This Watermelon Cocktail made with fresh watermelon juice and sparkling wine couldn’t be easier to make. And it is the most refreshing summer cocktail you’ll drink this summer. I have an aversion to artificial watermelon-flavored things (candy in particular). But fresh watermelon, I could gobble up for days. And with all the fresh watermelon that…
Wine
Smoked Mexican Burgers with Chorizo and Smoked Poblanos
Mexican Burgers with Smoked Poblanos is packed full of flavor. Our secret is mixing chorizo and ground beef, smoking them for incredible smoky flavor, and finishing over high heat for the perfect char. Mexican Burgers. Oh burgers. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t always a huge homemade-burger-at-home kind of gal. I used to reserve those for…
Smoked Beef Short Ribs with Red Wine Braise
Smoked Beef Short Ribs finished with a Red Wine Braise are truly the ultimate beef short ribs (and one of my favorite meals ever)! Comes with wine pairing recommendations. This recipe has dinner party or holiday meal written all over it! Beef Short Ribs are my ultimate comfort food. This is *the* single cut that…
Rosé Wine — And the best of 2020 Rosé
Rosé has a reputation of being the quintessential summer wine. But rose is something to drink year-round and pairs with an incredibly wide range of food. Find out about the many styles of this delicious and refreshing wine along with my top picks of 2020 wines. Rosé is an amazing expression of winemaking that takes…
Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema
Grilled Shrimp Tacos are not only easy to make, but absolutely delicious and crowd friendly. Add a slightly spicy lime crema and your favorite taco toppings and you have a great feast for a crowd or just a weeknight family dinner. Tacos are on regular weekly rotation in our house. Almost any protein or vegetable…
Grilled Tri-Tip with Zinfandel Red Wine Reduction Sauce
Grilled Tri Tip is one of the easiest beef roasts to grill. It is also great for feeding a crowd. This Tri Tip recipe is finished with a Zinfandel red wine reduction sauce to add a little extra flavor after you slice it. Check out our smoked tri tip for even more fun ways to…
Zinfandel Wine — from Everyday to Legendary
Zinfandel is a grape known for bold fruity wines with jammy characteristics. But Zinfandel is so much more than that. These are wines of high quality and an excellent ability to pair with foods (especially grilled foods!). And we’re not talking about White Zinfandel. Let’s explore this versatile wine. What is Zinfandel Zinfandel is a…
Red Wine Marinated Smoked Tri Tip
An award-winning recipe for Tri Tip Marinade from our very first BBQ competition. Made with tender Tri Tip and smoked slowly to perfection. Serve alone or with a delicious chimichurri sauce. We have learned a lot about smoking Tri Tip over the years. It has evolved from a rather obscure cut of meat for us,…
The Wine Pairing Guide to Grilling and Barbecue
Confused about how to pair wine with BBQ? Don’t be! Here’s your guide to pairing wine with barbecued and grilled foods. All year long we’re spending more and more time outside, cooking on the grill, surrounded by family and friends. Those intoxicating aromas from the grill begin to fill the air and the neighborhood streets, and…
Spring 2020 Wine Finds
Wine recommendations that are fantastic for spring sipping. From light bodied whites, to rosé, to elegant reds, to what to drink while staying home, there’s a wine for all occasion this season. This is what we’ve enjoyed as we’ve been home this season. I like to review wines the way most people taste them, with…
Smoked Prime Rib (recipe and video)
How to cook Smoked Prime Rib Roast is a question thousands of backyard cooks ask each month across the web. We put together a comprehensive guide and video on smoking perfect Prime Rib every time. Let us help you be the holiday hero for this magical cut of beef! Looking for other ideas? Check out…
BBQ Chicken Pizza (in the oven or grill)
This homemade BBQ Chicken Pizza beats the pants off any restaurant version. This easy pizza is made with smoked chicken (or any leftover chicken), red onions, tomatoes, cheese, with has a secret sauce that brings everything together, and topped with fresh cilantro. BBQ Chicken can be grilled or cooked in the oven, and is perfect…
Fresh Grilled Salmon Burgers – Not From Can
Making fresh salmon burgers is incredibly easy, and it doesn’t require using the canned stuff. Start with high quality salmon, and add your favorite toppings for some incredible Grilled Salmon Burgers. Looking for more fun salmon recipes? Check out our popular Cedar Plank Salmon with a maple chipotle glaze. With any good burger, it’s about…
Smoked Meatball Sandwiches
Smoked Meatball Sandwiches are made with the most indulgent smoked meatballs (which are also great served alone)! Top this meatball sandwich with smoked marinara sauce and melty cheese for an amazing dinner. Recipe Inspiration Let me tell you about our former neighbor, Josh. He makes the meanest, biggest, baddest meatballs ever. When smoked, they are…
T-Bone Steak – On The Grill
A simple Grilled T-Bone Steak is an amazing meal. Join as we explain the difference between a T-Bone and a Porterhouse, and the best way to cook a T-Bone. Looking for how to set up the grill with charcoal? Check out our summary of how to grill using the two-zone method. Porterhouse Versus T-Bone They…
Smoked Beef Brisket Nachos (perfect for leftover brisket)
These Award-Winning Smoked Beef Brisket Nachos are the perfect way to use up leftover brisket! Easy to make and crowd friendly, these are sure to become your new favorite appetizer! For the perfect Brisket recipe, click here Update: This recipe was the grand prize winning recipe in the original Traeger Grills Meat Madness Competition in…
Surf and Turf on the Grill with Herb Compound Butter
Our grilled Surf and Turf marries the best of the earth and the best of the sea with a Petite Filet Mignon and Lobster Tails, both grilled, and then finished with an herb compound butter. Looking for other variations for steak or seafood? Check out our grilled hanger steak, grilled tuna, or one of our…
Grilled Lobster Tails with Red Chili Pepper Herb Butter
Grilled Lobster Tail is incredibly elegant and also incredibly easy to make. A simple compound butter adds even more flavor to this amazing date night meal. Grilling lobster tails is so much easier than you think! It may sound intimidating, but we’re here to break it down into some easy steps. Selecting the Right Tails…
The Ultimate Smoked Chicken Wings (with crispy skin!)
The best method for Smoked Chicken Wings (Buffalo Style) with crispy skin is to dehydrate the wings in the fridge, smoke, then sear. Learn the tips and tricks for getting crispy skin when cooking smoked chicken wings low and slow. Check out some of our other favorite Buffalo flavor inspirations like this smoked chicken dip…
Grilled Oysters with White Wine Butter Sauce
Grilled Oysters make for an awesome appetizer and decadent treat for your favorite friends. This grilled oyster recipe highlights what oysters are best for, grilling, and a simple butter sauce with a secret ingredient, white wine. Grilled Oysters We all know raw oysters can be absolutely incredible, and need very little to jazz them up….
Grilled Salmon – Perfect Every Time!
Grilled Salmon is one of our favorite fish to grill, with a rich flavor and juicy texture. Learn how to cook salmon steaks on the grill perfectly every time with these easy techniques. Selecting Salmon for Grilling There are many salmon species out there. Some are better for grilling because they tend to be larger…
Mulled Wine Recipe
Mulled Wine is a comforting winter drink made from a blend of red wine, spices, and citrus, served warm. This holiday classic is perfect for sitting by the fire or serving as a cocktail at your holiday parties. This easy traditional holiday cocktail comes together in less than 10 minutes! Mulled Wine Mulled wine, also…
Smoked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze
Smoked Ham is the perfect meal for any holiday, like Christmas or Easter dinner, or even to have on hand for sandwiches. This brown sugar glaze is absolutely incredible over the top of your smoked ham! Smoking precooked ham is truly easy and a simple honey glaze is a great way to add incredible flavor….
Pomegranate Mimosa
A delicious and festive 4-ingredient Pomegranate Mimosa made with sparkling wine, Cointreau, and pomegranate juice (plus garnish). The perfect cocktail recipe for holiday parties! The Holiday Season is officially here (wohoo), and along with that comes the decorations, music, lights, shopping, and my favorite part, the holiday parties! Parties filled with good friends, good food,…