george hirsch blog

Rock Star on Tour, 10 Cities 2 Weeks

Producing my TV series requires many layers of talent. In addition to the beauty of the locations, food and people you see on each episode, there is the editing and sound that must translate the feeling for the viewer to ‘Live it UP’. The original music score, appropriately titled “Livin it UP with George Hirsch” was written, produced and performed by Joey ‘Coach’ Hanna, Thunderhoof Productions. You’ll hear this (Watch the making of the music) tune during the show open, sting between segments, bumps and credit roll. For Coach it’s a talent he was born with or I say, that flows in his blood. Coach was born into a musical family with performing traditions spanning generations. His drum technique took him to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He tours with top high-energy bands throughout the country; singing, writing, arranging, and the ability to provide layers of tight instrumentation. This talent brought Coach into a series of collaborations, including Noah Rickun (Everyday Productions), Mike Seifert (producer of Bone Thugs and Harmony), and most recently Lava Recording Artist, Toby Lightman with ‘Overflowing’ from the new hit release ‘Bird on a WIRE’. Coach has appeared on shows such as David Letterman, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan O’Brian, Carson Daily, The View and The Today Show. Coach is the drummer who is called first to play with American Idol artist Carrie Underwood and Bo Brice. Aside from my favorite tune, ‘Livin it UP with George Hirsch’ written, produced & performed Joe Hanna; there are two other songs you should listen to. Listen to ‘Preacher’ written & performed by Gibb Droll, performed & produced by Joe Hanna and ‘Semi-Normal Life’ written, produced & performed by Joe Hanna. 

"Coach" will be on a ten city national tour with Sony BMG Platinum Artist Gavin DeGraw beginning Feb 26 in Gainesville Florida, wrapping up March 11 in Los Angeles, California. For the next two weeks Coach will BLOG IN from time to time, while on tour reporting on life on the road. We’ll find out about city life, food, with some surprises added. 

So what's it like to be a rock star touring the US?

 George 

Our Best to  Joe "Coach" Hanna, Thunderhoof Productions!

George Hirsch Grilling Tips 101 Series

GRILLING it UP! Tips: FOOD SAFETY TIPS

Food safely is crucial no matter what you're cooking or what kind of grill you're using. 

-Never use cooking sprays around a lit grill. 

-Trim excess fat from meat to avoid flare-ups. 

-Make sure your grill is hot before placing meat on it. Allow about 5-10 minutes for a gas grill to heat up and about 30 to 40 minutes if you are using charcoal. 

-Use a charcoal chimney for safety and convenience.

-Use a meat thermometer to make sure that the meat has reached a safe internal temperature. Color and feel are not accurate ways to check doneness. Make sure the thermometer isn't touching any bone, as this could give a false reading. 

Beef: 145  degrees 

Chicken: 180 degrees

Lamb: 150 degrees

Pork: 160 degrees

Turkey breast: 170 degrees

Whole turkey: 180 degrees

-Plates, bowls, or utensils that touch raw meat should not be used once meat is cooked. ---Use clean plates and utensils for serving. 

-Boil leftover marinade that touched raw meat (including for basting) for at least one minute before reusing. 

-Store raw meat in the refrigerator until you are ready to grill it. 

-Refrigerate leftovers promptly, uncovered until chilled, once chilled then cover.

Happy Grilling!

George 

george hirsch website

subscribe to podcast

George Hirsch Lifestyle Segments through iTunes

George Hirsch Lifestyle Podcasts in iTunes

George Hirsch cooking and lifestyle TV segments are now available free through iTunes.

You will receive George Hirsch Podcasts with his favorite video-clips on travel, cooking, 

recreation and home solutions for living well.

George Hirsch Lifestyle eMagazine  

              Be part of Living Well

 

George Hirsch Podcasts from Hirsch Productions 2008

all about living well

George Hirsch How-to in the Garden

Plantings for privacy screening.

Consider the American 'Green Giant' Thuja (standishii plicata) It is an ideal evergreen screening tree and is a great substitute for the Leyland Cypress (it's cousin within the Cupressaceae family); which is bit more delicate to the extreme outdoor elements and deer love to snack on.

The Green Giant Thuja is fast growing, hardy, disease and pest resistant. I planted nearly eighty of the Green Giants a few years ago and they are nearly double in size and maintain their full green beauty all year long.

For the George Hirsch How-to Garden TV segment: George planting a little 'Green Giant' Thuja

Subscribe to 'George Hirsch Lifestyle Podcasts' RSS

George Hirsch Website

George Hirsch Grilling Tips 101 Series

Each day George will send out his grilling tips!

Tip 8

ALLOW MEATS TO REST -You've worked so hard on making the ultimate BBQ for your family and friends--they can wait just a minute or two longer. Giving meats time to rest after removing them from the grill allows natural juices to constrict.

For more great grilling tips from George Hirsch:

Subscribe to George Hirsch Lifestyle Podcasts RSS

George Hirsch website

From the George Hirsch Living it UP! TV series

George Hirsch Lifestyle Solutions for Living Well

For many summer is a time to try something new, get outdoors, meet new people.

Some take a cooking class and learn to make crepes!

Come with George to NYC; Camaje bistro, 85 MacDougal Street,  in Manhattan and see whatz cooking.

Owner and chef Abigail Hitchcock utilizes every ounce of culinary space in her quaint and acclaimed bistro.

She is also sizzling up! brooklyn by the opening of her new wine-bar, carrying her namesake, Abigail.

For more information on Abigail.

To view George Hirsch TV segment at Camaje

george hirsch website

subscribe to George Hirsch Lifestyle podcasts

George Hirsch Lifestyle Solutions for Living Well

George Hirsch on mountain biking as a Lifestyle Solution for Living Well.

Whether you’re mountain biking, road biking or biking to the post office; all types of biking are wonderful for keeping fit—and it is fun!  

Biking is a fantastic form of exercise that burns calories, strengthens muscle tone and increases endurance, plus the enjoyment of the fresh air and being submerged in nature. I happen to have wonderful designated mountain biking trails around where I live; you probably do too, you will be surprised just google your county or city for nature parks and trails.

Biking is a non-weight-bearing exercise; which means the bike supports your  body weight and keeps the stress off joints.

Even people who have bad knees or find exercise difficult can get a good workout on a bike.

With the right form, you can burn an average of about 600 calories per hour and reach your target heart zone within a few minutes. 

Here are some helpful tips:

When on the road, don't coast. 

It can be very easy to glide through your workout, but that won't help your waistline or heart rate. Instead, work the gears and keep your legs moving. It is not about speed, just steady movement for at least 20 minutes.

Also, mind your form. Keep your back at a flat 45-degree angle. If you're not positioned on the bike correctly, you'll tire more easily and have to cut your workout short. One more thing, take a friend.

george hirsch website

subscribe to George Hirsch Lifestyle Podcasts

George Hirsch Lifestyle Solutions for Living Well

George Hirsch living well: summer reading Book Recommendation

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The book that makes the world dream

The Alchemist

When you want something, the whole Universe conspires to help you realize your dream.

Santiago, the hero of the novel, already forms part of a select gallery of illustrious characters and leads us through his story to experience a remarkable adventure.

“When I wrote The Alchemist, I was trying to understand the reason for the existence of life. Instead of writing a philosophical treatise, I decided to converse with the child inside my soul.

To my surprise, this child was living inside millions of people around the world. With this book I wanted to share with my readers the questions which, precisely because they don't have an answer, make life a great adventure”. - Paulo Coelho

It only takes a few hours, great on a plane ride afternoon at the beach; truly opens your eyes to the science timing of events in your life events, no matter how trivial they may seem in the moment.

George 

George Hirsch Grilling Tips 101 Series

Each day George will send out his grilling tips!

Tip 7

BBQ SAUCE BRUSHING

 If you're going to use a favorite BBQ sauce on your grilled foods, always remember to brush it on at the END, about 15 minutes before removing foods from the grill! Most BBQ sauces contain sugars that will char easily if they're applied too early in the cooking process.  

For more great grilling tips from George Hirsch 

Subscribe to George Hirsch Lifestyle Podcasts RSS

George Hirsch website

From the George Hirsch Living it UP! TV series

George Hirsch Grilling Tips 101 Series

Each day you will receive George Hirsch tips on outdoor living.

From Gardening and landscaping to outdoor entertaining, poolside to home solutions for living well

Sign up to receive George Hirsch Outdoor Living 101 Series delivered by email everyday!

Today George Hirsch Tip: all about living well

Each day George will send out his grilling tips!

Tip 6

FLAVOR IN ADVANCE -Be a flavor planner! Remember to dry rub ribs a day ahead Apply a dry rub to meats up to 24 hours before you plan to start grilling. This allows the savory flavors of your rub to penetrate foods sufficiently and guarantees delicious dishes every time. If using a gas grill add a smoker box with hickory chips for added flavor.  

For more great grilling tips from George Hirsch:

Subscribe to George Hirsch Lifestyle Podcasts RSS

George Hirsch website

From the George Hirsch Living it UP! TV series

George Hirsch Outdoor Living Tips 101 series

Each day you will receive George Hirsch tips on outdoor living. From Gardening and landscaping to outdoor entertaining, poolside to home solutions for living well

Sign up to receive George Hirsch Outdoor Living 101 Series delivered by email everyday!

Today George Hirsch Tip: all about living well

Dream of having an outdoor herb garden. Here is the George plan on how-to get started.

PLANNING YOUR OUTDOOR HERB GARDEN

Nothing compares to the flavor of fresh herbs in cooking.  And now is the time to plan your fresh herb garden, so that you'll have an abundance of flavorful herbs at your fingertips.  But before you start digging, there's a little bit of planning to take into consideration.  

Here are some tips to keep in mind when setting out to plant your own outdoor fresh herb garden:

First consider the amount of time you have to spend and tend to your garden.  If you're a weekend gardener, then a little patch of kitchen herbs is a great start, you can always increase the size of your garden next year.  But if you're an avid gardener, go crazy!  Add some more exotic herbs and fragrant ones.

Find a good location for your garden.  Most herbs need five or six hours of sunlight.  They like it slightly on the dryer side. But make sure you stay close enough to your back door for when you're running from the kitchen to the garden.

Lay out your garden on paper. Think about style.  Do you like a formal orderly appearance to your garden, or a more natural style? Keep in mind when planning to include walking paths so you can reach to weed and harvest your herbs and keep your feet dry when the ground is wet.  

What to plant?  If you intend to cook with the herbs make a list of the ones you use most common.  If you like fragrant herbs or colorful herbs, ask your local garden shop what grows well in your area.

Remember, herbs like a fairly neutral or slightly alkaline soil.  So if you know your soil is acid you can add some lime when preparing your soil. 

When you're planting, try to keep the annuals and perennials separate so when the end of the season comes you won't disturb the roots of the perennials when you plant or pull out annuals. 

Try to keep taller plants to the back of the border or in the center of your bed and smaller ones near the edges to form borders.  

Remember, If I can do it, you can do it! -George

George Hirsch website

George Hirsch Grilling Tips 101 Series

Each day George Hirsch will send out his grilling tips!

Tip 5

NO FLATTENING OR FORKING: Keep in mind that the spatula was made for turning foods, not for squishing them down. Pressing on ribs or poking ribs can cause sticking and flare-ups. The essential, natural flavors will be lost inside the grill. Poking with a fork will also pierce the meat causing excess juices to be lost in the grill.  

For more great grilling tips from George:

Subscribe to George Hirsch Lifestyle Podcasts RSS

George Hirsch website

From the George Hirsch Living it UP! TV series

George Hirsch Outdoor Living Tips 101 series

Sign up to receive George Hirsch Outdoor Living 101 Series delivered by email everyday!

George Hirsch lifestyle Tip: all about living well

Does your house and landscape lend itself for a perfect large deck, but the thought of the upkeep of all that wood is steering you away from setting that great outdoor living atmosphere for parties and outdoor enjoyment?

George’s Home Solution for Living Well

MAINTENANCE-FREE DECKS

(Many viewers have requested additional information about the innovative decking system featured on George Hirsch Living it UP!)

Carefree products makes it easy to sit back and relax on your beautiful, maintenance-free deck. Carefree is a complete decking system of durable deck boards, railings, and stair treads that will add beauty, value to any home.

Carefree is made from recycled plastic and is as easy to work with as conventional lumber. But unlike wood, you’ll get more years of enjoyment from a Carefree deck because it will never rot, crack, or chip. And, you will never spend your free time sanding, staining, painting, or sealing your Carefree deck.

A Carefree deck:

Is more durable than wood
Retains its original color year after year
Never needs paint, stain, or sealer
Will never rot, crack, splinter, or chip
Is impervious to insects, mold, mildew, and salt water
Is guaranteed for 50 years

For more information visit http://www.carefree-products.com/product.html

Remember, If I can do it, you can do it, George

George Hirsch website

George Hirsch Grilling Tips 101 Series

Each day George will send out his grilling tips!

Tip 4

DON'T BE A HASTY FLIPPER -After you place ribs on grill close cover and do not continue to open grill, it will only cool down and take longer to cook. If you shuffle ribs around, or flip them prematurely, they begin to cool off and steam and will surely stick to the surface, plus--you won't get beautiful grill marks!  

For more great grilling tips from George:

Subscribe to George Hirsch Lifestyle Podcasts RSS

George Hirsch website

From the George Hirsch Living it UP! TV series

George Hirsch Outdoor Living Tips 101 series

Each day you will receive George Hirsch tips on outdoor living. From Gardening and landscaping to outdoor entertaining, poolside to home solutions for living well…

Sign up to receive George Outdoor Living 101 Series delivered by email everyday!

George Hirsch Tip: all about living well

It's time to stock your outdoor pots with colorful flowers and herbs. How do you keep your unglazed clay pots from drying out so fast and pulling all the vital moisture from the plants soil.

George Hirsch Home Solution for Living Well

After you have washed your clay pots with proper potting wash solution (of one cap of bleach to one gallon water), next let the pots fully dry in the sun.

Coat the interior of the unglazed terra-cotta pot with Using Acrylic Polymer (Water-based) Glaze; available at home improvement centers in paint department or craft stores in art supplies section or concrete waterproofing sealer. 

George Hirsch simple how-to home solution will make for a better outdoor living experience this season!

Let pots fully dry: the glaze dries very fast but I suggest at least 24 hours for adding fresh soil and plants.

Remember,

If I can do it, you can do it

George

George Hirsch website

George Hirsch Grilling Tips 101 Series

Each day George will send out his grilling tips!

Tip #3

HEAT UP PROPERLY- Be patient, and give your grill sufficient time to heat up. After lighting a gas grill, cover it for about 4-5 minutes so that it gets really hot. If you keep the lid open during the preheat period, a good portion of the heat escapes, and the grill remains cooler than needed.

For more great grilling tips from George:

Subscribe to George Hirsch Lifestyle Podcasts RSS

George Hirsch website

From the George Hirsch Living it UP! TV series

George Hirsch Outdoor Living Tips 101 series

Each day you will receive George’s tips on outdoor living. From Gardening and landscaping to outdoor entertaining, poolside to home solutions for living well…

Sign up to receive George Outdoor Living 101 Series delivered by email everyday!

Today’s Tip: all about living well

How-to save on energy costs, go green and still have the comfort and security of outdoor lighting upon your arrival home after daylight hours?

George Hirsch Home Solution for Living Well

Motion sensor outdoor lighting. These fixtures are becoming more and more popular. 

At the National Hardware Show I saw a variety of styles in all prices range, now available to homeowners at their local home improvement centers. 

Fixtures come with options like the convenience of a built-in motion and dusk-to-dawn sensor feature & timers for custom lighting duration. 

Remember,

if I can do it, you can do it

George

George Hirsch website

George Hirsch Grilling Tips 101 Series

Each day George will send out his grilling tips!

Tip #2

ALWAYS KEEP A CLEAN GRILL -Residue on the grates can cause harmful flare-ups and interfere with the delicious taste of your foods. Before you place your food on the grill, brush the grill grates well. As a preventative measure, lightly brush the grate AFTER you cook-out to be prepared for the next time.  

For more great grilling tips from George

Subscribe to George Hirsch Lifestyle Podcasts RSS

George Hirsch website

From the George Hirsch Living it UP! TV series

George Hirsch Grilling Tips 101 Series

Each day George will send out his grilling tips!

Tip #1

AVOID STICKING -Before firing up the grill, spray down the grates with vegetable spray, or you may brush them down with a little salad oil. Not only will this enhance the flavors of your meats and vegetables, but this will keep foods from sticking to the surface.

For more great grilling tips from George:

Subscribe to 'George Hirsch Lifestyle Podcasts' RSS

George Hirsch website

From the George Hirsch Living it UP! TV series

Today’s Weather Forecast Calls for Soup

According to the Weather Channel it’s a “rainy, chilly Mid-Atlantic. A cold, wet, windy day is expected for parts of the Northeast today. Much of the rest of the country will be dry…”

Whip a up my quick “Chive and Potato Soup” to warm you up on this chilly May day.
For those fortunate enough to be in the sun, just chill and serve cold.
For this easy recipe read page 13 of the spring issue of ‘George Hirsch Lifestyle eMag’.

Enjoy,
George

Last Minute Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Sunday May 11th is Mother'€™s Day. The question is, what do you buy for the woman who has everything?
Do you buy her that putter she's always wanted; or maybe a new turbo-drive grill?
Just in case that just won't do, here are some thoughtful suggestions from the Spring Issue of George Hirsch Lifestyle eMagazine:

- Serve her Berry Crepes for Mother'€™s Day Breakfast
- Give her some flowering vines and train them over an arbor
- Buy Mom a new piece of luggage for an upcoming trip
- How about giving her a bird house that attracts lovely early morning singing birds
- Send Mom on a trip to Italy, or prepare savory Tuscan Risotto & Sgroppino recipes

Recipes and Mother's Day Gift inspirations are available in our Spring Issue of George Hirsch Lifestyle eMag

See how-to Risotto Recipe Video

Subscribe your Mom up for the Advanced Free Subscription to George Hirsch Lifestyle eMag.

The Summer Issue is coming in June to your email inbox. Be sure your signed up!

To receive George's TV series Video Podcasts in iTunes

Happy Mother's Day!
Enjoy,
George

MOTHER'S DAY & SPRING ENTERTAINING

5 Easy steps for Spring Entertaining
With Mother's Day this weekend and spring well underway,
be spontaneous and have an impromptu gathering with family and friends.
Being spontaneous means there isn'€™t much planning or fuss
before the party. Having guests all-chip-in takes the
pressure off of the host for all of the pre preparation tasks.
For get great recipes and tips from this article 'George Hirsch Lifestyle' eMagazine
enjoy,
George