Memorial Day Weekend: Grilling, Gardening And Bamboo

Memorial Day is upon us and across the country, weekend plans are being made. Whether you’re spending the long weekend working or playing, it’s not too late to make bamboo a part of your weekend. Just follow these steps:

Step 1 – Use bamboo skewers

Many barbecue aficionados prefer bamboo skewers because they provide a little more friction to keep food on the stick and don’t leave a metal aftertaste. They’re also handy for non-grilling recipes that require toothpicks as they are much sturdier than your average toothpick.

A few tips for using bamboo skewers:

Soak them for 30 minutes before cooking or they might burn on the grill
Bamboo skewers are generally not very long so use tongs to turn your kebabs
Keep a large supply handy as they are disposable (and biodegradable!)

Step 2 – Make delicious Grilled Bamboo Shoots

Add an Asian twist to your barbecue menu and grill up Bamboo Shoots. You’ll need the following:

1 can (8.5 oz/240 g) whole bamboo shoots, drained
1 tbsp(15 mL) sake
1 tbsp(15 mL) salt
1 tbsp(15 mL) vegetable oil
2 tbsp(25 mL) mirin
1 tbsp(15 mL) Japanese soy sauce
Bonito flakes, (optional)

To prepare your Grilled Bamboo Shoots:

Cut bamboo lengthwise into thirds, or sixths if large. Bring small saucepan of water, sake and salt to boil; blanch bamboo for 3 minutes. Drain and pat dry.

Brush oil over bamboo. Grill on medium-high heat; cook bamboo, turning once, until grill-marked, 6 minutes. Transfer to shallow bowl.

Combine mirin and soy sauce; pour over bamboo and let cool. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 2 days.)

To serve, strain bamboo; sprinkle with bonito flakes (if using). Serve at room temperature or chilled.

For more yummy bamboo recipes, visit Green Earth News section on Bamboo Flavors.

Step 3 – Enjoy your barbecue on Bamboo Patio Furniture

It’s the environmentally friendly choice to enjoy your outdoor world with. Because it is such a highly renewable and sustainable resource, choosing bamboo for your outdoor furniture is a environmentally responsible choice. Bamboo also offers strength and durability and a beautiful appearance. An added bonus for using bamboo furniture outdoors is that bamboo is resistant to the swelling or shrinking that can be caused by changing weather.

When buying bamboo furniture, keep the following in mind:

Look for furniture made with real bamboo and not bamboo look-alikes.
Look for furniture that states it is made with sustainable bamboo.
Look for bamboo furniture that uses water-based stains and non-toxic glue (if there is veneer).
Look to see where the bamboo furniture was made. A clue for good quality is if the furniture was made by artisans in smaller communities.

Step 4 – Transform your yard into a Bamboo Paradise

Yes, that does mean yard work on your holiday weekend but the benefits are worth it. Bamboo plants offer a variety of choices for landscaping use and are hardy enough to survive the palest of green thumbs. If you are looking to conserve water (as we all should be!), bamboo plants only require intermittent watering once they are grown. And you’ll be helping Mother Earth in another way – Bamboo stores more CO2 and generates 35% more oxygen than an equivalent strand of trees.

For tips and information, visit Green Earth News Bamboo Garden section.

Step 5 – Choose Bamboo clothing to enjoy your outdoor time

Though the plant is a tough one, the fibers made from it offer a soft and comfortable fabric. Bamboo clothing also retains the excellent wicking behavior of the plant making it the perfect choice for these hot summer days. Bamboo clothing is also known to be a temperature regulator, keeping you cool on warm days and warm on cool days. For a wide selection of bamboo clothes, visit Green Earth Bamboo. Offering everything from bamboo shirts to bamboo socks, Green Earth Bamboo can help your wardrobe become more eco-friendly.

There is a long summer stretching out ahead of us. If it’s too late to bamboo your Memorial Day weekend, pick another weekend to take advantage of this amazingly versatile and earth-friendly material!