Performer Charcoal Grill with Touch-N-Go Propane Ignition

Performer Charcoal Grill with Touch-N-Go Propane Ignition

Many outdoor chefs swear by charcoal for the smoky, old-school flavor it lends to meat--but no one likes the mess or the hassle of starting the coals, or the chemical aftertaste that lighter fluid can leave. The Performer's Touch-n-Go ignition system uses liquid propane to light charcoal briquets with just the touch of a button. Once the coals are white-hot, you're ready to cook. Even cleaning up afterwards won't get your hands dirty, thanks to Weber's patented One-Touch cleaning system--a simple sweep of a lever pushes ashes into a removable catch pan for quick and easy disposal.

The Performer's exceptionally-durable construction includes a rust-resistant, porcelain-enameled steel bowl and lid. Heavy-duty, hinged grates made from plated steel offer easy access to the classic kettle-shaped bowl when it's time to add briquets to the fire. A dual-purpose thermometer allows cooks to monitor the temperature inside the grill, then removes to test meat for doneness. A Tuck-Away holder holds the lid conveniently out of the way plus provides a windscreen for lighting. Rugged, weather-resistant wheels are crack-proof in the most extreme temperatures and allow easy transport, while locking casters prevent the grill from rolling while you cook. Rust-free aluminum vents adjust to provide perfect airflow in changing conditions. An integrated storage container keeps up to 20 pounds of charcoal dry and within reach, and the granite-look Thermoset work surface provides a handy place to store marinades and sauces while you cook.

Also included are welded steel charcoal fuel holders that facilitate cooking with direct or indirect heat as well as a five-pound liquid propane tank. The assembled unit measures 40 by 50-1/4 by 28-1/2 inches, with a 22-1/2 inch cooking surface. Bowl, handles, lid, and One-Touch cleaning system are covered by a 10-year warranty; cooking grate and charcoal baskets have a 1-year warranty; and the burner assembly, hose, test valve, and regulator have a 3-year guarantee. Weber grills are made in the USA. --Mary Park

The Art of Cooking With Live Fire

Books on outdoor grilling abound, but few get the job done as concisely as Weber's Charcoal Grilling. Addressed, as most such books are, to the male cook, this collection of 115 attractive recipes, which range from rubs and sauces to desserts--and includes, besides the basics, the tasty likes of Filet Mignon Steaks with Martini Marinade; Dutch Oven Jambalaya; and Caribbean-Spiced Grouper with Yellow Pepper Sauce--necessarily concentrates on technique. A comprehensive, color-photo-illustrated section on fire-mastery helps guide readers through fundamentals and more advanced approaches like outdoor smoking. Included also are portraits of successful guy-grillers, which should provide further encouragement to the grilling-diffident. With good notes on shopping and grilling pitfalls--how to avoid fish sticking to the grill is one--this is an excellent, to-the-point guide.

Weber is Real Grilling

Naturally, this grilling cookbook spends more time than most explaining which kind of grill readers should use in order for food to come out perfectly. And although the book is co-published by the biggest name in grilling, it plays fair when recommending products. An introductory chapter, for example, doesn't name names when explaining how to choose a gas grill or charcoal grill. And lessons on building a fire with coals and lighting a gas grill will be of use to any cook, regardless of the brand of his or her grill. After covering the basics, Purviance, a food writer with a degree from the Culinary Institute of America, shares some bang-up recipes for grilled red meat, pork, poultry, fish, vegetables, side dishes and even desserts. He keeps things simple, but revels in perfecting each dish. So instructions for making a hamburger-whether it's a Cheeseburger of Champions, a Bacon and Swiss Burger, or a Double-Decker Mushroom Beef Burger-describe which kind of meat to buy, how big each patty should be and what to do in order to get "beautifully grilled burgers." This upmarket yet non-threatening grilling text is sure to please anyone new to grilling as well as old hands who want to brush up their skills.

The Complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques

The giddy joy that comes with picking up this tribute to outdoor cooking is comparable to the adolescent thrill of sneaking a naughty magazine into the garage. Not only does every conceivable meat, fish and fowl get its turn over the coals, there is a whole Barbecued Cabbage stuffed with bacon and onion and even a grilled CrŠme Br-l,e. Raichlen focuses on creative techniques, employing everything from butcher's string and bricks wrapped in foil to inserting a half-full can of beer into the cavity of a chicken: when placed on the grill it simultaneously steams the bird and holds it upright, allowing the skin to grow crisp. Indeed, Raichlen's (Miami Spice; High-Flavor Low-Fat Cooking) approach is anything but shy. However, to limit the book to a manageable size, Raichlen presents just one or two recipes for each cut of meat or type of seafood. Thus a single lamb is chopped into a new-world-order menu of Rack of Lamb Marrakech, Sichuan-Spiced Loin Lamb Chops and Leg of Lamb Proven‡al. Throughout, every recipe is made foolproof with step-by-step instructions and, happily, a photo accompanies every one of the steps. While none could be considered a full-fledged centerfold, it is impossible not to gaze upon them and lust.

Weber's Big Book of Grilling

The grilling experts at Weber share their time honored secrets of cooking wisdom in this ultimate barbecue handbook. Destined to become a sauce stained classic, its packed with more than 365 of the tastiest recipes ever to hit the grill, mouthwatering full color photos, and all the tips and techniques you need to become a certified Backyard Hero. Want to know the secret of perfect ribs or how to grill a 20 pound turkey without letting them see you sweat? Whether youre the neighborhood grilling guru or youve never done much more than flip a burger, youll find tricks of the trade, great advice, and infinite ways to grill up fabulous food thats as red hot as the coals!

Home Clean Tools

Home Clean Tools

McCulloch Heavy-Duty Steam Clean Steam clean like a professional! The McCulloch Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner does it all. Melt away grease and grime from your engine, wheels and chrome accessories. Steam away stains and odors from upholstery, carpeting, and floor mats and get those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies spotlessly clean. Blast stuck-on dirt from your BBQ grill, patio furniture, or garage. With 1500 watts of power and 1 hour of use per full tank, this steamer makes light of almost any household chore. The unit features wheels and casters for easy movement, a steam control switch to meter steam output, and a storage compartment to store its 10 included attachments. more

KitchenAid Attachments

KitchenAid Attachments are an easy and affordable way to expand the versatility of your KitchenAid stand mixer. Choose the grinder, the rotor slicer/shredder or the juicer attachment. Carries KitchenAid's hassle-free total replacement warranty as well as a 1-year full warranty.

Preparing Your Home for Sale: Make Repairs

by: Roselind Hejl


Before a buyer considers your home seriously, it must meet his needs in a variety of ways. It must be a suitable commuting distance, neighborhood, design style, floorplan, size, number of bedrooms, etc. If all or most of these needs are met, the buyer will begin to move in the direction of making a purchase decision. The purchase decision is a both an emotional and intellectual response, founded on a level of trust in your home. So, it is logical that in marketing your home your goal should be to enable the buyer to build trust in your home as quickly as possible. One way to do this is to address both surface and hidden repair issues before putting your home on the market. A few small clues, such as torn carpet or leaky faucet, will create a feeling that your house is not well cared for. Once the buyer has spotted a few defects, he will be on the lookout for more. If the finishes in your home are in good condition, buyers will assume that the mechanical and structural systems are well maintained also.

Make a Complete List

Remember that potential buyers and their real estate agents do not have the warm personal memories and familiarity that you have with your home. They will view it with a critical and discerning eye. Anticipate their concerns before they ever see your home. You may look at the leaky faucet and think of a $10 part at Home Depot. The buyer thinks of a $100 plumbing bill. Begin by walking through each room and considering how buyers are going to feel about what they see. Make a complete list of needed repairs. Hire a handyman, if you need one, to fix the items in a few days. It will be more efficient to have them all done at once. Some clients choose to market their houses as a fixer-uppers. Of course, there are handy buyers out there who are not afraid of repairs, but they expect to profit from this, substantially above the cost of labor and materials. When a house needs obvious repairs, buyers always assume there are more problems than meet the eye. It is in your best interest to get minor repairs fixed before marketing your home. Your house will bring a higher price and sell faster.

Get an Inspection

Often sellers have their home inspected by a professional inspector before putting it on the market. This is an excellent way to discover unknown repair issues that may come up later on the buyer's inspection report. By getting this done early, you will be able to address the items on your own time, without the involvement of a prospective buyer. There will almost certainly be some items that you choose to not repair. For example, building code requirements change over the years. As a result, you may not meet code for certain items, such as handrail height, spacing between balusters, stair dimensions, single glazed windows, and other items. You may elect to leave items such as these as they are, and that is OK. You should note on the inspection report which items you have repaired, and which are being left as is, and attach it to your Seller's Disclosure. It is a good idea to also attach repair receipts to the report if you have used a contractor for some of the items. A professional inspection report answers buyers questions early, creates a higher level of trust in your home and reduces re-negotiations after contract.

Offer a Service Contract

The home service contract (also called home warranty) covers the cost of certain repairs to mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems and appliances during the buyer's first year of ownership. The cost of the policy is about $350, but may be more if a pool or other items are added. The fee is paid to a third party warranty company, who provides repair services for the buyers during their first year of ownership. These policies help to reduce the number of disputes about the condition of the property after the sale. They protect the interests of both buyer and seller.

Should You Remodel?

Often clients ask us if they should remodel their house for sale. I believe the answer to this is no - major improvements do not make sense when selling a home. Studies show that remodeling projects do not return 100% of their cost in the sales price. For the average home, it does not pay to move walls, tear out cabinets, re-do kitchens and bathrooms, or add rooms, in order to sell. There is a fine line between remodeling and making repairs. You will need to draw this line. Here are some decisions you may need to consider:

Countertops are outdated or wrong color:

It may be worth it to replace the countertops if other components of the house are acceptable. An attractive countertop can transform the kitchen, and the kitchen has a significant impact on the value of your home.

Carpet is worn, outdated or wrong color:

This improvement is almost always worth doing. Sometimes sellers ask us if they should give an allowance for carpet, and let the buyer choose. Do not worry about whether the buyer will like your selection. Just choose a neutral shade, and make the change. New carpet makes everything else look better.

Walls need complete or touch up paint:

This is a must do! Clean walls are crucial to a winning presentation of your home. This includes baseboards and trim. On the walls you should use neutral colors, such as cream, sage green, beige/yellow, gray/blue. Stark white, primary colors and dark colors do not contribute as much market value, and may be a negative factor.

Texture on walls is poorly done, or there is heavy "popcorn" texture on the ceiling:

A clean, simple texture under paint can improve the presentation of your home. On the other hand, if there is much updating needed in other areas, it does not make sense to target this item.

Wallpaper is outdated or torn:

This may need to be removed and the walls painted. However, if the home needs a good deal of additional updating, then wallpaper should be left as is. Bathroom caulking or grout is dirty: Put this on the must do list. Old or darkened caulking is a turn-off to buyers. It is easily replaced.

There are drainage problems, or leaks in the plumbing or roof:

This is a must fix! Be careful that you correct the source of the problem, use professional help to check for mold, and fully disclose the repair. Make sure your contractor gives a warranty that can be passed on to the buyer, but avoid giving a personal guarantee of the repair.

There are sheetrock holes, missing trim, torn vinyl, broken windows, rotten wood or malfunctioning equipment:

These are all repair issues that should be addressed. Homes sell for more that show a reasonable level of maintenance.

Shrubs are overgrown and flower beds are bare or weedy:

This is one of the most cost effective changes you can make. Mow and edge the lawn. Add inexpensive mulch to flower beds. Add a new doormat and pots of blooming plants to the porch. Cut back overgrown shrubs or remove them altogether. Large, woody shrubs can be a detraction to your home, especially if they cover windows.

Gutters need cleaning and trees rub against the roof:

These are items that comes up frequently on buyers' inspection reports. Make sure your tree limbs do not touch the roof.

Heat/AC, Plumbing and Electrical systems:

All of these systems need routine maintenance. It would be a good idea to have the heat/AC system serviced and filters changed. Check for plumbing leaks, toilets that rock, corroded valves on the hot water heater and other plumbing problems. Replace burned out bulbs and electrical fixtures that do not work. Check your sprinkler system and pool equipment for little problems.

Make Needed Repairs

As you prepare your home for sale, your first step should be to make needed repairs. By making repairs you will answer buyers questions early, build trust in your home more quickly, and proceed through the closing process with fewer surprises. Your home will appeal to more buyers, sell faster and bring a higher price.

About The Author

Roselind Hejl, CRS, is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker United in Austin, Texas. Her website - www.weloveaustin.com - Austin Texas Real Estate Guide - offers homes for sale, search MLS, buyer and seller guides. "Let Roselind help you make your move to Austin."

Top 25 Residential Agents - Austin Business Journal

roselind@weloveaustin.com

Arranging Design Accents

by: Damien Pfirsch


Homes are often judged by the condition of their interior finishes. More than anything else, we notice and remember the details of a room’s decoration: the singular touches that express the homeowner’s tastes and personality. Décor accents, furnishings and works of art significantly impact upon the atmosphere of a room. They make the difference between a space that looks aesthetically designed and thoroughly thought out, and one that looks uneven or half-finished. But certain rules need to be followed to create an organized and neat décor scheme.

Some of the best details are works of art: exquisite ceramic wares, striking abstract paintings, picture frames, and fabrics, among other items. Or they could be collections of accents such as vases, trays and boxes.

When arranging objects and creations, keep proportions in mind. The size of pieces relative to each other and the space itself is their scale. For example, a large vase on a small console looks awkward. A tiny box on a large table appears lost. If furnishings are out of scale, you’ll notice that it just doesn’t feel comfortable or right.

Similarly scaled accents are more serene when used together, but a nice balance of accents creates a harmonious atmosphere, utilizing differing physical qualities of height, depth and width throughout the room. You should always balance one large object with several smaller ones. You can also group dissimilar object (for example a vase, a box and a picture frame can be set on a corner table.) But link them by color to create a harmonious display.

The relationship of items to one another to form an agreeable whole is termed balance. There are two forms of balance: symmetrical and asymmetrical. Asymmetry refers to an imbalance, such as two candles of slightly different heights next to one another. Symmetry is restful, while asymmetry represents motion and excitement.
About The Author

Damien Pfirsch is the founder of www.asiannouveau.com, an online showroom presenting the latest home decor accents and furniture created by Asian designers. Based in Bangkok, Thailand, the website promotes Asian decor exporters to international buyers looking for unique accents to complement their collections.