Smoked BBQ Brisket Dinner

My parent’s gave Zach, my husband (still crazy to say), a smoker cooker as a wedding shower gift.  Not just any smoker – an Old Smokey smoker cooker.  We broke it out for the first time this last Sunday for some football-watching fun and by-golly he’s already a pro!

He was all pumped about brisket so obviously I had to come up with the perfect sides.  Luckily, this is a pretty standard dinner at the Darling household so I went to a trusty recipe source – my momma, Pris.  I made her Better Than Cold Slaw, Deviled Eggs and Baked Beans (Bush’s, not Pris’s).  I’ll share those recipes next, but let Z-Man take the floor for his BBQ…

Smoked BBQ Brisket Ingredients:
Old Smokey Smoker Cooker
5 lbs of Beef Brisket (at least 8 oz per person)
BBQ Rub (we used Buc-ee’s)
BBQ Sauce (optional – we used Salt Lick Spicy)

1. Apply BBQ rub on brisket – both sides.  Don’t be shy.  This should be done 24 hours before smoking to allow the flavor to soak in to the meat.
2. Place the brisket – fat side down – in the smoker cooker.
3. Cook on low (medium-low) for 10 – 12 hours.
4. Every 4 hours – brush on BBQ sauce with basting brush.
5. Slice and grub!!

Z's Choppin' Block - BBQ Beef Brisket

BBQ Brisket, Cold Slaw, Baked Beans & Deviled Eggs!

Landon-o-meter: Zach did a KILLER job with this beef.  He sliced the BBQ thin and it was DEVINE with Salt Lick Spicy BBQ sauce.  Moist, smokey and flavorful.  GO Z-man!

Lee’s Easy HuMMMus

Hummus is one of my go-tos in the grocery store.  It’s great for snacking on veggies, with crackers, for sandwiches and quick when you need to entertain guests.

Why buy from the store when you could make your own?!  Thanks to Lee’s great recipe that is exactly what I did today.  It was easy and is SO creamy and mouth-watering.

I took a picture of the ingredients below because I was the idiot searching out the Whole Foods employee saying, “umm…First of all, what is Tahini?  Second of all, where do I find it?!”  Turns out it’s by the peanut butter/coconut butter – in Whole Foods at least.  Still not quite sure what it is, but some lady piped in and said you have to have it to make hummus.  So here we go!  Ha!

Lee's HuMMMus Ingredients

Lee’s HuMMMus Ingredients:
1 16 Ounce can of Chick Peas – aka garbanzo beans (who knew!)
2 Tablespoons Tahini (Might also be in the international food section – don’t be embarrassed if you have to ask.  Apparently it’s going to last a while too…it’s a big jar and you only use a little so happy hummus-making in the future!)
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic (or 2 cloves minced) – I used the jar kind b/c I had it.
2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice (I added a little more)
Food Processor

1.  Drain ½ the water from the can of chick peas
2.  Blend all ingredients in food processor until smooth
3.  Add garlic salt to taste (I added quite a bit…love me some salt!)

Today I topped the hummus with chopped roasted red peppers and pine nuts.  You could also use black olives, chopped tomatoes, fresh basil and feta cheese.  Or pesto even.

Serve with carrots, celery, flat bread, cucumbers, the fabulous gluten free pretzels mentioned in my previous post – anything!  Oooor you could use the crackers that I have pictured – another must-buy obsession of mine!!  Wisecrackers.  They are so crispy, flavorful and aren’t bad for you.  Check ‘em out.

Zach-o-meter: TBD.  Can’t wait to see what Zach says tonight.  I hope he doesn’t like it too much because I made it for my parents who are coming in town tomorrow, but I have everything to make more (just don’t tell him that!).

HuMMMus!

Gluten Free Pretzel Twists

I’m not sure how I found these, but I sort of wish that I hadn’t.  These are the BEST pretzels…no, best crunchy snack ever!  No gluten, no milk, no casein and no eggs. Sooo what’s actually in them – no idea – but they’re so yummy!

I’m not kidding.  People hate me for telling them about these.  They will call your name from the pantry… 🙂

You can find them at Central Market or Whole Foods.  I bet HEB has them, but I’ve never seen them at Kroger and such so treat yourself on a fun grocery store run and grab a couple bags of these.  Trust me – half the bag will be gone while you’re in the car.  They also have sesame and salt-free versions, but this one is the best.

So that’s that!  Let me know what you think…

Coming up, I’ll give you something to that would be perfect to dip them in.  In the mean time try Nutella…mmm…!

Yummy Crunchy Snack