Texas Pepper Jelly Blog

Archive for BBQ

Jane Goodwin | May 12, 2013

Texas Pepper Jelly: Sauces, Jellies, Rubs, Injections, and Fillet Knives

So, you’re stocking up on your grilling supplies. . . filling your pantry shelves with grilling sauces, BBQ sauces, dipping sauces, pepper jellies, rubs, injections. . . .and you’re sure you’re ready for the summer’s grillings. Have you checked out your knives yet? A good filet knife can make your cookout prep a lot easier. Texas Pepper Jelly is proud to carry Messermeister knives, and their Park Plaza filet knife is the best you’ll ever find and use.

Cookouts are a way of life for many people, and no summer gathering is complete without one. There’s something about eating in the house when the sun is shining and the breeze is blowing softly that is just, well, wrong. This weather was made for eating outside.

Balancing a paper plate of delicious food is what summer is all about. Isn’t that why we have knees in the first place? And no food, not even Thanksgiving dinner, can beat a summer cookout and the food that comes off that grill.

My neighbors are grilling already, many of them, in fact. When I get home from work around 7 p.m., the neighborhood smells so good I can hardly walk into the house from my car. The smell of good barbecue is unequaled in the annals of cookbook aromas.

We’re having a family reunion for Mother’s Day on Sunday afternoon. We’re all bringing picnic food, in spite of the thunderstorm forecast. The main dish is spiral baked ham, and the glaze, which MAKES the ham, is straight from the cookbooks of Texas Pepper Jelly. Why? Because that’s the best one!

We’re also having Pineapple Sweet Fire Potato Salad and the BIG crockpot full of Texas Partytime Beans.

For dessert we’re having dark chocolate cake because it’s my nephew’s birthday. But we’ve got a lot of Texas Pepper Jelly to spoon over the ice cream!

Happy Mother’s Day to all of our readers, because some of you ARE mothers, and the rest of you HAVE mothers.

Category: BBQ, crockpot meals, grilling, Messermeister Knives, Pineapple Sweet Fire, Slow cooker delights, slow-cooker meals, Super Easy Party Recipes, Texas BBQ rubs, Texas grilling sauces, Texas Pepper Jelly, Texas Pepper Jelly grilling glazes, Texas Rib Candy | Tags: chocolate cake, grilling, Mother's Day, picnic food, spicy baked beans, spicy ham, spicy potato salad, Texas BBQ injections, Texas glazed ham, Texas grilling sauces, Texas Party Beans, Texas Pepper Jelly, Texas Pepper Jelly injector needles, Texas Rib Candy, Texas Sweet Fire Potato Salad, thunderstorm

Jane Goodwin | March 8, 2013

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Texas Style Armadillo Eggs!

There are many ways to make “Armadillo Eggs,” but we think (and my kids agree) that Texas Pepper Jelly’s recipe is by far the blue ribbon WINNER!

Texas Style Armadillo Eggs are a perfect snack or party food. They’re easy to make, your whole house will smell wonderful, they’re nutritious, and your family will LOVE THEM!

Ingredients:

4 ounces of room-temperature cream cheese (I use Neufchatel)
1/4 cup Loco Cheese Dip (It’s on sale, too!)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon finely-chopped cilantro
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt to taste (I don’t use any salt because the spices are enough)
6 medium-size jalapenos
2 pounds bulk sausage
1 tablespoon Butcher BBQ marinade
Shake & Bake (if desired) (I use it on half the batch, as my husband loves it)

What to do:

Preheat your oven to 375. Lightly grease a baking or cookie sheet

In a large bowl, mix together the cream cheese, Loco Cheese Dip, garlic, cumin, and cilantro. Blend well. Add a little salt if you think you need it.

Remove the stems from the jalapenos, cut in half lengthwise, scoop out ALL of the seeds, and cut the sliced jalapenos in half, horizontally. (You’ll end up with jalapeno quarters.)

Put about a teaspoon of the cheesy filling in each jalapeno quarter.

Pat the sausage into as many 3-inch circles as you have jalapeno quarters.

Place a stuffed jalapeno in the center of each sausage circle.

Wrap the sausage around the jalapenos, completely, and form into an egg shape.

Brush the “eggs” with the Butcher BBQ marinade. Roll in Shake & Bake, if you desire.

Put the “eggs” on the baking sheet, and bake for about 20 minutes. Watch carefully; when the sausage is cooked, they’re done. If you want them to be a little browner, put the sheet under the broiler for a few minutes.

You can also cook Texas Pepper Jelly’s Armadillo Eggs on the grill.

Serve with various dressings and dips. My daughter uses Ranch dressing, my husband uses salsa, and my son dips them in everything. As for me, I like to dip mine in Loco Cheese Dip.

I mean, has anybody ever really had enough cheese?

Category: BBQ, Feast of Fridays, grilling, Loco Cheese Dip, Super Easy Party Recipes, Superbowl Food, Texas BBQ rubs, Texas Cookin' Tips, Texas Pepper Jelly, Texas Pepper Jelly grilling glazes, Texas Tips, TPJ Appetizers, TPJ Recipes, TPJ Rubs and Spices | Tags: armadillo eggs, Butcher BBQ marinade, dressings, Loco Cheese Dip, pepper jelly, Shake and Bake, spicy snacks, stuffed jalapenos, Texas Pepper Jelly, TV food

Jane Goodwin | September 7, 2012

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Spicy Grilled Taters

Oh my gosh, these grilled potato wedges are SO GOOD! They’re easy, too, especially if you’ve already fired up the grill for the meat.

Put a sheet of foil on part of your grill, as potatoes tend to fall through, and you won’t want to waste a single wedge.

Wash and slice (don’t peel!) several large potatoes of any kind – I’ve used red, white, and even blue potatoes, although the blue ones weren’t as popular with my kids. (It was a Fourth of July whimsy, but you never know until you try, right?)

Brush the potato wedges with various kinds of Texas Pepper Jelly and roast until tender. Times will vary, because grills vary, so turn the wedges a time or two and keep checking for tenderness.

Texas Pepper Jelly’s Spicy Grilled Taters are the perfect side dish for any cookout, whether you’re grilling chicken, ribs, steaks, or whatever!

Spicy Grilled Taters are also good when brushed with Rib Candy.

When we’re ready to eat, I put the bottles of pepper jelly and Rib Candy on the picnic table and everybody pours some in their plates to dip both the potatoes and the meat. I do not use salt when I cook, but with Texas Pepper Jelly products, we really don’t miss it.

My kids stir Rib Candy into sour cream for dipping purposes. It’s great!

Category: BBQ, Feast of Fridays, grilling, Spicy side dishes, Texas Cookin' Tips, Texas grilling sauces, Texas Pepper Jelly, Texas Rib Candy, Texas Tips, TPJ Recipes, TPJ Sauces and Salsas | Tags: dipping, Feast of Fridays, grilled chicken, grilled meat, grilled potatoes, grilled ribs, grilled steak, grilling, pepper jelly, potatoes, Rib Candy, Rib Candy and sour cream dip, Spicy Grilled Taters, Texas Pepper Jelly

Jane Goodwin | August 1, 2012

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Apricot Habanero and Meatballs? Mmmm, Delicious!

I have always made my (locally – very locally!) famous sweet & spicy meatballs by combining apricot jam, barbecue sauce, and pretty much most of the spices from my pantry’s “baking shelf.”

Now I make my soon-to-be-famous – locally and beyond! – sweet & spicy meatballs another way. The best way.

I use Texas Pepper Jelly’s new Apricot Habanero pepper jelly instead of plain, boring apricot jam. It makes such a difference – my family is crazy about it!

Ingredients:

1 2oz jar of Texas Pepper Jelly’s Apricot Habanero
1 bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce
1 teaspoon powdered cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon nutmeg powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
Dash of salt
Dash of pepper
3 dozen meatballs (cooked)

What to do:

Put all of the above ingredients (except the meatballs) in a big mixing bowl and blend well. Don’t use an electric mixer, but a whisk works great.

Put the meatballs in a large baking pan and cover with the sauce. Bake at 350 for a half hour.

I put a box of toothpicks on the table and a big spoon in the meatballs and stand back.

These are even better the next day. I don’t know about the third day; we never have any left then.

This is a great party dish, or a fabulous dinner dish to eat alone or over rice.

Oh, this recipe works well in your crockpot, too. In fact, the flavors blend even better when you do it that way.

Some people make their spicy meatball sauce with grape jam, but we’ve always preferred apricot, and Texas Pepper Jelly’s new Apricot Habanero is absolutely perfect for this recipe! It’s also great all by itself; we love to spread it on hot biscuits, and the kids like to dip breadsticks in it.

Put

Category: BBQ, crockpot meals, New Texas Pepper Jelly product, Slow cooker delights, slow-cooker meals, Spicy main dishes, Super Easy Party Recipes, Superbowl Food, Texas Cookin' Tips, Texas Pepper Jelly, Texas Tips, TPJ Recipes | Tags: apricot habanero, apricot habanero pepper jelly, barbecue sauce, crockpot, flavors, meatballs, spicy meatballs, spicy recipes, sweet and spicy meatballs, Texas Pepper Jelly, Texas recipes

Jane Goodwin | April 15, 2012

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Monday Munchies: Texas Cocktail Weinies

What do you think of when you think of cocktail weinies? (Oh, hush!) Usually, they’re always the same: those miniature hot dogs or sausages in a barbecue-type sauce. They’re often the most popular food on the buffet, especially with men and kids. We won’t try to analyze why.

Our Texas Cocktail Weinies, however, will rock your world. I’m not kidding.

Remember, the best recipes are often the simplest, and Texas Cocktail Weinies is certainly simple. It’s also, even MORE certainly, absolutely delicious.

Here are the directions – you probably won’t need to write them down. You will, however, most certainly want to remember them!

Buy a package of cocktail hot dogs or sausages, or both. (I buy both and mix it up)

Drain them, and dump them into a large bowl or casserole, something oven-friendly.

Pour any flavor of Texas Pepper Jelly over them. You can stop there, and have a delicious treat, or you can go a step further and then pour a bottle of Texas Rib Candy over the pepper jelly. Mix well. Heat in oven or microwave, start sticking toothpicks in as many hot dogs/sausages as are exposed, put the box of toothpicks beside the bowl or casserole, and step back.

Yum. We’ve used Pineapple, Berry Medley, and Peach Habanero pepper jellies so far, and we’re not finished yet. Summer’s almost here, and Texas Cocktail Weinies will be the perfect addition to any menu.

Category: BBQ, Monday Munchies | Tags: barbecue sauce, buffet, cocktail hot dogs, cocktail sausages, Monday Munchies, summer, T, Texas Cocktail Weinies, Texas Pepper Jelly, Texas Rib Candy

Jane Goodwin | February 21, 2012

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How About Some Homemade Texas BBQ Sauce!

We all know that there is nothing as good as barbecued meat, and we also know that no bottled sauce is as good as homemade sauce! Barbecue sauce, that is!

Ingredients:

1 cup ketchup or tomato sauce
1 cup of Texas Pepper Jelly’s Apple Habanero Rib Candy
1 cup water
6 teaspoons brown sugar
6 tablespoons white granulated sugar
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
Juice of one large lemon
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup apple juice
2 teaspoons corn syrup

What to do:

Dump everything into a large saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Don’t leave it!

Cover and simmer on as low a setting as possible for two hours or so, until it thickens. Keep it in the refrigerator.

Use it on ribs, chicken, pork, beef. . . anything that goes well with barbecue sauce.

Um, that would be pretty much anything, right?

This sauce is also fabulous in your baked bean recipe. And to dip your chicken nuggets into.

Etc.

It will stay fresh in your ‘fridge for a week, but don’t count on it lasting that long.

P.S. If you don’t have time to stand over the stove, just dump all the ingredients in your crockpot and let it simmer in there all day. It’ll be ready for your grill when you get home from work and start supper.

Category: BBQ, grilling, Slow cooker delights, Spicy condiments, Texas Cookin' Tips, Texas grilling sauces, Texas Pepper Jelly, Texas Rib Candy, Texas Tips, TPJ Recipes, TPJ Sauces and Salsas, What's Cookin' Wednesday | Tags: barbecued ribs, bbq ribs, crockpot bbq sauce, Texas barbecue sauce, Texas BBQ sauce, Texas Pepper Jelly, Texas Rib Candy

Jane Goodwin | October 20, 2011

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Winter Grilling with Texas Pepper Jelly!

Summer’s over, so we all need to cover and put away our grills.

Hahaha, just kidding. Winter grilling is some of the best grilling EVER!

However, just like summer grilling, winter grilling requires some special care. The first thing you need to do is shovel any snow off your deck and away from the grill. You don’t want to take any chances of slipping on ice or snow and falling into the grill!

Next, you need to make sure you’re dressed appropriately. In summer, we’re advised not to wear skimpy clothing in case of burns. In winter, we need to dress warmly, but it’s important that we not have any dangling scarves, etc, that might touch the flame and catch fire.

If you haven’t used the grill for a few weeks, check it carefully before you heat it up to make sure you won’t be cooking any spiders, nests, egg sacks, or cocoons. Gross, right? So check. (This is also a good rule for before that first springtime cookout!)

Another tip, which is good year-round but especially appropriate for winter grilling, is that if you’re going to fire up that grill in bad weather, you might as well use it for as much of your meal as possible. Throw in the potatoes, corn, and even the bread, as well as the meat. Just be sure you know the cooking times for everything so you can coordinate!

If it’s really cold outside, keep the grill’s lid closed for most of the cooking time. Opening it up too often when the thermometer is cold will delay your cooking time.

Important point: NEVER use your grill indoors, and that includes your garage. If the weather is so bad that you can’t stand outdoors and grill, give it up and use your kitchen stove. This applies to both gas and charcoal grills. Do not take a chance. Be smart about your grilling.

Most important of all? Be sure you are using Texas Pepper Jelly products! Seriously, no other products will give you the results Texas Pepper Jelly products can give you. Your friends and family will thank you.

You’ll thank yourself, too. Texas Pepper Jelly grilling products are AWESOME!

Category: BBQ, grilling, Texas Cookin' Tips, Texas grilling sauces, Texas Pepper Jelly, Texas Tips, What's Cookin' Wednesday | Tags: enclosed spaces, garage, grilling, snow, winter cookout, winter grilling, winter grilling rules, winter grilling tips

Jane Goodwin | August 16, 2011

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Apricot Habanero Sweet & Sour Meatballs!

I have always used apricot jam added to bottled barbecue sauce when I made sweet and sour meatballs to take to parties and family reunions. Now that Texas Pepper Jelly has Apricot Habanero Pepper Jelly, however, I’ve changed my recipe.

Now I’ll be taking sweet, sour, and hot meatballs to parties and family reunions.

If you thought sweet & sour barbecue sauce was good, just wait until you wrap your taste buds around that same simple recipe made with Apricot Habanero pepper jelly instead of plain ordinary apricot jam!

Just add about 1/2 cup of Apricot Habanero to one average-sized jar of bottled barbecue sauce, pour it over a baking dish full of meatballs – make your own or buy a package of frozen – bake until the sauce is bubbly, and set it on the table with a big spoon in it.

Then stand back.

I put a box of toothpicks on the table for people who like to spear their meatballs instead of forking them.

I’m a forker, myself.

This recipe makes a dish that will make your entire house smell so wonderful, strangers will come to the door and beg for a taste.

This is also a GREAT recipe for your crockpot. These hot summer days, in fact, I recommend putting the mixture in your crockpot. That way, your oven won’t be heating up your whole house.

Did I mention that however you choose to make this recipe, your house will smell like a dream? I did? Well, I’m mentioning it again. Mmmmm, barbecue. . . .

Category: BBQ, crockpot meals, Slow cooker delights, slow-cooker meals, Spicy sandwiches, Super Easy Party Recipes, Texas Cookin' Tips, Texas Pepper Jelly, Texas Tips, TPJ Recipes, TPJ Sauces and Salsas, What's Cookin' Wednesday |

Jane Goodwin | July 21, 2011

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Best Gifts for People Who Love Cookouts

I know the weather’s hot, but we’re still cooking “out” at our house and I bet you are, too.

There are several summer birthdays around here, and think this summer we’ve finally managed to “hit the nail on the head” when it comes to choosing great birthday gifts!

They all love to grill out, and I know you have family and friends who love to grill out, too. Why not give these outdoor-cookin’-lovers the gift of Texas Pepper Jelly products?

There are several great gift packages to choose from, and the best part is, when you order from Texas Pepper Jelly, YOU get to choose what kind of product you get in your package. I have never heard of any other similar company that allows customer choice like we do; most businesses have pre-made gift packs and you have to take what THEY think you want.

Not Texas Pepper Jelly. Just choose the kind of package and how much product, and then tell us what kind of products you want. Get ‘em all the same, one of each, half and half – we don’t care. We’ll make and pack your products AFTER we get your order, not before.

At Texas Pepper Jelly, our products are SO DARN GOOD, we know you’ll love them all. Even so, people tend to have favorites and we’ll accommodate your wishes.

Look through the choices and let us know what you want. We’ll give you what you want.

After all, you’re the only one who knows what you REALLY want.

Category: BBQ, Feast of Fridays, grilling, perfect gift, Texas Cookin' Tips, Texas grilling sauces, Texas Pepper Jelly, Texas Pepper Jelly grilling glazes, Texas Rib Candy, Texas Samplers, Texas Tips, TPJ Customer service, TPJ Gifts, TPJ Sauces and Salsas | Tags: birthdays, cooking out, cookout, customer choice, eat out, favorites, gift packs, gift tins, grill out, grilling, hot weather, outdoor cooking, pepper jelly, pepper jelly products, perfect gift, perfect gift for grillers, summer, summer birthdays, Texas Pepper Jelly

Jane Goodwin | July 12, 2011

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Grilling in the Heat!

We’re in the midst of some dangerous heat advisories, and few people around these parts want to fire up the oven or even the stove-top right now. Hot as it might be outside, it’s NEVER too hot to grill outdoors, and this weather is the perfect excuse – as if any of us needed an excuse – to thaw out some chicken and ribs and invite some people over for dinner.

Whether your grill uses charcoal or gas, anything cooked on it will taste far better than the same thing cooked inside on a convention stove. Don’t get me wrong – meat is delicious cooked indoors, but let’s face it: meat cooked outdoors on your grill, with some Texas Pepper Jelly or Rib Candy or Bird Bath is going to be delicious beyond all comprehension or description.

So throw together some Spicy Potato Salad, some Pineapple Habanero Cole Slaw, ask your guests to bring some cake, and have a feast.

P.S. Don’t be afraid to stir some pepper jelly into your cold drinks – and it doesn’t matter what kind of drinks you’re having, either. You know what I’m tellin’ ya. . . .

Yee HAW!

Category: BBQ, grilling, Spicy drinks, Spicy main dishes, Spicy salads, Spicy side dishes, Super Easy Party Recipes, Texas Bird Bath, Texas Cookin' Tips, Texas grilling sauces, Texas Pepper Jelly, Texas Pepper Jelly grilling glazes, Texas Rib Candy, Texas Tips, TPJ Recipes, TPJ Sauces and Salsas | Tags: BBQ, Bird Bath, charcoal, cold drinks, cookouts, gas, grilling, guests, heat advisory, hot weather, outdoor cooking, pepper jelly, picnics, Pineapple Habanero Cole Slaw, Rib Candy, spicy potato salad, summer cooking, Texas Pepper Jelly

« Older Entries

Archive for BBQ

Texas Pepper Jelly: Sauces, Jellies, Rubs, Injections, and Fillet Knives

Texas Style Armadillo Eggs!

Spicy Grilled Taters

Apricot Habanero and Meatballs? Mmmm, Delicious!

Monday Munchies: Texas Cocktail Weinies

How About Some Homemade Texas BBQ Sauce!

Winter Grilling with Texas Pepper Jelly!

Apricot Habanero Sweet & Sour Meatballs!

Best Gifts for People Who Love Cookouts

Grilling in the Heat!

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