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Workplace Gifts are not the easiest to choose given tight budgets, but done right, they can make recipients feel valued and appreciated.  Holiday time or anytime.

At gThankYou! we believe a handwritten “thank you” note goes a long way to making any workplace gift special.
Tory Johnson, workplace contributor for Good Morning America and CEO of WomenForHire.com, lists her top-four employee gift tips in Winning Workplace Gifts:

1. Cash, gift certificates and gift cards are always top the list of favorite gifts.  Now more than ever.
2. Avoid anything too personal. If you’d rather buy a gift over giving money, avoid overly personal gifts such as perfume, lingerie, liquor or religious items.
3. Make a donation in your recipient’s honor to the charity of your choice.  This is especially good if you need a non-cash idea or you don’t want the value of your gift revealed.
4. Remember, don’t re-gift, because you never know who will recognize that cute knick-knack you received last year.

Do it right!
As an article by Laura T. Coffey, contributing editor at NBC News’ Today page, “Office gift-giving: Pens good, body spray bad,” says:
“Do it right, and you can make your boss, coworkers, clients and assistants beam with a warm and happy glow. Do it wrong, and—hoo-boy. Pray for:

a) Mercy
b) Short memory spans

To be clear, gift-giving at work certainly isn’t mandatory. But if you’re going to do it, stuff these particular stockings with the greatest of care. Small, thoughtful tokens of appreciation are ideal, gift-giving experts say.”
Workplace gifts do not need to break the bank.  That’s why so many businesses choose gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude for affordable yet meaningful gifts of food – such as a whole turkey or ham for the holidays.
Give it some thought
But it’s the thought that counts, right? That’s what Sue Vering, creative director at global ad agency Draftfcb, asks in a Chicago Tribune article.
The answer? Sherri Athay thinks it’s one tired cliché, Vering writes. Athay, with husband Larry, wrote Present Perfect: Unforgettable Gifts for Every Occasion as well as the upcoming books Present Perfect: A Guide to Global Gift Giving and Present Perfect: A Guide to Business Gift Giving.
“Every time I hear someone say ‘it’s the thought that counts’ as an excuse for just giving anything, I think to myself, `No. It’s clear you just didn’t give this any thought,'” Athay says in the article.
It’s true, you do have to think first before buying employee gifts, but some items are tried and true.
Have you started your Workplace Gift planning for the holiday season?  Let us know if you have found great ideas for your workplace you would like to share.
About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey or half or whole Ham, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo, and ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Turkey burgers get a bad rap, either for being a too-healthy or for the (legitimate) reason that they’re often dry and less flavorful than their beefy counterparts.
But with a hot grill and an open mind, there are ways to combat both of these problems. Turkey burgers don’t have to be boring just because they’re better for you.

Five Tips for Perfect Turkey Burgers!

1. Go to the dark side. Turkey, like chicken, has white and dark meat sections. The breast is only slightly better for you, (says New York Times writer Anahad O’Connor), while the dark meat (thighs and legs) will make for a more flavorful burger. So leave the “extra lean” Jennie-O for when you’re counting calories and get regular ground turkey; it still has 30 percent less fat than beef.
2. Carbo-load. Whether it’s fresh bread crumbs, flaky panko or even leftover rice and canned beans, turkey burgers benefit from a little filler. You don’t want too high a ratio, unless you’d rather make meatloaf, but bread acts as a binder and helps hang on to extra moisture, which will make the burgers juicier.
3. Spice it up. Turkey loves Southwestern spices, like serrano chiles, garlic and cumin. Take a riff on a steam bun with an Asian turkey burger (care of Serious Eats) made with cilantro, soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil and spicy Sriracha mayonnaise. Or make a detour through Oaxaca with coriander, cinnamon, ancho chili and chipotle salsa (thanks to Lynn Rossetto Kasper and “The Splendid Table’s How to Eat Supper”).
4. Flip it. You may have heard conflicting evidence on this, but it’s actually OK to flip a burger more than once, and it may even lead to a faster cooking time. Keep an eye on your flame (medium-high is good), and estimate about 10 minutes for a juicy burger. Give the burgers a few minutes to rest while you throw your buns on to toast.

5. Mix up your toppings. Step off, ketchup. Try smoked gouda cheese and a horseradish-mustard-honey spread. Try tomato-mango chutney made with cilantro and lime. Combine tomato, jam, olives and feta for a sweet-salty topping, or take a North African twist with a yogurt-based dressing with lemon juice, cumin and cayenne.
About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey or half or whole Ham, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo, and ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Use this Free Resource of Employee Engagement Top 10 Lists to Motivate and Enthuse Employees in Your Workplace.

The Employee Engagement Top 10 book, edited by David Zinger, Employee Engagement Network founder and host, is a community project from thirty-two network contributors. These leading thinkers and experts on employee engagement share their practical approaches and perspectives, with each listing a top 10, be it in cartoon form, how-tos, or principles to work by.
Contributor Jennifer Schulte, global engagement director for Mars, Inc., provides the very first list called, “Strategies to Impact Engagement Across an Organization“:

1. Start at the top—Find a business metric executives will respond to (she used the salary & benefits dollar cost of the “actively disengaged”—which was over $500 million!) and get them excited about the effort.
2. Choose the right champions—Activate early adopters who are passionate about the concept and about driving change.
3. Focus on a bold goal—Choose a metric and date as a target two or three years out.
4. Energize your HR function—As a strategic business partner, HR must be accountable for ensuring engagement is part of local business strategies and is taken seriously in talent-related decisions.
5. Hold managers accountable—Focus on behavior change and require managers to report results on actions they’ve taken to impact engagement in their teams.
6. Celebrate and replicate those who engage—Find formal and informal ways to recognize and reward your managers and associates who are great at engagement.
7. Recruit and promote for engagement—Put people into management positions who will be successful at engaging their associates.
8. Develop for engagement—Make sure engagement—the “how to” but also the compelling reasons why, and what the organization will hold them accountable for delivering—is on the learning and development agenda.
9. Remove systemic barriers—Listen to your frontline associates and have senior leadership address barriers  in addition to direct manager-associate conversations.
10. Focus on chronic under-performers—If a manager’s team scores low on surveys three times in a row, get involved and create a personalized engagement action plan.

Have you checked out this free book? What’s your favorite top 10 list?
About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey or half or whole Ham, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo, and ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Venerable and beloved author/philosopher, Stephen R. Covey passed away recently, family at his side. He leaves us with many lessons, among them, the importance of relationships and gratitude in our professional and personal lives.

There’s been a global outpouring of thankfulness and appreciation for Covey’s inspirational teachings, which inform a host of business leaders’ practices. Here are top reasons why we’re grateful to Dr. Covey:

7 Reasons to Be Grateful to Stephen Covey

1. Penned The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, a book that sold over 25 million copies and defined leadership for many.

2. Spoke life-defining words, including what Forbes blogger Kevin Kruse deems “10 Quotes That Can Change Your Life”.

3. Outlined a new leadership model in The 8th Habit, detailing the change from the industrial revolution era to the “knowledge worker age.” Management guru Peter Drucker—whose writings sparked Claremont (Calif.) Graduate University to launch the Drucker Institute—coined the term knowledge worker.
   Covey argues effective leaders must treat these employees as full human beings rather than objects.

4. Used his philosophies to raise his son, Stephen M.R. Covey, author of several renowned books, including The Speed of Trust, and essays, including How the Best Leaders Build Trust at LeaderShipNow.com.

5. Inspired others’ parenting styles, including that of Laura Asiala, Director of Corporate Citizenship at Dow Corning Corporation.  In her blog “With Gratitude and Honor of Stephen Covey”, she writes, “I taught my daughters the 7 habits on the drives north throughout the years to visit their grandparents.”

6. Articulated ideas that guide and inspire leaders around the world as showcased in The Washington Post “In the News” article, “Steven Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”,

7. Gave us FranklinCovey training resources, coaching, planning calendars, and more to help us live the Covey principles.

Covey’s quote, “Live, love, laugh, leave a legacy” appears web-wide, including Jared Brox’s blog, at RefreshLeadership. That’s just what Covey did, and what every business leader—hopefully—strives to do.
At gThankYou!, we are sincerely grateful for Steven Covey’s inspiration and will continue to celebrate his teachings and belief in the power of gratitude.
How do you use Covey’s teaching in your workplace? Which words most inspire you?
About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey or half or whole Ham, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo, and ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Or, Why we Love Zingerman’s…. 

By providing truly exceptional service and caring to customers—and employees—Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor, Michigan has grown from a corner deli to the nationally acclaimed Zingerman’s Community of Businesses (ZCoB).

Started in 1982 by Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig, who pined for a great Jewish style Deli in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Today Zingerman’s Deli is the source of great food and great experiences for thousands of visitors every year. And, is a model of world class customer service.

Zingerman’s is committed to delivering the most flavorful, traditionally made foods, in an entertaining, educational and service-oriented setting.  Whether at one of their many food stores or via their catalog.

You have to be doing something right to get accolades like these:

“America’s Top Independent Retailer for 2011“
– Gourmet Retailer Magazine

“Probably the best food store (and catalog) in the U.S.”
– Jeffrey Steingarten on National Public Radio

Celebrity chef Mario Batali deems Zingerman’s “The center of my gastro-deli universe.”

Even “Oprah raves Zingerman sandwiches are an 11 on a scale of 1 to 5.”

How do they do it?

Zingerman’s has the right mission and guiding principles, among them, great service, a great place to work, and strong relationships. From the top down, every employee lives them.
One of its companies, ZingTrain, offers books, seminars, DVDs and other tools to help you learn to live its service philosophy, too.  How can you not love a company that offers customer service training classes called, “Creating a Vision of Greatness”, “The Art of Giving Great Service” or yes, “Fun, Flavorful Finance”?

Even the Artwork is fun!

Ari Weinzweig’s book, Zingerman’s Guide to Giving Great Service, shares “how-to” formulas for delivering the ultimate in customer service, Zingerman style.

It all boils down to this…
Treat your customer like royalty.  And treat each other as well as you treat your customer.

Zingerman’s Five Steps to Creating a Culture of Service:

1. Teach
2. Define
3. Live
4. Measure
5. Reward

And the Three Steps of Great Service:

1. Find out what the guest wants.
2. Get it for them:
   1. Accurately.
   2. Politely.
   3. Enthusiastically.
3. Go the extra mile!

Not to mention the Five Steps to Handling Complaints:

1. Acknowledge the complaint.
2. Sincerely apologize.
3. Make it right.
4. Thank them.
5. Document the complaint.

Zingerman’s Communicates with Fun and Enthusiasm!

To ensure employees live its mission, Zingerman’s provides what Carole Matthews of Inc. Magazine calls, “The World’s Best Employee Manual,” which enthusiastically communicates how employees can provide world-class customer service.

“For instance, the wastebusting pages include text, graphics and bullet points to emphasize ways to reduce waste. Employee testimonials, like the Xtra Mile Files, share ways employees have gone the extra mile for their customers.

From getting along with others, to a guide for great finance, to answering the phone, Zingerman’s clearly—and playfully—presents what’s most important in running the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses.”

It’s definitely food for thought.  Does your business treat customers like royalty?  What can you learn from Zingerman’s?

About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey or half or whole Ham, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo, and ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

It’s almost Independence Day – the celebration of summer and all things American! Something we are all grateful for.

Martha Stewart
“Flag Cupcake”

So put out your blanket on a grassy hill to reserve a spot for your local fireworks celebration and bring a lawn chair down to Main Street so you have a nice view of the traditional, small-town Fourth of July Parade. You don’t want to miss the marching bands, the 4-H float, representatives from the local VFW, and kids on bicycles decorated with red, white, and blue streamers.  Our forefathers may not have bought sparklers, fired up the barbecue grill, or headed to the beach in honor of our new country, but today there’s no better way to mark the patriotic day.
Like any great holiday, there are fabulous foods associated with the day. Grill up your favorite chicken, ribs, hamburgers or brats, add some corn on the cob, and celebrate with family and friends. Don’t forget to look for recipes that use locally grown produce – available in your neighborhood grocery store –  lots of berries, cherries, herbs, corn, tomatoes, peas, beans, and zucchini are in season right now.
For a menu that includes a little red, white, and blue, try some of these great desserts and side dishes!

Red, White and Blue Menu Ideas for a Festive 4th of July

• Thanks to Bon Appétit and Epicurious, Potato salad gets a colorful make-over using three colors of potatoes!

Red, White and Blue Potato Salad by Rick Browne
(Photo credit: Tina Rupp)

• Alton Brown has a cool way to use watermelon to make delicious red watermelon sorbet! Yum.

• Leave it to Martha Stewart to come up with patriotic looking and delicious tasting frozen treats.  Try these “Firecracker Ice Pops”, they are sure to be a hit with all ages!

“Firecracker Ice Pops”
by Martha Stewart

• And here’s a great finale to your picnic dinner, sparklers are optional!

Red, White & Blue Berry Trifle
Perfect for 4th of July!
by Martha Stewart

Happy 4th of July!  Send your patriotic food photos and we will post them!
About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey or half or whole Ham, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo, and ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Happy 4th of July!

Will your employees get paid time off for the 4^th of July? Should they? The wrong answer could lead to fireworks in your office. The right one could help you attract and retain the best employees.
Human Resources guru, Michael Haberman gets this question all the time: “Do I have to pay my employees for holidays?” Last July 5, in honor of Independence Day, he blogged about it at Omega hr Solutions, Inc.’s website in “Holiday Pay for the 4th of July”.
The answer to the question, he says is, “as often occurs in HR, ‘it depends.’” Here’s what Haberman says it depends on:

• In the private sector, under the U.S. Department of Labor’s Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), if employees are classified as non-exempt there’s no requirement to pay them for holiday hours they spend not working. You can pay them for holidays at your company’s discretion and as a matter of company policy and past practice.

• If your company pays employees for a holiday, it DOES NOT have to be counted as time worked in the calculation of overtime.

• In the private sector, if employees are classified as exempt, you must pay their entire salaries for weeks in which holidays occur, regardless of whether they work the holidays or not. If they don’t work the holidays you can’t dock their pay.

• Union contracts or status as a state employee will alter these requirements.

So, be sure you follow FLSA guidelines this 4^th of July. And consider your policies for offering other types of paid leave, such as vacation, sick and personal days. SHRM’s survey report, Examining Paid Leave in the Workplace, says:

“An attractive employer-sponsored benefits program makes it easier for organizations to retain and attract great employees. Leave programs are crucial to an employee’s overall benefits package.”

The report advocates combining leave policies into one personal time off, or PTO block, to make administration easier and reduce costs.
What’s your philosophy on leave pay, and how does it affect your employees’ morale?
Michael Haberman is known as “THE HR COMPLIANCE GUY” of Omega hr Solutions, Inc. He’s also an instructor at the University of Georgia’s School for Professional Education and Emory University’s School for Professional Education, teaching human resources management. You can follow Mike Haberman on Twitter (Mike [email protected]).
About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey or half or whole Ham, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo, and ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

It took years to make Father’s Day an official holiday, but that doesn’t make our gratitude toward and appreciation of our fathers any less sincere. In the same way, if your recognition of your employees’ hard work is overdue, there’s no time like the present—and they’ll still appreciate your sincere thanks.
The Library of Congress, Wise Guide, “Honor Your Father” tells us, “in June of every year, we honor fathers.” While lots of Dads claim everyday is Father’s Day, it’s fair to say most of us don’t thank the Fathers in our families daily for all they do. It’s good to be reminded to pause and reflect on why fathers are so important in our lives, and to celebrate and thank them. Similarly, we are well served to do the same for the other valued members of our personal and professional lives. You may have employees or co-workers who are vital to your business’s success, but how often do you remember to thank them for all their contributions?
Many Fathers share that Father’s Day reminds them how lucky they are – to have healthy children, supportive families or to know their grand-children.  It inspires many Dads to strive to do better for those who count on them.  Similarly, we know from research that a genuine “thank you” to employees encourages deeper engagement and a desire to contribute.
The first official Mother’s Day  was celebrated in 1914, but a holiday honoring fathers didn’t become official until 1966, when President Lyndon Johnson declared the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. President Richard Nixon made the proclamation permanent in 1972. But the holiday was celebrated unofficially long before this time.
A then 27-year old Sonora Dodd came up with the idea for Father’s Day. Her father raised her and her siblings after her mother died in childbirth. While listening to a church sermon on Mother’s Day, Sonora thought of all her father had done for her and her siblings. She thought fathers should have a day too. Her father’s birthday was in June, so Sonora encouraged area churches to honor fathers that month. Spokane, Washington celebrated the first Father’s Day in 1910.
So we hope you celebrated Dad last Sunday, and that you celebrate your employees as soon and as often as you can. And if you forgot to send Dad a card or gift, he’ll still appreciate it now.
Our sincere gratitude to all the Fathers who do so much for all of us.
About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey or half or whole Ham, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo, and ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Few things taste more like summer than food cooked outdoors on the grill.  It just seems to call for friends, laughter and celebrating being together.
In our last post, 10 Tips for Great Grilling! we promised more great grilling tips – so here are favorites from our expert friends:

• Use the Right Equipment…
  1. A pair of tongs for arranging food on the grill and flipping it when needed. To avoid losing juices during turning, always flip your meat or vegetables using tongs or a spatula, rather than a fork.
  2. Good quality paintbrushes from the hardware store to baste meats while grilling. (Pastry brushes are fine but more expensive.)
  3. If you are looking for that ultimate list of grilling gear, (maybe for Father’s Day inspiration), Epicurious helps out.

• Preheat your grill.
  If using charcoal, let the flames die down until the briquettes are white around the edges and glowing bright orange.

• Make it Smoky.
  For great smoky flavor, soak some wood chips (hickory, oak, or other hardwoods but not treated lumber!) in water, then throw them onto your charcoal and cover the grill.  You can add smoky wood to your gas grill too, here’s how from Derrick Riches.

• Keep it Clean.
  After your grill is preheated, use a brass-wire brush to scrape the charred remains of past recipes off of the grate. (If you don’t have one of those metal brushes, you can use some balled up aluminum foil for a disposable scraper.)

• Don’t flip out!
  Ideally, you should flip each item only once during the grilling process.

• Protect the Juices.
  Don’t press down on burgers or chicken with a spatula while they’re grilling. This squeezes out the juices – the wonderful stuff that gives those meats such great taste! (It also forces fat onto the fire which may cause the flames to suddenly jump up.)

• Be Patient.
  Don’t start testing the food the minute you put it on the heat. This includes picking it up to see if it’s done on the bottom, moving it around, and turning it over every ten seconds. Put the food down and give it a chance to cook. This will also allow it to sear on the bottom so that it doesn’t stick.

• Give it a Rest.
  Do let meat and poultry rest for a few minutes before slicing or serving. You may feel like the food is getting cold, but actually it’s still cooking. Cover it up with foil and let it rest for at least 5 minutes so the juices can be evenly distributed.

• When in doubt…
  it’s better to under cook than over cook. You can always put food back on the fire if you need to.

Let us know how your grilling adventures go!  What are your favorite grilling secrets of success?
About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey or half or whole Ham, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime.  gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo, and ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  Contact:  Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog –  “Celebrating Work”.
“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Now that the official start to summer is here, it’s time to get outside and grill! It’s the perfect excuse to invite friends, family or co-workers over to celebrate summer.

Grilling is the simplest, most basic cooking method there is. Our ancient ancestors even knew, all you really need is food and fire.  But just as the quality of potato salad varies widely from potluck to summer picnic, some people have a way with throwing food “on the barbie” and reaching perfection while others seem to specialize in well, overdone.
What the secret to great grilling? There’s actually more than you think.  Let’s start with a few words of warning and our next post will give you even more tips for grilling success.
1. Don’t start with meat that is not totally thawed. If it’s still slightly frozen in the middle, your meal will end up undercooked.
2. Experts don’t use lighter fluid on a charcoal grill. The chemicals can give your food a really unpleasant flavor. Instead, try an electric starter or a chimney to start coals.
3. Don’t put your meat on the barbecue while the flames are shooting through the grill. Hot and fast is not a great way to grill, unless you like a crispy charred exterior and raw interior. Steaks should be seared on high heat, but overall, cooking on medium heat is best; when the coals are white and glowing.
4. Don’t look! Put the lid down and resist the urge to lift it up to check on the meat every few minutes. Each time you open the lid, the temperature in your grill actually drops, resulting in uneven cooking.
5. Grilling connoisseurs don’t cut into food to see if it’s done. It lets the juices out and results in dry steaks, burgers, and chicken. The best way to test food is by poking it with your finger. As your meat cooks, it becomes firmer and firmer. A rare steak feels squishy (like your chin); a medium steak feels more springy (like the tip of your nose); and a well-done steak feels taut (like your forehead).
6. Don’t baste constantly with sauces filled with sugar — sugar burns at a low temperature and will burn onto the meat. Baste at the very end of the cooking process, or serve a sweet barbecue sauce on the side as a condiment once your chicken or pork chops are cooked.
7. Don’t to use the same plate or platter to carry the cooked food back into the house. This is a food safety issue – nobody wants to poison an entire picnic. Always use a clean platter to bring steaks, chicken, or chops to the table.
8. Don’t use wooden or bamboo skewers for your shish-kebabs, unless you’ve soaked them in water first. Otherwise you are literally adding fuel to the fire.
9. Don’t forget that meat, fish, potatoes, and vegetables all have different cooking times. Red skinned potatoes roasted on the grill are a great side dish, but they take much longer to cook than cherry tomatoes or button mushrooms. Plan accordingly and don’t put every ingredient of your dinner on the grill at once.
10. Don’t forget grilled dessert! Yes, burgers, brats, and pork ribs taste great on the barbecue, but there are many other recipes to try on the sweet side. Fresh pineapple slices, peach halves, even slices of pound cake can benefit from some time on the grill. And as the embers die down, don’t forget to break out the marshmallows for S’mores.
Great Grilling Everyone!
About gThankYou, LLC
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