Bite Through Smoked Chicken Skin

With the Colorado Avalanche playing in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, life in my home is crazy to say the least! Food at anytime is a priority, but during NHL playoff time Smoking and Grilling are a priority! One of the things we love and eat a lot of around the homestead is Smoked Chicken. I’ve written about smoked chicken before, but what we haven’t shared is the secret of getting the bite through skin that we desire, instead of the gummy nasty chicken skin a lot of people associate with smoked chicken.

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Posted by Chuck Posted in: Recipes 2 Comments » April 2008

Smoked Meatloaf

One of the things I have always loved eating was homemade meat loaf! I have always looked forward to a nice thick slice of meatloaf on bread with BBQ sauce and all the fixings! To make meatloaf go to the next level in taste texture, my family and I smoke our meatloaf with a mix of oak and sugar maple wood.

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Posted by Chuck Posted in: Recipes 4 Comments » April 2008

Chile Grill - Jalapeno Corer

A few months ago I wrote an article regarding “The Chili Twister” and how I felt it was one of the best tools I’ve ever used. Well a couple of weeks ago I was contacted by David Fillmore of Iron Desert (irondesert.com) who disagreed with my article. David was polite with his criticism but at the same time to the point stating that he had a tool that was far more superior to “The Chili Twister”.To me it was like the battle of the burger, who has the better burger out there and why? Read the rest of this article »

Posted by Chuck Posted in: Product Review 2 Comments » March 2008

Product Review: J&D’s Bacon Salt

Bacon is one of my favorite foods, in my home my kids have grown up thinking its one of the basic food groups! In fact one of there all time favorite meals for dinner is an all American BLT! Bacon in our home is a food group all by itself!

So it was no big surprise that I would have to try a seasoning whose motto is “Everything Should Taste like Bacon!” Of course I’m talking about a seasoning known as “Bacon Salt”.
Bacon Salt is the brain child of Justin and Dave who love grilling, hanging out with family and friends and of course eating there favorite food bacon! (my kind of people!)

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Posted by Chuck Posted in: Product Review 1 Comment » February 2008

Book Review - Williams-Sonoma Complete Grilling Cookbook-The Best of Grilling and Outdoor Cooking

I love cookbooks. Especially grilling, barbecue and outdoor cookbooks. Of all the cookbooks I have in my collection, one remains a favorite, more so because of my daughter than any other reason. Over this past summer my daughter was in the hospital for nearly a month.  Needless to say, my wife and I spent a lot of time at her bedside, only leaving for the occasional bathroom break and cafeteria meal run. On one of these occasions, a book vendor had set up a display of books and one of them caught my eye. The title? “Williams-Sonoma Complete Grilling Cookbook- The Best of Grilling and Outdoor Cooking”. This book is beautiful! What makes it stand out from another book I own is that it has magnificent pictures on almost every page, and with over 240 recipes to choose from, I seriously doubt any backyard chef would run out of ideas; for this reason alone, I had to have the book!

I purchased the book at over 75% off the cover price (normal price $50.85) and have since found it on Amazon.com in the new/used for about $15.00. I’ve tried several of the recipes in the cookbook, with many more to come, but to give you an example of one of my favorites, I’m chosing to share the “Smoked Hickory Rib Mop Sauce” (page 158).

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Posted by Chuck Posted in: Cookbooks 1 Comment » February 2008

Hog Apple Smoked Beans

Sometimes in life the recipes our families love are not fully appreciated. We get busy with work and life and seldom think twice when we throw stuff together to feed the starving crowds in our homes each night. Routine becomes the word and the action of each day until something happens or changes that routine.
With that in mind, I wanted to share with you a recipe that my family and I love, we eat this at least twice a month because we love it so much! Its also one of the recipes our family and friends request. Read the rest of this article »

Posted by Chuck Posted in: Recipes No Comments » February 2008

The Chile Twister

Of all the appetizers I have done over the years, none of them have received the reviews and requests I get for more then the ABT (Atomic Buffalo Turds). I wrote an article for “Get Your Grill On” a couple of months ago on the preparation and techniques used to make these appetizers. Since that writing, I have had many individuals email me asking how to core the jalapeños for preparation. So, with that in mind, let me introduce you to “The Chile Twister.”

Before finding the Chile Twister, I painstakingly used a paring knife to core the jalapeños. This task took a long time and sometimes made the preparation time an all-day event. I had seen similar devices used by others who made their own, but for someone not as talented with metal as others are, this was not an option for me.

On my journey to find the perfect tool, I went to http://jalapenocafe.com/ and discovered the perfect tool to help make our favorite appetizer! The chile twister is used by slicing the top of the jalapeno off and then piercing the center with the triangle shaped end of the tool into the center and then using the “chile” handle; begin rotating the tool to make circles in the jalapeno.

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Posted by Chuck Posted in: Product Review No Comments » January 2008

Book Review: “The Legends of Texas Barbecue Cookbook”

For Christmas, I put several things on my wish list and, of course, at the top of this list were barbecue books related to the style of barbecue that I enjoy the most, “Texas Style Barbecue.”  Having this in mind, I chose to review a book I feel has a unique feel and great recipes for both the beginner and the seasoned pro. This book has become my go-to book for many receipes and methods for cooking delicious BBQ.  Legends of Texas Barbecue Cookbook, Recipes and Recollections from the Pit Bosses is written by Robb Walsh, a two-time winner of the James Beard Award, food critic and contributing author to numerous newspapers and magazines covering the subject of Texas food cusine.

What first catches your eye with this particular book is the cover. It has the look and feel of a book that I would expect to have found in my grandfather’s collection, tucked away with the pages dog-eared so you could easily find that one recipe or technique that you prize the most.  When you examine this book, you are drawn to the pictures of some of the first Pitt Masters, events and culture of the true pioneers of barbecue. In my opinion, any barbecue enthusiasts would treasure this book simply because of the pictures alone.

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Posted by Chuck Posted in: Cookbooks, Recipes 1 Comment » January 2008

Review: Rod’s Rub Original

Today I’m reviewing Rod’s Rub Original.

Before testing, I visited Rod’s website to try and learn a little about the rub and about the creator himself. I enjoyed reading the history behind Rod’s Rub and learned quickly that we share a few things in common. First we both have careers in Law Enforcement, and second were both hockey fans. One difference? Rod played professional hockey for the Detroit Red Wings (I’ll forgive him - I’m a diehard Avalanche fan!). Read the rest of this article »

Posted by Chuck Posted in: Product Review No Comments » January 2008

Book Review: The Bacon Cookbook

Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh bacon cooking? Bacon is truly the only substance I know of that can wake an individual up from a deep sleep and have them craving the very thought of finding the aroma, and being happy that they woke up!  As for me?  I LOVE BACON!!  I think that this alone was the main reason I asked to evaluate the new book written by James Villas entitled “The Bacon Cookbook” (published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) Read the rest of this article »

Posted by Chuck Posted in: Cookbooks No Comments » December 2007

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