Family

Be the Hero of Your Grill This Summer

Summer is all about enjoying the warm weather with family and friends, but even with the longer summer days, the season can feel short for many. That’s why it’s important to make the most of summer by maximizing your fun in the sun with some of the best memories being made while entertaining al fresco and nothing brings people together like a barbecue. There seems to be something about being outdoors and the sizzle of fresh food on the grill that makes you want to gather with family and friends. For a fun-filled, yet relaxing barbecue, it’s important to keep the essentials on-hand for easy entertaining. From bright decor to refreshing drinks and fresh ingredients, party prep ensures you save time and money, and are always ready to wine and dine your guests. This summer, you can be the hero of your grill with a few simple tips and tricks: A great meal starts with great meat. Make sure to use versatile, high-quality and tender cuts. Cut down on time, not flavor. Look for pre-seasoned meats such as pork chops, or slice, dice or cube larger cuts like boneless loin to shorten cook time and increase flavor. Grill like a pro. Use direct heat for burgers and chops, and indirect heat for larger cuts like ribs.

Feel-Good Mother’s Day Activities

Mother’s Day is dedicated to the most important woman in the world. Gifts are fabulous, especially thoughtful ones; but this year go above and beyond to give your mom the gift of your time. Spend the day with her doing something that will bring you both closer together and will be a wonderful memory for years to come. Why not start this mother day with an activity that can become a mother’s day tradition. DO BRUNCH TOGETHER Who doesn’t love brunch? And how convenient is it that Mother’s day falls on Sunday-the official brunch day. Take mom out for a fabulously delicious meal and bottomless mom-osa (mimosa). BOOK A MASSAGE Relax, refresh and renew her mind, body, and spirit with a well-deserved massage. The healing power of massage is well researched. So give mom a gift that keeps giving in wellness. Join her if you can, and turn it into a fab spa day! PAMPER HER WITH A MAKEOVER Mom is beautiful inside and out, but she may not have the time or energy to keep up with her appearance. This is why a makeover is an awesome gift. TAKE A COOKING CLASS Take the class together! Even if mom is the best cook in the world, she will appreciate a cooking class to learn a new recipe to add to her repertoire. TAKE A DAY TRIP Go on an adventure-, you don’t have to venture too far, you can find somewhere you’ve never been to close to home. Explore some local places, could be anywhere from an island to the mountains to neighboring cities. GO TO A CONCERT Give mom a night she’ll always remember at a concert. Watch her cares fade away as the cool vibrations fill the air with the sounds of her favorite musician or band. BOOK A FAMILY SHOOT Gather the entire family for a fun family photo-shoot. Find a photographer who will capture the essence of your family’s personality and love for each other. Frame your favorite photo as a gift for mom. GO WINE TASTING Spend the day at a winery or wine tasting event. This is a 21+ activity for the big kids who want to toast mom with a glass (or two) of wine! After the tasting, gift mom with a few bottles of her favorite to take home. SERVE BREAKFAST IN BED Allow mom to sleep in, a rare luxury for most moms. When she’s woken up, get her mother’s day off to a perfect start with a delicious breakfast feast in bed. PLAN A PICNIC The sun is out and the flowers are in full bloom, it’s the perfect weather to fill up a picnic basket with mom’s favorite foods and beverages, grab a blanket and spend the day talking, playing games and relaxing. CATCH A GAME Is mom a sports fan! Why not take her to a game of her favorite team. Take it up a notch and get her signed memorabilia. SEE A MOVIE Skip Netflix and chill and opt for an actual movie date with mom. Make sure you see something she’s sure to enjoy. GO ON A HIKE There’s nothing like a good hike out in the great outdoors to recharge and de-stress. Take mom on a refreshing and exhilarating hike up a mountain or in a park, on the beach or the woods. GO TO A MUSEUM OR GALLERY Escape reality for a day and discover new art at a museum or exhibit. Some museums may even offer special Mother’s Day tours and events she’s bound to love. HELP HER EXPLORE A PASSION PROJECT She’s always supporting everyone else’s hobbies and activities, barely having the time to engage in her own. Sign her up for a class or workshop where she can pursue a new passion or rekindle an old one. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Father’s Day Gifts for the Man Who Loves to Cook

Hey Family, Father’s Day is coming up. Yey! Sure, typical Father’s Day gifts generally get the job done – think golf clubs, tool set and even a stylish tie – but what about the dad who enjoys spending time making magic in the kitchen. Don’t forget him. Give him the tools he needs to succeed, whether he’s baking for the big game, preparing a meal for the family, trying out a new recipe or seeking to master the perfect steak. Reaching one’s fullest potential in the kitchen requires the right equipment, so put the best gear in his hands (or on his counter) and up his culinary experience with these ideas from Cosmo Appliances. From a Portable Induction Cooktop Burner to a Sous Vide Cooker turn his Kitchen countertop into a versatile powerhouse, give your food-savvy dad what he needs to up his culinary game. For more Father’s Day gift inspiration, visit cosmoappliances.com. A Super Range for a Super Dad Dad deserves tools as bold and innovative as his culinary creations. Featuring Gas or Dual Fuel Ranges that combine modern styling with high-performance cooking technology. Dad will appreciate the authentic professional appearance with a robust profile. With high performance sealed burners that deliver exhilarating precision while the convection oven provides consistent heat for perfect roasting, baking, and broiling. These one-of-a-kind Ranges are sure to take his culinary prowess to a whole new level. Chef on the Go For those warm summer weekends, camping is a fantastic activity that provides hours of enjoyment and a welcome opportunity to connect with loved ones and nature. After a day full of outdoor activities, Dad will want to prepare something easy, simple and very fast. Upgrade your camping cuisine with a portable Induction cooktop. Thanks to induction technology, electromagnetic currents generate heat from within the metal in the cookware for extremely fast and even heating. Boasting impressive safety features unlike burners with flammable and combustible vapors, our system remains cool to touch until cookware is placed on it. It’s sleek, compact design allows him to enjoy cooking anywhere he goes. Personal Pasta When its your dads turn to cook he’ll be looking to put his personal touch on dinner, so give him the ability to make his perfect meal with a Cosmo’s Sous Vide Cooker. Gadget savvy dads and foodie dads alike love sous vide cooking because its science meets cooking, making it super cool. Dad can cook a variety of foods sous vide, including seafood, meat, poultry, eggs, fruits, vegetables, desserts, and even infused alcohols and kinds of vinegar. Sous Vide Cooking with Cosmo achieves fail-proof results, with steak cooked medium-rare from edge to edge, tender, juicy chicken breasts, and ribs with meat falling off the bone. It’s just what a Dad needs to bring something fresh and new to the table. Gifts under $20 for Dad Cookie Master Does dad love to bake? then we can bet you he hates the post bake clean-up. Let’s talk cookies stuck to the pan or new pans that already have rust on them…eww! Dad will love our baking mat and pan and the fact that it is commercial grade, durable and easy to clean! The mat is BPA free and made of food grade silicone. Cosmo’s nonstick baking mat will turn any surface into a non-stick healthy baking alternative; with even heat distribution he’ll bake like a pro without the need for butter, grease, or cooking sprays. Shop here King of the Grill For many dads, summer is synonymous with outdoor grilling and barbecues. Get dad a pair of Cosmo Silicone Kitchen Gloves perfect for Barbecue grilling and much more. Not all gloves are created equal. When handling hot food, rearranging coals and grill plates he needs a heavy duty pair of insulated BBQ gloves. Our exceptional pair of silicone gloves is designed for cooking lovers with protection and comfort in mind. They’re the most versatile kitchen tool for baking, cooking, and grilling, and can be used inside the kitchen for baked goods, by the grill for barbecuing chicken, frying a turkey, or even the fireplace! Dad will enjoy maximum protection while wearing these heat and cold resistant gloves. Shop here