Are You Ready for Some football

Are You Ready for Some football?

fOOTBALL AND TRAEGER

The Football season is right around the corner and nothing seems to improve football more then some food on the Traeger.

Click here for hot dog post

Click here for my pizza post

Here are some Traeger Recipe for good football eats

Big Game Day Ribs

STICKY TERIYAKI PORK & PINEAPPLE SKEWERS

BACON-WRAPPED POULTRY PORK SKEWERS

Meatball Onion Bombs

Brats in Beer bath

Pulled Pork

Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese

Simple Steak

Flat Bread Pizz 3 ways

Super Bowl Food The Ultimate Football Food

Hot Dogs and More on the Traeger

Hot dogs AKA Tubular Meat

The great thing about hot dogs and other Tubular Meat (Sausages and Brats) is you can always seem to squeeze a few on the grill.  I like that best at a high Temperature 375 or more to get a good char

but pretty much any cooking method works as long as your get the proper internal temperature.

Most of the time I just cook them as is but every now and then  I do prefer a Beef Hot Dog like Nathans. The Brats and Sausage are often Pork Products

 I do something special like wrap with bacon, or better yet stuff with cheese then wrap with bacon.

Here is the Traeger recipe for Bacon Wrapped Cheese hot dog

Bacon Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Hotdogs

As you can see I have cooked hotdogs all by themselves.  I have cooked them with hanburgers and pineapples, pizza and pork chops and pizza.

Just Hot Dogs

Pineapple, Hamburgers and Hot dogs on the Junior Rack

Hot Dogs and Pizza

Hot Dogs all alone

Hot Dogs all alone

Beef Chart

Beef Chart

I have seen other Beef charts like this before and have always found them to be extremely helpful.

I enjoy the fact that you can easily tell which cuts of meat come from which parts of the cow.  It also gives you recommended cooking methods for each cut of beef.  I have slow smoked many of the cuts that indicate pot roast or just roast.

You can Click Here to see some of the things I cooked with beef

The below beef chart came from this article

Here is a meat doneness Chart that I really like

The Below Meat Doneness Chart came from

Searing Meat -Traeger Tips and Tricks

Searing Meat -Traeger Tips and Tricks

Sear Steaks Grill Marks

I have gotten really nice grill Marks on my steak from my Traeger directly from my grill grates.  If you want a good sear on your steaks to lock in those juices then you should be doing the reverse sear method.  When I first got my grill I saw a recipe that talked about searing in a cast Iron pan.  I went out and purchased a reversible cast Iron Griddle/Grill.  I wish I had not been so fast to pull the trigger on that purchase because I soon found out about GrillGrates.  They are way better for the Grill then Cast Iron,  They have holes in them so you can get that grill flavor.  

GrillGrates

Will my grill run hotter with GrillGrates?
Yes. GrillGrates cook via all methods of cooking: conduction, convection and infrared. GrillGrates with their extra mass and surface area literally radiate heat and provide more direct food contact than conventional grills. In addition they convect heat between the rails. Aluminum is a superb conductor of heat smoothing out hot spots and cold spots and focusing the heat of the grill to the raised rails. Adjust grill temps downward and enjoy gas savings or use less fuel. Keep in mind that most grills typically run 100-150F degrees hotter at the cooking surface than the air in the hood anyway and GrillGrates will be hotter still. Kamado grills run 200-300F hotter at the surface, gas grills 100-200F hotter and pellet grills you can expect to see about 100F hotter. --- Directly from GrillGrate Webpage, Notice the very end expect to see Pellet grills run 100 degrees hotter.  Click here for Grill Grate website.

There are five elements to the the Science of GrillGrate

1. Amplifies the Heat of any Grill

GrillGrates act like a lens on top of any heat source. They magnify and focus the grill's heat converting it to infrared heat.

2. Flare-Up Protection from the Bottom Plate

The underside and hole pattern of GrillGrates blocks flare-ups from engulfing food preventing charring and drying out.   --- No Flare ups on Traeger anyway.  Ive heard of people removing drip pan and  using grillgrates on top of firebox either with or without the Grills Grate on

3. Conducts Heat More Efficiently

GrillGrates are made from hard anodized aluminum, which conducts heat more efficiently than cast iron or stainless steel.

4. The Valleys Vaporize Drippings

Juices and drippings fall into the hot valleys where they sizzle and vaporize into flavor and retained moisture. The valleys of GrillGrates are a flavor enhancing system.

5. Perfect Sear Marks

GrillGrates conduct and focus heat up the raised rails for steakhouse quality searing. Sear marks can be controlled from golden brown to dark, crispy and flavorful.

Above taken from GrillGrate website Science of Grill Grates 

Here is a review about different kind of Grates including GrillGrates Click Here

In the above review of different type of Grill Grates from amazing ribs they do rate GrillGrates very highly and state you can add Pellets or chips in the Valleys of the Grates for extra flavor.  I will be trying this out ths weekend.

Click Here for Tri-Tip using GrillGrates

Reverse Sear Video below
Here is the Link just in case https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ4xl7XJM08

Lobster and Bacon Wrapped Filets - Combinations that Work

Lobster and Bacon Wrapped Filets on the Traeger

Bacon Wrapped Filets and Lobster Tail

Traeger Recipe

Some combinations just work well on the Traeger.  When I think of combinations I think of surf and Turf (Steak and Lobster)  My favorite steak hppens to be Bacon Wrapped Fillets.  I have cooked Lobster Tails and Bacon Wrapped Filets 2 different times on the Traeger. The thing that was nice about this combination they went on the Traeger  and came off the Traeger  at virtually the same time. I go through the normal start up procedure Lid up on smoke for 10 Minutes, then close lid and pre Heat to a temperature of 225.  I then place the Lobster and Filet on the Grill and cook for about 45 Minutes.  I cook to temperature and not time.  I pull the Lobsters and bacon wrapped filets at an internal temperature of 135 to 140.

It Looks Like I had room for Pineapple as well, Ill keep that in mind for next time.

The Actual Recipes:

BBQ Lobster 

Cut shell with Scissor
Pull the meat out above the shell but leave attached at tail
Brushed with melted butter
Smoke at 225 for abt 45 minutes Internal Temp should be 135-140

My Lobster Recipe was adapted from this one

BBQ Bacon Wrapped Filets

Rubbed with Trader Joe's Coffee rub
you can use your own favorite Dry Rub
Smoke at 225 for abott 45 minutes to an Internal Temperature of 135-140

please note:

Any recipe I make is just a guideline.  I am not a big fan of gooey sauces so almost everything is I cook would be a dry rub.  You of course should experiment and see what works best for you.  I don't often recommend a rub because it is a matter of personnel taste.  These recipe would also work well on most other pellet grills or charcoal and gas grill using indirect heat for the low temperature recipes.

My Favorite Traeger Day

My Favorite Traeger Day

Brats and taters 

Steak and Lobster

My Favorite Traeger Day

Traeger Recipe
One could argue that any day I cook on my Traeger Junior aka Tjr is my favorite Traeger day.  With my schedule its not often I get to cook twice on Tjr in the same day.  Yesterday was such a day.

My morning errands included stops at Paul's Market, where I purchased bacon wrapped Fillets and Apple Brats.  I then stopped at the supermarket and purchased sweet potatoes and Brioche hot dog buns.

I fired up TJr and made the apple Brats and sweet potatoes for lunch.  Then a few hours later I fired up the T again and cooked the Filllets and Lobster for diner. 

The diner was special because my mom was in town and my wife picked up our 6 year old grandson from school.  My grandson only ate the fillets but every one else had filet and Lobster.  It was the first time I cooked for mom, she finally was able to visit.

The Technical details:

BBQ Lobster

BBQ Lobster

Cut shell with Scissor

Brushed with melted butter
Smoke at 225 for abt 45 minutes Internal Temp should be 135-140

BBQ Bacon Wrapped Filets

Bacon Wrapped Fiilets

Rubbed with Trader Joe's Coffee rub
Smoke at 225 for abott 45 minutes to an Internal Temperature of 135-140

The Rub

Apple Brats

Cooked Apple Brats at 375 about 30 minutes flipping once.  Got a nice char both sides

apple brats

Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes

Wash Sweet potatoes
Cut Sweet potatoes in half
Wrap Sweet potatoes in foil
Cook Sweet potatoes at 375 for about an hour till soft like butter

please note:

Any recipe I make is just a guideline.  I am not a big fan of gooey sauces so almost everything is I cook would be a dry rub.  You of course should experiment and see what works best for you.  I don't often recommend a rub because it is a matter of personnel taste.  These recipe would also work well on most other pellet grills or charcoal and gas grill using indirect heat for the low temperature recipes.

Grilled Steak - Traeger Recipe

Grilled Steak - Traeger Recipe

Traeger Recipe 

Grilled Steak Recipe

Start up Procedure
Smoke for 10 minutes with Lid open
Preheat Grill to high with Lid Closed
When Grill Temperature is 375 or so place Steaks on Traeger
Cook about 5 minutes or so per side depending on thickness.

Cook till internal temperature of

130 to 135 medium rare
140 to 145 medium
150 to 155 medium well
160 plus well

Please Note:

Any recipe I make is just a guideline.  I am not a big fan of gooey sauces so almost everything is I cook would be a dry rub.  You of course should experiment and see what works best for you.  I don't often recommend a rub because it is a matter of personnel taste.  These recipe would also work well on most other pellet grills or charcoal and gas grill using indirect heat for the low temperature recipes.

BBQ Corn Beef - Traeger Recipe

BBQ Corn Beef

BBQ Corn Beef  Traeger Recipe

2 corn beef 3+ lbs each

This next step is very important if you are buying an already cured corn beef
Soaked in water about 36 hours to remove Saltiness.  

Start Traeger on smoke for 10 minutes with lid open'

Preheat lid closed to temperature of 180

After the corn beef is on grill for 60 minutes to an hour  raise temperature to 275
Cook Fat side up spraying with apple juice every 30 minutes or so

Cook until  Internal Temperate of 185
Wrap in Foil and 1 to 3 hours in cooler wrapped in Towels

 I Used large smoke tube it burned 3 plus hours

Please Note:

Any recipe I make is just a guideline.  I am not a big fan of gooey sauces so almost everything is I cook would be a dry rub.  You of course should experiment and see what works best for you.  I don't often recommend a rub because it is a matter of personnel taste.  These recipe would also work well on most other pellet grills or charcoal and gas grill using indirect heat for the low temperature recipes.

BBQ Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon - Traeger Recipe

BBQ Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon - Traeger Recipe

Traeger Recipe 
I love a big rib eye steak as much as the next guy but every now and then a bacon wrapped filet Mignon or 2 or 3 is just what the Dr. Ordered.  I find no steak goes better with a Lobster Tail then a Filet Mignon.

BBQ Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon the Traeger Recipe

Start Traeger on smoke for 10 minutes with lid open'

Preheat lid closed to temperature of 225

Dry rub with your favorite rub or just salt and pepper
I have been using Trader Joe Garlic and Coffee rub or Montreal steak seasoning

Smoke at 225 for about 45 minutes Internal Temperature should be 135-140

Reverse Sear on both sides for about a minute or 2

Please Note:

Any recipe I make is just a guideline.  I am not a big fan of gooey sauces so almost everything is I cook would be a dry rub.  You of course should experiment and see what works best for you.  I don't often recommend a rub because it is a matter of personnel taste.  These recipe would also work well on most other pellet grills or charcoal and gas grill using indirect heat for the low temperature recipes.