Category: Camping Cooking

After doing some research and watching several Youtube videos on personal reviews and some from the Traeger Youtube Channel, I have come to one easy decision.

I need a Traeger.

During my research, I learned several of the employees here at Walnut Ridge have them and cannot say enough good things about the superior taste their Traegers add to their meals.  My dad owns one and what I get to sample from him… I must say that I agree with them. The superiority of flavor and juiciness I tasted from the wood pellet smoker was beyond comparison for a charcoal or gas grill.

As I’ve mentioned, the Traegers use an all natural wood pellet that’s made of compressed saw dust to be a cleaner burn so the amount of ash is reduced.  They are as easy to use as your oven in your own kitchen, reaching temperatures ranging from 150 to 450 degrees! Traegers have the ability to “grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, or barbecue” which I have seen many women are becoming confident in doing!  Before, I would never try to grill anything, too afraid to mess with the gas grill and too inexperienced with charcoal.  But with the Traegers you just set the electric temperature control and add the wood pellets.  After that you don’t need to check your food that often since you don’t want to lower the temperature too much and keep in the flavorful inducing smoke. Luckily you can usually find good directions for Traeger recipes!

Our Parts Manager, Trish, is one of our team members here that owns and frequently uses their Traeger Grill. One of her favorite recipes to use is Bacon Wrapped Green Beans.  Oh have mercy do they look good!  I know my grandma puts bacon in her green beans anyway, so this one is just a different twist on an old favorite.  The Traeger Youtube Channel is full of recipes from Appetizers to Desserts!  The Honey Bourbon Grilled Peaches might be one that I try to make for my family!

If this wasn’t enough to convince you that you too need to try a Traeger, come down to our Parts Department and talk to one of our knowledgable parts team members!

I’ll fully admit that my love for s’mores has turned a bit towards obsession but I am determined to find every type of s’more recipe out there under the sun! And speaking of sun, with the temperatures reaching into the 90’s it is not quite as appealing to sit around a hot fire roasting marshmallows. Instead, why not try a summer version of this sweet treat that won’t leave you all sweaty. All you need is:

* a container of slow churned chocolate ice-cream
* one container of cool-whip
* box of graham crackers

Directions:
* scoop ice-cream into a 9×13 pan smoothing it out evenly and freeze for 3 hours
* remove from freezer and add container of cool-whip to the top and smooth over with a spatula
* place back in the freezer until fully frozen
* remove from freezer and cut squares the size of graham cracker squares and place between two squares of graham cracker
* serve immediately or freeze

We all know that the grill is ideal for cooking up hamburgers, ribs, veggies, and even fish but did you know it is also the perfect way to prepare a family friendly dessert as well. Plus with these hot summer months you will want to run your oven as little as possible and enjoy the outdoors before it is inevitably cold again. Here are a couple of my favorite and simple dessert recipes perfect for the grill.

*Banana boats: Simply slice a banana part way down the middle. Stuff with chocolate chips and marshmallows (or any other toppings of your choice) and wrap in foil and place on the grill until insides melt. Let cool a bit and enjoy. It’s a healthier take on my all time favorite s’more!
*Grilled Pineapple: I used to be one of those people that turned my nose up at grilled fruit but I have officially reformed once I tasted grilled pineapple. My favorite way to prepare it is to core and slice pineapple in thick slices. Slather honey on all sides of the pineapple slices and then the secret is to lightly sprinkle pineapple with cayenne pepper. Grill until warm and grill marks begin to appear. It pairs well with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.
*Doughnuts on the Grill: Does it sound weird? It is… weird and delicious. You can make your own doughnuts but I usually just use some cheap, store bought doughnuts. You will also need a brick covered in aluminum foil. Lightly brush the doughnut with oil and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Place doughnut on grill with brick on top. Cook until grill marks are apparent. This is perfect drizzled in chocolate sauce.
*Shortcake Kabobs: We all know what a big hit kabobs on the grill are so why not try it for dessert. Just use the same skewers and instead of steak and veggies alternate squares of pound cake, pineapple, and strawberries. A tub of cool whip makes for great dipping!

What is it about bacon that it has the ability to make a good food (i.e. tater tots) and somehow transform them into something so mouth watering amazing? If I had any suggestion about this recipe it would be to double it! All you need is:

Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots

Ingredients:
2 cups frozen tater tots at room temperature
1 ounce sharp cheddar cheese cut into 1/4 inch squares
4 slices of bacon, quartered
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 TBS chopped fresh parsley leaves (optional)

Directions:
Preheat Oven to 400 degrees and lightly spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray
Wrap each tater tot and cheese square in a piece of bacon. Repeat with each remaining tot. Press each bacon covered tater tot into brown sugar covering each side.
Place tater tots seam side down onto baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes using tongs to turn halfway through.
Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

Recipe courtesy of  damndelicious.net