#Applegate Hot Dogs Come to Portland: Make The Most of it With These 6 Grilling Tips!

Attention PDXers! Applegate, makers of nitrite and antibiotic-free hot dogs, are now available in the Portland and Seattle areas just in time for the summer BBQ season. What’s better than a roasted sausage over a bonfire during those hazy summer nights? Well, what might be better for those who are concerned with what kind of products they eat is knowing that their hot dogs are minimally processed. Many Portlanders are passionate about food, so you may be interested to know that Applegate feeds its livestock a vegetarian diet and are never given antibiotics, artificial growth promotants, or hormones. Their meats are also casein free and gluten-free, which is beneficial for those with dietary restrictions. So now you have a new option to choose from when picking up grilling supplies!

If you’re in the Pacific NW like me and want to find a Portland-area store that carries Applegate hot dogs, click here to visit them on Facebook and click on “Product Locator”. You can also use the simple widget below to become a fan and find their products locally:

Jai and I have been to a number of good Portland barbecues over the years, so I have a feeling we’ll be seeing these hot dogs in person soon! One of the tastiest grill-outs I’ve had in PDX was when we visited family and dined on shish kabobs with a variety of lightly charred vegetables, meats, and tofu. Mmmm! How do you make your cookouts one for the memory books? Do you scan labels and look for companies like Applegate, or are you more into the decor and presentation side? The more time goes on, the more I enjoy using the grill. Here are my personal tips for holding a successful BBQ:

• Serve a variety of foods

  Grilling doesn’t have to be just hamburgers. Pick up a selection of treats: Chicken and turkey burgers, sausages, and a selection of vegetables are all a great place to start. If you’re entertaining a crowd, try picking up some veggie burgers or tofu so that you’ll have more variety and options for your guests, who may have different dietary needs.

• Grill corn right in the husk

  Want to cut down on prep time? Grill your corn right in the husk! It works great – you can serve up the corn as is and let guests peel off the husk to reveal deliciously cooked, golden corn. Try putting a compost box nearby for diners to toss their husks in once finished!

• Simple seasonings pack big flavor

  A sprinkling of garlic salt or other seasoning salts while your meat is grilling adds a nice dash of simple flavor.

• Take advantage of the ease

  Grilling isn’t just great for parties. The next time you need a quick dinner after a busy work day, just throw some meat and veggies on the grill. You’ll have yourself a delicious meal in no time, with the bonus of no messy kitchen to clean!

• Don’t forget about Indoor Grilling

  Small electrical grills can be a great solution for those who don’t have a lot of outdoor space and need an alternative to a traditional gas grill. We love our small countertop grill as an easy weeknight meal solution!



For example, check out the grilled chicken patties and carrots that I whipped up on our mini-grill for lunch this afternoon. Simple and tasty! For more photographic BBQ inspiration, be sure to check out my Summer Grilling Pinterest board.

• Utilize your BBQ during the off-season

  We do live in the Pacific NW, so the flip side to summer is our ferocious winters! You might not think of December as a prime time to barbecue, but we’ve actually found a gas grill to be invaluable for this season – because of power outages! In 2007, our power was knocked out days on end, so everyone in the family was trying to figure out what to do with the stuff in our freezers before they thawed out and went off. We ended up taking our food over to Grandma’s and firing up the grill to have a communal family meal with all the food!

Whether it’s a hot Portland afternoon or a windy December day in Seaside, grills can serve a number of purposes in our region! 😉 And for locals who are concerned with what they put on their grills, Applegate provides an alternative option with their hot dog line. To learn more about their hot dogs and what goes into them, visit Applegate.com and watch for them in stores near you. So fire up the BBQ, grab your favorite supplies, call your friends, and enjoy the summer! It’ll be fall before we even know what hit us!

What are your best grilling tips, readers?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Applegate blogging program, to earn My SocialMoms Rewards. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. To read more posts on this topic, click here.