It’s Hot Dog week on Chewsy Lovers! People all over the country are going to be out grilling and chilling this weekend and so will we. Continue Reading
Summer
Summer Grilling Essentials #TargetColors
The summer is a great time to get into grilling! Just this week so many people have contacted us about wanting to start grilling and how to do it. The first piece of advice I will give is have the right tools! Summer is here and with about four months of warm weather ahead of us now is the time to get a great deal on summer grilling essentials so you can get cookin’ at a great price! Continue Reading
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We have really been enjoying our grill since it has warmed up and summer is just arriving, so we have at least three more months of great grilling ahead of us. If you’re following our grillin’ and chillin’ series we’ve already given you some great tips and even grilling cookbooks to keep the grill fun going all summer long. Today, we get to show you how versatile grilling can be. Continue Reading
How to Use a Charcoal Chimney for Grilling
Have you ever used a chimney to light your grill? This is something Buckaroo put me on to. I had grown up always seeing the grill started with charcoals doused in lighter fluid. After learning how to use one and what it was for, I will never go back. Our favorite is the The Weber brand is really just the gold standard in barbecuing and we will cosign on just about anything they make. Check out their book for some great grilling tips and ideas. I mentioned it and some other awesome grilling books in this post. 
The purpose of this chimney is to eliminate the need for lighter fluid. Lighter fluid makes the charcoals or wood bitter, and it will come out in the smoke and food. You may not be able to tell in your food if you currently use lighter fluid, but if you switch to using the chimney you will be able to taste a difference. Using the chimney also saves you money by not having to purchase lighter fluid and it ensures you use the right amount of coals each time. Cool right!?
So here’s how to use it:
1. Stuff 2 or 3 sheets of newspaper into the bottom of the chimney. 
2. Fill the chimney with your charcoal of choice. (We use .) 
3. With a match or stick lighter, light the newspaper. If you use a stick lighter you can also reach the holes along the side of the chimney to help your fire catch.
4. Set your chimney on a non-flammable surface like concrete or on the grates of your grill for 20-30 minutes. 
5. The fire on the newspaper will catch onto the coals and they will be bright red. 
6. Remove the grate from your grill and pour the coals in. 
7. Place the grill grate back and get cooking! 
**We have a smoke box on the side of our grill shown in this post. You can use the same method with any standard charcoal grill.**
If you try the chimney this summer come back and drop us a comment and let us know how you liked it.
The affiliate links in this post will add to our food truck fund. Thanks for your support!
M.W.A.H.,
Mandi
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EXPLORING THROUGH FOOD SERIES – TEACHING SCHOOL READINESS SKILLS
Whip up a meal or a healthy snack with your children and become an active part of their learning. When the end of the school year approaches I always have a little anxiety about the summer. I love for the kids to enjoy their summer break but I’m one of those parents that feels like education doesn’t stop just because school does. Continue Reading