I can’t believe that we’re already halfway through June! Where is the time going? While I realize that it isn’t “officially” summer yet, it sure feels like it – the temperatures are rising, the kids are outside more, and every weekend it’s another barbecue at our house. I think our grill has gotten some serious use in the past few weeks. Which is why I thought this would be the perfect time to share some Summer Grilling Tips!
Marinate Overnight
When grilling steaks and chicken, it’s natural to marinate your meat, but throwing the marinade on the meat at the last minute isn’t enough. For full flavor, marinate your meat for 24 hours (in the fridge) before grilling. I also find it helpful to cover my marinating dish, either with a lid, plastic wrap, or foil (this also helps with possible contamination issues).
Don’t Contaminate
Every year people end up sick because bacteria at a barbecues. It’s frightening, really. So once you’ve used that brush to spread marinade your meat, put it in the sink to be washed. And once your meat is cooking on the grill, don’t try to use the left over marinade on the meat (one brush immediately after you put it on the grill is okay, but after that, throw it out). Reason being, that brush and marinade has bacteria on it from the raw meat and that bacteria can get you really sick. On a similar note, make sure to keep your hands, spatula, grill, and other surfaces clean. Antibacterial wipes can really help here!
Skip the Squeeze
When my husband hands the spatula over to me, it takes everything I’ve got not to press the meat on the grill. I think a little part of me thinks that pressing the meat down will help the food cook or show me if it’s done, but the best thing that you can do is to leave it alone and skip the squeeze! Let the food cook for several minutes, flip it over to cook some more, then gently press down on a small section of the meat (to see if the juices run clear), and remove it from the grill when done. This will keep all those juices in your food making it extra flavorful!
Meat Needs Rest Too
This is something that I learned very recently. By immediately cutting into meat after it’s taken off the grill, you lose the juices that make meat taste flavorful. Instead, allow the meat to sit after taking it off the grill. This will allow the meat to cool to a safe temperature and trap more of the juice inside. It doesn’t need to rest long, but 10 -15 minutes can make a definite difference and improve flavor!
End on a Sweet Note
After you’ve devoured your grilled goods, your bound to be full, but there’s always room for dessert…and what dessert screams summertime more than Bomb Pops? I can’t think of one! So sit down, relax, and enjoy a cool treat!
So how do you plan to celebrate this summer? Would a little gift from Publix & Bomb Pop help? Great, because I’m giving away a Patriotic Prize Pack to one lucky reader. The Patriotic Prize Pack is valued at $50 contains:
- 2 coupons for free boxes of Bomb Pop (found at Publix)
- $25 Publix gift card
- Patriotic Star Cupcake Combo Pack
- Patriotic Tableware Caddy
- Red, White & Blue Fan Decorations
- Patriotic 3-D Star Centerpieces
- Chevron Treat Bags
Enter using the Giveaway Tools form below and it could be yours! Good luck everyone!
And now for the hop… 
Welcome to the 3rd annual Savory Summer Giveaway Hop! I have teamed up with our host Measuring Flower and a group of amazing bloggers to bring you a compilation of awesome food and food-related prizes! This is a giveaway hop which means that, after you after entered my giveaway below, you can “hop” on to the next participating blog to enter their giveaway, too. You can find a list with links to all the other bloggers towards the bottom of this post. 
Oh, and don’t forget to check out this event’s totally awesome grand prize giveaway! It’s for a 10-piece stainless steel cookware set from Calphalon!
Disclaimer: Diary of a Working Mom and its authors are not responsible for other bloggers’ sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes.
This event brought to you by Measuring Flower Events.
I would use the coupons to purchase the Sour Wower Pops for my husband and me, and the Sugar Free Original for my toddler.
Thank you!
banana fudge
I would definitely get the watermelon flavor, I know everyone at my house would like those.
I would buy the Banana Fudge and Jolly Rancher flavors with my coupons!
The Hawaiian Punch Bomb Pops sound good.
Sour Wower sounds yum
I would get the Sour Wowers
i’d choose the watermelon because they are so cute and the original. thank you!
I would choose the Original
i would love the Jolly Rancher flavors.
I would buy Banana Fudge.
I would get the watermelon flavor
I think my boys would like the Sour Wowers.
I would choose the original.
watermelon sounds great.
I would get the banana fudge with my coupons.
I would buy the original.
I would pick Jolly Ranchers
I would buy the watermelon.
I would like to try the Sour Wower.
I want to try the Hawaiian Punch bomp pops
I would get the original.
Watermelon sounds yummy to me!
My boys would like any of the flavors but we would probably get the Jolly Rancher or the Hawaiian Punch flavorsflavors.
The original. My kids (and husband) love these! Thank you for this chance, it would be a blessing to us.
teffgossett@gmail.com
My grandson would love the Jolly Rancher
I would get the Hawaiian Punch!
Hawaiian Punch would be great!
I would buy the Banana Fudge, they sound so good right now.
Definitely the Jolly Rancher. There are the best one in my opinion.
If I won, I would certainly get the Jolly Rancher flavor, those are my son’s favorite 🙂
the sour wower
I would get the banana fudge. I can remember going into 7-11 on a hot summer day and a kid and getting a banana fudge bomb pop
My kids would love the Hawaiian Punch bombs;)
I like the Hawaiian Punch flavor.
I would purchase the Tongue Splashers and Watermelon since I’ve never tried them.
Hawaiian Punch
jolly rancher
Banana Fudge sounds yummy! I would try it!
I would get the Banana Fudge.
I would get banana fudge…i love those things
I would buy Watermelon and Banana Fudge
I would love watermelon
I would love to get the Jolly Rancher flavored pops!
The original and banana fudge would be great for my grandkids.
I absolutely love the original!!
I would love to try the Hawaiian punch but my daughter would want the Tear Jerkers
Definitely the jolly rancher and banana fudge YUMMY
Watermelon!!!!$
My kids would like to try the Jolly Rancher flavor.
I would stick with original
well this is hard to decide but to make it easy I would for sure stay with the original I lLove Bomb Pops
I never knew they had more than the original flavor. I would love to try the banana fudge and the watermelon ones. they sound yummy.
Banana fudge, because, chocolate!
Definitely the original, I am not a fan of the sours or other flavors.
I would get the Sour Wowers!
I love the originals but I didn’t now they had banana fudge so I would have to try those out.
I would stay with the original red, white, and blue. But their other flavors are great too.
The watermelon sounds good.
I would choose the original red white and blue.
I’d get the jolly ranchers flavors – yummm love bomb pops
I would like to get the jolly rancher bomb pops.
I have not seen the watermelon bomb pops in my stores, but I would look for those if I won!
The Hawaiian Punch Bomb Pops sound amazing!
I would like to try the watermelon bomb pops.
If I won I would love to get the Jolly Ranchers and the Hawaiian Punch ones!
I would buy the Jolly Rancher ones!
I would get the watermelon flavored bomb pops with these coupons.
I would want to get some more of the Banana bomb pops they are delicious and refreshing, thank you for asking
I would buy the watermelon