We’re chiming in today with some of our favorite gifts from the year. A few of these have been on our gift guides in the past, but that’s because year after year they remain our favorite gadgets or tools, always useful in the kitchen (indoor our outdoor kitchen). They are items that have made our…
Holidays
Thanksgiving Wine Guide (Updated)
Trying to figure out what wines to serve with Thanksgiving Dinner this year? You’re not alone. Below is a fool-proof guide to finding great wines in all budgets for your holiday meal. I haven’t written a “what to pair with Thanksgiving dinner” post in yeeaaarrrsss! This is because I am a traditionalist when it comes…
Bourbon Brined Smoked Turkey — Ultimate Thanksgiving Turkey
We’re finally sharing the secrets to the Ultimate Smoked Turkey for your Thanksgiving Dinner. This smoked turkey is jam packed with mega flavor, from a bourbon citrus brine, to an herbed butter, to a dry rub, This is the juiciest and most flavorful turkey that will have your guests going back for seconds… and maybe…
The Ultimate Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict made with Smoked Salmon. And I’m not talking about lox. Nope! Instead, a delicious salmon filet slow smoked until tender and delicious, topped with a perfect poached egg and a flavorful hollandaise sauce. Eggs Benedict is my all time favorite breakfast, and one in which I judge all breakfast restaurants by. If they’re…
Our Top 7 Posts of 2017
Our Reader’s Favorite Recipes of 2017 We’re wrapping up this year end with a look back to the top reader favorites of 2017. I know you may be sick of these kinds of posts right now (because they’re EVERYWHERE!!!). But I honestly love them. And I truly enjoy looking back at what people enjoyed on…
Sparkling Wines to Ring in the New Year!
10 Great Sparkling Wines and Champagnes to ring in the New Year With Y’all know bubbly is our beverage of choice around here, and (almost) every Friday you can catch my weekly bubbles toast over on Instagram. We love our sparkling wine here! And while we drink bubbles weekly, we also realize it’s the time…
Smoked Meatballs in a Cranberry Pinot Noir Sauce (recipe and video)
Smoked meatballs braised in a sweet and savory cranberry Pinot Noir sauce is one of our all time favorite holiday appetizers. It’s always a hit at a party! Guess what? The mystery of the Cranberry Pinot Noir Meatballs has been solved!!! The first time I wrote about this recipe I told you about how we…
Holiday Gift Guide for BBQ and Food Lovers
I have a love/hate relationship with these holiday gift guides you see everywhere right now. Mostly I’m just overwhelmed with the amount of suggestions people have. My heart beats at an unhealthy rate when I see gift guides that contain “100 stocking stuffers under $15,” or “150 gifts for him,” or “75 perfect gifts for her.”…
Your First Smoked Turkey – Advice from the Pros and Joes
Next week is the week, friends. Thanksgiving! I’ve crowdsourced from pros, hobbyists, friends, and anyone who loves to do Thanksgiving outside for their best advice on smoking your first Thanksgiving Turkey. Now I didn’t grow up on smoked turkeys. My mom would always cook two, both roasted in the oven. One would go straight into…
Smoked Sausage, Caramelized Onion, and Cornbread Stuffing cooked on the Smoker or Grill
Thanksgiving stuffing, cooked directly on the smoker or grill. Did you know you can cook your Thanksgiving stuffing (or dressing, however you prefer to call it) directly on your smoker or grill, saving room in your oven for all the other goods. Or better yet, take Thanksgiving outside this year and give your oven a…
Smoked Pulled Pork Enchiladas and Smoker Recipes for Cinco de Mayo
Turn leftover pulled pork into a plate full of incredible enchiladas. Perfect for Cinco de Mayo, or an easy weeknight dinner. Plus several other festive recipes for Cinco de Mayo. It’s time to talk about something serious. Cinco de Mayo. As a Mexican American from central Arizona we love to celebrate this day with all…
Goodbye 2016! Sparkling Wines to Welcome the New Year
Hey 2016, get ready to say your last goodbye! Bubbly is probably our favorite thing to drink around here, and (almost) every Friday you can catch my weekly bubbles toast over on Instagram. We friggin’ love our sparkling wine! Yes, even with ribs. But we’re about to embark on the evening where even those…
Smoked Meatballs with Cranberry & Red Wine Sauce on AM Northwest (video and recipe)
Guys, we got to back on AM Northwest! This time cooking up one of our favorite holiday appetizers – Smoked Meatballs with a Cranberry & Red Wine Sauce. Scroll to the bottom for the video, or just click here. Several years ago I discovered a very cool use for canned cranberries at a very unlikely…
Smoked Prime Rib (recipe and video)
How to cook the perfect Smoked Prime Rib Roast every time. Plus a recipe and video tutorial on smoking prime rib. Prime rib is a big holiday favorite. It’s dramatic. It’s big. It’s delicious. Let’s be honest, it’s also incredibly expensive! So when we decided to post our recipe and technique for Smoked Prime Rib…
Oregon Sparkling Wines for the Holidays on KGW Portland Today
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And by that I obviously mean it’s the season for bubbly! Wohoo! And speaking of bubbly, I got to talk about my absolute favorite wine topic on KGW Portland Today this week!!! Champagne and sparkling wine are certainly available year-round, and I drink bubbly weekly (usually on Fridays,…
Last Minute 4th of July Recipe Ideas for your Smoker or Grill
Have you figured out what you’re cooking up for your 4th of July BBQ yet? This holiday is one of my absolute favorites. I feel so strongly about this weekend that it’s one that we block out each year and dedicate it strictly to family and friends. That means we go all out, and our…
Love
There are many who harp on Valentine’s Day for being a “Hallmark” holiday. I listened to several people on OPB this morning going on and on about how much they hate this “commercialized” day. I get it. The same could be said about any holiday really. But what if, just for once, we ignore the Hallmark stuff and…
Smoked Jalapeño Poppers — (Super Bowl 50 Ideas, part II plus wine!)
Sean’s back… again! He’s been blog shy for nearly three months here and all it took was me to suggest he recommend some game day recipes and he’s suddenly all about blogging. We need more food holidays in our lives to keep this guy active! He’s back today with more Super Bowl awesomeness. But let’s not kid…
Wine Marinated Steak Skewers with Cranberry Bourbon Sauce — New Recipe on Wine4.Me
“The holidays are filled with parties and gatherings, which can offer heavy (and often unhealthy) foods. There are lots of cheese platters, puffed pastry dishes, sweets (sooo many sweets!!!), and bread galore. Not that there’s anything wrong with those delights in moderation, but it’s nice to offer an alternative. This marinated steak appetizer is filled with protein…
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….
Sparkling Wines for All Occasions this Holiday Season
Looking for some sparkling wine for the holidays? This past weekend was a big one. We went from Sean’s 40th birthday directly into celebrating the twins 5th birthday — two big milestone birthdays just three days apart. The later, to me, was more of a “we survived five years of twins” and stayed…
KitchenAid Giveaway
Things may look a little different around here. They are. Stay tuned and I’ll explain the new layout and blog re-design soon. There are still bugs to work out, but feel free to explore the new site, but know that it will be evolving over the next couple weeks as I make a few more…
Cookin’ up My Mama’s Green Chili Turkey on AM Northwest
Today I’m thankful for this. I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to share a recipe incredibly near and dear to my heart with the folks at AM Northwest. My Mama’s Green Chili Turkey.
Oregon Winery Spotlight: Raptor Ridge Winery – and Wine Country Events this Thanksgiving Weekend
It’s a big weekend in Oregon wine country. Thanksgiving weekend is one of the most notorious wine tasting weekends of the year here in Oregon. It can get crazy busy with traffic that can test even the most patient of us. But it can also be a fantastic time to explore new and smaller wineries,…
