Sparky is the Judge! This weeks contest!

[Big Poppa]

OK lets blow the doors off of this thing....

Sparky is the judge after some dazzling ribs. He is on the hot seat. Think different. Think outside the box. Go for it. Sparky will appreciate it. Trust me.

Some of you newbies or lurkers really need to join in...it really isnt judging food it is just selecting a cook or three that rings the judges bell. The new poster seems to have pretty good luck too

If there are fewer than 6 cooks it is a $10 Dollar Credit to Big Poppa Smokers
if there are 6 cooks entering it is
25 Dollar Store Credit
One Gallon of Big Bob Gibson Red Sauce....Great Chris Lilly sauce
6 Coozies

If there are 12 cooks entered then the top 3 cooks will get a pair of Big Poppa Super Probes that are made by Maverick and are replacement probes with a 712 degree heat limit!

[sparky]

bring it dudes and dudettes. i want outside the box. what do you love to cook. now do something with it that you would never do. don't make food that i want. make something that you love, but way out there.....:cool:

[DolphinLvr]

Anything I do on the MAK now is outside the box........LOL

[DolphinLvr]

Ok here it is pretty basic stuff, with a wife that is a very picky eater, I have to cook for the both of us. I feel a pork butt coming up this next weekend!

Tonight I decided to cook up the rest of the bacon that was leftover from last night
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_c9hnpb2CPcw/TUOfxGNlxpI/AAAAAAAAAWc/_gwO83HQpQg/s800/DSC_2319.JPG

I will never do bacon in a pan again if I dont have to.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_c9hnpb2CPcw/TUOfxiS92NI/AAAAAAAAAWg/zyYrHu8WIbc/s800/DSC_2320.JPG

Tonight was an easy night, so we decided to do a Papa Murphy's pizza. I took the bacon that I had cooked and put it on my half of the pizza.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_c9hnpb2CPcw/TUOfyehBcwI/AAAAAAAAAWk/UDG1gTkrFyQ/s800/DSC_2321.JPG

Boy oh Boy it was Tasty! The wife even commented tonigh how much she liked the pizza :D
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_c9hnpb2CPcw/TUOfyyEgr_I/AAAAAAAAAWo/fq_DOH5FY1s/s800/DSC_2322.JPG

[Deb]

I have been doing lot of beef & pork lately, needed to get back to the healthier chicken & veggies.


Chicken Cacciatore

Took a split chicken, cut it down further into parts & skinned it, sprinkled with oregano, marjoram, thyme, basil,rosemary, crushed red pepper, salt & pepper. In the pan - red & green pepper, onions, shallots, zucchini, carrots, some oil cured olives & sprinkled with the same herbs as the chicken. On the traeger at 225 for about an hour.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk234/deb415611/food/jan%202011/IMG_0039.jpg

Into a larger pan - the chicken, veggies
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk234/deb415611/food/jan%202011/IMG_0040.jpg

then over that hand crushed whole italian tomatoes & 1/2 can crushed tomatoes and some garlic
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk234/deb415611/food/jan%202011/IMG_0041.jpg

Back into the Traeger at 275 until the chicken hit 165. The veggies weren't done enough so pulled the chicken out & veggies back in at 400 until done.

Served with Barilla Plus Thin Spaghetti

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk234/deb415611/food/jan%202011/IMG_0047.jpg

[ITFD#15]

who says smoking is bad for you hang around here a while and we will soon change your mind

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt84/dougmcewen/IMG_8548.jpg

2lbs of the best Grey/ Bruce beef mixed with egg stove top stuffing some dried pepper from the garden and a little garlic powder.
Mix it and form it in the pan, top with steak sauce (will be the bottom once on the grill)
Run knife around the edges and empty onto a sheet of wax paper.
sprinkle with home made rub and refrigerate to let it firm up

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt84/dougmcewen/IMG_8543-1.jpg

Into the Traeger at 225 until IT is 150 and finish with BBQ sauce
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt84/dougmcewen/IMG_8556.jpg
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt84/dougmcewen/IMG_8545.jpg
Serve with wild rice/mushrooms and corn
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt84/dougmcewen/IMG_8548.jpg

[Big Poppa]

Nice all of you!

[Rip]

Needed to cook some chicken breasts, so I decided to try smoked chicken Parmesan.

Pounded the breasts a bit, rubbed with garlic EVOO and then coated them in a seasoned breading. Next they were seared in a frying pan and then topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.

On to the smoker at 350 for about 30 minutes.
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee462/jrippey73/IMG_1756sm.jpg

Earlier I had smoked asparagus (garlic EVOO, lemon pepper based seasoning) on grill grates (about 20 mins at 425) and toasted cheese bread.

After having spaghetti two days ago, nobody wanted noodles, so no bed of spaghetti.
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee462/jrippey73/IMG_1762sm.jpg

Everyone enjoyed it and there were no leftovers!

[ITFD#15]

That looks good Rip. Thanks for the help

[Deb]

Snacks for the Plow Guys!

We have had an incredible amount of snow this year and have two messy days predicted for this week...... so I figured I would make a little care package for the plow guys that have spent an huge amount of time in their truck this winter (including an hour or so stuck in my driveway last week ending in a tow truck pulling them out of the snowbank)

So yesterday I did a few nuts - almonds & pistachios (the bradley smoker racks sure come in handy in the traeger, it makes it easy to pull stuff off and move it around) .....

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk234/deb415611/food/jan%202011/IMG_0035.jpg

I split the almonds into four batches - one with sweet heat chipolte sauce, one with Butcher Honey rub & a little canola oil, one with Soleius cajun rub & oil and the last with Pepper Plant Garlic. The pistachios were just salted pistachio. I smoked them all with oak
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk234/deb415611/food/jan%202011/IMG_0038.jpg

Yesterday I mixed up a 2 1/2 lb batch of bbq beef sticks. Today I smoked them with hickory

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk234/deb415611/food/jan%202011/IMG_0049.jpg

Package started (looking at this now the gift bag looks like it has snowflakes, it is not intentional, I am so NOT the Martha Stewart type)

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk234/deb415611/food/jan%202011/IMG_0051.jpg

I'll finish off the bag Monday night with some cookies or brownies since I expect we will be seeing them on Tuesday :(

[FLBentRider]

Pulled Pork with Apple Blue cheese sauce Part 1

Take some pork butt
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/flbentrider/MAK/DSC_0013Medium.jpg
Made up some salt lick clone
3/3/1/1 ratio of:
Kosher salt
Fresh cracked Black Pepper
Granulated Garlic
Cayenne Pepper
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/flbentrider/MAK/DSC_0014Medium.jpg

slather with CT then applied the rub, wrap in plastic wrap and rest in the fridge
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/flbentrider/MAK/DSC_0016Medium.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/flbentrider/MAK/DSC_0017Medium.jpg

Into the MAK
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/flbentrider/MAK/DSC_0018Medium.jpg

Ready for FTC
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/flbentrider/MAK/DSC_0038Medium.jpg


Butts are ready
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/flbentrider/MAK/DSC_0040Medium.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/flbentrider/MAK/DSC_0041Medium.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/flbentrider/MAK/DSC_0042Medium.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/flbentrider/MAK/DSC_0043Medium.jpg

[FLBentRider]

Part 2

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/flbentrider/MAK/DSC_00352Medium.jpg
Took an Apple, Peeled and diced, into a pot with some water, cook down for a while, run through a food mill and you have Applesauce
Added 1-2 Tablespoons of Blue cheese crumbles, stirring over medium heat until combined
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/flbentrider/MAK/DSC_0036Medium.jpg
Added Chili powder, Paprika, salt, pepper and a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/flbentrider/MAK/DSC_0037Medium.jpg


Plated with a corn muffin and blue cheese crumbles on top
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/flbentrider/MAK/DSC_00442Medium.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/flbentrider/MAK/DSC_00452Medium-1.jpg

[sparky]

liken them so far....

[Rip]

Started out with a quick dawn flight to get me fired up...(the 'smoke' is from a coal fired power plant)
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee462/jrippey73/Smokingsm.jpg

Then home to get Lil Tex fired up....first up was Pecan pie
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee462/jrippey73/IMG_1772sm.jpg

Around 110 minutes @325
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee462/jrippey73/IMG_1776sm.jpg

Then on with a Choice Top Round for a couple of hours of smoke @225
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee462/jrippey73/IMG_1769sm.jpg

Buried in a Dutch oven with veggies
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee462/jrippey73/IMG_1774sm.jpg

Then back on the smoker at 275 with a foil press, and the lid on until Mama says it's done. :)
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee462/jrippey73/IMG_1780sm.jpg

Add some mashed potatoes, and bread...
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee462/jrippey73/IMG_1782sm.jpg

Top off with ice cream and pie...
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee462/jrippey73/IMG_1785sm.jpg

Full day...oh yeah, still have to throw the chicken breasts on for tomorrow's chicken enchiladas!

[Big Poppa]

grat cook rip glad you know of the foil press essential for good braising

[TentHunter]

Sparky asked us to take something we love to cook and add a twist.

For a church luncheon today, one of the ladies and I planned matching dishes. She made Homemade Jack Daniels Baked Beans and I was to make Jack Daniels Pulled Pork to go with them.

Here's my twist; I called this Triple Jack Daniels Pulled Pork because I used JD whiskey three ways; JD Pellets, JD in the braising liquid and JD in the BBQ sauce.

I started in the wee hours of the morning with 5 smallish pork butts, slathered on a little mustard and homemade rub, then onto the pit to smoke with some Jack Daniels pellets.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_lV0r2WmItQc/TUZF0bI3_oI/AAAAAAAAAcc/PpVANaX1FWM/s912/JDPORK01.JPG

Several hours and a decent bark later, the butts went into a hot roasting pan for transporting along with some braising liquid consisting of Brown Sugar, Cider Vinegar & some JD.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_lV0r2WmItQc/TUZF0ufIt2I/AAAAAAAAAcg/6oP6vIKx8FE/JDPORK02.JPG

I also made up a batch homemade Jack Daniels BBQ sauce to go on the pork.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_lV0r2WmItQc/TUZF0l7dldI/AAAAAAAAAck/AL8m3j-6PaY/JDPORK03.JPG


Just before eating I strapped on my BBQ gloves and pulled the pork adding some of the juices back in. The JD gave it a great flavor.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_lV0r2WmItQc/TUZF0zSj6tI/AAAAAAAAAco/1Q5Lrodvfcw/JDPORK04.JPG

And now for the money shots...
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_lV0r2WmItQc/TUZF1Iq5_VI/AAAAAAAAAcs/BkdK_WdtG4U/s640/JDPORK05.JPG


Here's a plated sandwich topped with some slaw and the Jack Daniels BBQ sauce served up with some of Priscilla's homemade Jack Daniels beans. Folks got a kick out of the JD Duo. They were a perfect match and both were crowd pleasers!
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_lV0r2WmItQc/TUZF5hJLUuI/AAAAAAAAAcw/YEsyGCQn8Ss/s640/JDPORK06.JPG



Hope you enjoyed!

[Ssteppe]

Wow. Sparky, I don't envy your job. I wouldn't want to be this week's judge with so many great entries.

[sparky]

i will let late entries post until 6 pm tonight which is when i will post the winners. food looks real good ppl.

[Big Poppa]

Oh boy...A double header of Jack Daniels Dishes for church.

[squirtthecat]

Some butts..

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_CbvAIVzmFFM/TURWeKCgz-I/AAAAAAABTe8/IR4FPwHIb3E/s800/DSC02458.JPG


Gunpowder rubbed brisket.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_CbvAIVzmFFM/TUQ92WAl9ZI/AAAAAAABTeY/bNOYQbpFghQ/s800/DSC02457.JPG

3 chile bacon. (cured with green chiles, habenero sugar and some pickled jalapeno juice)

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_CbvAIVzmFFM/TUR3NlY7R1I/AAAAAAABTgM/psfTTrRasOM/s800/20110129133958.jpg


CajunCanadian Bacon. (CB with Cajun rub and Anchiote paste for color)

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_CbvAIVzmFFM/TUSBKGo6rWI/AAAAAAABTgc/xpIcmvOAQi0/s800/20110129145422.jpg


More CB, and some Venison backstrap Pastrami.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_CbvAIVzmFFM/TUXM9bx6i7I/AAAAAAABTg4/cvvoVHDNcRM/s800/DSC02467.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_CbvAIVzmFFM/TUX87GpPiAI/AAAAAAABThQ/mzUfebCoNhE/s800/20110130160624.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_CbvAIVzmFFM/TUX89TY9lwI/AAAAAAABThY/CM18mk3tmU0/s800/20110130170821.jpg

[CarterQ]

Had a hankering for some seafood last night so we decided to try some fish tostadas with a Sangrita sauce. I ususally do this with red snapper but snapper didn't look so great so I subbed cod. Here we go:

Got a couple of cod fillets and hit them with garlic olive oil and a Mexican seasoning blend.

http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx48/carter93230/Sangrita%20Sauce%20Fish%20Tostadas/b1991305.jpg

Onto the smoker @225 for about 40 minutes

http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx48/carter93230/Sangrita%20Sauce%20Fish%20Tostadas/a213fe1e.jpg

About halfway through basted with Sangrita sauce (Blend of Tomato juice, Orange juice, lime juice, grenadine, and hot sauce. Usually used as a tequila chaser)

http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx48/carter93230/Sangrita%20Sauce%20Fish%20Tostadas/ed2bb311.jpg

Ready to go

http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx48/carter93230/Sangrita%20Sauce%20Fish%20Tostadas/1d4c4d52.jpg

http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx48/carter93230/Sangrita%20Sauce%20Fish%20Tostadas/d83f66c8.jpg

Flaked the fish in a bowl and removed any bones still hanging around

http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx48/carter93230/Sangrita%20Sauce%20Fish%20Tostadas/7cb0f599.jpg

Added fresh Cilantro, Green onion, lime juice, and Jalapeno to the fish mix

http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx48/carter93230/Sangrita%20Sauce%20Fish%20Tostadas/c03dd408.jpg

Tostada time, start with a layer of black beans, add the fish mixture and sangrita sauce, sprinkle a little jack cheese, top it off with fresh sliced avocado and tomato.

http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx48/carter93230/Sangrita%20Sauce%20Fish%20Tostadas/37d55d8e.jpg

http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx48/carter93230/Sangrita%20Sauce%20Fish%20Tostadas/08087b0b.jpg

http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx48/carter93230/Sangrita%20Sauce%20Fish%20Tostadas/d2ae0ecd.jpg

These came out great, I always forget how great the pellet cookers do on fish!

[nepas]

Every thing looks fantastic. Great job

My neighbor asks me why the mailman brings my mail when i get boxes to the door? I say because i give him slim jims ... HAHA

[Big Poppa]

Love it nepas.....enter some of your food and he will bring some gifts! Those tacos look out of this world.... All of the food...Loook at the choices...Venison pastrami...chicken cacciotore.and the list goes on

[cowgirl]

I don't envy you at all Sparky, every entry is outstanding!!
Rip, love those air shots too. :)

[Rip]

CarterQ, killer! (going on the list....high on the list!)

Jeanie, thanks!

[ITFD#15]

Wow lots of good stuff..

[TentHunter]

Oh boy...A double header of Jack Daniels Dishes for church.

Yeah boy! And they were both big hits too. :) (of course everyone knew the alcohol is all cooked off). This was my first time doing a Jack Daniels pulled pork and it definitely will be going on my list of favorites. The JD really flavors it well.

[Big Poppa]

I know Tent I was just having fun!

[TentHunter]

Oh, I knew you were ;)... we had a lot of fun joking about it too, but even more fun eating it!


He he, folks also joked about being glad I have a smoking addiction!

[sparky]

wow, very impressive ppl. i am having a hard time with this one. 3 to 4 meals really stands out for me making the decision very hard one. you ppl are outstanding. way to bring it. :cool:

[CarterQ]

Ask and ye shall receive! Good luck to you brother.

[sparky]

well, right to the point.

3th place>>>Deb. chicken cacciatore looked great. liked that you used the same herds on the chicken & veges. loved that you put it on spaghetti. very different.

2nd place>>>TentHunter. triple jack daniels pulled pork was a novel concept. liked that you paired it with the jack daniels beans (my sons name is JD, it was a phase i was going thru). i wanted one of those sandwiches.

1st place>>>only one choice here. Carter. sangrita fish tostadas. oh my gosh. i wanted those so bad. very light, fresh and very appetizing. i liked all the components on them. out of the park, dude. 2 thumbs up garth....:cool:

[DolphinLvr]

Congrats Carter, Tent and Deb!

Everyone in my humble opinion was awesome!

[Rip]

Great stuff! Congrats to Carter, Tent, and Deb!

[FLBentRider]

Congrats to Carter, Tenthunter, and Deb!

[SisInLaw]

Delicious looking food, everyone. I love these picture threads. They make my dining imagination take wing!

[TentHunter]

Wow, an amazing array of entries. Congrats to everyone on getting to eat your entries.

Those fish tostadas looked so good they had me wanting fish tacos ever since I saw them. Well done!

Deb, I love Chicken Cacciatore and yours was absolutely gorgeous!

I hope some or all of these entries get reposted in the gallery section.

[Deb]

congrats Carter & Tent!

[Big Poppa]

guys keep it up Carter is judge this week. I have to say I loved all of them but I really coudnt get the tacos out of my mind. great work

[CarterQ]

Congrats to all, just another week a beautiful cooks. Every entry was a winner and I am humbled by all your nice comments, thanks so much. I posted the Tostada recipe in the recipe section for anyone who is interested. Look forward to judging this week!

[TentHunter]

Before I forget again...

Sparky, Thanks for judging this week. It couldn't have been an easy task.

[Deb]

Before I forget again...

Sparky, Thanks for judging this week. It couldn't have been an easy task.

Thanks TH... I forgot too

Thanks Sparky, I know it's not an easy job! Also thanks again to BP for letting us play here.

[sparky]

it's all good. you ppl are my family and friends. who else lets me cook ribs every weekend. :cool:

[Big Poppa]

Thanks Spark...Now Carter is on the hot seat.