take my word for it wednesday.. smoked tri tip & twice baked taters

it's been another week and it's another wednesday where i ask you to take my word for it (actually it's thursday this was supposed to post yesterday ha).. today your going to have to trust me on this... this smoke tri tip was to die for.. juicy, smokey, spicy.. paired with twice baked taters and prosciutto wrapped asparagus it was an awesome dinner.. it was jake's 22nd b day and this year he said no parties.. no cake.. no nuthin!! yeah that didn't last long.. he calls around 2:00 (dinner was at 6) umm did mom make a cake.. Dad: no mom said you didn't want one.. jake: ohh i changed my mind i do now.. ha so he offered to go buy a cake but i said no.. i could quickly whip up grandmommy's miracle whip cake and fudge frosting.. recipe found here... it's a quick and easy cake to whip up.. the frosting has always been tricky and hard for me so this time i took a bag of dark chocolate chips a bag of semi sweet chocolate chips, 2 cups heavy whipping cream and a tablespoon of powdered sugar and cooked over low heat until the chocolate was melted and it became thick.. then i let it sit until cool.. i whisked it about every 10 minutes or so until it became the desired consistency then i poured it over the cake.. i put it in the fridge until time to eat it made a thick fudgy frosting layer on top.. it might have been the best cake i've ever made!! but anyway.. pete decided to smoke some tri tip.. there isn't any other pictures except for the one above.. ha not sure why. and there is only one or 2 of the taters while i was making them not the finished product.. sooooooo take my word for it the recipes are definitely worth trying!! we have 3 different smokers (why i have no idea) the one used above is a brinkman smoke n grill charcoal/wood chip smoker the one we use for parties and such is a brinkman smoke n pit charcoal/wood chip smoker..(basically it's bigger) and then we have the green egg.. we have not really used it because we don't know how.. ha ha so if anyone has good recipes for the green egg send them my way...

smoked tri tip (adapted from here)

prep time: 4 1/2 hours

cook time: approx. 2 hours

servings: 6-8

ingredients:

2 2-3 lb. tri tip (try and not get ones that have been trimmed of all their fat.. you cook it with the fat cap up and it drips down and flavors the meat if you have no fat it's not as flavorful!!)

dry rub (recipe below)

salt and pepper

your choice of wood you like to use in your smoker.. we used apple

salt and pepper your roasts and then slather with your dry rub.. cover and put in the fridge for about 3-4 hours before.. remove from fridge about 30-45 minutes before your ready to put on the smoker.. you don't ever want to put cold cold meat on a grill.. then smoke until your desired doneness.. we like it rare to medium rare so it took about 2 hours.. your looking for an internal temperature of about 135-140 so remove it around 125-130..it will continue to cook once off the smoker.. when it reaches the temperature you are comfortable with remove from the smoker and let it rest for about 20 minutes.. then slice thin across the grain.. it's sooooo good!! grab a beer.. sit on your patio and enjoy your meal!!

dry rub

ingredients:

1 tbls. chili powder

1/2 tbls. cumin

2 tsp. onion powder

2 tsp. garlic powder

1-2 tsp. cayenne (or more he he)

1/2 tbls. smokey paprika

1/2 tbls. brown sugar

1/2 tbls. pepper

mix together and keep what isn't used in an air tight container.

one of my all time favorite side dishes to serve with anything bbq'd is twice baked potatoes.. they are so yummy and you can change them up every time you make them.. this time i used butter, light sour cream.. fat free 1/2 n 1/2.. chives, sharp cheddar cheese, roasted garlic.. salt and pepper.. but you can change up the herbs.. or use cream cheese instead of sour cream.. or use flavored cream cheese that would be good too.. so anything is possible.. i've been making twice baked potatoes since i was in high school so there is no one to credit the recipe too, well except my mom of course ha.. if you have never had one make them this weekend you will not be disappointed.. and if you have had them make this weekend!! you won't be disappointed either!! pinkie promise!

twice baked taters

prep time: 15 minutes

cooking time: approx. 1 1/2 hours

servings: 4

4 large russet potatoes, scrubbed, dried then rub olive oil all over them

2 tblsp. butter

1/3 cup low fat sour cream

1/2 cup non fat 1/2 n 1/2

1 tblsp. chopped fresh chives

3-4 roasted garlic cloves

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

salt and pepper

pre heat oven to 400 degrees (f).  place potatoes in the center of the rack, which should be in the center of the oven.. bake for 30 minutes.. then pierce each potato a few times and continue baking until tender.. approx. another 30 minutes... remove potatoes and turn the oven down to 350 degrees (f).  hold potato with an oven mitt, slice directly in half and scoop out the inside of the potato into a medium mixing bowl.. (be careful those puppies are hot!) make sure not to take out to much you want your skin to be like a canoe or boat.. once they are all scooped out place your empty potatoes in a casserole dish.. throw in your roasted garlic and using a potato masher or mixer mash up the potatoes and garlic.. then add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.. refill the shells with the potato mixture mounding slightly.. i like to then place 1/2 a piece of american cheese on each.. why because that's what my mom did.. but you can sprinkle some shredded cheese on top or leave plain... put your casserole dish in the oven and bake until heated through.. about 20 minutes more.. serve immediately..

now it was jake's b day so i will throw in a few photo's of the evening!!

let me test that frosting for you mom.. yep it's good..

i still have to blow out candles.. i'm 22.. yes blow out your dang candles kid!!

it was a warm day out and frankie kept sneaking in and laying under the table on the cool tile..

frankie and monroe doing what they do best.. playing!!!

well that's all folks!! i hope where you were had the same great weather as us and you got to spend time outside enjoying it!!