SEDONA , Arizona ( CNN ) -- Instead of appealing for votes on the campaign trail , Sen. John McCain spent the weekend playing host at his rustic Arizona home -- and on Sunday members of the traveling press corps were his guests . It was a news-free zone , and a charm offensive to be sure -- but also a window into the private setting and self-described oasis of the man who may be days away from mathematically clinching the GOP nomination , months after being left for political dead . McCain greeted reporters as he tended to the grill -- tongs in hand -- on the deck of his ranch house . Clad in a green Maine Maritime Academy baseball hat , white sweat shirt with a photograph of his family on it , faded Levis jeans and New Balance sneakers , the presidential candidate stood over two large , sizzling barbecues , preparing baby back ribs and grilled chicken . McCain revealed that barbecuing for guests is one of the few ways he relaxes , especially during the grueling campaign , and was eager to share his carefully honed recipe on the gas grill : baby back ribs ( bought at Costco ) , cooked bones down with a dry rub that 's a third garlic powder , a third salt and a third pepper . The trick to not letting it dry out ? Keep putting lemon juice on , the senator said . When a print journalist tried to switch gears to more substantive issues , the candidate who tends to take questions from reporters on the road multiple times a day responded , `` No interviews , this is a social event , '' which also meant no news pictures or video . McCain 's wife , Cindy , and daughter Meghan also were milling around as well as Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina ; former Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas and his wife , Wendy ; Utah Gov . Jon Huntsman Jr. and his wife , Mary Kaye ; top McCain aide Mark Salter ; and senior adviser Charlie Black . McCain took a break from the barbecue , where he was constantly cutting the sizzling meat and feeding reporters right from the grill , to give a short tour around his Hidden Valley property . McCain said the valley was settled by Mormons and that the Hidden Valley Ranch got its name from the horseshoe shape of the creek that runs through the property . He said he built the first house on his property 24 years ago and now there are six houses on his lot . During a tour of the grounds , he peppered guests with wildlife information -- pointing out the black hawk nest overlooking the creek while talking about watching the mother teach the baby how to fly and joking about the woodpecker `` condominium , '' telling reporters that woodpeckers had to peck a different nest every year . He said there were 67 kinds of birds on the property and that they also had the occasional coyote or cougar . Dinner was served on tables by Oak Creek , which runs through the property . The menu included ribs , grilled chicken , hot dogs , bratwurst , hamburgers , beef tamales , couscous and pasta salad . A day earlier McCain hosted some of his closest political friends whose public endorsements and private advice helped propel his candidacy . That guest list included Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida and Minnesota Gov . Tim Pawlenty . McCain was mum about his political guests , except to say he enjoyed sharing the ranch with people and that he did n't like solitude . After dinner , McCain showed the press into his living room , decorated with leather sofas , a painting of the Grand Canyon and a Navajo rug tapestry . On the coffee table sat the Profile in Courage Award he received in 1999 , and the July 2005 Architectural Digest that featured the senator and his wife on the cover in their Phoenix home . Also on the walls are framed paintings and pictures drawn by his children when they were young , something McCain said he very much enjoys and was `` all Cindy 's idea . '' McCain said the original architect went through some changes in fortune during construction that were evident in the structure of the house : when he was doing well , he would put in things such as a stained-glass window , but when times were lean , he would use exposed plywood . Dessert was served on the deck to Frank Sinatra tunes , one of the senator 's favorites , and McCain held court with reporters for a few more minutes , recalling some of the highlights of the 2008 campaign trail but not revealing anything about his future plans . E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Dana Bash , Tasha Diakides and Evan Glass contributed to this report .
Sen. John McCain hosts press at Arizona ranch . McCain says barbecues are one of few ways he relaxes during campaign . `` No interviews , this is a social event , '' McCain tells reporters .