thank you for the many years of customer loyalty. I will miss you all. Taking the dog, hubby and of course Miss Piggy to warmer weather. Best wishes to all... - Kathy

Big Green Egg is the world’s largest producer and international distributor of the highest-quality ceramic kamado-style charcoal grill. When you buy an EGG, you know your investment is protected by a lifetime warranty with an experienced company that has a worldwide reputation for best-in-class products and unmatched customer support. We provide you with confidence, knowing that we have been standing behind our products since 1974! The Big Green Egg has spent over 40 years mastering the recipe for the best, most versatile, fuel efficient and easy to use kamado-style grill across the globe. The EGG offers more cooking options than all other conventional cookers combined. With an EGG there is simply no need for a separate grill, smoker, pizza oven or rotisserie device…the EGG does all of this and more…to perfection! Big Green Egg cooking Steak with Fire Just know that you’ll be enjoying the legendary taste that only our all-natural oak and hickory lump charcoal can offer. And there’s no need to worry about running out of propane gas or dealing with burners, power cords or pellet augers. The innovative design of an EGG enables it to perform without any of those components – delivering delicious results every time! With year-round cooking, the most EGGcessories and largest kamado community in the world, you will instantly become the backyard hero! Don’t buy one just for the technology, its convenience, ease of use and fantastic cooking results that truly set the EGG apart. Once you taste the difference, you will know!

We’ve got spring fever. But springtime will be here before we know it. Maybe you’ve already gotten a head start on spring cleaning. Is preparing your A/C on the to-do list? Our team recommends doing some basic maintenance at the beginning of every heating and cooling season. There’s no question that the harsh winters in Illinois can wreak havoc on outdoor equipment. For example, the extended amount of time below freezing can factor into how well your system starts up during the spring. Inspect the outdoor unit panels – Curious about the purpose of these panels? Simply put, they enclose the electrical connections and must be in place to protect you and the system itself. Should you find a missing or misaligned panel, it’s a good idea to contact your local air conditioning repair experts before starting the system. Remove condenser covers, coil blankets, and lids – You were proactive during the fall and covered your system’s outdoor coil with blankets to ensure insulation during the winter. However, many homeowners forget to remove their covers every spring. Unfortunately, doing so typically results in major repairs or replacement of the system. Don’t risk severely damaging your system! Here’s a reminder to remove those covers, blankets, and lids. Remove debris from the outdoor coil – We’ve touched on this in previous posts. It doesn’t take much for leaves, dirt, and other debris to be blown into or against the coil. A system that functions at peak performance is free of such debris. Change the air filters – We advise homeowners to get into the habit of changing air filters once a month. During particularly harsh winters, indoor air filters tend to gather a significant amount of debris and dust. When you go to swap it out, remember to look closely at the airflow direction arrows on the system and filter itself. Turn it on – You probably won’t have to use your A/C regularly until June. But that doesn’t mean you should wait until Memorial Day weekend to ensure the system works properly. On a warm spring day, check the air coming out of the indoor vents. You should be all set if you feel cool air coming out of the registers after the first few minutes. If no air is coming out, then be sure to turn the system off at the thermostat and call a professional for air conditioning repair service.

Just because summer is starting to wind down doesn’t mean we’re done with warm temperatures. Granted, there are days when we feel as though we could be outside all day. Your pets, however, will become dehydrated and overheated much quicker. The last thing you want to do is watch your furry friend become sluggish and ill from being out in the hot sun too long. Here are some tips for keeping Fido cool and safe at home this summer: Have them exercise during the cool hours of the day One more thing related to this point: Hot pavement or asphalt can easily burn pets’ paws. So make an extra effort to keep your pooch on the grass and bring some extra water. Avoid high humidity levels Ever wonder why your pets pant so much when it’s hot? Well, since they don’t have sweat glands like humans, they sweat through their paws and pant through their mouths to control their body temperature. What most pet owners fail to realize, though, is that high humidity levels can be problematic for animals.It’s just another reason to keep your pets hydrated and cool throughout the day. Keep them out of direct sunlight Think for a moment how draining it is to be out in the heat of the day. Obviously, it’s even more challenging for your pets. If you must keep your furry friends outdoors, be sure to set them up in an area with ample shade. Planning a long weekend or another sort of mini vacation but don’t know what to do with your pets? Whatever you do, don’t leave them outside. It doesn’t take long for pets to become overheated, even with shade. So bring them inside where it’s cool and safe. Help them beat the heat with their own pool Who doesn’t like cooling off in a pool on a hot day? Just like you appreciate the refreshing dip, so too (hopefully) will your pup. Simply fill up a shallow, plastic kiddie pool with water and let Fido do his thing. Remember to supervise your dog as they splash around or lie down in the water. Keep your house cool!

HAM AND POTATO SOUP Deliciously creamy Ham and Potato Soup is easy to make and perfect to use up any leftovers! Filled with soft, tender potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic and the option of making your own ham broth from a leftover ham bone! The best part? No heavy cream! Picky eaters will ask for seconds! PREP: 15 MINS COOK: 25 MINS TOTAL: 40 MINS SERVES: 8 PEOPLE INGREDIENTS 1/3 cup unsalted butter (2 oz | 60 g) 1 onion finely chopped 1 cup large carrot peeled and diced 1/2 cup diced celery 3 cups peeled and diced potatoes 4 cloves garlic minced or finely chopped 1 1/2 cups cooked ham, diced (add more if desired) 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (plain flour) 2 cups low sodium chicken stock (or broth) 2 teaspoons chicken Bouillon 3 cups milk (whole milk or 2%) 1 pinch of salt, if needed (adjust to you taste) fresh cracked black pepper INSTRUCTIONS Heat the butter in a pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion, carrots, celery until beginning to soften (about 4 minutes). Add the ham and potatoes, cook for 2 minutes, then add the garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Mix the flour through and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in stock and bouillon, mixing all ingredients together. Increase heat and bring to a boil until potatoes are 'just' fork tender, about 10-12 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, add the milk and stir over the heat until thickened (about 5 minutes). Taste test and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve warm. NOTES HAM BROTH You can make your own ham broth for ham soup using leftover ham bone: Simmer the ham bone in a stock pot filled with enough water to cover the bone halfway (about 2 quarts/litres, depending on size of bone). Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover with a lid and let simmer until very fragrant (about 1 hour). Discard hambone Replace the chicken stock with your ham broth. TIPS If your soup is too thick once it's finished, simply add more milk in 1/4 cup increments until reaching your desired consistency. Alternatively, if your soup is not thick enough to your liking, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch together with 2 tablespoons of extra milk. Pour the mixture into the soup and allow to boil for a few minutes to thicken, while stirring. Repeat for an even thicker soup! NUTRITION Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 124mg | Potassium: 604mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3085IU | Vitamin C: 12.4mg | Calcium: 145mg | Iron: 3.1mg