The Outdoor Lifestyle Blog

So you’ve finally invested in a high-quality, backyard pizza oven. You’ve got so many delicious meals to look forward to (not to mention lots of jealous neighbors!).

Here are a few pointers for making the perfect pizza in your outdoor oven:

Master the dough

The last thing you want for your piping hot pizza is for the crust to taste something like cardboard. In most cases, a prepackaged crust just isn’t going to cut it. Learn to make your own dough so that you can really appreciate those delicious woodsmoked flavors, and enjoy the bubbly pockets the high temperatures bring out.  

If you’ve purchased a top-of-the-line grill or designed your own custom outdoor kitchen, we know you want to use any excuse to make the most of it—even in the off season!

While we’re pretty certain no one will turn down a thick, juicy burger or perfectly cooked steak any time of the year, you can also cook up some hot, tasty dishes with the help of a cast iron skillet or pot.

Not a fan of standing around in the crowded, stuffy kitchen on Thanksgiving Day? Let your outdoor kitchen come to your rescue.

Here are several elements of a traditional turkey dinner that you can prepare in your outdoor kitchen. You’ll get an excuse to be outside and create more flavorful renditions of Thanksgiving fare.

The Turkey

Let’s start with the main course. You can prepare a whole turkey using your grill or smoker, just as long as it fits. (Of course, you’ll want to make sure it’s completely thawed ahead of time.)

Maybe you’ve already mastered the perfect hamburger, the expertly prepared steak, and even gotten creative with your kebabs.

Ready for the next challenge? This week we’re talking about the process of grilling fish fillets.

Not only does fish have a distinctive and highly desired flavor, but it’s also one of the healthiest animal-based proteins available. Plus, fish is packed with essential nutritsn like vitamin D and omega-3s.

Let's get grilling!

Once you’ve mastered the perfect hamburger or the precisely done steak, consider getting creative with one of the other staples of the summer cookout: the humble kebab.

This simple dish—consisting of skewered meat and vegetables—has origins that go back to ancient Greece and the Middle East, when cooks would roast meat over hot coals or an open fire. So it’s no surprise that kebabs are so well suited for the backyard grill.

Once you’ve enjoyed the more traditional combination of chicken, bell peppers, red onion, and maybe cherry tomatoes over the flame, you might be ready to expand your horizons. Here are five creative kebab recipes to get you started:

Sun’s out and summer’s in full swing! We know you’ll want to take advantage of your outdoor living area during the long, carefree days of summer. After enjoying perfectly grilled hamburgers or a juicy steak that’s cooked to perfection, something cold and sweet is sure to hit the spot!

Independence Day cookouts are a time-honored American tradition and often the high point of the summer. But unfortunately for some people, another part of the holiday tradition is burnt-to-a-crisp burgers.

Don’t let that be you this summer—follow these tips for keeping your burgers juicy and evenly cooked:

In our opinion, nothing beats tender pork barbecue fresh from your own outdoor smoker (well, except maybe a quality steak grilled to perfection). There’s something about slow-cooked pork slathered with your favorite sauce or a savory dry rub that makes it a perennial favorite.

Taking your dinner prep into the great outdoors and cooking out on the grill is just more fun than being stuck in a summer kitchen indoors all sumer!

Sometimes it’s easy to fall into that same old hamburgers-and-hot-dogs routine. Your grill is capable of far more than that!

Whether you’re gearing up for a special Memorial Day cookout or just want fresh ideas for a weeknight dinner, here are a few ideas for how to shake things up:

Once you’ve gotten your own backyard barbecue smoker, you’ll want to put it to the best use possible. And when your family and friends get a taste of the fresh and tender ribs, brisket, and pulled pork you can now make at home, your BBQ skills are sure to be in high demand!

You probably already have your favorite barbecue sauce to slather over your finished product. But you can also enhance the flavor with a custom dry rub.

In this post we’ve curated a list of dry rubs to cut your teeth on: