Two bites into the slow cooker Delta shrimp I made the other day and I already knew I was going to make it again, but this time with sausage. Not that the shrimp version wasn’t absolutely fantastic, oh no. The vegetable mixture has such tremendous flavor, still a tad bit crunchy, and is perfect with anything from shrimp to sausage to chicken. Perfect.
I use fire-roasted diced tomatoes almost exclusively now when a recipe calls for canned diced tomatoes. They have so much more flavor.
Spice It Up A Bit
Smoked sausage is great in this slow cooker Delta sausage dish, but if you can find Andouille sausage, use it instead. It’ll add even more flavor to an already delicious meal. Oh, and if the sausage you are using is fresh, not cooked, cook it thoroughly before adding it to the slow cooker.
Smoked sausage is great in this slow cooker Delta sausage dish, but if you find Andouille sausage, use it instead. It’ll add even more flavor to an already delicious meal.
I looked up ‘guacamole’ on Wikipedia. Why? I wanted to see if just adding a spice mix to smashed avocados actually qualifies as ‘guacamole’. And yes, it does. This spice mix is a great substitute for fresh-made.
The great thing about this mix is that it uses items right out of my pantry. Ready to make at any time. Easy and fast, and great on a hot dog or as a dip for warmed tortilla chips. And it has some kick to it (it has to if I’m going to eat it). If you love guacamole, you’ll love this spice mix. If you happen across some Hatch chiles, make my spicy green chile guacamole!
Oh if you haven’t ever tried it, guacamole is great on hot dogs! I highly recommend it!
Yummy, buttery, garlicky, herby bread. All good things. And very easy to make since I used pre-made pizza dough. I’m not that great at tying knots into raw dough strips, it would seem. But that didn’t matter a bit. These buttery garlic herb knots came out tasting perfect.
Get To Dippin’!
For the marinara I used my absolutely go-to homemade pizza sauce. It has the perfect pizza sauce flavor. I make it by the gallon (well, it seems that way at least) and freeze it in small portions so I always have it on hand. It’s perfect for dipping a few buttery garlic herb knots.
Serve a little warmed pizza sauce or marinara on the side for dipping the bread. I use these little sauce dipping cups. They’re the perfect single-serve size!
Marinaraor pizza sauce, warmed, for dipping (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425 F.
In a small saucepan, melt the butter.
Stir in the thyme, rosemary, 1 tablespoon of the Parmesan, and the garlic powder.
Lightly dust a work surface with flour.
Remove pizza crusts from tubes and unroll onto the surface. Roll out into rectangles.
Brush tops of dough with butter mixture. Fold dough over on top of itself.
Using a pizza cutter, cut each dough in half, then repeat until you have 8 strips about an inch wide. You don’t have to get too particular in how wide they are on how straight they are cut.
Grab ends of each strip and ‘tie’ them into a knot. Gently, don’t pull on the ends real hard or the dough will break.
Lay knots onto a baking sheet (you’ll need two pans) sprayed with non-stick spray. Fold the tips of the dough under the knots so they don’t cook too fast.
Bake 18-20 minutes or longer depending on how golden brown you want your knots.
Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Brush with remaining butter and sprinkle with remaining cheese and serve hot with warmed marinara sauce for dipping if desired.
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 could not be more delighted with this Ragin’ Cajun Beer can chicken that I made on the Char-Broil Big Easy. I’ve made tons (literally) of chicken on my Big Easy, the best poultry cooker around. But for some reason I’ve neglected to try beer can chicken on it. Well, let me tell you, this is flat-out great. Crazy moist. Even moister than the Big Easy usually does, which is pretty darned moist. And flavor? Incredible. Just incredible. And crunchy skin. A big bonus!
The holder
I picked up a Char-Broil folding chicken roaster to help make this Ragin’ Cajun beer can chicken and am I ever glad I did. It made making beer can chicken an absolute breeze. You simply insert a standard 12 ounce beer can (along with any flavorings you want) into the center of the holder then fold up the ‘arms’. The can is locked into place, which is a great thing if you’ve ever made beer can chicken before. The cans can be flimsy and crush or spill. This holder solves that problem and then some. The chicken then slides down over the holder and beer can. Easy. Very easy.
I used a turkey basket (which has a door for easy access), but the basket that comes with your Big Easy works just fine too. You can see the can sticking out of the bottom of the chicken in the picture above.
Rinse the chicken in cold water. Transfer to a resealable bag or container.
Whisk together 1 can of beer and the liquid smoke. Add to the container of chicken. Seal and refrigerate for 45 minutes, turning every 15 minutes to marinade the chicken.
Fire up your Big Easy.
Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry.
Rub the chicken down with a bit of oil, getting in every nook and cranny.
Combine the Old Bay and Cajun seasonings.
Rub half of the seasonings all over the outside and inside of the chicken.
Open the remaining beer and take a few good swigs. Then add the remaining rub to the beer can. Put your finger over the opening and shake a bit to combine.
Place the beer can in the holder, if using. Latch it in.
Carefully slide the chicken over the beer can.
Transfer the chicken to a Char-Broil Big Easy basket and lower into the cooker.
Cook until the chicken is done, reading 175 F in multiple places using an instant-read thermometer.
Let rest 15 minutes before carving.
Notes
You’ll want to use a Char-Broil folding roasterto make this even easier. Place inside a Big Easy basket (NOT directly on the bottom of the cooker!) and get to cooking!
It was a cold, rainy day. The kind of day that screams slow cooker. Since I work from home I get to enjoy the aroma of a great dish cooking all day long. By dinner time I’m starving and anticipating that first bite. I’d been wanting to make a beef stroganoff for a while. An easy version, in the slow cooker. This recipe for slow cooker beef stroganoff fit the bill perfectly. The end result is creamy, beefy, and delicious. The beef gets super tender after hours in the slow cooker. The flavors run deep in every bite. This is not same ho-hum dish here.
Easy Delicious Comfort Food
This slow cooker beef stroganoff could not possibly be any easier to make. It is perfect over egg noodles. I like a lot of sauce when noodles are involved. This dish makes plenty of delicious sauce. It would be great also over rice. And there’s plenty of gravy for that, too!
The fact that the idea for Peeps-stuffed Oreos came to me in a dream probably says something about me. But, they are as great an idea now as they were at 1am. Fun to make. Fun to look at, a bit gooey and a bit sticky. And oh yes, of course, fun to eat. Use any colors of Peeps you want. You can make a pretty good sized batch in no time. Perfect for Easter, but also perfect to make and eat all by yourself! Why, I didn’t even notice that a few ‘disappeared’ while I was making them…
Fun To Make. Even More Fun To Eat!
If you want to make a double-stuffed version of my Peeps-stuffed Oreos, just double the amount of Peeps and place the melted mixture on ALL cookie sides instead of just one. Then just put the two halves together. Bam!
The fact that the idea for Peeps-stuffed Oreos came to me in a dream probably says something about me. But, they are as great an idea now as they were at 1am.
20Oreosthere are about 36 in a 14 1/2 ounce package
Instructions
Place Peeps in a medium sauce pan over medium-low heat with a 1/2 tablespoon of water.
Separate the Oreo cookie halves.
Scrape the filling into the pan with the Peeps.
Stirring occasionally, melt the Peeps. Make sure all the lumps are gone and the mixture is smooth.
Place half the Oreo cookies logo-side down onto a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. This will make cleanup easier.
Remove the melted Peeps from the heat and let cool just enough so the mixture isn’t runny.
Using a 1/2 tablespoon measure, scoop melted Peeps into the center of the cookies. Add just enough that the mixture gets near the cookie edge. If your mixture is too runny (hot) it might run over the sides. You’ll get a feel for it after doing your first cookie or two.
Add the remaining cookie halves logo-side up on top of the Peeps-topped Oreos.
Let cool completely before serving. You can also stick them in the fridge for 15 minutes to set quicker.
After making a big batch of slow cooker Mexican chicken I knew what was next. Burritos. But not just regular ole burritos. Burritos filled with spicy, tender, juicy chicken, topped with a fantastic creamy sauce full of cheese and fire-roasted green chiles. Served garnished with tomatoes, avocado and chopped cilantro. These baked smothered chicken burritos made for a fantastic dinner. I was pretty darned proud of myself because I felt this was one of the best dishes I’d made. I’d make this again in a heartbeat!
Wonderful, Bite After Bite
I loved that these baked smothered chicken burritos have a bit of crunch to them, thanks to spending a few minutes under the broiler. You don’t have to get them super crunchy, or crunchy at all, but it adds a nice textural contrast to the moist soft chicken.
I highly recommend that you shred or grate your own cheese at home. Don’t buy the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. It has stuff added to it to keep it from sticking together. That ‘stuff’ affects how the cheese melts. Shred it yourself and use the good stuff.
Incredible flavor. Incredibly tender. Fantastic aroma. This slow cooker Mexican chicken has knocked my long-time easy go-to beef taco mixture off the podium and replaced it at #1. And rightfully so.
This is the perfect mixture for tacos, nachos, burritos, chimichangas, you name it. Anything. Heck you can throw it on a bun and serve it as a sandwich. Or add it to a grilled cheese sandwich for something totally different.
Tender Juicy Deliciousness
I prefer using fire-roasted green chiles and tomatoes in dishes like this slow cooker Mexican chicken. The roasting adds so much more flavor to the vegetables. I leave it up to you if you want to drain the tomatoes. I added the juices in since I wanted to make sure the chicken stayed very moist. You can keep the juices and actually eat this as a soup. Just add some cheese and tortilla strips, and maybe a dollop of sour cream.
This is the perfect mixture for tacos, nachos, burritos, chimichangas, you name it. Anything. Heck you can throw it on a bun and serve it as a sandwich. Or add it to a grilled cheese sandwich for something totally different.
I’m always on the lookout for something cute to make for Easter. Like deviled pastel eggs. When I came across these flower pretzel bites I quickly added the three ingredients (!) to the grocery store list on my phone. Now, to make a batch of these you’re going to need some time, but it’s worth it. And they’re very fun to make too.
Get Colorful!
I mixed it up. Some yellow petals. A few pink. Some blue. Go crazy. And they don’t have to be perfect. What you end up with are pretty, crunchy, chocolatey single-bite morsels of happiness! And if you’re super duper picky, make sure you place the candies so that the ‘m’ is turned down.
Pastel M&Ms can be hard to find. The closer to Easter it is the easier they are to locate. You can substitute other types of chocolate candies if you want. Just try to find some with lighter, Easter-like colors. Make sure they are not really soft as they’ll melt when they hit the melted chocolate. You want something with a bit of a shell.
Another favorite Easter-time treat of mine is my Peeps-stuffed Oreos. Yes. Peep-stuffed Oreos. Boom. At Christmas time I make a treat similar to these flower pretzel bites, reindeer noses.
When I came across these flower pretzel bites I quickly added the three ingredients (!) to the grocery store list on my phone. Now, to make a batch of these you’re going to need some time, but it’s worth it. And they’re very fun to make too.
168Pastel M&M candiesYou don't need to count them, just grab a few bags. You'll need 7 for each bite.
Instructions
First thing you want to do is put the ingredients into 3 different bowls, leaving out any broken pretzels, chocolates or candies.
Working in batches:
Top the pretzels with the white chocolate melts and place on a microwave safe plate. Microwave on 50% (I found that the defrost setting also works well) until the chocolates are melted.
Carefully remove the plate (it might be hot!).
Place a single M&M in the center of each melt and press it down just slightly. Add 6-7 more candies around the edges.
Place the plate into the fridge until the candies are set. You can also leave them out at room temperature to set, but they’ll take a little longer to do so.
Notes
For maximum cuteness, make the sure ‘M’ on the M&Ms is face-down.
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.
Bacon-wrapped Lit’l Smokies on the Char-Broil Big Easy have been on my radar for a few weeks now. I was just waiting for a nice day to fire up and make a big ole batch of them. That nice day came, and boy, was it ever a glorious day (food-wise and weather-wise!). I can’t even begin to tell you just how great these little bites are. They are the perfect appetizers. Crunchy, yummy bacon. Fire-eater rub (or whatever rub or seasoning you prefer). And of course, little sausages. You cannot stop eating them.
Eat ‘Em Like Popcorn
I served these little morsels with warmed spicy BBQ sauce for dipping. A nice creamy mustard dipping sauce would be great too. Or Sriracha. Or just pop them in your mouth and enjoy!
Anything wrapped in bacon is going to taste great, like these bacon-wrapped lit’l smokies on the Char-Broil Big Easy. Check out my bacon-wrapped tater tots, also made on the Char-Broil Big Easy. Or some bacon-wrapped shrimp!
Bacon-Wrapped Lit’l Smokies on the Char-Broil Big Easy
I served these little morsels with warmed spicy BBQ sauce for dipping. A nice creamy mustard dipping sauce would be great too. Or Sriracha. Or just pop them in your mouth and enjoy!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword bacon, Big Easy, Char-Broil, cocktail, sausage
Slice the bacon into thirds and sprinkle with the rub.
Place a cocktail sausage at the end of each piece of bacon and roll up.
Place seam-side down into the Big Easy basket.
Fire up your Big Easy and insert the basket full of smokies.
Cook for around 20 minutes or until the bacon starts to crisp (it will crisp up more as it cools, so do not over-cook it). The top pieces may get done before the bottom. If that happens, simply remove the bunk bed basket and continue cooking the sausages on the lower level.
Let cool slightly before serving.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
Note: To cook an entire package of cocktail sausages at once in your Big Easy you’ll need the Bunk Bed basket..
