Category Archives: Grilling

Grilled Pork Chops with Spicy Peaches is a new recipe we enjoyed this past summer (sorry, I’m a bit behind on posting!) and it was phenomenal!  I can’t wait to make it again.  The pork chops are tender and juicy, the peaches are grilled and served warm, and the marinade for the peaches really rounds out the dish.  There is a bit of heat from the sriracha and red onion, but it’s cut down by the sweetness of the peaches. I would HIGHLY recommend making this during the summer when peaches are fresh, but you can also use canned or frozen peaches (thaw first) to enjoy this dish year-round.  If pork chops aren’t your thing, you can follow the same recipe but substitute chicken breasts.  I’ve tried this version and it’s just as good as the pork chop version.  You will not be disappointed in the vibrant flavors and fresh taste of this recipe. The recipe … Continue reading

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Smoked Brownies with Caramel are the first dessert type recipe I’ve made in a smoker.  It was a long shot, but I’m impressed with the results.  I don’t know how to describe it, but it just works.  The brownies are sweet, savory, and smokey.  They smoke flavor doesn’t bring out much of the caramel but does enhance the chocolate nicely.  It’s a simple recipe that doesn’t require a lot of ingredients or time in the smoker. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the smoker to 275 degrees F and add woodchips to the tray.  I used hickory woodchips but any flavor you prefer is fine.  I do want to note that I only added woodchips during the preheating process and about ½ way through cooking.  I didn’t want the woodchips to overwhelm the taste of the brownies but go ahead and add woodchips at your discretion.  It’s all about personal preference when it comes to smokey … Continue reading

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Smoked Macaroni & Cheese is a wonderful comfort food that is sure to be a hit!  You essentially take a recipe for macaroni and cheese but enhance the flavor by smoking it vs baking it.  A few things I’d like to point out: The smokey flavor is well developed – you can taste it in each bite but it’s not overpowering. It’s pretty effortless to make – you assemble, smoke, add some toppings, and dig in! It’s smoked in a foil pan so it’s easy to cover and transport to another location. It can be a full meal, served as a side, or shared at a potluck or party.   The recipe can be found here.  Let’s walk through how to make it. Start by preheating your smoker to 250 degrees F and add hickory wood chips.  I think this recipe tastes great with hickory but feel free to experiment with another wood chip flavor. Bring … Continue reading

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Grilled Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers are a fun appetizer to enjoy all summer long!  They are quick and easy to make, don’t take long to grill, and taste great.  This was our first time making them, but we were pleased with how they turned out.  We paired them with some grilled brats to complete the meal. The mini bell peppers are soft and tender and are filled with a lovely combination of cream cheese, bacon, and cheddar cheese.  They are very creamy, cheesy, and a little salty from the bacon. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the grill to 350 degrees.  You will want to use a grill pan, like a jalapeno popper grill pan, to make this recipe.  I think it’s worth having the pan if you like to grill and enjoy experimenting with different recipes. Cook the bacon according to package instructions.  Remove the bacon to a paper towel … Continue reading

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Greek Chicken Wings with Lemon & Feta are the perfect combination for a light weeknight meal.  These crispy chicken wings have a wonderful lemony flavor and are inspired by Greek/Mediterranean cuisine.  They do need to be marinated so plan for timing, but you won’t regret your decision.  It’s a delicious recipe that can be enjoyed as an entrée, appetizer, or side dish. The recipe can be found here. Start by marinating the wings.  Whisk together the lemon zest, lemon juice, crushed garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano in a large bowl.  Add the wings to a large Ziplock bag and pour the sauce over the top.  Seal the bag and toss to coat.  Place in the fridge for at least 2 hours or up to 12 hours if you want to prepare these waaaaaay ahead of time 😊 Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.  Remove the wings from the marinate (use … Continue reading

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We recently went on a camping trip, and it was HOT.  Hotter than normal this time of year which was both pleasant and unfortunate.  Pleasant because it was nicer than cold, rainy days but unfortunate because we didn’t have AC 😊 The only way to beat the heat was to make homemade ice cream.  Yes, you read that correctly.  We made ice cream, from scratch, while camping.  And it’s actually quite easy. First, you need to purchase an Ice Cream Ball.  The one we have is YayLabs! Soft Shell Ice Cream Ball.  You can find it at your local sporting goods store or online by doing a simple Google search.  They are reasonably priced and very fun to use. The ball has 2 sides that twist open.  You add heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla to one side, and ice and ice cream salt to the other side.  Roll around for 10 minutes, stir the ingredients and scrape down the sides, add additional salt, and roll … Continue reading

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Spicy Grilled Queso is the perfect appetizer or side dish for your next party!  It’s SO SIMPLE to make…you cook the meat, add all ingredients to a disposable pan, heat on the grill, and serve.  It could not be simpler to make or more delicious to eat 😊 It has a slightly smokey taste from the BBQ, a hint of heat from the jalapenos (don’t worry, it’s not overpowering), and plenty of melted cheese for dipping. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the grill to 250-300 degrees F. While the grill preheats, prepare the ingredients.  Heat a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the pound of meat and cook until cooked through, crumbling as it cooks.  Then remove from the heat and set aside. I used Beyond Meat for my recipe because that’s what I had on hand.  This recipe would be amazing with ground beef or a pork sausage.  You could also use ground chicken … Continue reading

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Chicken Bacon Ranch Kabobs are a simple 5 ingredient meal the whole family will love!  They are very flavorful and a combination most people are already familiar with.  Try them for a quick weeknight meal or serve at a summer BBQ.  The kabobs are packed with crispy bacon, tender chicken, and are marinated in a homemade ranch dressing. The recipe can be found here. Start by adding the wooden skewers to a drinking glass filled with water to soak before grilling.  This will prevent the wood from catching fire on the grill.  Set aside until ready to use.  I like to marinate mine for at least a few hours.  Alternately, you can use metal skewers and skip the soaking process.  My preference is to use 6” skewers but 10” skewers also work, you just won’t have as many skewers. Add the olive oil, black pepper, and ranch seasoning to a gallon size Ziploc bag.  Shake slightly to combine. Slice … Continue reading

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Something I love to do from time to time is making homemade bread.  I don’t do it often because it can be time consuming, but nothing beats the taste of a hot, fresh loaf of bread right out of the oven.  I recently purchased the KitchenAid Bread Bowl with Baking Lid which makes creating artisan bread at home quite simple!  It’s essentially one bowl that goes from mixing to rising to baking.  First, I’ll walk through hot to make the homemade bread then I’ll walk you through my favorite recipe to use with the bread. The recipe for the KitchenAid Artisan Bread Loaf can be found here. Start by adding hot water to the KitchenAid Bread Bowl.  Swirl it around then dump it out and dry the bowl.  Secure the bowl on your stand mixer.  Attach the dough hook. Add the flour, yeast, and salt.  Turn the mixer on to … Continue reading

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Honey Dijon Grilled Chicken Sandwiches should be on your menu this week!  It’s sweet from honey, tangy from mustard, salty from bacon, and a little earthy / nutty from cheese.  Pair it with some juicy, tender chicken and sandwich it between a pretzel bun or brioche bun and you have the perfect meal.  It’s simple to make, is packed with flavor, and will please everyone at the dinner table. The recipe can be found here. Start by making the sauce.  Add the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, and salt to a mixing bowl.  Whisk to combine.  Taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed, and set aside. Place the chicken in a Ziploc bag.  Pour ½ of the marinade into the bag then seal and place in the fridge to marinate overnight.  Cover the remaining marinade and place in the fridge to be used later. Once the chicken … Continue reading

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