Keeping your prized possessions covered all year around is a smart thing to do. Our grills and barbecues are not cheap and they should be protected to make them last as long as possible. A good quality cover is an important investment for you to consider. My new friends at Empire Covers were kind enough to send me a grill cover and a log rack cover to review.

I have a log rack in the back yard full of Almond, Oak, and a few bits of Cherry wood that is 8 foot wide and believe me, it isn’t the prettiest thing to look at. There is nothing worse than wet wood to cook with and every year mine gets wet during the winter. I also have my Beast Smoker Grill that has been uncovered since I received it earlier this year. Therefore, two perfect items to cover and Empire Covers sent me the perfect grill cover and log rack cover them with.

The first package I opened was the log rack cover, in my favorite color forest green, and I was immediately impressed by the quality. Heavy-duty material well stitched and with Velcro to open the front part of the log rack cover for easy access and placement on the log rack. This is a full size log rack cover, with 100% full coverage on all sides. I really liked the white accent trim around the top log rack cover defining the outline and giving it a clean, crisp, uniform look.

There is no doubt that this log cover will hold up to the elements and keep my wood dry all year long. Not to mention the added bonus of making that ugly woodpile look very nice.

My new grill cover is a nice nutmeg in color, lightweight durable fabric that is breathable and waterproof. The breathability will help reduce mold and mildew on my grills and that is a plus. Very well stitched and put together, including a strap and buckle system to help hold it in place when the wind picks up.

One note but I would like to make in the difference between this grill cover and some of the others that I have, is that when I remove this to cook on my grill it will fold up into a very small package. Some of my other grill covers are so heavy that I have to lay them on top of something else but not with this grill cover I can fold it up and put it in a drawer until I need it again.

Empire Covers has a large selection of covers to fit every need out there from cars, boats, recreation vehicles and a great selection of outdoor patio covers to choose. Most of the products come with a one or two year warranty depending on the type of material you select. The pricing in my opinion is very reasonable and they seem to have specials going on all the time.

Take a minute and stop by and visit Empire Covers check out their selection and cover up your prized possessions this winter.

This spring I will give you an update as to how well they survived the elements here in Central California.

“Get out of the kitchen! Light the fire! Start cooking outdoors”

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Just received the Kettle Pizza accessory for the Weber 22 1/2″ kettle grill. Thought I would give you all a bit of a tease before I put it to the Cooking-Outdoors test. Pizza on the grill is one of our family favorites and this should make it all that much better.

If you can not wait to see me use it then go right to www.KettlePizza.com to get yours!

“Get out of the kitchen! Light the fire! Start cooking outdoors”

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Plank cooking has been around for hundreds if not thousands of years, on every continent in the world at some point or another. I enjoy plank cooking and have done my share of it over the years but I have never been so excited to grill on a plank as I am now. This yearning is completely the fault of Larry Hinzman, owner of  GrillingPlank.biz and his amazing package of grilling planks he sent me. Pure torture!

GrillingPlank.biz is the home of the “Nature’s Choice” grilling planks. Larry has a super store of Cedar grilling planks! All sizes from large to small, thick to thin, plain or drilled, plus wraps, spices, cookbooks, recipes, videos and more.

My set, the “Nature Choice 43pc Grill Masters kit” is over the top! Selection, variety and information galore!

Here is what you get in the Grill Master kit (info from the site):

GrillingPlank.biz best selling 12pc variety pack of grilling wraps to this offer. This is a great new way to enjoy cooking with wood. Grilling/Oven Wraps are wafer thin sheets of aromatic woods used for cooking single size portions of foods on your covered grill or home oven. Many have had wonderful results using a covered heavy fry pan too! See complete instructions and recipes in the “Plank it Wrap it” cookbook included in this set.

This offering includes a terrific selection of thin and thick cut planks. Your recipes and number of guests vary. I have included several sizes of planks in this package to accommodate many of those occasions. I often use more than one type of plank when I am cooking on the grill. Thick cut planks for longer possible cooking times for whole chickens and pork roasts. Thinner cut planks for great seafood, pork chops and poultry fillets. Also included are thin shorter planks for smaller serving sizes and veggie/dessert sides. Tons of recipes in the “Plank Cooking” Cookbook also included. The best selling plank cooking cookbook on the market.

Specifics:

12″ Thin Cut 6pc. Variety Pack – Each plank measures approx. 12×5.5×1/2″. 2 planks are flat tops, 2 are with herb pots and 2 have smoke ports.

15″ Thin Cut 6pc. Variety Pack – Each plank measures approx. 15×5.5×1/2″. 2 planks are flat tops, 2 are with herb pots and 2 have smoke ports.

8″ Single Serving 6pc. Set – Each plank measures approx. 8×5.5×1/2″.

5.5″ Salmon Fillet Size 6pc Set – Perfect for smaller size individual fillet or for Hors d’œuvre

Grilling/Oven Wraps 12pc Variety Pack – Includes 3@ Maple, Alder, Cedar & Hickory

12″ Thick Cut 2pc. Set – Each plank measures approx. 12×7.5×3/4″.

15″ Thick Cut 2pc. Set – Each plank measures approx. 15×7.5×3/4″.

Plank Cooking Cookbook – “Plank Cooking” 152 page Cookbook Included.

“Plank It! Wrap It!” Cookbook – 56 page cookbook featuring grilling with Wraps

Spray Bottle – One spray bottle to help control fire ups.

Bulk Packed 43pc. Set – Save packaging costs when you buy in bulk.

Wow! It is massive and a value of $188.39 makes it an incredible value …. No I am not telling you the price. You need to go to GrillingPlank.biz to find out.

The quality is just top notch; those cookbooks will absolutely amaze you.

So where do we go from here? Over the next month I will be cooking like crazy on all of these grilling planks and sharing the results with you! Many of you have asked for grilling plank cooking and now you will get some.

How about plank cooked Vegetables? Desserts? Fish? Chicken? Fruit? And so much more!

Until then go check out GrillingPlank.biz for their complete selection of Cedar grilling planks.

Gary

“Get out of the kitchen! Light the fire! Start cooking outdoors”

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