NW BBQ and Grilling School

We were invited to a class at a friend’s house on Thursday. I confess that I mainly went for the food and because I love spending time with friends. I also confess that the only thing I really ever cook on the grill is hot dogs and hamburgers with the occasional Hobo dinner or ribs…

But this class opened my eyes to a whole new world of BBQ possibilities! We made about 100 (ok, not that many but a LOT) different dishes from ribs to chicken to cabbage, to squash to dessert. It proved that you can do TONS of tasty things on the BBQ and that everything really does taste better with bacon! ;o)

Their dressed-up BBQ sauce and ribs were my absolute favorite!

I’d love to share the recipes I learned with you but that wouldn’t be right… But if you live in the PNW and ever want to throw a fun get together with friends, give NW BBQ and Grilling School a call. You won’t be sorry!

Oh, and be sure to have everyone bring containers for leftovers…

getting ready to do ribs

BBQ cabbage with rice stuffing

chicken rolls

baked (BBQ’d) peaches and plums

stuffed peppers

portabella mushrooms

orange soda chicken

whiskey salmon

pizza

it is all ready to go on the grill

it actually took more than one grill to do it all

the kids worked up an appetite splitting wood

Thanks so much Don and Jan for inviting us! We had a fantastic and super delicious time!!!

PB Cup Cookies

These are the easiest cookies ever! Quick and easy when you need a dessert or snack NOW! Sometimes that happens… ;o)

1 chocolate cake mix

1/2 cup oil

2 large eggs

Mix well and stir in mini pb cups.

Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Be careful not to overbake. Let cool a bit on baking tray before removing to cooling rack.

Eat these with a big glass of cold milk!

Zucchini Apple Pie Filling

This year instead of freezing sliced zucchini to make apple crisp with, (see that recipe HERE) I made the pie filling and froze it instead. Now I have pie filling for a quick and easy dessert whenever I have a need (or a horrible sweet tooth…).

Here’s how you do it:

8 cups of peeled, seeded and sliced zucchini

Boil zucchini until tender. Drain and let stand in cold water for about 5 minutes, then drain. Put back into pot.

Stir together and then add in:

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 Tbsp Instant Clear Gel

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 Tbsp cream of tartar

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Pour in:

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1/2 cup apple juice

Cook over med-high heat until thick and bubbly.

After it cools, place into freezer containers and place in freezer.

My Very Own Pineapple Upside Down Cake

I wish I could say that I had this idea all on my own… I got it from a friend at church and I am so glad she shared!

All you do is make pineapple upside down cakes in tuna cans. Yes, tuna cans! Just be sure to wash them first… tuna and cake just don’t mesh well. ;o)

Here is my recipe that I love for Pineapple Upside Down Cake.

The cake itself will probably make about 8 cakes but I only had 5 slices of pineapple. The brown sugar mixture for the bottom of the cakes will have to be increased to make that many cakes, as the amount the recipe makes was enough for the 5 cakes I made.

Just follow the instructions exactly, only divide everything up into the tuna cans…

2 spoonfuls of glaze into greased tuna cans

add pineapple and cherries

pour cake batter on top

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until pick comes out clean

Let cool on rack for about 5 minutes, invert onto plates and serve warm

S’more Brownies, Please!

I love brownies!  All the camping we’ve done this summer reminded me of how much I love s’mores! So, why not combine my two loves??? I did it!

First make up a batch of brownies. My favorite are my Best Brownies!

Let them cool and cut into larger-sized pieces. Place them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with mini marshmallows and place under the broiler until the marshmallows are light golden brown. (You really gotta watch them! They get done FAST!)

Then remove them from the oven and sprinkle with some tiny pieces of graham crackers.

Melt some chocolate chips and drizzle the tops with the chocolate.

Let cool until chocolate is firm.

Eat them with a tall glass of cold milk. You have to have milk with these!