Together with Propane: 4 Safe Ways to Gather with Friends and Family
This is a sponsored post by Propane Education & Research Council. Read below for great ways to come together with propane. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.
This year has changed our lives in so many ways. And the things I miss the most are enjoying time with friends and family. From going out to eat to spending time together. All the laughs and memories made with a night out. Over this last year, we have had to get creative and find new ways to still enjoy time with friends and family. And many of these activities mean spending time outdoors. For us, we have found all sorts of ways we are able to safely get together with our loved ones thanks to the versatility and reliability of propane. Here are 4 simple ways we use propane to create new memories and moments together while being outdoors.
Girls’ Night around the Fire Pit
One of those things that I miss? Nights out with friends! But since we can’t go out, we got creative and improvised with a night in, but outside. For this girls’ night in, we had dinner and wine outside around a propane-fueled fire pit. And we finished dinner with a s’mores-inspired charcuterie board. The s’mores board was gorgeous and so yummy. And yes, it was as good as it looks! We were able to roast s’mores on the propane fire pit. Enjoying good food and great company was good for the soul! Scroll down for all the photo inspiration for your next girls’ night.
2. Family Dinner on the Grill
“What’s for dinner?” Every parent’s most dreaded daily question especially with the restaurant closures. Just like most Americans, over the last year, we have eaten in more than any other year. And keeping dinner fun and exciting has been a challenge. Weather permitting, we have been cooking outside on the propane grill. We have been enjoying our tried and true: steaks, but also adding more new favorites like BBQ sugar-spiced salmon. The girls can play outside, Daniel grills, and I can prepare the sides. Propane makes dinner easy and grilling outside keeps cleanup simple.
Try this sugar-spiced rub the next time you fire up your propane grill. It’s great on fish or chicken.
1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup chili powder, 3 tbsp salt, 3 tbsp cumin, 1 tbsp black pepper, 2 tsp cocoa powder, 1 tsp dry mustard, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp paprika
3. Extending Your Pool Season
One of my favorite things to do with the girls in the summer is head over to my parent’s house to swim. Here in New Mexico, our ideal pool season is fairly short: June through August. But with the help of propane, we can extend the pool season from April into October and even November. One year, we swam on Thanksgiving! The weather was nice and the pool was warm from the propane heater. This past year, my parents knew we would all be home more throughout the spring, summer, and beyond. By heating the pool with propane we were able to enjoy it so much longer. We even celebrated my daughter’s April birthday by the pool.
4. Date Nights thanks to PRopane
Date nights have also been few and far between this year. But if you are like us, sometimes you need some kid-free time. Enjoy a glass of wine, eat dinner with no interruptions, and have some conversations that don’t involve Elsa freezing Arendelle.
Thankfully propane has given us a couple of ways to continue our date night tradition.
With some of our favorite spots closed, we have been once again heading out to our back patio. Even throughout the winter, we were able to hang out outside with some propane heaters and our fire pit. These casual date nights still gave us time to be together while staying in.
And for the few restaurants that are open with outdoor dining, their patios have been so much more enjoyable thanks to propane space heaters. Seriously, without propane, we would not have been able to bear the cold temperatures on the patios for outdoor dining. I am so thankful that our local restaurants were able to continue serving guests during the pandemic with their reliable propane-heated patios.
There are so many safe and affordable ways to use propane to improve our outdoor living. I would love to hear other ways propane brings your family together!
Udderly,
New Mexico Milkmaid