Beer Me

It's National Refreshment Day -- July 27, 2017! 

We're enjoying Michelob Ultra® on National Refreshment Day in our Outside Kitchen/Bar

 Celebrate National Refreshment Day with us!  It's observed on the fourth Thursday in July.  For us, it's all about celebrating summer with a cold beer and enjoying a nice evening together in our swimming pool.  Since we're both into good health and eating well, we opted for a Michelob Ultra® beer.  What are you enjoying today?  Feel free to share your favorite cocktails with us.  

Here's to great times, great beer, and great food!  CHEERS!

Nacho Plate

Mediterranean Tacos. Yes, Mediterranean!

Above you'll find what we made to celebrate National Refreshment Day; a Nacho Plate and Mediterranean Tacos.  Yes, we made a Mediterranean version of a taco that was absolutely delicious.

For the Mediterranean Taco, we used the following ingredients:
Lamb, cucumber from our garden, tomato, spinach, black beans, feta cheese, cucumber yogurt dressing in a soft shell.  For added spice, we both added jalapeno slices into our tacos.

For the Nacho Plate, we used the following ingredients:
Corn chips, lamb, black beans, cheese blend, tomato, spinach, sour cream spicy salsa and sprinkled a few jalapeno slices on time.

Our meal was the perfect complement to our cocktail of choice for National Refreshment Day. 

We were not compensated by Michelob Ultra® for this post.

A Smokin' Hot Pork Butt

Dry Rub Pork Butt

We rubbed the Pork Butt with our signature dry rub:  

• Brown Sugar
• Cayenne Pepper
• Spanish Paprika
• Salt
• Pepper
• Chili Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Cumin

Resting Butt

This dry rub will give the butt a nice dark exterior during the smoking process, and keep the interior moist and juicy. 

Notice the dark area missing on the exterior?  Well, we couldn't wait--we ALL had to take a taste of it while it was resting.

    

Bear Claws and Mop

We also mopped the butt every few hours with a mix of: Apple Juice, Apple Cider Vinegar and Hot Sauce. 

We pulled the pork with our bear claws.  Not sure of the technical name for the claws, but we prefer to call 'em the Bear Claws.  

Christmas in July with Bacon Wrap

 Why wait for the Winter holidays when you can fire up your smoker and make a holiday meal in July!

 We had the itch for a holiday meal so we made turkeys for Christmas in July.  One is a seasoned turkey and the other is a turkey with a bacon wrap.

  As you can see, we always add seasoned butter under the skin for flavor and to keep the turkey moist while cooking. To see how we season our butter, please see post: So, A chicken Walks into a Bar & Grill. 

 We also added in some wings--our philosophy is: if the smoker is fired up, use all the racks!  

Yes! It smells like the holidays in our house today!  Yummy!


Happy Christmas in July! 

It's time to enjoy our holiday meal!  

Size Does Matter

Grilled Long Italian Sausage Links with Peppers & Onions

We always serve our sandwiches on long hoagie rolls. Don't cheat on the rolls--a good roll makes a good sandwich, GREAT!


Long Italian sausage links grilled to perfection then topped with grilled red peppers and onions on a toasted hoagie roll--the BEST sandwich!

Lightly toast your roll in the oven or on the grill before you serve your sandwiches.

Your New Wingman

 Smoked and Grilled Buffalo and Honey BBQ Wings with Pasta Salad and Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sandwich.

Brine the Chicken Wings

Smoke wings for 2 hours

Almost done...

Finish Smoked Wings on BBQ Grill

Homemade Buffalo Sauce

Homemade Honey BBQ Sauce

The chicken meatballs were homemade with ground chicken, lightly browned on the stove then placed in the oven to finish them off.  We served the chicken meatballs dry with the buffalo and honey BBQ sauce on the side.  I opted for the buffalo sauce with blu cheese on my meatballs, two honey BBQ wings, with a side of pasta salad and a cold Michelob Ultra®

We were not compensated by Michelob Ultra® for this post.

Not Your Mother's Taco

Spicy Shrimp with Cilantro Lime Slaw Taco

Shrimp;
We tossed our shrimp in cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. We then cooked them in a pan with olive oil.

The cilantro lime slaw was made with cabbage, mayo, fresh lime juice, fresh cilantro and salt and pepper. It was all served on a warm soft taco shell with a side of Michelob Ultra® Superior Light Beer.  

We were not compensated by Michelob Ultra® for this post.

George H. W. Bush Would Hate My Quiche

Quick and easy Broccoli and Cheddar Cheese Quiche.  My quick, go-to meal when I forget to plan a meal, or need to prepare a meal for a friend or family member.

  Eggs, cheese, broccoli, sauteed onions, cream, and salt and pepper poured into a homemade crust.

For the crust:

1) Mix salt and flour
2) Mix oil and VERY cold water with a whisk.
3) Pour oil mixture into the salt/flour, mix then press into your quiche pan.

For the quiche:

1) Onions, Broccoli, shredded cheddar cheese, eggs, cream, salt, pepper mixed well then poured into your crust.  Bake for approx 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Fact:  President George H. W. Bush hates Broccoli

You can create your own filling with your favorite veggies and cheese, or maybe, a cheese and meat, or just all veggies for a Meatless Monday dish.  Yes, quiche and salad are perfect for those crazy weekend dinners.

Cheers!

Sooie, Here Pig!

 

 Grilled Diced Pork Chops with Diced Ham, Red Pepper, Yellow Pepper, Vidalia Onion and Pineapple.

Diced Pork Chops & Veg

We marinated the diced pork chops in teriyaki sauce with crushed red pepper flakes for 24 hours. 

To grill the chops and veggies and fruit, we used two BBQ mats to keep the seasoning and teriyaki sauce on the meat and veggies during the grilling process.

The veggies and diced ham were cooked in a BBQ Square Pan.

Pork 

We kept the BBQ mats on the grill for the entire cooking process. 

Here's the diced ham in the BBQ pan as well as the diced pork chops.

Mixed Pork & Veggies & Pineapple

Less than 15 minutes on the grill. 

The pork chops melt in your mouth:
            * Moist
            * Tender
            * Full of Flavor                                







Combine all ingredients into a pan or big bowl and serve with your favorite cocktail!

Pork chops, veggies and fruit were purchased at Aldi, the boneless ham was purchased at Acme®.

We were not compensated by Aldi or Acme for this post.

Caprese Salad with a Twist...

We enjoy a good, fresh salad during the Summer months.  One of our favorite salads would have to be the Caprese Salad with a side of Salami and a loaf of sesame seed Italian bread--once you start, you can't stop, so bring a few beers with you.

We can't wait to pick fresh tomatoes and basil from our garden (pictures to come) to use in a future Caprese Salads. The Buffalo Mozzarella and Hard Salami are always purchased from our local Acme® Market* in Maple Shade, NJ.

Layer fresh tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, hard salami with fresh basil and serve with bread for a perfect weekday or weekend salad--drizzle balsamic vinegar and olive oil and enjoy!

*We were not compensated by Acme Markets for this post.

So, a Chicken Walks into a Bar & Grill...

...all dressed up and ready for a beer!

We found a Perdue® Oven Stuffer® roaster on sale at our local Acme® Market and we couldn't pass up a chance to make a beer can chicken on our Weber® Gas Grill.  I don't know what it is about our Weber® Gas Grill, but it makes the BEST tasting chicken or turkey; whole birds, thighs, breast, and even wings...they all taste amazing.

Plus, we've taken the butter under the skin to the next level by seasoning our pats of butter before inserting them under the skin of the chicken.  So. Moist. With. So. Much. Flavor.

Tip:  Mix together garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary, thyme, sage and salt and pepper then roll your pats of butter into the herb mix then insert under the skin of your chicken or turkey--be sure to push the butter down around the legs and wings.

We used Budweiser® beer for our Beer Can Chicken, plus we basted the chicken throughout the entire cooking process with MORE Budweiser beer.



We also used Cherry Wood chips in the grill.

Here's our Drunken Bird resting for 20 minutes before we carved it down for dinner with grilled veggies!

Go ahead... try a bird this weekend on your grill and don't forget: one beer for the bird, two beers for you!  CHEERS!











Damn, how could I have forgotten our grilled, mixed veggies; Eggplant, Zucchini and Red Pepper?  I know why...I'm not a big fan of grilled veggies but he is...








We were not compensated by Perdue, Weber, Acme or Budweiser for this post.

Where There's Smoke--There's Beef Brisket, Beer and Brussels Sprouts

First beef brisket on the new smoker.

There's BEEF...

Firing up our new Char-Broil Digital Electric Vertical Smoker* with a beef brisket.

We lightly rubbed the brisket with stone ground mustard then added salt and pepper. Remember, the key to a tasty smoked brisket--never over rub it. You don't want to lose the natural flavors of your brisket.

We smoked the brisket with a mix of hickory and mesquite chips for 6 hours @ 225 degrees. After it was done smoking, we let it rest for one hour then sliced it down for smoked BBQ brisket sandwiches.

Guinness* Sprouts with bacon and garlic 

There's BEER & BRUSSELS...

Roasted brussels sprouts in Guinness*, with garlic and bacon...what's not to love? Beer, garlic and bacon make anything taste better and what's not to love when you pair these items with sprouts--even the kids will eat them!

* We were not compensated by Char-Broil or Guinness for this post.  

Your Weekend Poolside Snack...with a Side of Beer, or two!

Corn Chips with Homemade Salsa & Red Pepper Yogurt Dip

We really enjoy this snack on a hot day baking by the pool:   homemade chips, homemade tomato salsa and homemade red pepper yogurt dip.  We think it pairs well with a few Michelob Ultra® Superior Light Beer (2.6 CARBS / 96 CALS).*


* We were not compensated by Michelob Ultra®. Anheuser-Busch for this post.