Barbecue Tricks

BBQ Tips and Tricks

Bill West

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Holiday Shopping Deals

thanksgiving tricks and tipsphoto 2Everyone is looking for the stellar deals this shopping season and Here’s a quick collection of the best links I’ve found:
Shop Amazon – Save on products from Home, Kitchen, and Garden
Shop Amazon – Holiday Gift Guide in Home, Kitchen, and Garden

Shop Amazon – Cyber Monday Deals Week

Also take a look at the “Shop” link at the top of the page to see some of our favorite books and BBQ goodies to buy through Amazon.   And yes – We get a little advertising beer money when you shop through our links and it is appreciated!

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Texas BBQ in California – The Tastemade App

manBack in September I had a chance to visit the Tastemade studios to compete in a fun little BBQ Competition with some other great You Tubers like Greg from Ballistic BBQ and Gary From Cooking Everything Outdoors as well as Dan from Smokey Goodness and  the noisiest neighborhood in America.   I made a stop at a roadside joint and used the Tastemade App to put together a little mini-review. WATCH IT HERE

If you haven’t tried the app yet you should! (iPhone only right now) http://www.tastemade.com/app.   It’s just fun and its an on going reminder to me how fast technology is moving.    The fact that I can put this kind of one minute production together using my iPhone still blows my mind and makes me smile.

The small BBQ  joint I visited was called Morphia’s Ribs and Pies in Marina Del Rey…  I tried the “Dirty Bastard” but looking at the video I probably would try the chicken next time.  It passed my BIG test:  I smelled smoke!

See more on our Tastemade get together here:

and here:

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The World’s 10 Best BBQ Festivals 2013

The World’s 10 Best BBQ Festivals 2013

festival barbecueBy Benjamin I Smith

Looking for the world’s 10 best BBQ festivals and events? Here are some great festivals you can attend for some amazing BBQ dishes.

1. BBQ Festival Memphis

The Memphis in May International Festival has been held since 1977 and you’ll find some great BBQ at this event. This event celebrates international and southern cultures. There’s also the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest where teams compete for bragging rights and the title. There’s a large party that goes on while the contest takes place. This is a great festival to take part in and there’s a lot to do.

2. Big Apple Barbecue Block Party

This party has contestants from around the country take to the streets around Madison Square Park to create top notch BBQ for the people of New York City. You’ll find all types of barbecue here such as pig form St. Louis or mutton from Kentucky, there’s something at this festival for everyone. This is one of the best BBQ festivals you can go to in the country. If you love BBQ then you need to go to New York City to take in this festival. Each year you’ll find something a bit different at the party to take in and discover. You’ll also meet a lot of interesting people at this party and form new friendships too.

3. Owensboro Barbecue Festival

This festival was created to help raise money for local charities. There’s a lot of fierce competition at this festival and great food too. Local teams work to win the Governor’s Cup for the best cooking team. People at the festival can sample the food created by these teams and there’s even a Backyard Cook-Off competition for regular people to show off their BBQ skills. There’s also a lot of other entertainment here such as life performances and carnival rides for the kids as well as face painting and other fun things to do. You can work off all the good food at the 5K walk or run.

4. Smoke On the Mountain

At Galax Virginia you can take in the Smoke on the Mountain BBQ Championship. This is a two day event with a whole hog, pork shoulder, and pork rib competition. This is straight BBQ without the use of any marinades or other sauces prior to the inspection of the meat. Sauces can be used once the meat is inspected. The festival also has booths and vendors as well as various other things to do.

5. I Love Barbecue Festival

At Lake Placid, New York you can take in the I Love Barbecue Festival. Teams compete in steak, sausage, Chicken, and Pizza categories as well as ribs. The public determines the winner of this competition and there’s a lot of live musical performances at this festival too.

6. Blue Ridge BBQ & Musical Festival

In Tryon North Caroline you can take part in the Blue Ridge BBQ & Musical Festival. There’s a lot of blues music at this festival as well as the pork cooking contest which is then judged by the Kansas City Barbecue Society

7. Tennessee Funfest

The Tennessee Funfest is one of the area’s largest BBQ festivals and it send proceeds to the Alzheimer’s Association of the Mid-South. There’s a Tennessee State Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest with seafood, beef, and whole hog competitions. You’ll find other non-BBQ competitions too. Other things to do include carnival rides, music and more.

8. Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off

This Kansas City BBQ competition offers over $20,000 in prizes and cash. There’s crafts, arts, live music, and great food at this competition. Other things to do include a volleyball tournament and a bean bag toss competition.

9. National Capital Barbecue Battle

At the National Capital Barbecue Battle in Washington, DC, there’s a great BBQ event that you’ll want to go to. This takes place along the historic Pennsylvania Avenue. There’s a competition with over $400, 000 in prizes given out. Other things include merchandise stands, and musical performances.

10. Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival

In Kennesaw, Georgia you can take part in this awesome BBQ festival. This festival combines BBQ with fresh peaches. There are contests for amateur as well as the Georgia State Championship for professionals. There’s also the each dessert for the bakers. The kids can enjoy a playa area and there’s various booths and exhibits at the event.

Read more at Best Outdoor Grills

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Benjamin_I_Smith
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Worlds-10-Best-BBQ-Festivals-2013&id=8099098

 

 

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Shortcut Tricks to A Successful Thanksgiving Holiday

roast turkey tricks By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Cathy_Ramage]Cathy Ramage

So you haven’t got much time to prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday. You just found out you have guests coming over for dinner on this holiday and you are about to panic. No worries! You’ve got this in the bag… the turkey bag so to speak! Follow these tips or improvise with your own ideas but you can bet you will be very successful with a few easy shortcuts when preparing your Thanksgiving meal.

Make your list and go grocery shopping a few days before Thanksgiving. Don’t wait until the day before because you will run into frantic buyers and there may be a temporary shortage of the food items you need. So get the shopping done.

Get your family to help clean the house before guests arrive. Make a game out of it with some extra rewards like going to a movie or renting a movie when everything is clean to get in the spirit of things.

First we will plan the tablescape.

Use a white sheet for a tablecloth. Buy 1-2 yards of burlap fabric and arrange it down the middle of your table. Take a picture frame (black or brown) remove the glass and set it in the middle of the table. If you have a glass vase or tall candy jar, fill it with tall sticks or pinecones from your yard or buy some from the craft store. Set the vase in the middle of the picture frame. Purchase some brown ribbon. Make a large ribbon with long ends so you can drape it down the middle of both sides of your table.

You can sprinkle candy corn or pinecones in various places around the table. For an added touch cut out labels from brown paper sacks. Make one for each guest and tie it with twine to a pinecone to set by a plate for each guest. Have your children get involved. They can make these for you. There you go. Instant Thanksgiving charm!

Thanksgiving Menu

Turkey

Use a plastic turkey bag for baking your turkey. These are awesome and if you follow the directions you will get a moist and tender turkey every time! It also cuts baking time.

Dressing

Use stovetop baby! Add some sausage for an added delightful taste! You could make this ahead and heat just before serving. You might want to experiement a bit though to make sure it doesn’t go soggy.

Mashed Potatoes

Instant of course will do the trick! Find the brand that you think tastes the best. Get a package that has butter in the mix. They aren’t as chunky as the real deal but they taste really good! Pick up a turkey or brown gravy mix as well unless you want to make gravy from the turkey drippings.

Relish Tray

Pick one up from your local grocery store. Another option would be to buy veggies already washed trimmed and ready to serve to arrange on a platter. Then pick up your favorite dill, spinach, or ranch dip to serve alongside your relish tray. Add black olives.

Fruit Salad or Fresh Fruit

You can pick up a ready made platter of fruit or whip up a quick salad of pistachio instant pudding, whip cream, mini marshmallows, and chopped pecans. Mix it together and you have an instant salad. You can add canned pineapple or fruit cocktail if you like. Can be made a day ahead. (Add the canned fruit right before serving.)

Fresh Rolls

Bake and serve roll dough does the trick. Rolls can be raising Thanksgiving morning while you are preparing the other dishes. Have some jam, honey butter, etc..on hand to serve alongside your rolls. You could even use store bought ready to bake crescent rolls.

Vegetable Dish

Mix green beans and cream of mushroom soup and heat through. Sprinkle crispy dried onions on top and serve.

Yams

Add some yams and a little brown sugar in a glass baking dish. Warm in the microwave. Top with marshmallow and put in the oven for 5-8 minutes to melt and brown the mallows. Yummy.

Pies

Order your pies from a local bakery or pick some up from the grocery store. Try and find some that taste homemade without all the fuss! Don’t forget the ice cream for those who like pie alamode!

Beverage

Pour apple juice and a bottle of lemon lime soda for a sparkling beverage to serve your guests.

Add some canned cranberries to your menu. This will get you through in a pinch. If your guests offer to bring a dish, say yes. Now when Thanksgiving Day arrives you can still enjoy the day along with your guests and be so grateful that you have food to eat and family and friends to enjoy it with!

Cathy Ramage is founder of Christmas Twigs a year round holiday site featuring [http://www.christmastwigs.com/category_169/Teddy-Bear-Plush-By-Ditz-Design.htm]Teddy Bear Plush and [http://www.christmastwigs.com/category_76/Father-Christmas-by-Ditz-Design.htm]Father Christmas

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Shortcut-Secrets-to-A-Successful-Thanksgiving-Holiday&id=8134667] Shortcut Secrets to A Successful Thanksgiving Holiday

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Top Thanksgiving Turkey Tricks

Turkey always seems better when cooked outdoors!  At least that’s how we see it here at BarbecueTricks.com and GrateTV.com.

turkeyvideoturkey tips

We decided to give you a super fast rundown of our favorite ways to BBQ Turkey.  From slow smoke to fast fry and rotisserie turkey too.  Take a look and plan your Turkey day to be the best ever.

Watch Top 6 Turkey Here or Below:

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Must See For Fall: Acorn Squash Recipe

grilled pumpkin

 

When the weather gets cooler the grill calls for more seasonal vegetables like squash and maybe a few root vegetables.   Here’s an acorn squash recipe and BBQ technique that is a lot of fun for Fall and especially Halloween Pumpkin carving time.

GrateTV’s Jack Waiboer uses a basic stuffing to make this fantastic Acorn Squash recipe on the grill.  In fact we use “golden acorn squash” (the ones that look like tiny pumpkins) to create what I call a personal pan pumpkin without the pan.  Or as Jack says, “a one dish meal without the dish!”

The acorn squash halloween recipe is super easy and with the addition of a good sausage it’s hearty too.   Full breakdown at GrateTV.com Squash Recipe HERE  — Like this stuff?  Please Comment Like and Share.

 

 

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Boiled Peanut How To

timbos peanutsWhat is a Southern Boiled peanut you ask?

A boiled Peanut is a unique salty snack that is popular in the American South.  It’s often cooked on propane gas in a large pot outdoors and is a natural partner for all sorts off BBQ.

In the weekly web show GrateTV we give the basic peanut recipe of salt water and peanuts a closer look.

Make the water “as salty as the sea,” suggests Carolina Pitmaster Jack Waiboer.  We also discover the common use of dry unsalted raw peanuts as well as raw green peanuts.  Spanish peanuts may be your preference over Virginia Peanuts.

boiled p-nuts

 

 

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Camp Trick – Soap Outside Of Pots

Soap Outside of Pots For Easy Campfire Cooking Cleanup

soot soap

Photo: Flickr/ninj4

Soap Outside of Pots For Easy Campfire Cooking Cleanup
By David Healey

The other day we were cleaning our gear here at home after a weekend camping trip and I spent a lot of time scrubbing the outside of a fire-blackened pot we had used to heat chili over the campfire. I could have saved myself a lot of elbow grease if I had bothered to soap the outside of the pot.

Using soap to create an easy-to-clean coating on the outside of your cooking pots one tip that really works when it comes to cleaning up after campfire cooking. It’s an old trick that used to be mentioned in the Boy Scout Handbook but that many campers seem to have forgotten – or maybe they were never Boy Scouts. It’s as simple as soaping the outside of your pots and pans to make cleanup easy.

Put a little liquid dish soap on a paper towel and spread the soap around the outside of the pot you are using for campfire cooking. An even film on the outside of the pot works best. Bar soap also does the trick but is harder to spread evenly. I have even seen this done with shampoo.

When it comes time to do the dishes, that black soot on the outside of the pot will come off much more easily so that you aren’t left scrubbing at a sooty mess. Just make sure you don’t get too crazy with the soap and get any on the inside of your campfire cooking pot because soap doesn’t do much to improve the flavor of most dishes!

Ian Fitzell is the editor of Camping Sky, a blog dedicated to upscale family camping. Visit [http://campingsky.net].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Healey
http://EzineArticles.com/?Soap-Outside-of-Pots-For-Easy-Campfire-Cooking-Cleanup&id=3222940

 

 

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Tailgate Recipes – GrateTV

recipe pickle spearIf you’re planning a tailgate party you may be looking for some fun tailgate recipes to fill up hungry guests.

GrateTV tackled football party food recently and came up with two Tailgate Treats worth trying.   They call tailgate recipes Bacon Wrapped Spears and Rods.    It’s affordable too.   A pickle recipe and a pretzel recipe.

Start with a sweetened and spicy bacon wrap that we call Pig Candy and simply wrap the bacon around zesty pickle spears and pretzel rods.     Fire them up on the grill and you’re good to go.   Watch the pickle recipe in action below or HERE on YouTube or get the full step by step at the GrateTV Tailgate Recipe page.