Category Archives: Grilling

These are addicting!  Who knew a chicken burger could taste so good?  Chicken Bacon Ranch Burgers are loaded with juicy chicken, melted cheddar cheese, crisp bacon, and plenty of ranch seasoning.  They are a new household favorite and something you should keep stocked in your freezer for plenty of summer grilling. The recipe can be found here. Start by cooking the bacon according to package instructions.  You can use any brand, thickness, or flavor of bacon you prefer.  Just make sure to have enough bacon to use as an ingredient inside the burgers and as a topping.  Once cooked, remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain the excess grease.  Chop 4 strips of bacon and set the other strips aside. Add the ground chicken, chopped bacon, 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and the entire packet of ranch seasoning to a mixing bowl.  Don’t make the ranch dressing, just use … Continue reading

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We recently got a smoker and let me tell you, we’re having some fun working on recipes!  Our first attempt at smoking meat was chicken wings.  We thought, let’s start small, see how this thing works, and not spend a lot of money on meat in case it doesn’t turn out…. The result was Hickory Smoked Buffalo Wings.  They were phenomenal! We used hickory wood chips and the flavor really came through in the chicken wings.  The smoker is electric and does require you to add additional wood chips throughout the smoking process.  Perhaps next time we’ll try mesquite.  The whole process was pretty easy.  You basically smoke the chicken wings as is, then toss them in the sauce and smoke again, so the smokey flavor will also absorb into the sauce a bit. The recipe can be found here. Start by adding the hickory wood chips to the smoker … Continue reading

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Grilled Chicken Caprese is an Italian-inspired chicken dish that is perfect for summer!  It’s made with tender, juicy chicken that’s topped with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and a lovely balsamic glaze.  This dish can be prepared in a variety of ways, but my preference is to grill it. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating a grill pan over medium-high heat.  Spray with cooking spray.  You can also use your outdoor grill if you prefer. Combine the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Season both sides of the chicken. Grill for 6-7 minutes on each side or until cooked through and an internal temperature of 165 degrees F is reached. Top each piece of chicken with a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese.  Loosely place tin foil over the grill pan to act as a cover to melt the cheese (or close your actual grill over to … Continue reading

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Summer is fast approaching and one thing I look forward to eating more of is salads.  There is something about a big bowl of leafy greens with all the fixings that screams summer.  It’s a healthy meal and is light and refreshing on a hot day.  You also don’t often feel like you overate with a salad, and you can customize the ingredients to match your tastes. I want to share 4 of my favorite salad recipes with you: BLT Chicken Chopped Salad Grilled Chicken Arugula Salad with Strawberries & Feta Doritos Taco Salad Spinach Salad with Fruit & Maple Dressing   All are simple to make, delicious, and large enough to feed a family of 4.  If you leave the dressing off, you can portion out the ingredients to have lunches prepared for the week or dinner a couple night during the week (just add the dressing when you are ready to serve). … Continue reading

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Are you ready for the Kentucky Derby?  It’s usually held on the first Saturday in May, making it this upcoming Saturday, May 7, 2022.  A lot of people like to gather with friends and family to watch the races and enjoy some good food and drink.  I believe it’s known as “the greatest two minutes of sports” so why not spend all day in the kitchen for 2 minutes of cheering pleasure? 😊  Kidding…it’s a very fun horse race to watch! I will be preparing the following items to enjoy during our viewing pleasure, and you might notice a theme… Kentucky (where the derby is held) and whiskey/bourbon (sponsors of the event and heavily influenced in the south). Kentucky Hot Brown Dip Whiskey Spiced Chicken Wings Kentucky Oaks Cocktail Maple Bourbon Candied Pecans   Kentucky Hot Brown Dip is a rich a creamy dip that encompasses the wonderful ingredients and flavors of a … Continue reading

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Sometimes in the winter months we look for lighter dinner options to break away from the warm and hearty meals people typically eat when it’s so cold out.  It makes us feel a little healthier and is a great way to get in those veggies 😊 We recently made a Mediterranean Grilled Chicken with Greek Dill Sauce and paired it with Mediterranean Yellow Rice as a side.  It was incredible!  The chicken was tender and juicy, and the rice was light and fluffy.  But the secret to what makes this recipe so good is the seasoning – it makes the dish really savory.  The chicken is prepared with allspice, nutmeg, and cardamon, and the yellow rice is prepared with turmeric and cumin, making both dishes a little sweet.  So run (don’t walk) to your local Festival Foods to gather ingredients to make this wonderful Mediterranean style dish today! The recipes can be found here: Mediterranean Grilled Chicken … Continue reading

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It’s getting to be the time of year when grills get covered and ignored for a few months while we all hunker down and brave the cold temperatures from the warmth of our house.  If you are a die-hard griller that uses their grill year-round – kudos to you!  If you are like me and want to sneak in one last grilled meal before you stick to indoor cooking, keep reading 😊 Chicken Sausage Kabobs with Honey Balsamic Glaze are a quick and easy weeknight meal that is ready in about 30 minutes.  The chicken is moist, the vegetables are tender, and the pineapple adds a lovely citrus flavor to every bite.  My favorite part is the honey balsamic glaze.  It’s sweet and salty and creates this lovely coating on the kabobs.  I prefer to use bell peppers on the kabobs, but you can use zucchini, squash, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, onions, etc.  Feel free to really make the … Continue reading

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If you follow my blog, you are probably aware that I recently wrote a post about Grilled Jalapeno Poppers.  They are a great appetizer, a fun dish for a BBQ or cookout, and are full of flavor and spice!  I recently made a vegan version of the same grilled jalapeno popper recipe and want to share it with you today. The recipe can be found here. Jalapeno Poppers are essentially hollowed out jalapenos that are stuffed with cheese (non-dairy cheese in this case) and spices, are frequently breaded (we are skipping this step), and either fried, baked, or grilled to perfection.  They are a guaranteed crowd pleaser! To make my Vegan Grilled Jalapeno Poppers, you must first make Vegan Cream Cheese. You can buy plain vegan cream cheese from your local grocery store or make your own.  I prefer to make homemade vegan cream cheese.  For the most part, it … Continue reading

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Chicken Souvlaki is a classic Greek dish consisting of marinated grilled meat that is served with vegetables, creamy Tzatziki sauce, and pita bread.  It is a low carb, low in fat and very fresh.  So, for a very good reason, it’s a popular street food in Greece! Souvlaki means “meat on a skewer”.  Pork is the most common type of meat used but chicken, beef, and lamb are other options.  The recipe I am going to share with you today uses chicken.  It’s packed with flavor and will bring a taste of Greece to your kitchen! The recipe can be found here. This is a 3-part recipe.  You must prepare the chicken souvlaki (aka skewers), the yogurt sauce (tzatziki), and tomato cucumber salad.  Each has a vibrant, fresh taste.  You will feel satisfied without feeling full after this meal.  Let’s start with the chicken. Combine the lemon juice, olive oil, … Continue reading

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The Minnesota State Fair is in full swing.  Do you plan on going?  I know a lot of people that plan on attending the fair and a lot of people that don’t, for various reasons.  I sure love the fair and missed not being able to attend last year.  Unfortunately, this year, it’s also not in the cards for me.  However, that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy some delicious fair food at home, and you can do the same! First off, I want to share with you a link to a blog I wrote last year.  The blog is called Your Favorite MN State Fair Food…at Home, because that’s what the blog is about – creating and enjoying all the classic state fair foods in the comfort of your own home.  I wrote this blog because the fair was cancelled last year and wanted to give everyone the option of … Continue reading

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