Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular wines, and one of the most widely planted grapes, and for good reason. It’s also one of the most versatile, made in a wide range of styles. Find out why this is grape is the queen of wine in this introduction to Chardonnay. A winemaker I used…
Wine
Cheese Fondue (On The Grill)
This Cheese Fondue Recipe is inspired from a trip to the Jura mountain region of eastern France, where the famed Comté cheese is produced. We’re combining two classic cheeses (Emmental and Comté) with wine and grilling it for the best outdoor fondue experience. Comté Cheese Several years ago I had the honor of traveling to…
Smoked Whole Chicken Recipe
Smoked Whole Chicken is absolutely delicious and easy to make. Below we’ll explain how to smoke a whole chicken on a pellet grill or other style smoker for the best chicken you will make. Smoked Whole Chicken is one of the most common things we cook on our smokers. We typically smoke one or two…
Grilled Salmon Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
Salmon Salad is flavorful, filling, and absolutely delicious! We are grilling up a savory and rich blackened salmon and then adding to a hearty salad. This Grilled Salmon Salad will not disappoint. Ditch the canned salmon and grab a fresh filet for this delicious and easy grilled salmon salad. The goal is to add a…
Classic Ceviche Recipe (Fish & Shrimp)
This Easy and Classic Ceviche recipe is made with rockfish (or other white fish, like tilapia or bass) and is perfect for a hot summer day when it’s too darn hot to cook. This classic ceviche recipe is also perfect for parties, appetizers, or a light meal at home. Or you can check out our…
Easy Grilled Fish Tacos — Plus wine pairing
Grilled Fish Tacos are easy to make, super healthy, and full of great flavor! Citrus marinated fish is grilled to perfection and topped with a Grilled Corn and Cabbage Slaw and Avocado Crema. This taco recipe makes a great weeknight dinner or entertaining dinner on the weekend. Grilled Fish Tacos We’re a little obsessed with…
Petite Sirah — Your guide to this under the radar wine
Petite Sirah is a wine known for its dark color and deep aromas, with rich fruit characteristics and bold tannins. These are wines of high quality and ability to pair with foods (especially grilled foods!). This is a French wine with California roots. Let’s explore this under the radar wine, and find the best foods to…
Sparkling Wine — And the best bubbly for the Holidays
What’s the difference between Champagne, sparkling wine, bubbly, and more in this primer on sparkling wine, and some of the best Champagnes and bubblies we get to taste. Scroll down to find some excellent sparkling wines in all price levels for your holiday celebrations and New Year’s toasting! I adamantly and strongly believe in drinking…
Smoked Boneless Leg of Lamb with Herb Rub
Making Smoked Boneless Leg of Lamb is as easy as seasoning the lamb and smoking to the right internal temperature. And with good quality lamb you’ll find the flavor amazing and tender. Many of us grew up with some preconceived notions of lamb meat. If you were anything like us, your experience with lamb likely…
Pinot Noir BBQ Sauce Recipe
This Pinot Noir BBQ Sauce Recipe is what happens when the combination of the delicate flavors of Pinot Noir wine and the bold flavors of BBQ sauce collide. This savory and slightly sweet sauce can be made with any fruity red wine. There are many styles of BBQ sauce from around the US, and what…
Holiday Gift Guide for Wine & Cocktail Lovers
Our Holiday Wine Gift Guide is perfect for the Wine and Cocktail Lovers on your list this year. These are our suggestions for the wine or cocktail lover on your list this year. They’re all products we use and love on a regular basis and think you might like them too! So lets get into…
Smoked Pork Ribs with Chinese Five Spice Rub and Thai Chili Glaze
This smoked pork ribs recipe is seasoned with Chinese Five Spice and sugar, cooked in the 3-2-1 method of smoked pork ribs, and then finished with a Thai Sweet Chili Sauce. These Asian ribs are packed with flavor. Barbecue can be a very subjective experience, especially if your lens for barbecue is heavily influenced by…
Apple Cider Mimosa – The Perfect Apple Cider Cocktail
Apple Cider Mimosa just screams fall. From autumn brunches to the holiday season, this apple cider cocktail is one of our favorite drinks to enjoy. Make this kid friendly with a sparkling water float. Living in the country, our farm is surrounded by orchards of all types and apples here are harvested October through November….
Smoked Pork Chops – Reverse Seared
These Reverse Sear Smoked Pork Chops are smoked first for that awesome flavor, and then finished hot and fast medium rare for a perfectly cooked pork chop. Sometimes when I hear people turn their noses at the idea of smoked pork chops, I can’t help but ask them why they dislike such an amazing cut…
Smoked Lamb Burgers with Rosemary Aioli and Pickled Onions
Change up your burger routine with a killer Smoked Lamb Burger with Rosemary Aioli. Serve with a delicious brioche bun. People tend to have a love/hate relationship with lamb. Fresh lamb is delicious with an earthy flavor. When smoked however, lamb takes on an even better flavor profile. Lamb Lamb is sheep up to 1…
Merlot Wine — Your go-to guide
Merlot is a grape known for its approachability and smooth body with dark fruit characteristics. But Merlot is so much more than that. These are wines of high quality and an excellent ability to pair with foods (especially grilled foods!). Let’s explore this versatile wine. Merlot is one of the most popular red wine grapes…
Smoked Jalapeño Poppers with Crispy Bacon
Smoked Jalapeño Poppers with Smoked Bacon. An easy game day appetizer or for any occasion made with crispy smoked bacon, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese filling. Jalapeño Poppers are a classic. But our take on the classic popper is to deconstruct the way most people make them. Because when you make smoked jalapeño poppers it’s…
Grilled NY Strip Steak with Coffee Rub
Grilled NY Strip Steak is a tender and flavorful cut of beef with amazing marbling. Perfect for grilling. Add a marinade and rub with coffee for a flavorful coffee rubbed steak that is rich, intense, and flavorful. We have used coffee in many of our recipes to add a richness in flavor that is subtle…
Smoked Sausage Lasagna
Smoked Sausage Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food, made with layers of smoked sausage and smoked tomato marinara sauce. Smoked Lasagna is a great comfort food. It’s not only a great use for smoked marinara sauce, it also a meal that feeds a crowd, and makes an amazing house warming or meal train idea for…
Wine Advent Calendar for the Holidays
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Albertsons. All opinions are 100% mine. Surprise your friends, family, and neighbors this holiday season with a Wine Advent Calendar, featuring 24 glasses of wine, one for each day leading up to Christmas. These make for great host gifts or a treat for yourself…
Smoked Bacon & Tomatillo Guacamole
Smoked Bacon Guacamole with Smoked Tomatillos, is truly the best guacamole recipe for smoked food lovers! It is going to forever change the way you enjoy your guacamole. Guacamole made with smoked bacon and smoked tomatillos is great as an appetizer for the big game or just for a weekend snack. It is also easy to…
Smoked Lamb Meatballs (for Incredible Pita Sandwiches)
Smoked Lamb Meatballs, made with ground lamb shoulder, are jam-packed with flavor and offer an awesome way to jazz up any pita sandwich. Don’t like lamb? Try smoking this first and see how the flavor mellows out and adds a ton of flavor. I didn’t grow up eating lamb. But as an adult I’ve really…
Puglia inspired Tuna Toasts with Tomatoes and Arugula
Tuna Toast with Tomatoes and Arugula is a simple Italy-inspired appetizer made with tuna, tomatoes, arugula, and extra virgin olive oil, using the most quality ingredients you can find. This can be made as a crostini based appetizer, or with your favorite toasted bread. The secret to this recipe is to find the freshest and…
Smoked Beef Short Ribs
Smoked Beef Short Ribs are cooked low and slow until rich and incredibly tender and finished in a wine braising liquid. This is the ultimate comfort food. Today we have a recipe I’m super excited about! Smoked beef short ribs, slowly smoked until tender and rich and incredibly delicious. This is what I request every…