I wanted some good roast beef tonight, but I also wanted to branch out a bit. I was looking at BP's post about the veggies and wanted to play a bit. Started with a few turnips and parsnips and a potato.
I peeled and chopped my veggies and put them on to boil with a bay leaf and some rosemary, then got my sirloin tip out and built a garlic heavy rub.
Once my veggies boiled I mashed them with a bit of butter and threw them in a baking dish. I added some bread crumbs and parsley.
On to the Traeger at 325.
While that was working I made my black currant glaze. Here are my fixins.
After an hour and a quarter I had this.
Made a plate up with some quick pickled peppers and cucumbers. I mixed my leftover glaze with some horseradish and made a sauce.
Made for a very tasty dinner. It was the perfect way to welcome my daughter Natalie home.
It is a little warm here in So Cal so why not some summer time food. beer can chicken, potato salad and corn.
The team
Rub with molasses and seasoned
Put the chicken on the smoker then whip up some potato salad
Season up the corn
Chicken is doing fine
Sauce it up.
My plate have to love the warm weather
We mixed up some new Brat seasoning mixes over the Easter weekend and it was time to sample our hard work. We like to let them rest in the freezer a few weeks before giving our final opinion on the flavor. I also wanted to try something a little different as well...
Started out with 3 different flavors of Brats - Buffalo Wing Brat with Bleu Cheese, Honey Mustard Brat, and a Philly Cheese Brat with Pepperjack Cheese. Wanted to give them a little smoke for an extra bonus.
Smoked them with Pecan pellets for an hour and a half at 180°.
Pulled the brats off and got ready to prep them for the cooking stage. Using a refrigerated roll of French Loaf to use as the pockets, and seasoning the dough with some Butter Blast.
Divided the French Loaf into equal pieces and made a pocket in the middle where the brat piece will go.
Ready to go on....
Going to throw some Sweet Potato crinkle fries seasoned with Simply Marvelous Season All.
Everyone getting happy on the Yoder!!
Almost done...
Plated with a sample of all 3 Brat flavors alone and one in a "pocket".
And the trusty guard dog Grissom making sure to help with clean up in case there is a spill!
Overall all 3 of these will be added to our sausage arsenal.
The Honey Mustard Brat was really sweet when we first sampled it after mixing and nobody really cared for it. After a rest in the freezer they were much better and a couple people actually thought this was the best of all 3 now.
The Buffalo Wing Brat was excellent - not as spicy as we thought it would be but I am guessing the Hi Temp Bleu Cheese tames the "hot" level down. I see lots of possibilities with this one. Spicy Buffalo Wing Alfredo will be on the menu soon!
The Philly Cheese was as amazing as it sounds! I can't wait to try these with a toasted bun smothered with cheese and sauteed peppers and onions!!
ARGH!! I can't get my pics uploaded to photobucket. The picture selection works, but the little activity circle in the picture frames has been spinning now for hours. Any advice?
Due to food allergies I can't have most hot dogs and the one brand I can get locally that's safe (colemans) are now over $7.00/lb. That gives a whole new meaning to the term "Tube Steak!"
I figured it was high time I tried making my own!
Salt & cure #1 were mixed with ice water & set aside while I mixed some super secret experimental spice blend into a 50/50 mix of lean ground beef & pork.
The meat & cure water were put into a food processor (in batches) and emulsified into a paste.
The mixture was then stuffed into natural sheep casings and twisted into links.
Smoked at 200° to an internal temp of 138°...
Then poached in a 170° water bath to an I.T. of 155° (this only took a few minutes) and plunged into cold water.
The texture seems OK, not quite as fine as a commercially made hot dog (my understanding is that's a limitation of using home equipment).
We grilled some up for supper (including a few that broke).
The rest went into the fringe for overnight to chill & firm up before packaging.
You know I had to keep the first one simple for testing. Just some mustard & ketchup so the hot dog would shine or fail. Oh yeah... these were definitely worth the effort!
Next time, I think I'll opt for regular 80/20 ground chuck to increase the fat content for better texture & juiciness. But overall I am a happy man!
soupyjones roast beef and veggies
scott6049 pork loin
RickB steak and chicken fajitas
wneill20 beer can chicken
Tatonka3A2 Brat Bites
FLBentRider Rib Eyes and Grilled Salmon
MossyMO Pork Chops
TentHunter Homemade Hot Dogs
I count eight contestants, so I believe it is time to judge. All of the cooks were excellent this week, and all should win something, which you do thanks to BP. But here are this weeks winners:
3rd place TentHunter homeade hot dogs (great pictures showing what it takes to make a hot dog)
2nd place soupyjones roast beef and veggies (great looking roast beef)
1stPlace scott6049 pork loin (love the money shot)
Great job everyone and keep the momentum going to next weeks contest.