Fourth of July Menu

[humanpest]

Long time reader, first time posting (It felt like the right thing to say)

I broke down and just ordered my OBS and should be getting it delivered Monday/Tuesday of next week... I've been bbq'ing for about 6 years (I'm 22 y/o); and I used to use a 18" Webber which was a huge pain in the arse as I could barely get a rib rack on there and still have the cover close.

Now that the intro's out of the way... I'm pumped to be able to design recipes on something that is a little more consistent in cooking temperature and smoke. I typically get thrown into cooking for the family on July 4th which is usually extra complicated as we go golfing in the morning.

Long story short... Here's my menu. I'm going to be testing it out over the next few weeks and I'll keep you all updated with  pictures and my final recipes. I'm throwing a few questions in so feel free to post any ideas and "OH GOD DONT DO THAT!"

Appetizers:
Salsa Bar (I'll make this 2-3 days before hand)

• Grilled Corn (Or Smoked if it comes out) and Black Bean Salsa
  
• Pineapple Salsa
• Guacamole

Smoked Chicken Enchiladas
and... the one I'm scared about:
Smoked Cocktail Weenies- I'm going to try to bake these... but I'm not sure how high I can get the OBS... I'm also afraid of putting too much smoke into these. Any suggestions?

Main dishes: I'm doing a "small plates"... if thats even possible with Barbeque :)

• Honey-Lime Chicken Quesadillas
• Pulled Pork (I'll probably test a few of the recipes listed on here but I'm leaning torwards a mustard based sauce)
• Spare Ribs (Naturally...)
• Bacon Chedder Sliders- At some point I'm going to make my own bacon, but I'm a little overwhelmed with the prep
  
• 
  

As far as side dishes go, I was never good at them, but probably corn/melon/beans?

Dessert something light, a fruit salad or orange julius-esque.

I'm not sure if anyones tried to bake in one of these things before but I'll keep you all updated !

-Andrew

[Habanero Smoker]

Hi humanpest;

Welcome to the forum.

Looks like a good menu. When I serve sliders, I also set up a slider bar off to the side, so people can put their on toppings on. My slider bar may consist of about 4 sauces plus ketchup & mustard; real bacon bits, chopped onions, butter pickles etc. Also grilled fruit also goes over well, such as pine apple slices, peaches (and other stone fruit) cut in half.

Keep us posted, sound like an interesting menu.

[sherlock]

I give up.....................

What are sliders?

;D

[3rensho]

Here's a post I made on smoked, homemade cocktail weenies -

http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=8641.0

They are great!

[westexasmoker]

I give up.....................

What are sliders?

;D

http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?t=439

C

[Caneyscud]

MAN, I'm free on 7/4 can I come over!   That menu is da bomb!  Well except for the dessert - fruit salad - you need a sundae bar!

OBTW, Andrew welcome to the forum.  hmmm  22 yo and been barbecing since 16 - my kinda guy!

Appetizers:
Salsa Bar (I'll make this 2-3 days before hand)

Can't go wrong with that, but maybe you could offer some grilled maters or grilled peppers also!

Smoked Chicken Enchiladas

These are great - I've done them two ways - green chili/smoked chicken enchiladas with white queso sauce.  The other is to use Pace's Picante sauce over the rolled up flour tortillas filled with cheese, onions, and smoked chicken and then with lots of cheese over all that.

and... the one I'm scared about:
Smoked Cocktail Weenies- I'm going to try to bake these... but I'm not sure how high I can get the OBS... I'm also afraid of putting too much smoke into these. Any suggestions?

Unless you are making homemade fresh cocktail weiners, all you are doing is heating the dish up.  So the OBS should do fine.  I don't think you need to worry about too much smoke.  Since the dish will probably be in a dish - only the top will be exposed to the smoke - besides, you can stop the smoke when you want by controlling the number of pucks, or you can cover the dish when you have enough smoke.  What recipe are you using?

Main dishes: I'm doing a "small plates"... if thats even possible with Barbeque :)

• Honey-Lime Chicken Quesadillas
• Pulled Pork (I'll probably test a few of the recipes listed on here but I'm leaning torwards a mustard based sauce)
• Spare Ribs (Naturally...)
• Bacon Chedder Sliders- At some point I'm going to make my own bacon, but I'm a little overwhelmed with the prep
  
• 
  

All yummy - and you could include some ABT's, Fatties (always a his), Shrooms, or Moinkballs.  Those sliders sound fun.  And you can offer some whole green chilis (ala New Mexico style), and maybe different cheeses - esp blue cheese as toppings.  Or maybe grilled portabello mushrooms.

Never baked in the Bradley - just more convenient in the kitchen oven.  But should not be a problem once you know the temperature nuances - i.e. the temp swing, and what temperature it is at at the rack level you are baking on.  The Bradley, is nothing more than an oven with the addition of a smoke generator.  It just doesn't get to a real high temp.  I think Bradley says that the temp can go up to 320 deg, but I haven't had it over 280. 

Keep us posted of how it goes - and post pics - we can all sit around our monitors and have a Fourth of July drool party!

[Tenpoint5]

I'm liking the Grilled Tomato idea. Reminds me I need to pick some up and make some more of these.

[Caneyscud]

I'm liking the Grilled Tomato idea. Reminds me I need to pick some up and make some more of these.

That looks tasty - a Pizza Marguerite without the crust - good for us ol' diabetic dudes! ;D ;D

[Tenpoint5]

Caney,
Them maters are really easy to make. Cut mater in half spoon out all the slimy stuff. Season with Salt, Pepper, and Garlic. Fill the empty cavities with fresh mozzarella cheese. Grill indirect until cheese has melted and lightly browned. If outer skin blackens a little thats fine then they taste like pizza or you can just peel off the skin. Very Very Addictive!!

[Up In Smoke]

Humanpest Welcome!
it doesn't look like you will be needing any help from me BUT....i may be calling on you very soon!
great menu!
10.5 how did you go about grillin them there maters without the cheese done fallin through the grate?

[lumpy]

Welcome Humanpest,
You forgot one thing for your 4th...............to invite us ;D ;D

Lumpy

[humanpest]

Thanks for the feedback all!

I almost laughed when Sherlock asked what a slider was... then it took me a few minutes to figure out what a "mater" is.

I'm not sure if I'm opening up a huge can of worms, but I'm gonna need to cook several pounds of meat until I figure out the best uses for my smoker so if you guys are in the area I'll probably have extras... Although this means you'd have to be in New York City (gasp!)

I still have to figure out of my cocktail weenie recipe is too ambitious but I'll probably heat up a brick or two in my oven to get the smoker hotter so I can actually bake in there. The problem with "Smoked Pigs in a Blanket" (I'm still working on the name) is that the puff pastry/crescent roll bread isn't going to rise well because the butter in the dough will melt poorly. Hopefully the bricks will help.

I might sub out the enchiladas for empanadas, so I can make these ahead as well.

As far as the grilled tomatoes, they sell those "veggie grills", you could probably use that have smaller holes or if you cut them thick enough you probably wont have a problem.

[Tenpoint5]

Humanpest Welcome!
it doesn't look like you will be needing any help from me BUT....i may be calling on you very soon!
great menu!
10.5 how did you go about grillin them there maters without the cheese done fallin through the grate?

UIS, The cheese don't fall through the grate because the mater is just cut in half not into slices. The sides kind of settled in the picture so it looks like slices, but each of them is a half of a mater. Make sense? The cheese replaces the seeds and slimy stuff and just fills in the cavity.

[Up In Smoke]

Oh i get it......kinda like a upside down helmut?

[Up In Smoke]

I almost laughed when Sherlock asked what a slider was... then it took me a few minutes to figure out what a "mater" is.
:D :D :D
andrew you will make it just fine!