Turn up the heat and flavor for the big game with tasty BBQ

StatePoint - Hosting a Big Game watch party? By following the playbook of BBQ experts, you’ll have your friends and family cheering for your game day spread.

“The trick to achieving tasty BBQ is real smoke flavor. And, to get real smoke flavor, you need quality, natural hardwoods, with or without a pellet grill,” says Levi Strayer of Bear Mountain BBQ, “Start grilling with pellets, and everyone will immediately taste the difference—it’s a game changer.”

With that philosophy in mind, Bear Mountain BBQ ambassador Jennifer Danella is sharing two BBQ winning recipes. Both incorporate the brand’s premium pellets to bring unbeatable flavor to the table.


Jennifer Danella/StatePoint Media

Sweet Heat Barbeque Wild Turkey Bites

Ingredients:

• 1 boneless, skinless turkey or chicken breast, approximately 2 pounds, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 tablespoon chili powder

• 1 teaspoon paprika

• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 tablespoon loosely-packed light brown sugar

• 1 package center-cut bacon, cut in half

• Sliced green onions

• Ranch dressing

• Chef’s Choice or Butcher’s Blend Bear Mountain BBQ Pellets

• 1/2 cup sweet barbecue sauce

• 2 tablespoons buffalo sauce

• 1 tablespoon minced garlic

Directions:

1. Preheat grill to 400 degrees F.

2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. Place 1-inch turkey pieces into a medium size bowl. Sprinkle chili powder, paprika, cayenne, garlic salt, black pepper and brown sugar over top. Mix well.

4. Wrap half a slice of bacon around each turkey piece. Secure with a toothpick and place them onto the parchment paper.

5. Place the baking sheet into your preheated grill and bake for 25 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the barbecue sauce, buffalo sauce and garlic in a small bowl. Brush the turkey pieces halfway through cooking. Brush another layer of sauce five minutes before the cook time is over. Cook until the turkey pieces reach 165 degrees F.

6. Garnish with sliced green onions and serve with ranch dressing for dipping.


Beer Cheese Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese grated

• 1/2 cup gruyere cheese grated

• 8 ounces cream cheese softened

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 1/2 of a 1-ounce Hidden Valley Ranch Packet

• 2 tablespoons green onions chopped.

• 1/4 cup German lager beer

• 2 tablespoons baking soda

• 1 can biscuits

• 1 large egg, mixed with 1 tablespoon water, for brushing biscuits

• 12-inch cast iron skillet

• Bear Mountain BBQ’s Chef’s Choice Blend pellets

Directions:

1. Preheat pellet grill to 350 degrees F.

2. In large bowl, combine 1 cup cheddar, gruyere, cream cheese, Dijon mustard, Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning, beer and 1 tablespoon green onions. Mix evenly.

3. Cut biscuits in half. Roll each half into a ball, then slice an X across top.

4. Boil 2 cups water in medium saucepan. Once boiling, add baking soda and mix immediately.

5. Add biscuits to grill in batches and cook until puffy, approximately 1 minute. Remove and transfer to skillet, forming ring along inside edge.

6. Brush biscuits with egg wash. Sprinkle with salt.

7. Transfer dip to center of skillet. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar.

8. Smoke until biscuits are golden and dip is bubbly, 30-35 minutes.

9. Garnish with remaining green onions. Serve!


As you make your Game Day preparations, head to Walmart, which is carrying a new collection of Bear Mountain’s grilling and smoking pellets. The five exclusive flavors -- Smoky Apple Whiskey, Maple Bourbon Pecan, Chef’s Choice, Butcher’s Blend and Chophouse Blend -- add unrivaled flavor to all grilling and smoking occasions. The collection can also be found online at Walmart.com. For recipe ideas and techniques for adding smoke flavor to your food using any grill, visit bearmountainbbq.com.

To bring your A-game to the Big Game, level up your hosting with mouthwatering BBQ treats.



Easy-Peazy recipe: Enjoy classic Buffalo Chicken Wings at home

StatePoint Media -- It is time for the Illinois high school football playoffs, and there’s only one thing to make game day a bigger win: delicious game day food!

Looking to add some kick to kick-off before or after St. Joseph-Ogden or Unity's first-round home playoff game this Saturday? Take flavor and heat off the bench and put them into the game with these recipes from Frank’s RedHot, America’s number one hot sauce. Whether you’re tailgating at the game or hosting a postgame party at home, Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce, made with a premium blend of aged cayenne peppers, is a must-have ingredient.

Photo provided
Make your own delicious chicken wings for your next game day feast.

Classic Buffalo Chicken Wings

If you’re someone who agrees that no tailgate or watch party is complete without wings, you’re in good company.

According to Chef Jordan Carfagno of Frank’s RedHot, chicken wings are the brand’s most searched recipe during football season. And it’s no wonder, Frank’s is the original Buffalo wings sauce flavor. Anyone looking to kick their wings up a notch can try this mouthwatering recipe for a classic take on wings, and it can be made in the oven at home, or in an air fryer if you’re tailgating.


Ingredients:
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
•1/2 cup Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce
• 2 and 1/2 pounds chicken wing pieces


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Mix butter and RedHot Sauce in medium bowl; set aside.

2. Arrange wings on large foil-lined pan. Bake on lowest oven rack for 30 minutes or until crispy, turning once.

3. Toss wings in sauce mixture until well coated. Serve with blue cheese and celery, if desired.


Buffalo Chicken Dip

Chef Carfagno says dip recipes are gaining popularity this year, and this spicy creamy Buffalo chicken dip is the MVP of them all. Make it in the oven at home or plug in an instant pot or slow cooker for on-the-go prep.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cups Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Spoon into a shallow 1-quart baking dish.

2. Bake 20 minutes or until mixture is heated through; stir. Sprinkle with green onions, if desired, and serve with chips, crackers and cut up veggies.

Check out franksredhot.com for more game-day recipes and inspiration.

This football season, bring your A-game to your tailgate spread by adding the perfect blend of flavor and heat to classic fan favorites.


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