The cowboy way

It may be hot outside but my craving for pizza never leaves me, only now, it is joined by BBQ and grilling cravings. What's a girl to do? Perhaps employ her husband to cook a BBQ and smoked chicken pizza on the grill, that's what!

Take any raw pizza dough (we used the Betty Crocker that you mix with water) and put it on the grill. I think it's easier to divide the dough in half, or even in four, as one large pie may be a little too difficult to handle when turning sides. Make sure to check frequently to prevent burns! Turn to brown the other side too. Now turn down the grill temperature, as to not burn the crust further when you try to melt the toppings. Apply BBQ instead of marinara or olive oil, since not only delivers more flavor, but also is lighter is calories for those who like to stay in shape!Toppings may include smoked chicken, mozarella and Asiago cheese and home grown banana peppers for some heat! Some websites recommend broiling the pizza with raw toppings in the oven for a nice brown top. As you may see, we opted for the grill all the way, which did leave the toppings a little pale, but they were melted just enough!

First grilling of the season

Summer is finally here, so they say,

Time to open up that grill, this sunny day in May.

Luckily, the fridge was full of sausage and kraut,

Tonight we certainly don’t need to go out.

The next day we’ll cook a whole fish with lime,

Now, that’s grilling big time!

The Polish girl and the Cowboy are grilling tonight,

And no, Jackson, you can’t have a bite!

Hot summer nights

Don't complain of the hot weather outside, in no time there will be blizzards and below zero temperatures. Where are you going to grill out those delicious footlongs then? That's right, I said footlongs. Our favorite grocery store decided to humor us and carry footlong hotdogs. Jacob was quick to notice the newest products and that night we enjoyed delicious beef with BBQ sauce and coleslaw right on top. Mmmm...

Not so fast, Sam! Put some coleslaw on it first!
There ya go!
Jeff's BBQ ribs. Now, that's a topic for another whole post...
Beer brats from Wisconsin.
Jackson's appetite grew as we were eating. So much that he decided Bocce balls were a good snack.

Schrimp Tacomania

I am a big fan of shrimp and even a bigger fan of grilling them! One of many ways to eat them is to make delicious shrimp tacos, which will make you feel as if you were right next to the ocean, while, in reality, you are right in the middle of the continent... But let's dream on!
I grilled he shrimp after brushing some olive oil and bay seasoning on them and started building the tacos. I added some spring greens, avocado, salsa, fresh cilantro and plain yogurt - a healthy alternative to cream.

Mexican Corn

My friend Jacob's ideas have been an inspiration for many dishes at my house, many of which are a regular item on our menu. One of my favorites is the Mexican Corn - perfect for summer grilling! Jacob stopped by a street vendor once while in Mexico to purchase a corn snack and asked them about the recipe. Here it is!
Soak corn with husk in water for about 15 minutes. Cook it directly on the grill without the use of tin foil - soaking in water will prevent the husk from getting burnt too soon. Next, mix some mayo with crushed garlic, salt and cayenne pepper to your taste. There is no exact proportions, just spice it to your liking! Make sure you have enough to spread a thin layer on the corn. Next, grate some cotija cheese. It is a dry and firm Mexican cow's milk cheese, which is pretty salty in taste. The consistency reminds me of feta cheese, only a little firmer. Spread the cheese on a plate and roll the mayo-mix covered corn to cover it evenly with the pieces of cotija. Now, enjoy!
Make sure you have some napkins ready! It gets so messy that the photo above does not do it justice. Just deal with it and eat it!Pair up the corn with a rib eye steak for extra flavor!

The Pulled Pork Party

After riding the tractor around the gravel roads on a warm summer night, I was ready for some deliciousness. Good thing Jacob was around, this guy knows how to cook! Pulled smoked pork sandwiches with a home-made vinegar BBQ sauce and coleslaw were the hit of the night, although Leslie's rhubarb bar was also my favorite. No photos of the bar unfortunately, it disappeared from my plate too fast. This only means that Leslie better make that dessert again!
Work it!Jacob proudly displaying RC cola alongside his plate.

The Polish Party

In the wake of recent tragic events in Poland, I decided to celebrate what Polish people stand for; kielbasa, vodka and fun! I have picked up several sausages from local meat shop L&M Meats, pickled herrings and invited all the fun people.
Plus, the first bon fire of the year!
PS. Thank you for bringing the "Polish Salsa", Sam!