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Writer's pictureAlyssa Ledingham

"Grill & Thrill: Brat-tastic Bonding with my 11-Year-Old"

This week, Katelyn and I decided it was time to give our all beef brats a try. It was a brat-tastic day where my 11-year-old learned the art of grilling brats. Here's a recount of our exciting and educational experience.


Cleaning the Grill

Katelyn's first task was to help prep the grill. It needed a bit of love in the form of cleaning.


Lighting the Grill

Next up she started the grill... Safety first! Make sure the lid is up. With my supervision, she turned the knobs to high and pressed the igniter button. She was a little startled when she heard the propane ignite. We closed the lid and let it preheat for about 10 minutes to ensure it was at the perfect temperature for grilling. For cooking the brats we wanted it about 350°F.


The Grilling Process

With the grill preheated, it was time to place the brats on the grill. Katelyn carefully laid each brat on the grates (don't worry we washed our hands and got a new plate!). We discussed the importance of even cooking, so she turned the brats every few minutes. The sizzling sound and delicious aroma were making our mouth's water!


Patience and Monitoring

Katelyn learned that grilling requires patience, but in about 15 minutes we were ready to check the brats to make sure they were up to the correct temperature. I showed her how to check for doneness by using a meat thermometer (sorry that part of the video didn't work out); our target was 160°F...and Colton decided he should climb in a wagon and stand up so my helper disappeared for a second. But moms and dads you know that's real life when you're cooking with kids around!


The Best Part: Eating!

With the brats perfectly grilled, we took them inside and dug in. As it happens we were out of buns so we enjoyed them on their own. No ketchup or condiments required. They were delicious!



grilled beef brats cooked by an 11 year old
Enjoying the fruits of her labor--delicious all beef brats


Reflection

I'm so proud of Katelyn for learning this new skill and sticking with it (even though she would have rather been playing).


Next time you're thinking about what's for dinner, consider firing up the grill and making it a family affair. Happy grilling!


You can check out the short video here. I'm new to all this video business so be kind :)




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