I usually grill fresh corn-on-the-cob, but I thought I’d try something a bit different and boil it instead. I wasn’t going to let all that great corn flavor disappear into the water and leave me with bland corn. Nope, a little spiced corn on the cob was in order. By simply adding a nice hot pepper (or two, really) to the water while you cook the corn, you infuse the cobs with a great spiciness. And the butter doesn’t hurt the flavor either, that’s for sure!
The Keys To Success
Don’t add too much water to the pot when simmering the corn. The more water, the more diluted the flavors will be, so add just enough to cover the cobs. If Scotch bonnet peppers scare you, just substitute jalapenos. No need to stem them, seed them or chop them. Just toss them into the pot. Spiced corn on the cob can be as spicy as you want it to be.
This recipe is also a great way to make spicy kernels to use in other dishes. Just cook like it says below and peel, cut or scrape the kernels off the cobs.
By simply adding a nice hot pepper (or two, really) to the water while you cook the corn, you infuse the cobs with a great spiciness. And the butter doesn’t hurt the flavor either, that’s for sure!
Indianapolis recently hosted the Big 10 basketball tournament. As part of the event, the Levy restaurant group in Chicago produced unique hot dogs that highlight each of the Big 10 teams. I came across a copy of the list of the dogs recently, and just had to make each of them. Purple onion marmalade made the Northwestern Wildcat hot dog an absolute top-notch dog and one we won’t soon forget.
A Fantastic Hot Dog All Around
The marmalade will become a staple in our house, but not just on Northwestern Wildcat hot dogs. I’m sure it’ll be amazing on pork burgers too! This is one fantastic hot dog. Take the time to make the delicious purple onion marmalade and you’ll be rewarded. Big time.
Note: This recipe was developed using the Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Fryer. If you are cooking using the Char-Broil Smoker-Roaster Grill you should cook with the lid open and the temperature set to High. You might also need to adjust the cooking time.
I love the cooking rack I picked up for my Big Easy. It gives me up to 6 racks of cooking at once. And as a bonus, I discovered that I can fit 9″ pie pans onto the rack. Now I can make a whole bunch of things I couldn’t (easily) cook before. Like cornbread on the Char-Broil Big Easy. And in my case, not just any cornbread. No. Over-the-top yummy Fat Johnny’s cheesy cornbread.
Any Cornbread Recipe Will Do
You can use any cornbread recipe you want on the Char-Broil Big Easy. Fill the pans about halfway (as you can see on the left in the picture above). If you’re cooking just a pan or two keep your pans at the bottom of the rack.
If you put pans to the top of the rack you might have to rotate them from top-to-bottom to get them to all cook in the same time. Or, you can just remove the done ones as they finish and return the rack to the cooker. Use a toothpick to determine doneness. If it slides into cornbread and comes out clean, the cornbread is done.
You can use any cornbread recipe you want on the Char-Broil Big Easy. Fill the pans about halfway (as you can see on the left in the picture above). If you’re cooking just a pan or two keep your pans at the bottom of the rack.
Make your cornbread batter just as you normally would
I found that a normal cornbread batter recipe fits two 9″ pans perfectly. Divide the batter between the pans and place the pans into the cooking rack.
Lower rack into the Big Easy.
Start checking for doneness (particularly on the lower pans) after the usual cornbread cooking time, 15-20 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of each pan. If the toothpick is clean when you remove it the cornbread is done. Note: You might have to remove some pans before others.
Notes
You’ll need the Char-Broil Big Easy Cooking Rackplus 9″ pie pans (2 per cornbread batter batch). Make sure that your pans will fit into the rack before beginning.
A few years ago the Big 10 basketball tournament was held here in Indianapolis. As part of the event, the Levy restaurant group in Chicago produced unique hot dogs that highlight each of the Big 10 teams. I came across a copy of the list of the dogs recently, and just had to make each of them. The Ohio State Buckeyes hot dog combines red pepper relish (which is a bit sweet) with white(ish) kraut. For a little kick, there’s some spicy mustard. Hey, the Buckeyes’ colors are red and white! Now I get it! You have to cut me some slack about not knowing all of the Big 10 team names and colors! I went to an SEC school!
Pepper Relish For The Win
Pepper relish is a wonderous thing that I’ve started using more and more. It’s got a bit of a kick to it, but it’s also nice and sweet. It’s not only great on Ohio State Buckeyes hot dogs but also on sandwiches and wraps.
The Ohio State Buckeyes hot dog combines red pepper relish (which is a bit sweet) with white(ish) kraut (for a little kick, and for more kick there’s spicy mustard). Hey, the Buckeyes’ colors are red and white! Now I get it!
I’ve been having a blast with my new dehydrator from Nesco. I’ve been making a lot of jerky, so I figured I’d take a break and make something different. And that different is raisins on the Nesco Snackmaster Pro. They take a few days to dehydrate, but boy are they fantastic! Tender and sweet. Soooooo much better than store-bought.
The Keys To Success
Raisins on the Nesco Snackmaster Pro are fun to make and eat! You can fit about a pound of grapes per tray (outfitted with screens). You should rotate the trays every few hours to guarantee even drying, but be careful rotating the trays when you first start out. Them lil grapes like to roll around!
After 2 days the smaller grapes may be dried completely, so check through the trays for any that are done.
Place grapes onto the dehydrator screens. Try to not let them touch.
Close the dehydrator and turn onto high.
Dehydrate on high for 24 hours, rotating the trays every 2 hours or so. Don’t fret if you don’t rotate the trays at night while you’re sleeping!
Turn the dehydrator down to 135 F and continue drying for a total of 3 days, rotating the trays every 2 hours or so. I like to move the grapes around a bit as they are drying to keep them from sticking to the screens.
Notes
You can fit about a pound of grapes per tray in the Nesco Snackmaster Pro. Do not overcrowd the grapes.
Note: This recipe was developed using the Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Fryer. If you are cooking using the Char-Broil Smoker-Roaster Grill you should cook with the lid open and the temperature set to High. You might also need to adjust the cooking time.
Since I picked up a cooking rack for my Char-Broil Big Easy I’ve been able to cook all sorts of dishes that I used to have to reserve for indoor cooking. I love being able to cook an entire meal outdoors, and that means sides too. And not just your usual outdoor sides like corn-on-the-cob, or grilled veggies. This bang bang cauliflower on the Char-Broil Big Easy cooks up in less than 40 minutes. The breading gives the florets just a bit of crunch. And the dipping sauce? Fantastic. Creamy, with just a hint of a spicy kick.
Disappears Like… Well, Popcorn!
Depending on conditions, you may have to rotate the pans in the Big Easy as the cauliflower cooks so that each one cooks evenly. If you don’t have a cooking rack you can use the Bunk Bed Basket from Char-Broil, but you won’t be able to cook quite as much cauliflower at once. Whatever you do, do not over-crowd the florets or they will not cook completely. You want your bang bang cauliflower on the Char-Broil Big Easy done!
This bang bang cauliflower dish cooks up in less than 40 minutes. The breading gives the florets just a bit of crunch. And the dipping sauce? Fantastic. Creamy, with just a hint of a spicy kick.
Working in batches, roll cauliflower florets in the egg. Shake off excess then roll in the bread crumbs. Transfer to the pie pans for the Big Easy.
Cook in the Big Easy for 20-25 minutes. Keep an eye on the pans on the lower levels as they may brown quicker. I had to rotate my trays after 15 minutes to get nice even cooking.
Remove and let cool slightly before garnishing and serving with the dipping sauce.
A few years ago the Big 10 basketball tournament was held here in Indianapolis. As part of the event, the Levy restaurant group in Chicago produced unique hot dogs that highlight each of the Big 10 teams. I came across a copy of the list of the dogs recently, and just had to make each of them. The Michigan Wolverines blue cheese bacon hot dog is insanely good. Blue cheese coleslaw is not something I’d made before, but wow, does it ever give these dogs some great pop. And of course, what’s a hot dog without mustard? And bacon.
You have to cut me some slack about not knowing all of the Big 10 team names and colors! I went to an SEC school!
This Is A Winner Of A Hot Dog
All of the Big 10 hot dogs we’ve made have turned out fantastic, but the Michigan Wolverines blue cheese bacon hot dog is certainly one of the best. The slaw would also be great on a pulled pork sandwich.
The Michigan Wolverines blue cheese bacon hot dog is insanely good. Blue cheese coleslaw is not something I’d made before, but wow, does it ever give these dogs some pop.
Note: This recipe was developed using the Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Fryer. If you are cooking using the Char-Broil Smoker-Roaster Grill you should cook with the lid open and the temperature set to High. You might also need to adjust the cooking time.
Nothing beats fresh, in-season corn-on-the-cob. Although there’s lots of ways to cook up sweet corn, I love to add just a bit of flavor, wrap it in foil and toss it into my Big Easy. In no time I am enjoying delicious, sweet, juicy corn. There’s nothing wrong with eating corn with nothing added, but sometimes I like to add a little twist, from Mexican- or Italian-inspired flavors or a bit of smokiness. You can’t go wrong no matter what you add to this corn in packets on the Char-Broil Big Easy. Or don’t add.
More Racks, More Corn!
Char-Broil makes a few different racks that make it easy to add more cooking space to your Big Easy, so you can cook chicken (or whatever) down below and corn in packets up top. Try out the Big Easy bunk bed basket, for example. Double the space, instantly. Perfect for cooking extra corn in packets on the Char-Broil Big Easy.
Nothing beats fresh, in-season corn-on-the-cob. Although there’s lots of ways to cook up sweet corn, I love to add just a bit of flavor, wrap it in foil and toss it into my Char-Broil Big Easy. In no time I am enjoying delicious, sweet, juicy corn.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword Big Easy, Char-Broil, corn-on-the-cob, packets
Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with Cotija cheese, cayenne pepper and lime juice.
Wrap corn ears tightly and place in a hot Big Easy.
Cook for 20 minutes until tender.
Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve.
For Italian-style corn
Place corn on small sheets of foil.
Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and lemon juice.
Wrap corn ears tightly and place in a hot Big Easy.
Cook for 20 minutes until tender.
Garnish with chopped Italian parsley and serve.
For Smoky corn
Place corn on small sheets of foil.
Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with smoky paprika and cayenne pepper.
Wrap corn ears tightly and place in a hot Big Easy.
Cook for 20 minutes until tender.
Garnish with chopped Italian parsley and serve.
Notes
You can fit 2 halved ears of corn in the basket of the Big Easy. Add a bunk bed basketto double the amount of cooking area or a cooking rackto make 6 or more ears at once.
Indianapolis recently hosted the Big 10 basketball tournament. As part of the event, the Levy restaurant group in Chicago produced unique hot dogs that highlighted each of the Big 10 teams. I came across a copy of the list of the dogs recently, and just had to make each of them. Corn flavor is packed into every bite of the Nebraska Cornhusker hot dog. Thanks to a corn salsa and of course, corny Frito chips. And don’t forget the smooth Provolone cheese.
Keep It Corny!
I couldn’t find (or make) tomato corn relish, so I substituted corn salsa. A little different than relish, of course, but this Nebraska Cornhusker hot dog was still outstanding. Salsa on hot dogs is a great thing, like adding amped-up ketchup.
Corn flavor is packed into every bite of the Nebraska Cornhusker hot dog. Thanks to a corn salsa and of course, corny Frito chips. And don’t forget the smooth Provolone cheese.
Note: This recipe was developed using the Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Fryer. If you are cooking using the Char-Broil Smoker-Roaster Grill you should cook with the lid open and the temperature set to High. You might also need to adjust the cooking time.
I made some fantastic flashback old school BBQ chicken on my Char-Broil Big Easy the other day. It put me in the mood for more BBQ chicken, so I up and made this fantastic Italian Ranch BBQ chicken. It’s like my old school BBQ chicken kicked up big time. You still get that great BBQ sauce flavor, but as a bonus, you get ultra-tender juicy chicken that has marinated in Italian and Ranch dressings. My goodness, it was good!
Apply The Sauce At The End
The original recipe for Italian Ranch BBQ chicken on the Char-Broil Big Easy called for marinating the chicken in the BBQ sauce and the dressings. I was using a BBQ sauce made with molasses. I knew that if it spent a long time over high heat it would start to burn. So, I marinated the chicken overnight in the dressings and then placed it into the Big Easy until almost done. That’s when I brushed the chicken with the BBQ sauce. And it was good.
To make these Italian ranch BBQ chicken on the Char-Broil Big Easy I used a bunk bed basket. It lets me double or even triple the amount of cooking space I have.
Italian Ranch BBQ Chicken on the Char-Broil Big Easy
Welcome to kicked-up old school BBQ chicken. You get that great BBQ sauce flavor, but as a bonus, you get ultra-tender juicy chicken that has marinated in Italian and Ranch dressings. My goodness, it was good!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword BBQ, Big Easy, Char-Broil, chicken, Italian, Ranch
