I felt in love with the passion of Backyard BBQing a few years back. I decided to create this blog to share my favorite BBQ recipes and tips. I also decided to do some BBQ product testing and reviews on this blog since there's not a lot of reviews out there for BBQ products. I also created this to provide a nice resource of info to fellow Backyard BBQers. Sorry for the grammar French is my native language!
Well
I was given the opportunity to do a review of Stubb's Bar-B-Q Sauce from. Last Week I receive a complimentary bottle of Stubb's original BAR-B-Q sauce, Stubb's Sweet heat BAR-B-Q sauce, and Stubb's Chipotle Butter Injectable marinate in the mail which I am
pretty excited in doing a review on. Stubb's BBQ Sauces are made with very high
quality ingredients and are certified gluten-free which is a big plus.
Info
from their website:
"Stubb’s philosophy was to love people and feed people. And he
did both with this sauce. Born from the original recipe and made with
all-natural ingredients, Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q sauce is made for sharing. So
pour it on thick and enjoy it with family and friends.
Whether you’re grilling chicken, pork or beef, it’s hard NOT to make
it right with Stubb’s. For an extra kick, start with Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Spice Rub,
then baste the meat with Stubb’s Moppin’ Sauce to add flavor and keep it moist.
Toward the end, slather on Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q Sauce. You’ll be lookin’
and cookin’ like a pro."
Let's
get this review started!
Product:
SRUBB'S
SWEET HEAT BAR-B-Q SAUCE
Aroma:
This
sauce has a nice tomato peppery smell which isn't overwhelming.
Texture:
The
Stubb's Sweet Heat Bar-B-Q Sauce is thick in texture and you can see little specks
of spices in it. This sauce is dark reddish in colour.
Taste:
This
sauce gives you a taste of sweetness from the tomatoes followed by a chili
flavor with a hint of smoke. Also there's a little hint of molasses and sugar.
There is a nice little kick of heat which I wasn't expecting out of this sauce;
I expected less of a kick of heat. This must be due to the chipotle puree used
in this sauce.
Taste after cooking/glazing:
The
big thing I noticed after cooking with this sauce is that it actually gave a
little bit more of a kick in heat then the sauce by itself. You could also
still taste the molasses and sugar in the sauce which was a nice. It also did a
real nice glaze on the chicken drumsticks.
Before Glazing:
After Glazing:
Ingredients:
Water, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, molasses, sugar, brown sugar, chipotle puree (water, vinegar, chipotle jalapeno, tomato paste, salt, red chili flakes, onion powder, garlic powder), corn starch, salt chili powder, contains less than 0.5% of garlic, natural flavor, spices
Rating:
I
have tried a lot of BBQ sauce in my time from all over the world. I am in the
Canadian Navy and I always get different BBQ sauce from each places I go to try
on my grill. What I really loved about this sauce is that it was nice and thick
and you didn't have to worry about the sauce running on your other food in the
grill. This sauce wasn't hassweet has
everyone would expect it to be and it surprised you with a kick of heat which I
was also expecting to be a little less. I did love this sauce but found it a
little bit on the peppery side. If you love pepper this sauce might be for you!
I am rating this sauce a 4 out
of 5 Stars
The company did a superb job on the label designs of the bottles which I found
very appealing. I also love the fact that this sauce is certified gluten free. If this sauce was a little bit more on the sweet side I would
of gave it a 4.5.
This sauce goes extremelly well in hamburgers.
Here's where to find Stubb's Bar-B-Q Sauces products:
Stubb's
BBQ sauce can be found in many Grocery store chains.
Ok lots of readers and followers were asking me what are the big difference between Grillgrates and Craycort Cast Iron Grates. So I decided to create this chart so that you can see the difference and hopefully this will help you decide which one is best for your grilling need.
Grillgrates
Craycort Cast Iron Grates
Flare Up Protection
YES
NO
Even Heat Distribution
YES
YES
The "Sizzle Effect"
YES
NO
Provides Semi-Direct Cooking
YES
NO
Non Stick
YES
YES
Easy Maintenance
YES
Requires more maintenance and oiling or you grates will rust
Product Flaws
Grillgrates has tendency to slide around while brushing the hot grates or cold grates
Cast Iron Grates will rust if left in cooker for extended period of times.
Ok lots of readers and followers were asking me what are the big difference between Grillgrates and Craycort Cast Iron Grates. So I decided to create this chart so that you can see the difference and hopefully this will help you decide which one is best for your grilling need.
I have been experimenting with both of them for a while now. I find that both of them are excellent product to have in your arsenal. But I personally love the Grillgrates better for cooking my meats because it actually comes out juicier and more flavorful then the cast iron grates believe it or not! When it comes to roasting vegetables like peppers I like cast iron better for the charring effect. I also really love the Grate tool that comes with the Grillgrates which makes turning delicate food pretty easy. The prongs of the Grate tool fit between and below the rails to lift not scrape food on the grill. Grillgrates are also better for cooking delicate food like fish. Grillgrates now offer a griddle attachment which is pretty amazing! It doesn't quickly overheat like other griddles!
The cast iron grates have a real nice option of being able to change modules to add griddles, chicken holders etc.. It also has the nice option to be able to lift a section of the grate to had more charcoal or smoking chips or chunks.
Has you can see this one is hard to choose between the two!
Happy grilling!
Stay tune for more grilling tips, reviews and recipes!
Well for supper today my wife wanted some fish. So I decided to cook up some Sole Fillets. These are pretty easy to cook on the BBQ using a griddle. For this cook I used my Kamado Joe BBQ with the Kettle-Q griddle! The big bonus of cooking this on the BBQ is that you don't get the fish smell in the house. Well let's get cooking!
Ingredients:
2 TBSP Raging River (Dizzy Pig Spices)
3/4 Cup flour
8 Sole fillets
1/2 cup milk
1 large egg
Directions:
1. In a plate or large bowl add the spices, flour, and blend very well and this will be your batter;
2. In a separate bowl add the large egg and milk and beat together and this will be your egg wash;
3. Now dip the Sole fillets in the egg wash and ensure it well coated;
4. Now dip the egg wash Sole fillets in the batter;
5. Place the battered Sole fillets in a casserole and cover and refrigerate for 45 minutes for the batter to set;
6. Now it's time to light your BBQ and preheat it and the griddle till water sizzle very fast on the griddle;
7. Place the battered Sole fillets on the griddle and cook approximately 3-4 minutes per side or until nice and golden!
When it comes to BBQing there's so many choice in accessories out there for your grills. But there's lots of accessories out there that you really don't need and a big point to remember when buying BBQ's and accessories is that you get what you pay for! Trust me in my many years of BBQing I bought lots of stuff that didn't work as intended and its poor quality didn't last at all; or only used ounce and never touch again!
Here's my list of must have BBQ accessories and the reason why:
1.Looftlighter or a good quality Charcoal Chimney;
I say this is the number one must have because we have to light are charcoal BBQ's before we can even start cooking!
I strongly recommend the Looftlighter because it can ignite anything from charcoal to wood with the touch of a button within 60 seconds. It also eliminating the use of lighter fluid which gives you the added bonus of not worrying about toxic fumes and you don't aft to worry about your food tasting like lighter fluid or chemical taste. It's also a lot safer to use then Lighting chimney and lighter fluid. Using the Looftlighter is also more environmentally friendly.
But if you can't afford the Looftlighter my second choice would definitely be the charcoal chimney.
2.A good pair of insulated BBQ gloves like the BBQ bravo Gloves;
Well I definitely say a good pair of BBQ gloves are a must have when BBQing. You need them to handle hot grill grates, pizza stones, heat deflectors, plate setters, griddles, charcoal chimney, etc...
Source: Youtube uploaded by Fredsmusic and BBQ
The best pair of BBQ gloves I ever used are definitely the BBQ Bravo Gloves due to the fact that they are pretty well insulated, good quality leather, and they are long in length offering protection to your arms from heat as well!
3. Instant read thermometer like the Thermapen;
Every BBQer's must have a good instant read thermometer to ensure that everything is properly cooked especially meats! You want to always ensure that your meat has reached a safe internal temp to ensure all possible harmful bacteria in meats are killed.
I personally recommend the Thermapen for several reasons, slender probe, 3-second reading, biomaster anti-bacterial additive and it's moisture-proof. You want to take your temperature reading as quickly as possible to prevent burning your hands and the Thermapen is the most accurate thermometer I ever used and the quickest! It's also pretty rugged and use by lots of professional cooks, pit masters, and BBQers.
4. A good set of BBQ tongs;
All BBQer's out there knows that a good set of BBQ tongs is very important to have. I strongly recommend tongs that are at least 16 inches or more in length to protect you from the heat from the hot grill. It's also equally important to have a good insulated handles so it doesn't radiate the heat in your hands. You also want tongs that are light in weight and has a comfortable grip in your hand. Good tongs allow you to grip on to small and large items without crushing even the most delicate foods.
5. A set of Grillgrates;
Lots of folks would say why a set of Grillgrates well let me explain to you why. Well it's one of my favorite accessories to use and I love them because it protects your food from Flare ups, it gives you more juicier and tender meats, and it gives you the perfect sear marks every time. It's also the best to cook delicate food like salmon fillets because the grates are non-stick.
GrillGrates cook via all methods of cooking: conduction, convection and infrared which means they distribute even heat and retain heat. Also with their extra mass and surface area it literally radiate heat and provide more direct food contact than conventional grills.
With GrillGrates, juices sizzle just below the food. This aromatic sizzling delivers a huge pop of flavor instead of charred taste. Over time, fatty juices drain out through the fat draining holes in the valleys. The backside of the GrillGrates will quickly season to a shiny charred black. The drained fat chars the back of the GrillGrates and not the outside of your food.
6. A good quality griddle like the Kettle-Q;
When I first got introduced to griddles I was kind of really iffy about them. That all change after I started using the Kettle-Q griddle from the Little Griddle Innovations. They make different style and sizes of griddles to match all the different type and size of BBQ's. The griddle broth my cooking on the grill to next level allowing me to cook breakfast like eggs, bacon, and ashes browns. It also allow you to cook stir fries, Quesadillas, Burritos, Fajitas and many other possibilities! It's also extremely easy to clean which is a big plus!
There's lots of cheap imitation of griddles out there that's why it's very important to ensure its made by Little Griddle Innovations. The reason I am saying this is that there's are built like a tank and are built to last and are design for even heat distribution and will never warp. Also there warranty on them are unbeatable. I would definitely pay the 10-15 dollars more to get one from them since I know the quality is there. I had a cheap imported version and it warped within a year! Lots of my friends owned a griddle made by Little Griddle Innovations and it never warp and they are still like new!
7. A good quality BBQ grill brush;
Every BBQer out there knows that it's very important to have a good quality BBQ grill brush. The reason you need a good quality brush is to be able to brush your grill, Grillgrates before and after each cook. It's also very important to always apply a light coat of oil on your grill and Grillgrates after each brushing. you want a brush with very durable bristles that can withstand a lot of scrubbing and the heat from the grill.
Happy Grilling!
Stay tune for more tips, recipies, and great reviews.
Early last week I receive a Looftlighter from StJohn from looftlighter.com. When I received the Looftlighter I was pretty empress on how well the Looftlighter was packaged. Care was definitely considered in the packaging of the Looftlighter so it doesn't get damaged in transit.
Well if you guys never heard of them or wonder what is a Looftlighter. The Looftlighter is basically a electric charcoal lighter that uses technology that supper heats the airstream to 600 °C / 1112 °F on the desired spot on the charcoals and lights it within 60 seconds. The Looftlighter is a Swedish invention and patented there.
The beauty of the Looftlighter is that it can ignite anything from charcoal to wood with the touch of a button. It also eliminating the use of lighter fluid which gives you the added bonus of not worrying about toxic fumes and you don't aft to worry about your food tasting like lighter fluid or chemical taste. It's also a lot safer to use then Lighting chimney and lighter fluid. Using the Looftlighter is also more environmentally friendly.
Specifications from their website:
Size and Weight
§Lenght: 452 mm (17,8 inches)
§Width: 65 mm (2,6 inches) (at the most)
§Depth: 65 mm (2,6 inches) (at the most)
§Weight: 880 g
Power
§1800 Watt
§120V
§50 Hz
§600°C
Usage
3 meter power cord (9,8 feet)
Warranty
The warranty is valid 12 months from the day of the purchase. The warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship. We are not responsible for personal injuries and material damage inflicted by improper or careless use.
When I recieved the Looftlighter I was kind of effy on how it would performe. Well let me tell you I was beyond impress on how fast the Looftlighter actually lit my lump charcoal as you will see in my video. I had a pretty good flame going in one spot within 45-60 seconds which is totally impressive. I found its best to light a spot at 12 O'clock, 3 O'clock, 6 O'clock and 9 O'clock to get a nice even heat in my Kamado Joe and Big Green Egg BBQ. It took me aproximately 3 minutes to have flames in all four spots in my BBQ and a nother 2 minute to have my BBQ ready to go at 500°F. which is pretty fast and impressive. I also loved the fact that the perfurated shroud/casing arround the unit was quick in cooling down. I have noticed it takes aproximately 5-10 seconds for the casing to be cooldown enough for the touch which is quite a good safety feature. It also has a metal foot with a built in bottle opener that is used to lay down the too after each use to let it cool down so you don't burn down your deck or table.
Metal foot and bottle Opener
As you can see it has a protective metal casing
I have used the lighting stick/cube, lighting chimney, 99% Isopropil/rubbing alcohol and torch to light my Kamado Joe and Big Green Eggs with. From my experience so far I find using the Looftlighter more cost effective on the long run then the other methods. The loofthligher is also a lot easier to use and a lot faster in lighting the lump or briquette charcoal.
Here's how easy it is to use the Looftlighter:
1. Touch the desired spot on your charcoal with the Looftlighter;
2. Press and hold the button on the Looftlighter;
3. Ounce sparks appears draw back the Looftlighter a little bit (approximately after 10-20 sec);
4. Continue to point the Looftlighter in the same direction till you have a nice flame (approximatelly 45-60 from the start of the entire process).
Source: Looftlighter.com
Note: The first time using the Looftlighter the unit will smoke. Its the oil burning off the element nothing to worry about.
Why use the Looftlighter?
"With the Looftlighter you will never again need lighter fluid, lighting cubes or other chemicals. The lighter fluid is forbidden in California since 4 years back and the EU want to forbid it year 2014.
Lighter fluid and other chemicals using for light a barbecue is dangerous for the environment but also for the people using it.
With the Looftlighter you light your grill or fireplace in a way friendly for the environment and also safe for you." Source: looftligher.com
Here's a little bit of history of the Looftlighter company from there website:
Looft Industries AB is an innovative Swedish company specialized in developing, designing and marketing new products in the grill segment.
We have developed our own trademarks such as the Looftlighter and the Looftaccessories.
We have our own very prominent design team and also a big interest in environment friendly products; for instance the Looftlighter eliminates all use of lighter fluid, which only in Sweden is more than 10 million bottles/year.
We started marketing the Looftlighter in Stockholm Sweden 2006 and it has now sold over 100.000 pieces in 22 countries world wide.
We continue our aim to develop better, more innovative and more environmentally friendly products to help getting that food as perfect as possible!
The Looftlighter story
It all began 1997 when theatre director Richard Looft got angry. The chicken he barbecued tasted lighter fluid! Richard started thinking of a better and more environment friendly way to light the grill. He poured coal into a toaster, turned the flow around in a vacuum cleaner and discovered that the coal got ready to use in just a few minutes! In 2003 a prototype was presented to the Swedish Inventors Association. In 2005 Looft Industries Ltd was established. In 2006 the first 5000 Looftlighters arrived in Stockholm and Richard then called the most exclusive department stores. Nobody wanted even to see him… So he took his grill, placed himself outside the shops, called again to the purchasers and asked for 60 seconds of their time. They came out, Richard made his demonstration and all ordered the Looftlighter right in the street. Today the Looftlighter is being sold as a BBQ- and fire place lighter in all of Scandinavia, more than ten countries in Europe and has also been introduced in the USA. Source: looftligher.com
Rating:
Well after using the Looftlighter for a little while now I am tottaly impress on how fast it can actually light your charcoal. The unit is also built to last and is actually pretty easy to use. I also loved the heavy duty power cord they used compared to the cheap electric starters. I beleave the going price of aproximatelly $80 for them is totally worth every penny. If you count the price of your lighting stick/cube, propane, fluid use per year its actually a lot more then this unit would cost you. I love the fact that this unit is pretty enviromentally friendly and takes less then a minute to get a flame going and that I don't have to wait over 10 minutes to start cooking. I definatelly without a doubt rate the Looftlighter a 5 Star out of 5 Star. This one is definatelly a must have and I recommend it to all BBQ owner and fireplace owners.
