Spiced and grilled fajita-style chicken, peppers, and onions meet a bolillo and become a perfect outdoor grilling food, topped with guacamole and paired with spicy baked black beans and fun, summertime drink. Dinner has taken on a new feel around here, and not just because the patio is finished and we have a real table to eat outside on (though that doesn’t hurt by any means). No, instead, the days have been hectic and rushed, running from one place to another, back and forth and back and... more

Get your grill ready for a perfectly grilled steak sitting on a bed of bourbon caramelized onions and topped off with blue cheese butter. This weekend we finished our patio. Well, that’s not entirely true. We finished the main structural pieces that pull the patio space together. There are still plenty of other pieces that need to come together before the project can be signed off on. Still, we have an actual outdoor space to occupy for the first time in the last five years, and it’s... more

A new way to utilize your grill: for dessert with salted maple grilled bananas, served up on thin ginger cookies with just the slightest bit of chocolate for a new take on the traditional s’more. Plus, an evening with fellow foodies at Caribbean restaurant Caribe in St. Paul for Big Banana Night. I have to admit, my head is somewhere else this Monday morning. It’s hot and humid. I’m dwelling on it because I have a load of things to do inside my non-air-conditioned house when... more

We recently hosted a barbecue for a group of our friends. On the menu that evening were applewood smoked pork chops with jalapeño apricot chutney to pair with Bush’s Texas Ranchero Grillin’ Beans. Ole’s here to show you how easy it is to transform your everyday charcoal grill into a smoker for the pork chops. People who know me know that I live for cooking outdoors, and they are usually most curious about the ribs and pulled pork or briskets that I make on my smoker because... more

Today I’m participating in the Ultimate Blog Swap. You’ll find me posting over at GoodLife Eats this morning about a certain Roasted Potato and Spinach Frittata and striving for grace during moments of stress, and I’m excited to welcome Tara from Unsophisticook to Food For My Family where she shares one of her go-to grilled vegetable recipes in easy foil packets : Much like Shaina, I place a high priority on feeding my family wholesome and healthful meals. This can be challenging with five... more

Fajitas are usually something I order at restaurants. I love to get a sizzling skillet full of peppers, onions, seasoned beef and a stack of warm tortillas. The dish is always a feast for all the senses. When it comes to Mexican food at our house, we usually stick to tacos, nachos or burritos. Recently though, I felt the need to leave leave the usual and venture into the chicken and beef fajita territory. Why should the restaurants have all the fun (and my extra dollars)? These particular fajitas... more

Disclaimer by Shaina: Yep, I saw them over here on PW, and I even told Ole that she blogged his recipe that he was working on. However, you’re still getting them, and heck, maybe it’ll help you with some of the measurement amounts. The following is a post by Ole, who made baked beans last week! I’ve always taken beans for granted.  Ten minutes before the grilling is done, you open a can of beans, pour it into a bowl, stick it in the microwave for three or four minutes, then slide... more