Coffee Maple Country Style Ribs

Fall off the bone tender!

There is nothing I love like I love maple syrup….well, maybe pepper jelly. I just adore them both. Maple syrup makes everything better; and maple syrup with coffee is the makings of bbq sauce heaven. Ever since I made the bacon-wrapped coffeebourbon ham one Christmas I have been planning to revamp the combo on some ribs. And it only took me 5 years to actually do it.

Choco-whiskey ribs

"Feast of Saint Valentine"

I don’t think there are any limitations when it comes to pork ribs. Over the years I have been playing with chocolate and pork with much success. However, this is by far the most delicious chocolate ribs recipe to date. The chocolate raspberry ribs and the coco chipotle baby back ribs are the other two rib recipes that contain chocolate. While those were good, they were a bit more work. This recipe is literally a set it and forget it kind of ribs; you don’t need a grill for this like the other two recipes. Aluminum foil and an oven does all the work here.

Rosemary smoked beef short ribs

"Beefy"

This is my first time making bbq short ribs. Normally I make them as a stew with red wine, carrots and the works. I decided I wanted to do a bit of smoking, and rosemary is one of the best herbs to do this. I am lucky enough to have a friend who has the most fragrant strain of rosemary growing like weeds at his apartment complex. I was going to get some from my mother’s plant, but her plant is no where near as fragrant as my friends. He gave me basically a lifetime supply of rosemary and I put it to good use.

Spicy mango sweet and sour dogs

Mango is in season! 

This is probably one of the most delicious hotdogs I have ever made. Generally my hot dog grilling consists of sausages, honey, bbq sauce and toppings. Since its mango month I had to attempt to make a delicious mango condiment. This wasn’t exactly the condiment I had planned but it worked out just beautifully all the same.

Barbe-fry Chicken sandwiches

Potluck

This recipe has been a long time coming. I have been teasing all my Instagram followers with the beautiful sights of fried chicken smothered in sauce with no recipe to back it up. Since this month is all about whatever I want to make, and since I had every intention of making some chicken sandwiches for dinner. It only made sense to record each step and measurements as I did it so everyone can share in this glorious meal.

Deliciously basic honey bbq wings

Potluck

This will be the easiest and most delicious honey BBQ wings you will ever eat. Its sweet, sticky and flavorful. We don’t always have the time to make a hickory smoked BBQ sauce from scratch, and in those moments when you’re strapped for time, but you don’t want to sacrifice flavor, these are your wings. To be honest even if you have the time and 30 ingredients to make a sauce from scratch, don’t bother make these instead!

BBQ Chicken Macaroni and Cheese

I love Pasta

This is a simple and easy recipe I make all the time at home. Especially if I want a quick one pot go to meal. It’s creamy cheesy slightly sweet from the BBQ sauce and has bits of chicken, onion and peppers all thorough.  No way could pasta month go by without me sharing my little secret BBQ chicken macaroni and cheese.

BBQ Blue Beef burger

 Burger Showdown!

If there was ever a more perfect way to have a beef burger, this would be it. The beef is juicy with the delicious blue cheese sauce, caramelized onions, BBQ lays and spinach all working in perfect harmony between two perfectly toted buns. Smash burger’s ‘New Yorker’ burger was at the top of my favorite burgers in the world list but this one right here has taken the top rank for the best beef burger ever!

Pork Feta burger with Asian slaw

Burger Showdown! 

And now for the protein my sister eats no longer. No way we could have a burger month and not include the other white meat. Juicy pork patty spiced with feta cheese, served with a crunchy Asian slaw and even more pork in the form of crispy bacon strips.

Best Baked Beans Ever!

Summa Summa Summa time!

Did I leave the best for last? I’m pretty sure I did. You can almost bet money that baked beans will be at the next summer BBQ you attend. I can assure you however, that they won’t be like this. You know I had to add my own little special twist to the traditional fare as usual. In the case of these beans think zest!  

Redpepper cornbread

Summa Summa Summa time!

Another summer staple; Welcome the cornbread. It doesn’t get any more summer than that. Cornbread is just an every occasion bread, it’s not even about summer; Christmas, thanksgiving, every BBQ, every cookout cornbread is there and it’s not going anywhere any time soon. Best thing to do is get rid of the Jiffy and Betty Crocker, save those for the lazy days home and pull out the big guns for BBQ’s this summer, try this recipe.

Creamy Honey Coleslaw

Summa Summa Summa time!

I previously wrote that the Cesar salad is the summer salad king. Well if Cesar salad is the king coleslaw is the queen or at least the prince or princess.  A perfectly seasoned and flavorful cold coleslaw does wonders for a burger, hotdog or aside some delicious fried chicken, bbq chicken or ribs. It’s a recipe we must all have under our belts for the summer.

Kale and apple salad with pomegranate vinaigrette

Summa Summa Summa time!

Its about that time when we mix veggies and fruits. The lovely and highly anticipated summer months are here. I too have joined the club but instead of bringing you the typical Cesar salad which is clearly the official salad of summer BBQ’s or worse the ready-made flavorless salad in a bag, you get this;  A fresh, crunchy, tangy, sweet, oniony and yummaaaay Kale salad. Yes you can eat kale raw, taste just like lettuce I promise.

Curry Butter Foil Roasted Corn

Summa Summa Summa time!

It’s time for some BBQ’s. This month it’s all about the best home-made side dishes for your picnics and BBQ’s. Chicken, ribs, hamburgers and hot dogs all need side dishes to make that summer plate complete.  I’m sure you’re going to get invited somewhere and you may need a “Wow” recipe. Or you’re the host and you want some epic food to go with the fun. In either case I’ve got you covered as usual. First up is a corn on the cob, but with a super delicious and interesting twist; Curry!

Cocoa maple grilled wings

"Feast of Saint Valentine"
 

Every chocolate month I attempt to combine chocolate with a protein. Last year I did a chocolate raspberry ribs which were quite nice.  However this year, these wings were an even bigger hit. They are sweet and salty and Smokey and lovely. All the ingredients go so well together. I will definitely be making these again.

Cherry mustard BBQ kebabs

Cookout and BBQ Season!

Say hello to the last protein for this month of BBQ backyard cookout foods, I bring you the kebab. But not any kebab, pure meat filled, juicy yummy goodness, using a cherry mustard bbq sauce.

Watermelonade turned Sky juice turned Watermelonade

Cookout and BBQ Season!

Initially I had the idea to make a refreshing summer drink, by combining  watermelon and limeade.  However I decided to go even more refreshing and make a sky juice.

There are just some things you remember as a child that will never leave you. Back in the day at ‘little Belair’ before mom had a car; she would pick me up after teachers college and we would walk to the taxi stand and take a taxi home. Right in the middle of the park there was a little blue and white wooden stall where a man would sell sky juice, red and blue ones in  little plastic bags with a straw. He didn't have any fancy ice crushers, all he had was a huge block of ice and a little metal thing in his hand, he shaved some off  put it in the little bag and put whatever color syrup you wanted. My mother is not and has never been a fan of street side food, however once in a while she would get me a sky juice.

Salt and not so Vinegar chips

Cookout and BBQ Season!

The Potato chip is one of the classic summer BBQ side dishes. Second only to fries, it goes with every summer sandwich. Hot dogs and burgers would not be the same without a hand full of potato chips to munch on.

Barbe-Jerk Chicken

Cookout and BBQ Season!

Is there anything worse than dried out chicken? There probably is, but in the context of this post, it’s the worst thing ever. Over the years I have had too much dried out chicken cooked on an open flame.  No one has time for low and slow (unless you’re from the south) everyone throws the chicken on the grill at high heat until it cooks, then coats it with a nice sauce in an effort to camouflage the dryness. I know very well, in the past I too was an offender, but a chance rain shower helped a friend and I stumble upon the best technique. And I have never looked back.