Tag: barbeque

Memphis Style Dry-Rubbed Baby Back Ribs

On By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Recipes5 Comments

We don’t cook baby back ribs that often, but when we do, we usually do a wet marinade. This time we decided to try our hands at creating a Memphis style rub for a change of pace and it turned out quite delicious. We cooked the ribs on the grill, but we didn’t put them directly on the rack, but instead used a foil-lined baking sheet. They turned out to be moist and tender with just enough spice to have a little zing. The rub is something that could be used on different types of meat such as pork or chicken as well. We matched it with a Southwestern Pasta Salad that we’ll share the recipe for next week.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 Rack of Baby Back Ribs – membrane removed
  • 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Paprika (we used a hot paprika, but smoked paprika is fine)
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1 tbsp Chili Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Coriander
  • 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp All-Spice
  • 1 tbsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine all of the spices in a bowl. Using your hands, rub the ribs generously with the spice mixture. Let the ribs marinade in the rub for 2 to 4 hours in order to let the flavors absorb into the meat. Heat a grill to a medium-low heat, about 325 degrees. Place the ribs, bone-side down, on a baking sheet lined with foil and sprayed with a non-stick spray. Set the baking sheet onto the grill and close the lid, keeping the heat around 325 degrees. After 10 minutes, flip the ribs to meat-side down. After another 10 minutes flip the ribs back to bone-side down. Cook another 10 minutes and remove from the grill. Let the ribs rest for about 5 minutes, then cut into individual ribs and serve.

Memphis Style Rub
Ribs with Rub
Barbequed Baby Back Ribs
Ribs with Pasta Salad

Enjoying Food and Beer at the Denver BBQ Festival

On By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Colorado, Food1 Comment

We spent the weekend in Denver where we went to the 2nd annual Denver BBQ Festival. With 11 different pit masters, live music, cooking demonstrations, beer and drinks, as well as games for the family, it was definitely a fun time. Entrance is free and you can purchase items that you want or you can purchase a VIP pass that allows you to eat and drink all that you want. We chose to get the VIP pass so that we could try as many different barbeque options as possible. There were pit masters from all over the country including Kansas City, St. Louis, New York, Nashville, Texas, and Colorado.

Leg of Lamb with Peppers

Food Being Prepped

Cooking Demonstration

Tender Ribs and Baked Beans

Pulled Pork and a Loaded Potato Salad

If you are a fan of barbecued food, this event is certainly for you. With choices that include leg of lamb, ribs, chicken, brisket, pork belly, whole hog, pork chops, and lamb ribs, there are options for every type of food lover. It wasn’t just about the meat, though, as there were side dishes that include baked beans, potato salad, carrot and raisin salad, bloody Mary salad, and, of course, coleslaw. To be clear, although we tasted just about everything that there was, we certainly did not sit down and eat full portions from each of the food stations. Even with just tasting small samples from each of the pit masters, we still had more than enough food to make us full.

Different Bands Throughout the Day

Tender Beef Brisket

Serving the Large Crowds

Mini-Taco

Chicken Wing and Coleslaw

We think that beer pairs really well with barbeque, but there were many options available to drink. From mixed drinks made with Jack Daniel’s whiskey and Tito’s vodka to make margaritas, as well as non-alcoholic drinks, no one was going thirsty. It was a hot day, so an ice-cold beer certainly hit the spot and we chose to have a Colorado Lager from Odell’s Brewery. The festival took place in the parking lot of Mile High Stadium and it was certainly a very popular event.

Ice-Cold Beer

Sausage and Brisket

Getting the Food Out

Looking Out Over the Festival

Ribs with a Dry Rub and a Sauce

It is hard to choose a favorite with all of the different dishes that we tried, but there was a beef brisket from Pappy’s Smokehouse that was so tender that it fell apart. The leg of lamb from Sugar Fire Smokehouse was also wonderful. The pork belly from Joe’s KC BBQ was one of the first things that we tasted and also one of our favorites. And finally, the ribs from Peg Leg Porker BBQ were definitely worth eating again and again. That doesn’t mean that we didn’t enjoy everything that we tried, including those from Salt Lick BBQ, GQue BBQ, The Shed, Ubon’s BBQ, Memphis BBQ, and Jean-Paul Bougeois.

Lamb Ribs and Carrots and Raisins

People Lining Up

Chicken and Bloody Mary Salad

Salmon, Slaw, and Guacamole

Pork Belly and Pork Rinds

We will definitely put this on our calendar for next year. There isn’t a better way to spend a summer afternoon than eating delicious barbeque, drinking a beer, listening to music, and getting grilling advice from the experts. The Denver BBQ Festival is certainly an event that is fun for the whole family.

Asian Inspired Spicy Barbeque Beef

On By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Recipes4 Comments

We are always looking for meals that we can cook in a single pot and this one packs a lot of flavor. We chose a chuck roast, but it would be equally good with a beef brisket, but you need a meat with enough fat that it stays tender and juicy. Asian inspired meals can be found everywhere these days on menus throughout the world. We cooked this in a slow cooker, but it could have just as easily been cooked in a roasting pan or Dutch oven pot in the oven at 300 degrees in the same amount of time. It is simple, easy, and delicious.

Pan Seared Roast

INGREDIENTS

  •  3 lb Chuck Roast (Pot Roast)
  •  10 oz Package of Mushrooms – cleaned and stems removed
  •  1/2 small Yellow Onion – thickly sliced
  •  10 Fingerling Potatoes – medium to small
  •  1 cup Ketchup
  •  1 cup Light Brown Sugar
  •  1/4 cup Soy Sauce – low-sodium
  •  1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
  •  1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce
  •  1 1/2 tsp Granulated Garlic
  •  1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
  •  Salt and Pepper to taste
  •  2 tbsp Olive Oil

Covered with Sauce

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix the ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon of garlic, and salt and pepper in a mixing bowl. Heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Season the roast with salt, pepper, and the remaining garlic, being sure to season all sides.  Brown the roast in the pan, about 4 minutes per side. Place the roast into a slow-cooker that has been sprayed with non-stick spray, add the onions and cover with the sauce. Add the red pepper flakes and cook on low for about 3 hours and then add the mushrooms and potatoes. Cook for another hour. Serves about 4 people.

Adding Red Pepper Flakes

The Finished Product