NDL Hearth Blog

Pellet stoves are probably the easiest stove to operate. Add this to the fact that pellet stoves are efficient, economical and use renewable energy and they are a win win for any home. Pellet stoves today are very convenient for the homeowner with a busy lifestyle, or those who just do not want to fuss over their stove. Typically, you only need to load a pellet stove with wood pellets 1-2 times per day, depending on the size of stove and the hopper. Because their burn efficiency is so high, pellet stoves do not produce any smoke, little ash and as a result require low maintenance cleaning.

They are also perfect for a home setting because as they burn, the exterior of the stove remains merely warm to the touch. There is virtually no external heat on the outside of the stove. Because of this, you can place the stove very close to a wall, and they remain safe for homes with young children and pets.

The pellet burning process is very efficient making less pollutants and particles that are released into the air. Additionally, wood pellets are actually made from the byproduct of wood; they are not the primary product. They are mainly produced from recycled wood at sawmills, usually sawdust, wood shavings and some forms of nuts. This makes the big advantage of pellet stoves the costs of fuel. Using a pellet stove could create significant cost savings in your heating bill. So, not only will you have a beautiful, easy to use stove in your home, you will be paying less to heat your home, while using renewable energy to do it! Consider a pellet stove to help heat your home this winter.

Whenever I make it to a Kansas City Chiefs home game at Arrowhead Stadium the one thing I enjoy the most, aside from seeing the Chiefs win, is being able to tailgate for hours before the game starts. Going to Kansas City and having a tailgate party means barbecue - plain and simple.

Football and tailgating are a time-honored tradition in the United States. If you make it to a Chiefs game here are five essential barbecue foods you should consider for your tailgating feast repertoire.

Ribs

Pork ribs are delicious when they are done right. Grilling ribs means two essential processess to cook them. First is to marinate them for 24 hours before you cook them in your favorite sauce. For my wife and I the sauce comes from another great Kansas City tradition - KC Masterpiece has several marinades for fantastic ribs.

The second key ingredient to cooking ribs is to grill them slow enough to make them juicy and the meat is tender while still sticking to the bone. Preheat your grill for medium and brush the rack with oil so the meat won't stick. Remove ribs from the marinade sauce and place on rack - feel free to slather some left over sauce over the ribs as they cook. Grill the ribs for 30 minutes on one side and flip. Grill another 10 minutes or so until the meat is done.

Hamburgers

The key to grilled burgers is much the same with ribs. Preparation beforehand is the key when you shape the hamburger patties. Take two pounds of your favorite type of ground beef and add an egg to it. Pile on a cup of chopped onions, one slice of bread made into small crumbs, and a cup of your favorite barbecue sauce. Mix everything together and make your meat into about six to eight patties. My suggestion is to freeze the patties overnight because they will hold together better when you grill them.

Put your grill on medium heat and initially cook the burgers for 10 to 15 minutes before turning over. Cook another five to 10 minutes or however long you want them to be done inside. Well done burgers will have to be cooked longer than medium well or medium rare. Again, save some of the sauce for basting the burgers while they grill. Add cheese on top of the patties just before you take them out of the grill for cheeseburgers.

Steaks

Don't be afraid to go all out and cook some fantastic steaks on game day. My opinion on cooking steaks will be to basically let the flavor of the meat come out and pretty much leave the meat as-is until afterwards. Lightly season the meat before hand with a rub or your favorite seasoning but I would leave the marinade to the ribs.

My two favorite cuts of meat to grill are chuck eye steaks and ribeyes. The reason for this is because there is just enough fat on them to make them tender and juicy even after being made well done on the grill. Turn your grill up high and sear both sides of the meat for just a minute each. Then turn the grill down to medium and cook the steak about 15 minutes per side until your steak is done.

Bratwurst

Bratwurst is probably the easiest meat to cook on your grill aside from hot dogs. Bratwurst can be done in as little as 15 minutes and tastes wonderful even without barbecue sauce. Set your grill to medium and flip bratwurst over constantly until they are plump and juicy. You'll know the bratwurst is done just like any other meat - when juices come out of the meat clear without any hue the bratwurst is done.

Afterwards you can serve bratwurst with cheese and on a roll and with sauce. You can even chop up bratwurst and serve it as a meat on the side of other meat dishes.

Grilled Onions and Mushrooms

A great side with these cuts of meat is to make grilled onions and mushrooms. Take a cup each of chopped mushrooms and onions and wrap them in foil so they are completely covered during the cooking process. Add one cup of your favorite soy sauce and wrap the foil around the mixture and grill on the rack for about 10 to 15 minutes.

What you'll have are a bunch of tender onions and mushrooms which go with any meat you choose to cook. Grilled onions and mushrooms go great as a topping for burgers, steaks and even bratwurst.

No matter what you choose to cook at a tailgate party, do it well. Meats are just one suggestion to cook on your grill but they are fast and easy to make when you prep them before they reach the grill in your stadium's parking lot.

Last night, the House voted 177 to 148 in favor of the $858 billion Tax Cut Compromise Package of 2010 that reduces the biomass heater tax credit to 10 percent with a $300 cap. The bill now goes to the White House for the President's signature. Another significant change that further restricts the tax credit for biomass appliances is that Congress removed the lower heating value measurement and only allows the credit toward the purchase price and not for installation.

Energy efficiency provisions were shortchanged even further by a clause that says the $500 tax credit is a lifetime maximum, meaning that if a homeowner has used this credit anytime since 2005, it cannot be used again. During the past two years, the credit up to $1,500 could be used regardless of whether the family has used the credit between 2005 and 2009.

The reduction to 10 percent tax credit affects all energy efficiency measures that had enjoyed 30 percent credit for the past two years. Many members of Congress felt the 25C tax credit program had cost the government too much money and should not be extended in its current form at 30 percent up to $1,500.

This setback for incentives for wood and pellet heating systems is a result of biomass appliances being considered an energy efficiency device instead of a renewable energy system. Solar, wind and geothermal systems still enjoy the full 30 percent tax credit with no maximum and are not set to expire until 2016.

"This creates a terrible double standard for incentives between renewable energy systems favored and affordable by the wealthy and systems favored and affordable by average American families," said John Ackerly, president of the Alliance for Green Heat. "Fortunately, we understand that Congress will be revisiting these tax credits again in 2011 and advocates for cleaner and more efficient biomass appliances need to be prepared," he said. Instead of using tax credits based on a percentage of purchase and installation costs, Congress is likely to consider performance-based credits.

This report prepared by the Alliance for Green Heat.

At NDL we would like you to know that along with our retailers we support our communities. With the help of our retailers, last year we provided $1600 dollars worth of toys for Toys for Tots in and around the Northeast. That is hundreds of toys!  And this year, again with the help of our retailers, we are providing hams to the local food banks in our communities. Our goal is 130 hams! The hearth shops of the Northeast will order the hams through NDL when they place their orders. 

NDL will match the amount of hams bought by the distributors. These holiday hams will then be distributed by the local food bank in your neighborhoods to families in need this holiday season. So if you are in the market for a fireplace, insert, or wood stove or any hearth accessories, let us connect you with the retailer in your area. By supporting  your local hearth retailer you are supporting you community. No one supports your neighborhood more during the holiday season than local, small businesses.

Northeast Distribution is the leading distributor of hearth accessories and products in New England, NY, NJ, and PA. We know stocking stuffers; after all we have been specializing in winter warmth for over ten years. Keep the family warm this holiday season, and let us connect you with the finest hearth retailers in your area.

If you are looking for stocking stuffers for men, look no further. Zippo lighters, fire starters, stove fans, grill utensils, and log totes all make great gifts. Are you looking for unique stocking stuffers? We have them in beautifully handcrafted stove top steamers and kettles, wrought iron fireplace screens and firewood storage racks.

Contact us today for stocking stuffer ideas and the locations of the hearth retailer nearest you.

Our fires are lit, and you surely remember the dry air inside your home from winters past. For the health of both your family and the wood furniture in your home, consider how you will humidify your home this winter. One of the most practical fireplace accessories on the market today is a wood stove steamer.

At NDL, we offer steamers in many shapes and sizes manufactured by Condar, Minuteman, Imperial and Last Waltz Clay Studio. These steamers come in styles that range from traditional teapots, to animal shapes, to hand-made and hand-glazed clay designs. With this many varieties and manufacturers, you are sure to find one to match your style. They are quite easy to use, just fill them with water and place it on the stove. You may also turn these steamers into aromatherapy solutions by adding potpourri, spices, or stove scents to the water. Once the steam begins to be released into your home, it not only becomes a room humidifier, but it will release the sweet smell of fragrance as well.

Wood stove steamer add decorative value to your home. Due to their unique shape and quality, just leave these decorative pieces on the wood burning stove for all to see. If you wish to add a unique touch to your home or you need extra humidity; a wood stove steamer is what you are looking for.

Of course, NDL offers a full range of fireplace accessories including fireplace glass doors, fireplace tool sets, chimney caps, and ash buckets. Let us direct you to the finest hearth dealer in your area. Contact us today.

This winter, if you are having trouble keeping the cold at bay, consider adding a fireplace or fireplace insert to your home. Not only will you add comfort and atmosphere, you will add value to your home as well. A working hearth is considered a plus to home buyers, thus increasing the value of your home. Fireplaces and inserts can be fueled by natural gas, electricity, pellets, or wood and all these fuel sources have their advantages. Pellets and wood are considered renewable energy sources and are economical. But that is not all. Many fireplace inserts have a tax credit as well!

Gas and electric fireplaces and fireplace inserts are generally easier to use with less mess and effort. They are also very efficient and can be hooked up to a thermostat and remote. This way, you have constant heat which you can enjoy with the touch of a button. Whichever fuel source you choose to run your fireplace or insert, one thing is certain; working fireplaces add atmosphere and ambiance to any home. New home buyers love the idea of a working hearth and they make your home more enticing. If you are remodeling for your own enjoyment, a room with a burning fire adds a whole new dimension to entertaining.

It is just much simpler to entertain in the summer. It is a more casual atmosphere; shorts, flip flops, and grilling in the back yard. For a long time now, back yard grilling has been a great way to enjoy a social get together and great tasting food cooked over an open fire. But the question has come up, are conventional BBQ gills the best way to grill food? Most certainly they are the most well known, but they may not be the tastiest or the healthiest. There are schools of thought who believe the pellet grill is the way to go.

One difference pellet grills have over traditional grills is their design which creates indirect heat cooking. The heat does not come from the top or the bottom of the grill, the food is cooked from the heat moving around the food. This also makes the food tastier to some, because there is more of a smoke flavor which is what pellet grills are really known for after all.

Wood pellet grills have much less cancer-causing carcinogens and companies like Treager produce their pellet grills with two or more shields that come in between your food and the heat source. This means that fat from meat which causes carcinogens runs out of the chamber into a bucket that is on the outside of the Grill. This way the grease never has a chance to drip down into the heat source which is the fire. Pellet grills are also very green since they produce much less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional charcoal or gas grills. Also when cooking over them you have much less of the mess to clean up after as compared to a charcoal grill. So if you're looking to buy a grill and start having some backyard get-togethers consider a healthier alternative the wood pellet grill.