BBQ Rubs That are Bad Ass!

I love to grill, especially during warm weather, when it's nice and sunny outside where I can just hang out and enjoy a cold one (wine, in my case.) Most of my grilling involves bbq-ing, and with bbq-ing, you must season up your proteins! 

I normally let my steaks, hamburger meat, etc. marinate for at least an hour before slapping them with rubs and sauces.  I allow my grill to get hot, to make sure that my meats cook thoroughly and evenly.  There are tons of seasonings and rubs that you can use and a lot of us create our own bbq rubs.

That is the case with Hop Baron's Bad Ass BBQ Rubs.  They have these two rubs that I have used and I must say...it beats making my own!  The first one shown, is the Spicy Bad Ass BBQ Rub.  It adds a spicy kick to meats and is a great addition to pizza, BBQ sauce and fish.  Hop Baron grows their own cascade hops locally and features them in their bbq rub spices.

If you love your meats spicy, this would be the bbq rub to go with.  The ingredients are: Brown Sugar, habanero infused hop salt, spicy paprika, garlic salt, onion salt, chili powder, black pepper, habanero powder, white pepper, oregano, cayenne pepper and cumin.  Can you see why this is called SPICY!

The next rub is Hop Baron Bad Ass BBQ Rub (not spicy.)  This BBQ rub has pretty much the same ingredients, but less of the habanero spices and infused salt.  It uses Smoked Hop Salt instead of the Habanero Infused Hop Salt and does not contain the Habanero Powder or the Spicy Paprika.  Ingredients include: Brown Sugar, smoked hop salt, smoked paprika, garlic salt, onion salt, white pepper, black pepper, chili powder, oregano, cayenne pepper and cumin.

Both BBQ Rubs are awesome on pork steak ( I should know, I've tried it!) and excellent on chicken! Both rubs come in a clear bottle with a nice black label. They are your standard sized bottles, not samples and does not really take a whole lot to flavor your foods.

Hop Baron Etsy Shop has these two BBQ Rubs as well as Cascade Infused Olive Oil and Habanero Dip & Spread Mix.  The Cascade Infused Olive oil is different than any Olive Oil I've tried.  I love Olive Oil on my salads as well as sauteing my veggies.  If you like a little bitterness to your foods, you must try this.  Hops is used in this Olive Oil and is perfect for any foods that you prepare with it.  

Hop Baron partnered up with Figueroa Farms in Santa Ynez, California to produce this unique, one of a kind, Olive Oil.  Each 8 oz. bottle of this Olive Oil is infused with over 50 lbs of Hop Baron's Cascade Hops and made with 100% California Olives.  Once you've tried this Olive Oil, you probably won't want to go back to your everyday brand!

You can check out all of these items at HopBarons Etsy Shop.  For recipes and more info on their products, go check out their website: www.hopbarons.com, there, you will find recipes for the Habanero Dip & Spread Mix

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***I may have received complimentary product(s), in exchange, for my honest and unbiased review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

National BBQ Month Essentials

Although many of us BBQ throughout the summer months, May is the month that is considered the National BBQ Month.  With Memorial Day just right around the corner, many of us will be dusting our grills off to cook up some fabulous BBQ food.

Some of us will be grilling and BBQing up hot dogs and hamburgers, while others will be mastering their hands at ribs and pork steaks.  But not lets forget about the side items...Baked beans, grilled cabbage, potato salad...and the list goes on.

BUT....You can't have the perfect BBQ without the essentials.  What are the essentials?  How about the sauce?  What kind of sauce do you use?  Is it homemade or a certain specific sauce you buy, that you are faithful to and just can't do without.  What about seasonings? Aside from the sauce and seasonings, you will need tongs, spatulas, maybe an apron...What are your BBQ essentials?  

Everyone has their own twist and way of BBQing.  And everyone will think their BBQ is the best.  But, there is one company that is well known for offering men, all the essentials they need..Man Crates. “Man Crates" offers gifts for men, in wooden crates, that have to be opened with a crowbar…Yes... A crowbar!  

Whether it be football games, sports events or your National BBQ Month grill off, BBQing is very popular during the Spring, Summer and even Fall months.

Now, I will admit, I don't make my own BBQ sauce, mainly, because I'm in no competition, I'm not trying to win anything, except the approval of satisfaction from family.  I DO, however, doctor up store bought BBQ sauce with some brown sugar, a little mustard, cloves and finely chopped onions....YUMMO!

When I grill (or BBQ), I HAVE to have my cooking tongs.  No if's, and's or but's about it.  I don't want to pierce the meat with forks, while I'm cooking it.  And, although I don't have one, but need one really bad..AN APRON!  I have to be one of the messiest, not only at grilling, but cooking person I've ever seen! I also have to have a spray bottle of water nearby, just in case a fire flames up...but this hasn't happened since I've been using Grill Mats. And let's not forget the grilling gloves, we don't want burned fingers! And what's even better... a nice, cold beverage, while your doing your thing! Be it a cold brewsky or a glass of wine (my choice), you just have to have that drink in hand, while mastering your BBQ skills.

So, to sum it all up...Essentials Must Haves:

• BBQ Sauce
• Tongs
• Water Bottle (to rid of flames)
• Apron
• Nice cold beverage

WHAT ARE YOUR BBQ MUST HAVES?  I'D LIKE TO HEAR THEM.

And while you're trying to think of your PERFECT essentials, check out some of these crates at Man Crates.

Pig of the Month BBQ Sauces Review

I love to grill and I love trying different varieties of BBQ Sauces.  When it comes to grilling, BBQing or just baking chicken, steaks, ribs, hamburgers and more, you want that perfect sauce that is going to compliment the meats you are cooking. 

I've tried many BBQ sauces, mainly to see if I can get a different taste or flavored sauce to enhance my meats that I grill.  I am honored to have the opportunity, to try, test and review Pig of the Month BBQ Sauces.  Pig of the Month BBQ Sauces can be found on Amazon and on Facebook.  

Pig of the Month BBQ Sauces have been featured on QVC and Good morning America and is loved by many chefs and cooks, including: Rachel Ray, Iron Chef Michael Symon and Paula Deen.  Below, you will see the three sauces that I am reviewing and the qualities and description of each one.

These have their own distinct flavor.  I love them all, but my favorite out of these three will have to be the Key West in a Bottle Spicy Citrus.  YUMMO!

Love Me Tender BBQ Sauce

• Hancrafted family recipe that is all natural and preservative free
• A mild and tangy sauce with a slight spicy kick that is the tastiest BBQ sauce you will ever try!
• 2 time award winner! As seen on QVC and Good Morning America!! Loved by Iron chef Michael Symon, Rachel Ray, Paula Deen and more!
• Perfect with ribs, chicken, and heck - even baked potatoes.
• A great gift idea for that someone who loves to grill out!

Colonel Mustard Tangy Mustard Style BBQ Sauce

• A rich and tangy barbecue sauce that is the perfect complement to ribs, slathered on your roast chicken, or just a smear with your grilled sausages
• All Natural & No Preservatives Added - No Corn Syrup. Gluten Free.
• Winner of 2011 World Mustard Competition and Food and Wine Magazines choice for best mustard based barbeque sauce.
• Paula Deen calls this sauce "delicious...it takes a grilled chicken sandwich to new heights"
• A fun gift idea for any and every mustard lover! Or those waiting to be converted to one!

Key West in a Bottle Spicey Citrus BBQ Sauce

• A bold and spicy sauce that is equally good as a glaze on your salmon as it is making an ordinary chicken sandwhich extraordinary.
• All natural and no preservatives added - No corn syrup. Gluten Free.
• 3 time Award Winning Sauce -- "The Most Unique and Finger Licking Sauce You Will Ever Try", as said by Rachel Ray
• Truly a barbecue sauce like none you have ever tried!
• Perfect gift for the foodie in your life

You can try your own flavors of Pig of the Month BBQ Sauces by visiting them on Amazon. Pig of the Month has other flavors as well.  Check them all out at Amazon.

ALSO...DON'T FORGET TO VISIT PIG OF THE MONTH ON FACEBOOK!  Show them support and connect with them.

***I received the following products, free, in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Stainless Steel BBQ Grill Brush Review

For someone who grills and BBQ's as much as my family does, this handy Stainless Steel BBQ Grill Brush sure comes in handy.  Yes, we have a BBQ Grill Brush (or scraper), but the thing I love about this grill brush, is that it's stainless steel, is full of steel bristles and does the job in less time. 

I love the whole stainless steel look, the shiny silver look and how durable and sturdy this brush is.  You don't have to worry about this brush being flimsy, like some BBQ grill brushes and the handle is long enough to prevent burning your hands, while cleaning your grill while it's hot.

It cleans and gets rid of excess grime with ease, bristles are made with stainless steel, not plastic or nylon, gets in between corners and stores easily with the loop attached at the end. I found that this is one of the better BBQ grill brushes I've used and was pleasantly surprised by the size of it.  I was expecting a smaller brush, but when this brush arrived, I couldn't have been happier with it.

If you are tired of the flimsy plastic handles of your BBQ grill brush and tired of the bristles bending out of shape, then you have to try this Stainless Steel BBQ Grill Brush.  You can purchase yours at Amazon.  I believe you will find that cleaning your grill is much easier with this brush than most you've used.






***I received the above product, free, in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Perfect Grill Gloves Review

I love to grill and since it's getting warmer outside, I will be doing even more grilling.  Yes, I have a husband who could do the grilling, but cooking is my thing.  I want to be outside.  I want to be enjoying the sunshine, smelling the grilling food as it cooks and enjoying my glass of wine while doing all of this!

Anyone who grills, knows how important it is to have the necessary tools.  Not just the tongs, spatulas or meat claws, but accessories that protect your hands, while handling hot foods and hot pans.

These Perfect Grilling Gloves are some of the best I've tried.  I have tried, tested and love the silicone gloves...they work!  But these gloves are totally different.  First of all, these gloves can withstand heat up to 662 degrees Fahrenheit!  That's a big difference compared to the silicone gloves that can only withstand up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.  

Second of all...I absolutely love how these gloves fit.  They are more fitted than the silicone gloves and they have what they call "grips" embedded onto the glove.  These "grips" allow you to do just that...grip the food and hot dishes, while protecting your hands.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY I LOVE THESE GLOVES: 

1.   Silicone grips on both sides of gloves for non-slip handling of hot objects
2.  Outer layer of glove does not catch fire or melt when exposed to an open flame 
3.  Each one can wear on left or right hand
4.  Thick gloves with 100% cotton inner-layer and meta-aramid & para-aramid outer layer
5.  Machine washable
6.  Easy storage and has a hanging loop

WARNING:
GLOVES DO NOT PROTECT FROM HEAT FROM HOT LIQUIDS.  IF GLOVES GET WET, REMOVE IMMEDIATELY AND DRY COMPLETELY BEFORE NEXT USE.

Not only are these gloves perfect for grilling and cooking, but they can also be used to remove hot light bulbs, camping trips and more.

You can grab your Perfect Grilling Gloves at Amazon. These gloves really do withstand the heat.  I've tried them and I LOVE THEM!



**I received the above product, free, in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are 100% my own.

DK BBQ Grill Mat X-Large Review

If you're like me, you love to grill and you love grilled food, but those stupid flareups just take the fun out of grilling!  I can't tell you how many time I keep a water bottle by my side when grilling...just for those surprised flareups!

Well, no more!  These awesome grill mats, X-Large at that, will not only protect your food from those flareups, but still gives you that delicious BBQ and grilled taste of your food.  Many people like to use aluminum foil on their grill and the finished product sometimes 
shows that.

And, what's better than having the perfect grilled or BBQ food when using these X-Large grill mats...not having your food slip between the grills!  You can cook your kabobs and veggies on these mats without the worry of them slipping through the grates and losing part of your food.

If you are worried or concerned that your food will not have those pretty grill marks...do not worry any longer.  I've tried these babies out and YOU WILL STILL HAVE YOUR GRILL MARKS!  You will get a great sear by using these mats, as the juices from the meat will cook in its own juices.

These X-Large DK BBQ Grill Mats are very durable, easy to use and are dishwasher safe.  They have a non-stick BBQ coating and is BPA and FDA approved.  They are also safe for the oven, therefore, you can uses these mats indoors and outdoors.  I can't tell you how awesome these mats are.  They have everything you want in a grilling accessory!

And if you are still not impressed by what these BBQ Grill Mats can do, here's something else to chew on...They have an UNLIMITED USES PER SIDE GUARANTEED BY LIFETIME GUARANTEE!  How Awesome is that?


If you can't wait to get your X-Large DK BBQ Grill Mat, you can hurry on over to Amazon and purchase yours today!  These X-Large mats are 15.75" x 19.7".







***I received this product, free, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.  All opinions are 100% my own. Regardless, I only recommend products I personally use myself.