Bill's Smoked Meat Loaf
This is not your Moms ordinary Meat Loaf- Cooked in the pit and
just plain delicious (you can also do it in the oven)
I have always wanted to smoke a meat loaf so a few months ago at
a cook-off I decided to do just that. And for all of those that
tasted the meat loaf they just could not believe the flavor they
enjoyed. And it is absolutely wonderful.
What you will need:
3 pounds of your favorite ground beef. (I used beef chuck)
1 medium onion, minced
1 medium bell pepper, minced
1 small jalapeno pepper, minced (optional)
6 eggs
1½ stacks of Ritz crackers
½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese (I used the parmesan and
Romano cheese mixture)
1/3 cup of Texas BBQ Rub
¼ cup of Worcestershire sauce
½ cup of your favorite BBQ sauce (I used Texas' Own BBQ
Sauce-Original)
¼ cup of liquid smoke if you are doing this in the oven
1 large foil loaf pan or pan approx 10x5x4
In a large bowl mix all the ingredients. It is best to use your
hands for this, as a spoon just does not work as well. If you are
going to cook this in the oven add the liquid smoke to the
mixture, if you are going to cook on the pit leave out the liquid
smoke. Spread evenly in the foil pan.
Pit cooking - I like to cut about 6 slits in the side of the
aluminum pan before I place the meat loaf on the pit. Cut them
about half way up the sides of the pan. This will allow some
smoke to enter the meat and will also allow for some of the meats
juices to escape so the meat loaf is not as full of grease. Cook
uncovered for about 2 to 2 ½ hours at 225 degrees on the pit.
Remove from the pit and pour the BBQ sauce on top of the meatloaf
and return to the pit for about 30 to 45 more minutes. Cook to an
internal temperature of 175 degrees. The meatloaf should be a bit
firm.
Oven Cooking - Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about 1 to 1 ½
hours. Remove from oven and spread the BBQ sauce on the top of
the meatloaf and then return to the oven for and additional 15
minutes.
Serve the meatloaf with a big scoop of mashed potatoes. By the
way when you are making the potatoes add about 1 tablespoon of
Texas BBQ Rub to the tators for an additional great taste. And I
also like to add about 2 tablespoons of cream cheese to my tators
for a creamy delight.
I got so many compliments on this dish at the cook-off it was
unbelievable. Give this one a try. The leftovers make great
sandwiches.
Smoked Hamburgers
OK seems every time I mention smoked hamburgers to friends of
mine they just kind of look at me with this "what are you talking
about' expression on their faces. They just say "smoked
hamburgers I never thought of that." And I love them and they are
so wonderful after they have been in the refrigerator and served
the next day. So if you are sitting there and thinking, I never
thought of this, don't feel alone cause seems like not many
people have.
By the way these are just simple burgers and we are going to
cover some stuffed burgers in another newsletter.
What you will need:
One 1/3 pound meat patty for each person you are feeding (about ½
inches thick) I like to
use an 80/20 meat to fat ration patty and I love when it
is Angus beef (and you can
use ground turkey if you want as well)
Enough hamburger buns for the patties
1 stick of butter
¼ cup of Texas BBQ Rub (any of the rubs work great)
¼ cup of Worcestershire sauce
Your favorite cheese if you so desire on the hamburger
Onions, tomatoes, and lettuce if you want these on your burger
OK prepare the patties and try to keep them about ½ inches thick
if you can. Prepare them on wax paper and they will easily come
off once we get to the next step.
TIP: Once you have them prepared then place in the freezer for
about 10 minutes to let them get good and cold almost stiff but
not frozen. This will keep them from falling apart whether you
are grilling or smoking the hamburger patties.
Take the patties out of the freezer and on both sides cover them
with Worcestershire sauce. On one side, the top side for the
smoker, sprinkle on Texas BBQ Rub not to heavy but a nice
sprinkle will do.
Place the patties on the smoker at 225 degrees and cook for about
1 hour. These will be the juiciest hamburgers you ever sank your
teeth into and do not shrink much so get big buns for the
burgers. Add your favorite cheese the last 10 minutes of the
smoking process and you do not have to flip these burgers over.
Just let them smoke and absorb that great smoke and you are going
to love them. You are even going to see a nice smoke ring on the
patty when you bite into it.
For the buns, I love to heat them up on a grill (or a skillet on
the stove is great). Spread them with some butter and grill the
buns.
Place a patty on each bun or eat them separate if you want. These
are just so much better than hamburgers cooked on the grill, at
least in my opinion.
These will make a great item to cook ahead and take to a tail
gate party or over to the friends house for a football party.
They will be talking about your smoked hamburgers well after the
football game is over.
Ribs are easy too, just remember 3-2-1. 3 hours over smoke, wrap in foil for 2 hours then let set 1 hour before cutting.