Slow cooker black eyed peas are a wonderful thing. I grew up surrounded by them, it seemed. Canned black eyed peas in the cupboard. Dried black eyed peas in the pantry. Black eyed peas in the garden. They made an appearance at almost every dinner, and my dad still has them very, very often. And by very often I mean every single day. He has never burned out on them, and I can understand why.
A Great Side Dish. And A Great Main Dish.
This is my favorite way to prepare black eyed peas. For a little smokiness I add a smoked pork shank. And for a little spiciness I add a little jalapeno. To make it a main dish I add chopped smoked ham. For a side dish, I’d leave out the ham. Probably.
I avoid cooking dried beans in water if possible. I prefer chicken broth. It adds so much more flavor to the beans. I seem to always have gallons of chicken broth on hand. I save my vegetable and chicken trimmings, freezing them, and once I have enough I make a huge pot of broth. Slow cooker black eyed peas cooked in broth is a magical thing.
This is my favorite way to prepare black eyed peas. For a little smokiness I add a smoked pork shank. And for a little spiciness I add a little jalapeno.
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Note: If you wish to add smoked ham, do so 6 hours into cooking.
Remove ham hock and let cool slightly.
Cut meat from the bone, chop, and return to the slow cooker.
Remove the bay leaf before serving.
Notes
You don’t want to overcook the peas. Since slow cooker temperatures can vary, check them after 6 hours and every 30 minutes after to test for doneness.
I love making treats like this southwestern snack mix for my wife to take to work and share with her co-workers. Of course, whatever she takes has to be yummy. It also has to make a pretty good-sized batch, enough to feed over 20 people. And sometimes, I like to sneak in just a bit of spiciness. This mix checks all of the boxes, and it’s easy to make to boot. Popcorn, Chex cereal, Fritos and Cheez-Its. All those goodies in one bowl.
It’s Easy. And Yummy.
I used my homemade taco seasoning when I made the Southwestern snack mix. I like being able to control the spiciness and the texture. Also, I often grind my spice mixes to get them a bit finer. I want to avoid the chances of someone biting into a bit chunk of say, oregano. You can of course use a packet of taco seasoning. If you’re making the mix for a crowd you might want to use the mild mix instead of the spicy.
There’s no reason for frozen fries to be boring, especially when it doesn’t take much to make them really fantastic. Add a little cheese. A little bacon. A little heat, of course. And a sauce. In no time you’ll be chowing down on delicious fries like these Texas fries. And, in no time, they will be gone.
Wait… Ranch On Fries?
Hidden Valley has a big variety of Ranch dressings available, so if ‘regular’ Ranch is a little too ‘regular’ for you, try something like Sriracha or Fiesta Ranch instead. Either is great on Texas fries. You don’t have to settle for the ‘usual’ ketchup. Trust me on this. Ranch is better.
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.
A few years back I made a copycat of Arby’s Beef-n-Cheddar sandwich, one of my all-time favorites by a country mile. A commercial came on the tv a few days ago for Arby’s roast beef sandwiches, and I instantly started jonesin’ for one. As much as I loved my copycat Arby’s Beef-n-Cheddar, I wanted to take a copycat of the roast beef sandwich to a new level. The level of true copycat-ness. And here it is. Tender, tasty thin-sliced beef. Tangy Arby’s sauce. Onion buns. And of course, seasoned curly fries. It’s impossible to make enough of it because no matter what, I’m going to make it disappear.
Ok, So I Kinda Made A Change
I actually used Sriracha ketchup for making the Arby’s sauce, and left out adding any additional hot sauce. It had some kick, and wasn’t 100% a copycat of the original, but it was fantastic. In fact, I’d recommend that Arby’s make a Sriracha version of the sauce for their restaurants. It’d be a big hit, trust me.
Double The Sauce, Double The Fun
If you’re like me and you’re kind of addicted to Arby’s sauce, I’d double the amount below. If it’s not running down your forearm when you take a big bite of this copycat Arby’s roast beef sandwich, you’re not doing it right!
Tender, tasty thin-sliced beef. Tangy Arby’s sauce. Onion buns. And of course, seasoned curly fries. It’s impossible to make enough of it because no matter what, I’m going to make it disappear.
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’ve roasted a ton of turkeys in my Char-Broil Big Easy. It’s why I originally bought the oil-less fryer. I loved it so much the first time that I bought two more, keeping one at my parents house for a fantastic holiday turkey. This time I set out to keep the process as absolutely simple as possible. No brines. No fancy rubs. Just a 16 pound turkey, a little oil, and some seasoning and 10 minutes per pound.
Easy Every Single Time
There’s really nothing easier than cooking poultry on the Big Easy. It really is as easy as fire it up, put it in, walk away and come back later. Unless the weather conditions are really adverse, you can count on 10 minutes per pound for a turkey.
One Big Bird
I cooked a nice big 16 pound turkey in exactly 160 minutes. That’s in 30 degree weather with a very light breeze. I kept the lid off the Big Easy until the last 30 minutes to then add a little color.
I started with a pre-brined turkey. You can certainly get a natural, un-brined turkey and go thru that process, and I have. But for this cook it was about easy, and easy means getting a turkey that’s already in a solution that brined the bird for me. You can also inject your turkey for even more flavor, like my Cajun-injected bird on the Big Easy. Or try my buttermilk-marinated turkey.
You can use the basket that comes with your Big Easy, but I admit it’s a bit challenging getting a big bird in/out of it. If you’re going to do any amount of cooking on the Big Easy (and you should) I recommend that you at least get the hinged basket like you see in the picture above. It really makes getting the turkey in or out very simple indeed. See my thoughts on the accessories for the Big Easy here.
Your favorite seasoningsalt and pepper are just fine too! DO NOT use a seasoning mix that contains sugar as it might burn under high temperatures.
Instructions
Fire up your Big Easy.
Remove the turkey from the packaging along with any turkey neck and giblets that might be there.
Rinse the turkey in cold water and dab dry with paper towels.
Very lightly coat the turkey (inside and out) with the oil. You only want enough to help the seasoning adhere and to help crisp the skin.
Season the turkey liberally inside and out.
Place the turkey into the Big Easy basket and lower into the cooker.
Cook for 10 minutes per pound. Check for doneness, 180°F in the thighs and legs, and 170°F in the breast. Always check in multiple locations.
Remove the basket from the Big Easy and let the turkey rest for 15 minutes before carving.
Notes
I used a pre-brined turkey. You can easily identify a bird that is already in a brine solution by looking for the words ‘Contains up to 8% of a solution of water, salt, spices, and natural flavor’ or something similar on the packaging.
Ever since I made a batch of Fire-Eater saltines I just cannot stop making flavor after flavor of crackers. You can use just about any seasoning you like, but whatever you do, you have to make these bagel-seasoned saltines. Poppy and sesame seeds combined with onion and garlic flavors, with just a hint of fennel (use a little or a lot, but start with a little) make for the perfect combination. There’s really no point in only making one sleeve of these saltines, they won’t last that long at all.
More Seasoning, More Better
The seasoning may have trouble adhering to the crackers. If that happens to you add a bit more oil. Or just sprinkle the saltines with a bit more seasoning right before serving. Either way, everyone will love these bagel-seasoned saltines.
I just cannot stop making flavor after flavor of crackers. You can use just about any seasoning you like, but whatever you do, you have to make these bagel-seasoned saltines.
I was looking for a quick-and-simple meal idea when I came across this recipe for bacon cheddar pinwheels. Lucky me, I had everything I needed to make them on-hand. You can make any variation you want, substituting any kind of cheese or meats, but I went with the classic combination of ham and cheddar. With bacon, of course. I wouldn’t skip the bacon. You could, I guess, but that crunch really makes the pinwheels a little extra special.
Make Them Your Way
You can add a bit (and I do mean just a bit) of mustard or sandwich spread on top of the meats before rolling the dough up into a loaf, but don’t go overboard. You don’t want the dough to get soggy and begin to burst open while it’s baking. These can always be served with mustard, mayonnaise, or whatever you prefer, on the side.
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.
I cut our bacon cheddar pinwheels fairly thick since we were eating them as a main dish. If you serve them as appetizers you can cut them smaller and get a lot more servings. You can make the ‘logs’ ahead of time and bake them just in time for your guests to arrive so they are hot and ooey gooey.
11ounceFrench bread doughyou can also use canned or fresh pizza dough
1cupextra sharp Cheddar cheeseshredded
18slicessandwich meat
Instructions
Preheat oven to 390 F.
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Add the strips of bacon (do not overlap) and place in oven for 15 minutes.
Flip bacon and cook another 10-15 minutes or until crispy. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
Reduce oven to 350 F.
Remove foil from pan (if there’s lots of grease you may wish to dab it up first with a paper towel), wad up and dispose.
Spray the pan with non-stick spray.
Open the can of dough and unroll. Use a rolling pin if needed to smooth it out into a square or rectangle (mine wanted to be a square), but don’t let the dough get too thin. If desired, take a pizza wheel and cut off any jagged edges (but only if you’re picky like I am).
Sprinkle the cheese around the dough, leaving a 1″ border around all edges.
Add the sandwich meats and cooked bacon.
Starting on one edge, roll the dough up into a tight log.
Seal the ends and seam by pinching the sides together.
Cut a few small slits into the top of the loaf and transfer to the baking sheet, seam-side down. I used two large spatulas, gently sliding them under the log, to transfer the dough without problem.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
Let cool for 10 minutes before slicing as thin or thick as desired.
Notes
You can use any sandwich meat you like or mix it up by using several different meats!
Only 1 in every 5 of my attempts to bake from scratch comes out successful. That’s up from 1 out of 6 a few years ago, but still not anything to brag about. So, the more I can use my bread machine, the better. And it’s even better when what I make comes out fantastic, like these bread machine southern biscuits. They have a great buttery flavor, light texture and smell absolutely divine. Now, they aren’t super light and flaky like dough you’d make by hand (if you weren’t me that is) but they are a great substitute for those biscuits you get in a tube, that’s for sure!
Great Biscuits Make For Better Days
You can substitute maple syrup for the honey and end up with the perfect biscuit for a sausage breakfast sandwich. And of course, bread machine southern biscuits are perfect for the best thing ever made, deep fried biscuits. Oh yes!
Place the ingredients into your bread machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. For mine, I begin with the wet ingredients and then add the dry.
Process on the dough cycle until done.
Remove dough from bread machine and roll out until 1/2″ thick. Try to not over-work the dough.
Cut into desired sizes and transfer to a buttered sheet pan.
Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about an hour.
Preheat oven to 425 F.
Bake biscuits for 15 minutes or until lightly golden in color.
I could not be happier that I made this smoked spaghetti sauce. I always keep spaghetti sauce on hand for those nights when I don’t have time to do anything fancy for dinner. Smoking the ingredients for the sauce really adds a totally different twist to a (somewhat) traditional Italian dish. I did not add a lot of smoke out of fear that it might be overwhelming. After all, I was making spaghetti sauce, not smoked brisket chili!
Destined For Greatness
I wouldn’t normally put partially cooked meat next to vegetables on my smoker (or anywhere else for that matter), but I was only trying to infuse a slight smoke flavor into all of the ingredients. They all go into a pan later to finish cooking.
Got Room? Add More Garlic.
I recommend adding more garlic to the smoker if you have space. Keep the smoked bulbs on hand for any dish that calls for garlic. Like smoked salt, smoked garlic really adds a great twist to any garlic dish.
I prefer to use fruit or nut woods when I smoke unless I want a heavier smoke flavor. Pecan, apple or cherry are my favorites. I used apple for this sauce.
I could not be happier that I made this smoked spaghetti sauce. I always keep spaghetti sauce on hand for those nights when I don’t have time to do anything fancy for dinner. Smoking the ingredients for the sauce really adds a totally different twist to a (somewhat) traditional Italian dish.
Fire up your smoker for cooking at 225 F. Do not add much wood if any. The charcoal itself should add enough smoke.
Season the ground beef and add it to the smoker along with the remaining ingredients.
Smoke for 45 minutes. You aren’t cooking the ingredients completely, just adding smoke flavor.
Remove from the smoker and let cool slightly.
Chop the ingredients, except for the mushrooms, which are sliced.
Note: I found that rough-chopping everything and then pulsing the ingredients a few times in a food processor to work the best. Chopping the smoked vegetables was challenging and the food processor lets you control the texture more easily.
For the tomato sauce
Add the sauce to a large sauce pan or pot.
Add remaining ingredients plus the smoked meat and vegetables.
Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
My first trip to a Primanti Brothers restaurant was years ago in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. I was always sad that there wasn’t one in Indiana… until now! Yep, we have Primanti Brothers! Woo hoo! My wife and I ate lunch there the other day. We both ordered salads, even though they are famous for their sandwiches. The Buffalo and Crispy chicken entree salads are very good. For a starter we ordered the Terror Tots. It took about 5 seconds for us both to agree: we had to make them at home. So here it is, my copycat of Primanti Brothers Terror Tots. Crispy tots topped with cheese, bacon, spicy Sriracha sauce, and even spicier fresh jalapeno slices. You cannot possibly eat these fast enough.
Not That Spicy. Really.
The salads at Primanti Brothers were incredibly fresh, as were the jalapeno slices on the Terror Tots. And they weren’t that hot. They in fact were quite tame, and very tasty. I saw the fear in my wife’s face when they first came to our table. She was worried they would be too hot. But, they must grow their peppers especially lightly spicy because we thought they were perfect. They all disappeared.
