Page 9 - August 2021 Barbecue News Magazine

mustard, sautéed onions and sauerkraut is my all-time fa- vorite! A close second is a grilled dog topped with chili, chopped fresh onions and shredded ched- dar cheese.
No hot dogmatism intended, but I rate burned-to-a-crisp hot dogs the worst!
Pepper Bombs
Pardon a moment of crudeness,
but I’d rather that the buffalo
dung patties dropped on prairies
and feedlots be used as fertilizer
instead of as a synonym for
smoked bacon-wrapped stuffed
jalapeno peppers. “Pepper Bombs,” “Pepper Poppers,” or “Smoked Stuffed Chili Peppers” have more curb appeal. Delicious stuffing possibilities are endless—from plain cream cheese to seasoned cream cheese, plain or seasoned ground beef, pork, turkey, chicken, smoked pulled jack fruit and so forth. Wrap with toothpick-secured bacon and smoke slow and low until they are done.
Here’s a tip I learned from culinary artist/cookbook au- thor/novelist/Barbecue Queen Judith Fertig PhB: smoke the peppers slow and low in a lidless cardboard egg carton. Place the pepper-nested carton opposite the heat source in your cooker. Dispose of the grease-absorbed egg carton when the poppers are done—or, for a novel presentation, serve the poppers in the egg carton on a plank or platter.
Competition Tip
Besides making sure that you know and strictly adhere to all rules, procedures and judging standards at any given
contest, seasoned competition cooks will advise you to remem- ber: There’s party time and there’s serious cooking time. Re- spect the difference and stay the course to barbecue excellence.
Fun Tips!
In business and in life, I like Ben & Jerry’s philosophy: “If it isn’t fun, why do it? Granted, when you’re hosting a small or large get-together, your guests’ fun comes first. You owe it to them to cover every essential safety, comfort, food and beverages de- tail. While setting up, greeting,
cooking, serving, and attending to all else, keep your eyes on the prize: the comfort and fun of you and your guests, including guests with special dietary needs.
When hosting with a significant other, make sure to agree on the division of labor beforehand.
Happy Summer!
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AUGUST 2021
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