Smoked Salmon and Dungeness Crab Cakes are what happens when the dynamic duo of Dungeness crab and smoked salmon join forces with a killer wine pairing. This Salmon Cakes recipe is perfect for when you want to stretch your dollar with traditional crab cakes. The combo is absolutely delicious! Crab is king here in Oregon,…
BBQ
Cooking with Kids on AM Northwest
One of the most precious moments of my life. Getting to cook with my kiddo on live TV! I got to bring my son to cook with me on AM Northwest. When we were presented with the idea of a segment on cooking with my kids, it fell on a date that Sean couldn’t join…
12 Tailgate Recipes (on the Smoker or Grill)
Here are 12 awesome Tailgate recipes that can be cooked on your smoker or grill for you to enjoy this year whether you’re at the game live or while watching your favorite game on tv! Tailgate Recipes Even in the dead of winter, people area willing to fire up the grill for their favorite Football…
Simple Smoked Sausage Sandwich
Smoked Sausage Sandwiches with Peppers and Onions are a super easy way to entertain a crowd. They come together in no time and are a great game day snack! If there is anything we have learned when hosting a party at our place for a football game on TV, special event, playoff season, or party,…
Smoked Sausage and Hatch Chili Beer Cheese Dip — THE VIDEO!
We made our first video! One thing we’ve been hoping to improve on this year is making it easier for readers to make our recipes. I’m fascinated by some of the cool video recipe sites out there with short instructional food videos (they’re so helpful and fun to watch!). So we thought we’d try our hands…
Stretching your Budget with Brisket on AM Northwest
Brisket for Christmas? Yes please! Our first year as parents was our first Christmas away from all of our families. The boys were just weeks old, and I was recovering, so there would be no traveling. That was the year our holiday traditions would forever change. At least regarding the foods we ate for Christmas dinner….
Beef Empanadas (with Leftover Brisket)
Tender smoked beef brisket, mixed with some savory vegetables, herbs, and just a hint of spice, sandwiched in puff pastry, and baked into the most flavorful Beef Empanadas! Beef Brisket Empanadas are truly the best way to use any Leftover Brisket! There are some amazing uses for leftover brisket, from chili, to pizza, to tacos,…
The Smoky Old Man – A cocktail recipe…
… and a boozy birthday celebration Today is a big day. It’s Sean’s birthday. But not just any birthday, it’s his 40th birthday! I still remember when my mom turned 40 back when I was a kid. The house was decorated in black with “over the hill” signs everywhere. I grew up dreading the thought…
Thanksgiving on the Grill or Smoker
All the tips and tricks you need for cooking the perfect Thanksgiving dinner on your grill or smoker! If you’re looking for Thanksgiving Recipes to cook outside, on the grill or smoker, we’ve got you covered. These Thanksgiving dinner ideas are some of our most popular tried and true holiday recipes. You can also see…
Smoked Turkey and Bourbon Gravy
This Smoked Turkey Gravy is truly the most delicious gravy to serve alongside your turkey for Thanksgiving or holiday dinner. And did you know you can make Smoked Turkey Gravy for Thanksgiving without a smoker? Whaaaat? Yes! And you don’t even need to catch any turkey drippings. We have the greatest shortcuts for your gravy…
Lentil Soup Recipe with Smoked Sausage
This hearty Lentil Soup made with Smoked Sausage, Bacon, Red Wine, and Vegetables has deep smokey and savory flavors, is comforting, and completely soul-soothing. It’s the perfect soup for a cold and rainy afternoon. A Tried & True Soup Recipe To Feed A Crowd This soup is a winter staple with our catering company, Ember…
Smoked Lamb Chops, Roasted Acorn Squash Salad, and Wine Pairing
Most wine pairings start with the food. We’re having X for dinner, what wine would pair best? But what if you have a fantastic wine and you want to create the perfect meal specifically to highlight that very wine? I’ve been haunted by one such wine for over a month now. Knudsen Vineyard Pinot Noir…
Semi-Smoked Apple Crisp (for four)
This Semi-Smoked Apple Crisp is a fantastic dessert cooked directly on your grill and perfect for a family of four! Have you ever wondered if you could cook an apple crisp on an outdoor smoker or grill? Or better yet, if you could attain smoke flavor without owning a smoker? The answer to both of…
Smoked Brisket Pizza
Brisket Pizza takes leftover brisket and gives it a fresh makeover! This is another fantastic use for leftover Beef Brisket. My husband’s weakness is pizza. Usually he prefers plain ol’ pepperoni pizza (which I find quite boring). But lately, with his never-ending obsession with trying to perfect his brisket (this is a real problem, people),…
Smoke Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Smoked Bacon
Smoke Roasted Butternut Squash Soup topped with smoked bacon is the perfect fall soup. Butternut squash is roasted in the smoker for this comforting dish, but can easily be roasted in the oven too. You’re going to absolutely love this smoked soup! I firmly believe that anything you can cook in the oven or on…
Pulled Pork Breakfast Hash
Breakfast Hash is one of the most comforting brunch meals. And Pulled Pork Hash is a fantastic way to use leftover smoked pulled pork for the ultimate brunch! This is how people who are obsessed with smoking meats do brunch. Portland is pretty famous for its brunch scene. But with young twins at home we’re not…
Smoked Pulled Pork Wontons
Delicious, crispy, Pulled Pork Wontons, made from leftover Smoked Pulled Pork. Sometimes some of the best meals are made from leftovers. And what could be better than pork shoulder, perfectly smoked, finely pulled, juicy and tender? Using the leftovers to make these Smoked Pulled Pork Wontons. Well, I suppose that statement is arguable. Freshly pulled…
Friday Favorites — BBQ, breakfast, and stellar sunsets
A weekly roundup of my favorite things from the week in the categories of wine, food, travel, and occasionally lifestyle. Since we took last Friday off, this covers the last two weeks of July. LIFESTYLE Favorite Moment — Cooking for Counter Culture! I’m still pinching myself that we even got invited to cook at such…
Cooking up Smoked Tomato Bisque and Brisket Sandwiches on AM Northwest
Mary and Sean were back on AM Northwest doing a TV cooking segment for Smoked Tomato Bisque and Brisket Grilled Cheese Sandwiches! We were so stoked to have been asked back on AM Northwest, this time to cook up something not usually associated with BBQ – Vegetables! But not just any vegetable. Smoked Tomatoes With…
Homemade Smoked Butter
Homemade Smoked Butter is an outstanding and delicious topping for your breads, holiday rolls, or to serve over grilled steak. It’s a bit over the top, but it’s so worth it! Sometimes we get bizarre ideas about smoking various foods and the flavor profile it will impart, things that you probably might not ever think to…
Cooking Segment on AM Northwest
We were on TV! Sean and I were invited on AM Northwest to cook up our award-winning Smoked Beef Brisket Nachos. We had so much fun! If you’re new here, welcome! Let me give you a little background. My name is Mary and I’m a wine, food, and travel writer. I am a columnist for…
Traeger Pellet Grilled Chicken Thighs Recipe
Grilled Chicken Thighs are delicious cooked on a Pellet Grill. Find out how easy it is to cook perfect BBQ chicken on your Traeger grill or Pellet smoker. One of the recipes we practiced over, and over, and over again for our first BBQ competition was chicken thighs. We learned a ton about smoking thighs….
Our First BBQ Competition – McKinley Springs BBQ Showdown & Benefit
… The good, the bad, the ugly, and the emotional, from our First BBQ Competition at the McKinley Springs BBQ Showdown & Benefit. I don’t function at my best when I am severely sleep deprived. Really, who does? But I feel like I function less well than others and I easily turn into a moody…
Phelps Creek Vineyards Nachos and Syrah Party Recap
Thank you!!! What a whirlwind of a weekend! Thank you to everyone who came out for the Nachos and Syrah Party. And thank you to Phelps Creek Vineyards for so graciously hosting at your winery with some of the most spectacular views ever. We are overwhelmed with the love we are feeling from friends, family,…