Mess Free Grilling With Handi-Foil, + Dr.Pepper BBQ Sauce Recipe

Papa Told Me: I'll grill, if you clean up.

My Pop was out family's grill master; a prestigious title even in a family of 3. In Southern California it's grilling season all year-round; but that didn't stop my father from finding an excuse to upgrade his grill at the beginning of each Summer. Even when I was a young girl, living in a small condo with a concrete porch, we had a large propane barbeque stationed in front of the sliding glass windows. And, to me, there was nothing better then smell of it warming up, and the promise of sweet and smokey slathered meat. Some weeks it seemed like we ate off the grill every night, whole chickens, kabobs, bratwurst, hamburgers and more!

Marinating and basting our selection was often forbidden, and in the case they were used, our entire grill surface had to be lined with foil. Neither of my parents cared for grill cleanup, and I proved a lazy volunteer when ti came time to scrape the char off my father's prized steel grates. And foil worked well enough, but it would inevitably tear and break off during the cooking process and somehow adhered itself to the surface with astounding strength. So, when I discovered that Handi-Foil made more than amazing baking and food transport containers, but grill pans and foil as well, I was tickled to think I could enjoy the memories of grilling without the extra mess. Truffles, however, was simply excited to find a box she could stake out in for several days. (We literally almost threw the cat away twice!)

So strong is my faith in the range of innovative and precision Handi-Foil products that I chose to make a favorite grill sauce I hadn't made since last Summer. My rendition of scratch Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce would be the perfect test when slathered on chicken and spare ribs for a casual weekend meal. With Summer in full swing it's usually just Jay and I at home, as the rest of the family heads off to day camp and vacations out of state. I didn't care I was determined to have all the flavor, and aromas, of a giant cook-out, and I even had some great Eco-Foil (recycled aluminum) pans to store all the tasty leftovers in. So, with my mason jar of sweet and smokey heaven in hand, we fired up the grill.

Because I was terribly curious about the, new to me, Handi-Foil Grill Pans and Sheets, I decided not to wrap our grill for sauce protection. Instead, I tossed our whole chicken in a deep BBQ Pan, rubbed with lemon juice and thyme, and wrapped sliced veggies in the extra thick, and wide, BBQ Grill Foil. I loved how stiff the foil proved to be, and was glad that I didn't need to double it over as I created two several pound veggie steamers full of squash, potatoes peppers, mushroom, and butter. Of course this technique would work in the oven as well, if your grill is already too full of delicious protein!

Easily my favorite product for clean grill cooking were the Handi-Foil grill sheets, with punch outs to allow direct flame access, but a sturdy aluminum base to minimize sticking and mess while cooking on the grill. These grill sheet toppers prevent food from falling, yet let juices and flames flow freely when directly on the grill grates or on a complimenting Grill Pan. Be sure to always support the bottom of the grill pan as it is strong but can bend with the weight of cooked food and heat. (I transfer my cooked grill sheets to a grill pan directly off the grill.) These would have also made for a great way to grill our chopped veggies should we have went for a less cooked, searing, approach of traditional grilling.

I'll admit, the smells wafting from our grill were enough to tempt neighbors down the street to wander over in curiosity- imagine their shock to see us supping our favorite soda as we basted with a sauce infused with it! And I love my sauces thick for a light char on my spare ribs- which typically means hours of scraping and a good 'cleaning' session of baking drips off afterwards. Would you believe we enjoyed this delicious barbeque meal (enough to feed us with leftovers for days) without a moment of grill cleanup afterwards? I simply throw the grill pans and sheets away and stored out leftovers in the deeper pan we had used for the whole chicken.

Of course, what kind of daughter would I be if I put all the grilling skills my father taught me to use and didn't share the results with him? Armed with a few Grill Sheets to share, and a carefully packed care package of food, I drove over to my father and surprised him with dinner and a beer. Still in his uniform from work, I knew he'd had  long day on the road and would especially appreciate having a nice hot meal made with flames and love. And, when he asked if I had a grill to go home and clean up, I smiled ans said "Dad, that's so 1990s, try Handi-Foil!"

You'll find an assortment of Eco-Foil recycled aluminum and Handi-Foil baking, transport, and grilling products at grocery chains nationwide.

What Daughter Says: Spend more time enjoying your food, and less time cleaning the grill with smart grilling aids by Handi-Foil.
 

Handi-Foil Spring Pie Showdown: Strawberry Cream VS. Key Lime

Momma Told Me: Pie in the face.

Up until I was 19 I'd always dreamed of tossing a pie in someone's face. It was a simple dream that really was born more from excessive cartoons as a child; and I'd envision a fluffy, soft, whipped cream pie lazily coasting through the air onto a friend or a loved one. I'd pause a moment to see if they'd be angry, and in the pause they'd wipe the sweet froth from their face, licking with a grin- and we'd all have a good laugh. Yes, it was a simple dream, until I had my own pie encounter of another kind.

It was a crisp Spring afternoon; the Southern California sun was shining, in the distance birds could be heard chirping over the hum of playful squirrels, and I'd just finished baking a strawberry rhubarb pie for my best friend's birthday. I allowed it to cool, as I hurriedly finished my makeup and combed through my hair, hopping on one foot as I slid my feet into each heel. Somewhere the neighborhood kids were playing a Britney Spears song; it was an afternoon that would forever live in infamy.

I collected the pie from it's resting spot on my counter, looped my purse through one arm, then headed out the door where the alleged pie and I sat in 34 and a half minutes of traffic until we arrived at our destination. Exiting the vehicle, I went around the front of the car to open the door, like a good gentlewoman, and collect my prized pie. Up, went the pie in my hand, closed went the door of the car, and around I spun with a few brisk steps towards the party's direction. Then the unthinkable happened, my right heel gave way with a loud crack, and forward I went onto the pie. It was not playful. I was not laughing. And the sugary mess was more of a choking hazard than a delicious treat.

I'd been baking without protection, my pie had no cover. Sure, one of us would have come out of the scuffle a little worse for the wear, but neither of us would have been wearing one another. Where were Handi-Foil's Cook N' Carry Pie Pan and Lid Sets then? Momma certainly never had a disposable pie tin made from 100% recyclable materials she could trust to cook and transport her pastries in. And, after several years of counseling, I have once again found my confidence in baking pies, thanks to Eco-Foil, by Handi-Foil's, range of low waste bake-ware.

This Spring I plan on doing a lot of baking with Handi-Foil's 8x8 Cake Pans with lids, and my new favorite pie tin sets. The unique Cook N' Carry Eco-Foil Pie Pan and Lids offer a convenient plastic outer shell that snaps over the included foil baking tin. These three pieces work seamlessly to bake and transport pies without the fuss of common storage issues. Not only is the dome cover lid perfect for thick cream-based pies, but I can send leftover slices home in the carrying container as well. Now, the only question is which pie will I make, tangy Springtime Key Lime, or sweet and decadent Strawberry Cream? Try my recipes below and weigh in for your self, and fine the Eco-Foil range of bakeware nationwide at fine grocers such as Safeway, Food 4 Less, and Ralphs. Key Lime or Strawberry Cream- what's your pick?

What Daughter Says: Keep your pie out of your face, and your face (and other things) out of your pie with convenient bake and transport-ware from Eco-Foil.

Preparing For Game Day With Handi-Foil- Buffalo Chicken 2 Ways

Momma Told Me: It's all fun and games until you're scrubbing the dishes!

I'm a very competitive person.Whether I'm competing for top honors at school, cheering my favorite team on in full gear from head to toe, or whipping up a dish for the community potluck- it's important to me that I stand out. It's hard to argue that we're nearing one of the largest annual sporting events in North America; but, whatever your sport, one of the best things about championships and titles is that everyone comes together to indulge in great food with friends and family. As I prepare for Game Day, and eagerly await the return of my true love, Baseball, I find myself in need of easily portable dishes that can satisfy the snacking mentality of large groups gathered around a television for several hours. Most importantly, when hosting, I want to have dishes that can be stored and served instantly, with little to no cleanup.

Recently I discovered the answer to my container conscious inner chef dilemma. The Eco-Foil range of Handi-Foil cooking and serving container solutions offers the convenience of disposable cooking and transport, with the eco-friendly appeal of using 100% recycled aluminum. Best of all, these bake-ware containers come in a wide range of sizes for everything from cake-ware to roasting pans, and even have styles with lids made from 100% recyclable material as well. Entertaining naturally produces a lot of waste, so I'm always thankful for companies that can simplify my cleanup time without leaving me filling guilty. With Eco-Foil containers like the 8 x8 Cake Pans With Lids I can even seal up leftovers for guests to take with them, or to store in my fridge. Let's face it, nobody wants to be scrubbing serving trays in between belly-fulls of buffalo burps!

When it comes to the big Game Day I also like to serve healthier versions of my popular recipes, alongside the gluttonous favorites I am known for. Not only do I feel 'chef-like' saying I'm serving something '2 Ways' but I know I can help keep the less sport oriented guest engaged and happy with lighter fare. And, when I serve my famous Buffalo Chicken Dip, I'm always sure to have small Dixie Cups on hand for guests to serve their own single portions into. Less hands on the serving spoon, and dipping into the tray, the healthier for everyone. For fresh veggie platters that really pop and hold their freshness right through halftime and to the final touchdown I like to use a deeper Handi-Foil broiler or roaster pan with a layer of ice, and build my fresh veggie platters within the 8 x 8 cake pans atop. The deep reservoir basin at the bottom can always be dried and reused for future occasions, and my cold dishes stay fresh down to the final celery stick!

While it's not everybody's favorite, I associate buffalo with Game Day. Whether you're dunking wings in blue cheese or slathering on the ranch, creamy textures and mild buffalo sauce make any Game Day spread a success. Try tossing some grilled chicken breast chunks in your favorite wing sauce and skewering them along with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls (or in my case, cut string cheese wedges) for a lighter alternative to the heavier dishes. Balance out your table with me decadent and creamy, Chunky Buffalo Chicken Dip made with cream cheese, diced celery, and baked mozzarella. I love baking this recipe in a convenient Eco-Foil bake-ware pan I can sit within a larger 13 x 9 Cake pan, with a selection of dip-ready veggie sticks. Of course everyone likes to dip differently, so consider some pita bread wedges and plan tortilla chips as less healthy options too!

Whether you're planning to host a big championship viewing party, or simply bring a dish to the upcoming potluck, having easily resealable containers that cut down on cleaning is a big party touchdown. Besides, who really wants to have to call Aunt Patty begging for that special casserole dish back? This Game Day bake smart with 100% Recyclable Eco-Foil products from Handi-Foil, sold nationwide at fine grocers such as Safeway, Food 4 Less, and Ralphs. What are you best Game Day hosting tips?

What Daughter Says: Entertain smart with serving solutions from eco-minded brands like Handi-Foil.