skip to main |
skip to sidebar
May is National Barbecue Month and we couldn't be happier. Warmer weather is here, so there's plenty of time for hanging out in the backyard and experimenting with delicious food.
Most people mix up barbecue and grilling. While grilling involves cooking with charcoal or gas over high head, barbecue is slow and low. To cook authentic BBQ, you need to use low temperatures (in the low 200's) and cook things slowly, often over the course of more than 4 hours.
So, what's the best way to make delicious, smoked brisket? First, if you're going to trim the fat, leave at least a quarter-inch layer on top because fat equals flavor. Second, don't forget to layer on plenty of dry rub. Third, pick a good smoking wood, like hickory, oak or mesquite. Next, when slicing brisket, make sure to go against the grain for tender servings.
Texas Style Smoked Brisket (MyRecipes)
Texans know their brisket and this has a great dry rub.
Ingredients: Brown Sugar, Smoked Paprika, Black Pepper, Kosher Salt, Onion Powder, Chipotle Chiles, Onion, Cider Vinegar...
Smoked Carolina Beef Brisket (Williams-Sonoma)
Carolina BBQ has a dry rub and adds a vinegar-based sauce.
Ingredients: Beef Brisket, Kosher Salt, Ground Pepper, Vegetable Oil, Vinegar BBQ Sauce, Wood Chips, Corn
Northern California Smoked Brisket (Food Network)
In NorCal, we love to spice things up with dried chiles.
Ingredients: Anaheim, Ancho and Chipotle Chiles, Fennel & Coriander Seeds, Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder, Brown Sugar...
We can't wait for the weekend so we can fire up the smoker!
Any other favorite themes, ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section! You can also Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for recipes, tips and more.
Now that spring is well underway and summer is right around the corner, it's time to fire up the grill and head to the backyard for some fun in the sun!
We love anything cooked on the grill for the great smoky flavor it adds. Of all the things you can make, hot dogs are probably the easiest to prep and assemble. You're well on your way after buying some high-quality dogs and buns. After that, we love making our own relish and offering a wide variety of toppings from mustard to ketchup to coleslaw and even mango chutney.
Here are three tasty hot dog recipes to get you going. For even more, check out our new recipe collection:
Grilled Hot Dogs with Homemade Pickle Relish (Food Network)
You and your guests will love the homemade relish.
Ingredients: Link Hot Dogs, Assorted Mustards, Hot Dog Buns, Homemade Pickle Relish (recipe follows), Ketchup
Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Hot Dogs (Simply Recipes)
These intense, bacon wrapped dogs are long on flavor.
Ingredients: Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Dijon, Hot Dogs and Buns, Ketchup, Onion, Sauerkraut
Chicago-Style Hot Dogs (Williams-Sonoma)
This recipe comes from the experts in Chicago.
Ingredients: Chopped Onion, Tomato, Dill Pickles, Banana Peppers, Hot Dogs, Poppy Seed Buns, Mustard, Celery Salt
Now all you have to do is fire up the grill!
Any other favorite themes, ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section! You can also Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for recipes, tips and more.
With May underway, a bunch of new fruits and veggies are coming into season. We're especially excited for ripe & juicy apricots.
People have enjoyed apricots for thousands of years. They were introduced to Greece by Alexander the Great after traveling through Armenia and Persia. Besides their flavor, apricots are good for you - they're high in Vitamins A and C plus Iron.
Apricots are great in nearly every type of dish - use them as a topping for breakfast dishes like pancakes, waffles and french toast, in fresh salads, with meats, and for dessert. Here are 4 tasty apricot dishes to get you going:
Cinnamon Pancakes with Apricots (Cookstr)
Start your day in style with a great breakfast.
Ingredients: Flour, Baking Powder, Eggs, Lemon Juice, Sugar, Butter, Apricots, Buttermilk, Honey, Cinnamon
Arugula Salad with Chicken & Apricots (MyRecipes)
This entree salad hits all the right notes.
Ingredients: Parsley, Red Onion, Chicken Breast, Tarragon, Apricots, Olive Oil, Baby Arugula, Salad Green, White Wine Vinegar
Roast Pork with Apricot & Shallot Stuffing (Cookstr)
This stuffed, roast pork dish will be the star of any dinner party.
Ingredients: Pork Loin Roast, Shallots, Apricots, Parsley, Butter, Vegetable Oil, White Bread
Grilled Stone Fruit with Balsamic Glaze & Manchego (MyRecipes)
Any time you fire up the grill, don't forget about dessert.
Ingredients: Balsamic Vinegar, Manchego Cheese, Brown Sugar, EVOO, Apricots, Peaches, Plums, Salt
Now all you have to do is grab some fresh apricots and start cooking!
Any other favorite themes, ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section! You can also Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for recipes, tips and more.
We're already very excited to celebrate Cinco de Mayo on Saturday. So we have the energy to celebrate all day with friends and family we know a hearty breakfast is key. Luckily it's easy to whip up a tasty Mexican breakfast at home.
Our favorite Mexican breakfast dishes include Chilaquiles (eggs scrambled with tortilla chips), Mexican Eggs (with avocado, green onions and bacon), Breakfast Tacos (with chorizo and eggs) and Eggs Barbacoa (with stewed and seasoned beef):
Chilaquiles (Simply Recipes)
This recipe ensures a delicious and hearty breakfast.
Ingredients: Avocado, Cilantro, Corn tortillas, Crème fraîche, Epazote, Red chile sauce, Red onion, Salt
Chorizo & Scrambled Egg Breakfast Tacos (Epicurious)
Breakfast tacos are always fun to assemble and eat.
Ingredients: Cheddar cheese, Corn tortillas, Green onions, Eggs, Cilantro, Fresh Chorizo, Salsa, Sour cream
Mexican Eggs (MyRecipes)
Customize this Mexican eggs dish with all your favorite ingredients.
Ingredients: Avocado, Refried Beans, Tomato, Cilantro, Green Onion, Eggs, Bacon, Corn Tortillas
Eggs Barbacoa (MyRecipes)
We love the barbecued meat in this breakfast dish.
Ingredients: Pinto Beans, Beef Barbacoa, Queso Fresco, Cilantro, Green Onion, Eggs, Lime, Salsa, Corn Tortillas
Time to pick your favorite Mexican breakfast dish and start cooking!
Any other favorite themes, ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section! You can also Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for recipes, tips and more.
This year marks the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby, "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" or "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports." (We like the second one better because it makes less sense.) The Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown, which includes the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
While it would be great to fly down to Kentucky to see the pomp and pageantry, we're happy to kick back in the comfort of our own homes with the Derby on the TV and a delicious Mint Julep in hand. Plus, we're gonna need some authentic southern snacks:
Mint Julep (Martha Stewart)
This classic cocktail is a Kentucky Derby tradition.
Ingredients: Bourbon, Crushed Ice, Sugar, Water, Mint Leaves
Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits (AllRecipes.com)
Southerners take pride in their great biscuits.
Ingredients: Butter, Cheddar, Salt, Cayenne Pepper, Flour, Sugar, Buttermilk, Baking Powder
Kentucky Hot Brown (Food Network)
This smothered sandwich is a Kentucky classic.
Ingredients: Cheddar, Parmesan, Tomato, Bacon, Bread, Flat-leaf Parsley, Maple-Bourbon Roast Turkey
Derby Day Chocolate Chip Cookies (AllRecipes.com)
We plan to finish Derby Day with pecan-chocolate cookies.
Ingredients: Pecans, Chocolate Chips, Butter, Brown Sugar, Baking Soda, Salt, Flour, Eggs
Time to get ready for Derby Day!
Any other favorite themes, ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section! You can also Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for recipes, tips and more.
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexican heritage and pride. Celebrating Cinco de Mayo is fun because it allows you to cook all your favorite Mexican specialties and mix up some special margaritas. Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day (that's on Sept. 16th), instead it marks the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces in 1862.
This year, Cinco de Mayo falls on a Saturday, so it'll be even easier to whip up some tasty treats and have fun with family and friends. For this party we've decided to focus on our all-time favorite Mexican dishes from start to finish- a refreshing margarita, expertly made chips and guacamole, flavorful enchiladas and finally a tres leches cake.
Watermelon Cilantro Margaritas (Food52)
Start your party with a refreshing margarita.
Ingredients: Tequila, Triple Sec, Watermelon Juice, Lime Sour Mix, Cilantro, Ice
Guacamole with Fresh Corn & Chipotle (Epicurious)
This is the perfect dip for fresh tortilla chips.
Ingredients: Ripe Avocados, Canned Chipotle Chile, Fresh Corn, Tomato, Lime Juice, Sour Cream, Green Onion
Chicken Enchiladas Suizas (Food Network)
Enchiladas are our all-time favorite Mexican entree.
Ingredients: Serrano Chiles, Sour Cream, Tortillas, Onion, Garlic, Chicken Broth, Tomato, Chicken, Oil, Cilantro, Queso Fresco, Salt
Tres Leches Cake (MyRecipes)
This delicious cake is made with three different types of milk.
Ingredients: Milk (Evaporated, Sweetened Condensed, Regular), Sugar, Vanilla Extract, Baking Powder, Butter, Salt, Flour, Cream, Eggs
Time to get excited for Cinco de Mayo!
Any other favorite themes, ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section! You can also Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for recipes, tips and more.
What is this spectacularly messy sandwich? It's the world-renowned Roast Beef Po' Boy from Parasol's in New Orleans. After nearly everyone we asked raved about the place, we decided it was worth the 2.2 mile walk from the French Quarter in 80+ degree heat. And we're happy to report it was well worth it!
To take down a sandwich like this you're going to need a fistful of napkins and a small bottle of Louisiana hot sauce. Po' Boys are to New Orleans what Cheese Steaks are to Philly - they're most dominant and delicious sandwiches in town. A Po' Boy is not a dainty sandwich - it's a giant submarine packed with fried seafood or roast beef on a soft French baguette. When "dressed" it's served with lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayo. Most people add hot sauce as well. Though we're still full from Parasol's, we've gotten expert advice to head to Dooky Chase, Mahony's and Domilise if we have time.
Now that we've had our fare share of Po' Boys, we're excited to recreate them at home. In particular, we like these recipes:
Shrimp Po' Boy with Creole Mayo (Food Network)
Fried shrimp is a classic New Orleans filling.
Ingredients: Lettuce, Creole Seasoning, Mayo, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Sandwich Rolls, Cooked Shrimp
Bay Scallop Po' Boy with Spicy Mayo (Martha Stewart)
Bay scallops are easy to find and always tasty.
Ingredients: Bay Scallops, Garlic, Flour, Lemon, Oil, Mayo, Breadcrumbs, Paprika, Rolls, Lettuce, Salt & Pepper
Time to eat some Po Boy Sandwiches!
Any other favorite themes, ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section! You can also Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for recipes, tips and more.
