weber's Fireside kits lets users find their faves

Smoking is in. That is, as in cooking foods slowly over low heat using various types of wood, not as in inhaling toxic chemicals that lead to a slow and painful death. Experts tell me that tastes in wood chips are as subjective as tastes in wine. For example, i hate Chardonnay and I don't care who knows it. If you want to experiement with smoking on the barbie, but aren't sure which kind of chips to use, try it out, consider picking up one of Weber’s Trial smoker kits, with four trays with hickory, cherry, apple, and  beech chips ($13) or  a six-pack of  mesquite, cherry,  apple, hickory, and  pecan, and beech  ($18) In Toronto, you can find them at Deer Park,  Dickson and  Sunnybrook Home Hardware stores, www.homehardware.ca, Sobies BBQ , Ontario Gas Barbeque , The Sign of the Skier  or online at  Weber. Never used chips before and don't have a smoker? Here's an easy how-to from Canadian Living.

 

Let the sun shine in on summer decor

As promised, here are Janette Ewen’s top tips for switching up to a fresher, lighter, more summery décor.

The first step, she says, is to give your home a good old-fashioned spring-cleaning.
This means getting into all those dark, dreary corners - cleaning behind the bed, behind the fridge, and flipping/vacuuming/steaming your mattress.

To avoid overload, assign tasks to family members and put together a cleaning schedule. Before you begin, make sure you have the tools and cleaners you’ll need. Ewen is a fan of steam cleaning, and favours Hoover's Twin Tank, which lets the user clean with steam alone, or with a cleaning solution.

 Here is Ewen's step by step program for lightening summer decor:

• De-cluttering will clear both your mind and home. Start by tackling one room at a time.  Sort items into piles, toss, donate and keep. Ask yourself, is this something I can tuck away, need on hand or want to display?  Once sorted, place the items into the appropriate storage containers.
• Change your paint colour, even if it’s just a feature wall. Think of shades you see in nature in the spring and summer — sky blues, leafy greens and sunny yellows.
• Swap your accessories. Replace dark coloured accessories with lighter pieces in simple shapes - think  sleek glass vases and clean-lined bowls. Fill them with oranges or apples for a hit of colour.
• Replace heavy tablecloths with lightweight open-weave linens. When shopping for plates and placemats, opt for a seasonal palette of bold orange, lime green, lemon yellow and sky blue.
• Change your window coverings. Replace heavy fabric drapes, such as velvet, with bamboo blinds or drapes that are light in weight or colour. Try something sheer that lets the sun shine in.
• Put heavy and ornate area rugs into storage. If you have one, expose your clean wooden floor. Alternatively, try rolling out a light coloured sisal or sea grass carpet.
• Place airy arrangements of wildflowers throughout the home. Keep the look soft and natural by mixing a variety of flowers and using an assortment of vases. Or try an eclectic combination of old tin cans.
• Replace winter bedding with soft blankets and top sheets in relaxing colours like lavender, pale green and soft aqua.
• Bring the outdoors in with rustic metal or wood planters or vases planted with fresh herbs or spring annuals. Incorporate furnishings with floral motifs into your living space.
• Shop for art or photography that incorporates natural and outdoor elements that reflect the season.

It's not too late for spring cleaning

Spring sprung early this year and then took a back seat as winter made another late appearance, throwing the seasonal change-over off-balance. That meant that many of us skipped the annual ritual of the Spring clean-up.  But lifestyle expert Janette Ewen has a message on that point — better late than never.

“Spring is a natural time to tidy, because you are letting air in. It’s almost as it that flow works on a sub conscious on your mind as well," says Ewen. But if you missed the first wave of Spring, Ewen cautions against waiting until the next natural marker in the fall. And Ewen says it’s not just your mental health that can suffer from clutter — it’s your pocket book as well.

“Canadian Tire sponsored a survey that found 68 per cent of Canadians say they’ve rebought something because they couldn’t find it in their house and another 71 per cent say they’d rather toss things out than find a place to store them!”

Ewen has a well-honed system for keeping clutter udner control. “I do a mini purge about once a month. I sell some stuff on Kijiji, which lets me make a little money, some of which goes to a favourite charity. If I get lazy, my assistant makes me do it. Staying on top of it helps me avoid getting overwhelmed.”  To help you from getting suffocated by stuff, Ewen has some suggestions:

• Sort stuff into three plastic tubs — one for recycling, one for garbage and one for stuff you’re going to give way. Be disciplined — if you haven’t used it in the last year, you probably won’t. For sports equipment, she’ll stretch it to two years. Before you unload items, consider doing a swap meet with friends — a great way to extend the life of items that no longer work for you.
•  Allow yourself a cabinet for sentimental memorabilia. After all, some things are worth keeping.
• Designate a shelf system for various types of items; one for temporary pieces that you’re not sure you’ll need long-term or not, one for craft or hobby supplies, one for seasonal.
• Use modular storage systems to create customized units that fit different spaces throughout the home.
• Instead of keeping mountains of mags, go through copies and pull the pages/pics/pieces you want and put them in file folders that can be housed in attractive holders.
• Use dead space by, for example, putting shelves above a garment pole in a closet. Consider a second shelf even higher up for items rarely used. Keep a foldable stepladder for easy access. How about under-stair storage?
• Use an under-the-bed storage unit.
• In the kitchen, line the space above upper cabinets with baskets (make sure they have lids)
• Pretty storage items will motivate you to stay organized. Ewen likes Debbie Travis’ line for Canadian Tire.
• When purchasing new furniture for the home, look for pieces that offer functional storage, such as ottomans with lids or closed entertainment units.  Tomorrow —  tips from Ewen on switching up decor for Spring.

From frugal to fabulous - great Father's day gift ideas

Need more great gift ideas for Dad? Happy to oblige. 

Is Dad an aging hippie, or just an aficionado of amazing harmonies? He might like The Beach Boys new album, That’s Why God Made the Radio.  Available at HMV for $17. If his taste runs to something with a slightly harder edge, Rush's Clockwork Angels, also at HMV for $15.

You love Dad, but not his habit of wearing his old running shoes with short socks — even in public. We feel your pain. Kick up Daddy-O’s cool quotient with Sebago’s Triton Three-Eye (about $140) at The Dock Shoppe; Town Shoes; Little Burgundy; Locale; Browns or online at Sebago.

Also worth a look are Wolverine’s Fulcrum GTX ($300) line. These boots have more than rugged  good looks going for them. Waterproof leather uppers with a mesh lining, and a GoreTex membrane make them comfy and breathable.
But here’s the kicker — there’s a removable insole that sits atop a special disc that allows the wearer to customize support. Clever, no?

Does Dad love his coffee? Go all out with De’Longhi’s Gran Dama Avant Espresso Make, which makes perfect latte, cappuccino, Italian macchiato, espresso or plain ole coffee. It’s got touch-screen operation, an on-board grinder, and a plastic jug that stores netaly away in the fridge delivers milk directly into the cup (no fussing with steamer wands).
If the SRP of $3500 is a little too steep, remember that De Longhi has great lower price-point models the one I have does coffee and espresso (space saving) and comes in closer to $250.

Is Father Dear always running late? And do you have a healthy wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket? Tissot’s gorgeous T-Touch II ($950.00) is a stylish solution.
Other models from the same line start at $695.Just the watch to get if Dad’s taste runs to a touch-screen, Swiss-made watch that gives 13 functions, including an altimeter, compass, thermometer and alarm and is water resistant up to 100 metres.Plus, you can get it a funky orange silicone strap, if Dad happens to be a style-meister.  Available at Birks across Canada.

Caveat Emptor. But really.

Bargains hunters love thrift stores and storage auctions. But the CSA Group, a non-profit certification and testing organization, wants buyers to beware before they pounce on that special item. Some, because of age or uncertain history, might be hazardous. To help consumers separate the trash from the treasure, they’re offering the following tips:

Avoid electrical or gas products that don’t have a label from a recognized certification organization such as CSA Group. Check that the certification mark matches with the design and colour of certification marks from the same organization on similar products.

Check wiring and extension cords for wear and damage. In particular, look for worn insulation and splices on the cord and loose or exposed parts on the plug. To avoid shock and fire hazards, have a qualified electrician make any repairs.

Be wary of outdated power tools and building supplies that may not meet current standards or codes. Don’t operate any power tools or equipment without having them inspected.

Avoid used bicycle, hockey or construction helmets. Damage may be hidden, and a helmet that has been in a serious crash may have lost its full protective capabilities.

Check with local regulators to ensure products are safe for use. Some products may have been recalled or even banned for resale in some jurisdictions.

Counterfeit packaging is often poorly designed or has only partial illustrations. Misspellings and unclear printing on products and labels are a tell-tale sign. Check for discrepancies between the contents of the product package and its description, as well as missing product information or enclosures.

Products that don’t include a brand identifier or trademark may be a counterfeit. Look, too, for missing return addresses or company contact information.

Check the look and feel of goods - fake products often seem light and too flimsy.

Confirm CSA Group certification of a product by comparing the product's identification against the certification record.

 Educate yourself about consumer tips and safety advice.

I'm a big fan of the Dyson Fan

 

The temperate air of Spring can turn oppressively hot and soggy before you know it, as it has recently here in the Centre of the Universe (aka Toronto). Shop now for a fan, while stock is good. The Dyson Air Multiplier is super-cool (in several senses). There are no spinning blades to chop the air ineffectively — or, very effectively, small fingers — and it’s designed to draw in up to 27 litres of air a second, amplify it up to 18 times, and spread it soothingly across your hot, sweat-slick, grumpy self. It comes in two shapes, a round version - great for tabletop and, for larger spaces, an oblong version, shown above with My Close Personal Friend James Dyson (well, not really, but I have met Sir James, who is a delightful cross between your cool uncle and a mad genius.)  Both versions are  gorgeous. Last summer, these babies flew off the shelves and were sold out in no time. Govern yourself accordingly. Prices for the line, available at major retailers, start at about $380. Pricey? Yes. But so worth it if you get years and years of summer cooling out of it.

Ah, spring - all about rebirth, and reupholstery

Andrea Ford can help you turn an old chair into a glam decor piece

April, May and June are all about rebirth. So why not give new life to a tired piece of furniture? Andrea Ford of Restyle Studio  offers DIY workshops on re-upholstering everything from ottomans to chairs to headboards. I have at least three items I need to work on. I have a feeling Andrea and I might be seeing a lot of each other over the next few months. 

Another gorgeous creation from Ford

 

 

Everything you always wanted to know about — raising chickens?

Raising chickens in the backyard probably isn’t the top item on your to-do list. But that doesn’t mean a quaint little book about how to do so isn’t a terrific read.

In municipalities that allow small-scale residential farming of chickens, the slim copy of Minnie Rose Lovgreen’s Recipe for Raising Chickens that recently crossed my desk will have definite educational value. But for the average cityslicker, it will be Lovgreen’s oddly compelling, down-to-earth voice that’s the real appeal of this book —without a doubt the most delightful and engaging piece of writing I’ve read in a very long time.

Lovgreen probably never thought of herself as a fascinating person. But consider her life story. Born in 1888 in England, Lovgreen was the eighth of nineteen children. In 1912, she and her brother decided to set off for Canada on a ship called the Titanic. But Lovgreen got bored waiting for the ship to be sail-ready, and hopped instead onboard another Montreal-bound ship. Those details alone were enough to make me place my order for Lovgreen’s other book, As Far As I Can Remember; Minnie Rose’s Story, also available at Trillium Press. 

By 1920, Lovgreen had made her way to Washington State, where she met and married Danish-born Leo Lovgreen.  They worked together for 30 years, creating a 170-acre dairy farm, where Lovgreen also learned all about rising chickens. After some 60 years, she decided to collect her wisdom in a simple, hand-lettered 31-page booklet, which was illustrated by Elizabeth Hutchison Zwick.

If you do want to raise chickens the old-fashioned way, this is probably an excellent primer. If not, it’s full of wonderful insights from Lovgreen, and delightful gems of wisdom, such as:

You’re much better off with a broody hen, even if you have to borrow one.

One or two white eggs in a box bring out the value of the brown ones… they look real pretty.

If two roosters get fighting hard, the only way I can do (sic) is to take a board and slap one of them in the face.

A quick read, this is the perfect book for the cottage — as bedside reading or, in a comfy chair in the shade.  But while it’s tempting to characterize it as charming anachronism, it’s worth remembering that Lovgreen lived in a time and place when connections to the land, and to the food chain that sustains us, were much stronger and more visible.

Lovgreen and her husband probably got just about everything they needed to survive from the land, or the local community. When I compare that with the fact that my husband, who’s an elementary school teacher, regularly encounters kids who don’t realize that apples come from a tree, I worry about what we’ve lost by becoming increasingly removed from the realities of food production. Makes you wonder about the nature of our progress, doesn’t it?

And if you read and enjoy this book, you must look for a copy of Betty MacDonald’s The Egg and I, about a young newlywed— also in Washington State ­ — who finds out that her husband has plans to start a chicken farm. The book was made into a sweet and funny little movie of the same name, released in 1947, and starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray.  

Hot home office pieces

Sadly, there wasn't room in this week's column in the paper for all the great images I had of office furniture. Happily, the wonders of modern technology make it possible for me to share them here. Kind of a ying-yang sitch.

 

Arie shelves by Aril Levy (at Klaus) can do double duty as shelves or room dividers

Domison's office chair (Corian) has a deliberate formality

Mayhew can help with office design from the floor up

The well-designed home office can increase productivity (image from Mayhew)

 

Castor (at Klaus) offers an unsual take on office decor

Martha Stewart thinks a tidy office (with items show here and below) is a good thing