❌

Normal view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.
Before yesterdayMain stream

How to Cook the Best Baby Back Ribs

21 April 2022 at 10:11

If you are looking for a recipe that is easy to follow and gives you restaurant-quality ribs at home, then look no further than these baby back ribs.Β 

Baby back pork ribs are a great option because they are such a versatile meal. For instance, if you are preparing to entertain your entire extended family and need a dinner that isn’t too labor-intensive, is widely popular among meat-eaters, and has a level of cultural heritage to it (always a great conversation starter at dinner parties). Ribs that fall off the bone are a good choice.

Of course, there is more than one variation of baby back pork ribs, as St Louis rib fans will attest to, so keep reading to find out everything you need to know about smoking baby back ribs.

Baby Back versus Spare and St Louis Ribs

It is important to establish the differences between baby back ribs and St Louis ribs, to avoid any confusion and ensure you aren’t accidentally following the wrong recipe.Β 

Baby back ribs are cut from where the ribs meet the pig’s spine. They are called β€˜baby back’ ribs because they are cut from the upper spine, where the ribs are smaller.Β 

Spare ribs, on the other hand, are cut from the pig’s belly, so there is typically more meat on the bones. These are sometimes called St Louis ribs when the cartilage has been removed from the bone. Spare ribs are popular because they are easy to season (thanks to the flatter bones) and they have intramuscular fat, which adds flavor. Spare ribs either have a BBQ sauce or a dry rub to create a distinctive flavor. Β 

Preparation is Key

If you want to enjoy delicious smoked baby back ribs, then you need to start by removing the membrane (β€œsilver skin”) from the bone side of the ribs..Β 

Once this is done, season the ribs on a baking sheet. The exact seasoning ingredients will depend upon your tastes but can include ingredients such as black pepper, garlic powder, hickory salt, paprika, mustard powder or kosher salt. If you are in a more flavorsome mood, try seasoning the ribs with red pepper flakesΒ  and onion powder. Alternatively, you can use a little brown sugar to add sweetness

How to Smoke the Ribs

Smoking the best ribs can be done by complete beginners or those more familiar with baby back ribs recipes. Start by smoking the ribs indirectly on the grill (off the heat) or in a preheated oven at 225F for about 120 minutes cook time until a rich mahogany color is achieved.

At this point, spritz the ribs with apple juice, add rub, and wrap with aluminum foil to cook for an additional 120 minutes. Unwrap the ribs, baste with your favorite BBQ sauce (like J-TOP’s Thick and Sweet) and place back on the grill or in the oven at 275F until the ribs are fork tender and the sauce is set.

Allow 10 minutes of rest time before slicing and serving the best baby back ribs to your guests.

You will find many of these ingredients and more on Amazon, You can check the nutritional values of each, such as whether they contain vitamin A, potassium, vitamin C, or calcium. You can also check the carbohydrates and saturated fat contents so you can make informed choices on what you and your family are eating.

Now is the ideal time to ignore the kcal and cholesterol of whatever style of ribs you choose, and instead enjoy the delicious tender ribs with a smoked flavor and a tasty barbecue sauce.

The post How to Cook the Best Baby Back Ribs appeared first on J-Top's BBQ Shop.

Our favorite chargrilled burger recipes

20 April 2022 at 08:18

Sophisticated dishes can be a wonderful treat, but often the best meals of all are comfort food. It is for this reason that the juicy Chargrilled Burger is such a great option. They are easy dinners to make and delicious to eat, whether you are cooking for a dinner party or yourself.Β 

Here is our favorite chargrilled burger recipes:

The traditional recipe:

This recipe is arguably the easiest and most common way of creating your own chargrilled Burger, whether you’re creating a cheeseburger or BBQ burger.Β 

This is because with this recipe, you will be using a traditional grill to make grilled burgers.

Make sure you have high-quality ground beef

The first step is to make sure you have ground beef from the best cuts of beef. If you want to make the best burgers, then you can’t slack off with poor ingredients. It doesn’t matter how good a chef you are – a bad cut is a bad cut.

Create the patties and prepare the buns

The selection of bun size will determine the size of beef burger patties needed for the perfect burger.Size is not the only factor to take into account when selecting a bun. The bread should be high quality to compliment the high quality beef used for the patties.

You don’t have to go overboard with the seasoning – a simple dousing with salt and black pepper will do the trick. For your hamburger buncondiments, you could choose to add a variety of sauces, such as ketchup, mustard, or BBQ sauce for something different. You could even prepare extra additions like crispyred onion, lettuce, tomato and cheese.

Cook patties and serve

Once your beef burger patties are seasoned and the grill is up to temperature, it is time to cook your burgers.Β 

This cook time won’t take long, so make sure you stick around to keep flipping them and regularly check to see if they are cooked through. You need to check the internal temperature before serving.

After grilling – you will have delicious, chargrilled burgers ready for serving and ready to garnish with whatever you want.

Although any grill will cook a burger to the desired temperature, the best flavor will be imparted on a charcoal grill.

The post Our favorite chargrilled burger recipes appeared first on J-Top's BBQ Shop.

Improving Team Culture

20 April 2022 at 08:03

Are you guilty of overlooking the importance of team culture?

With the ability to make your business thrive or wither and die, the type of work environment you provide affects your employees, your customers, and your bottom line.

So, why is workplace culture so important, and how can you improve your company culture quickly and effectively?

Keep reading to find out more!

What is team culture?

Team culture, often referred to as company culture, refers to a team’s values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. In a workplace, it is how its employees work together to achieve a common goal.

Often overlooked, a positive company culture can:

  • Improve employee retention
  • Boost morale in the workplace
  • Drive customer engagement
  • Build trust amongst employees and between management and staff
  • Increase productivity
  • Boost sales
  • Improve profitability

However, a bad company culture can have a severely detrimental effect on your employees and your customers. It can be far more damaging than you may realize.

What makes a good team culture?

Although each workplace is different, there are certain characteristics of a positive company culture. These include a workplace that:

  • Makes employees feel supported
  • Encourages collaboration
  • Supports personal growth
  • Fosters an environment of trust

On the other hand, a toxic company culture typically starts at the top and trickles down to affect the entire team. For example, a manager who acts inappropriately does not discipline disruptive behaviors or who bullies their staff will cause the whole workforce to suffer.

Also, bad team culture can come about due to biased hiring. For example, if one gender dominates your workforce or people from only one ethnic background do, this can have a seriously detrimental effect on workplace culture.

6 Steps to improving team culture

The good news is that it is never too late to start improving your company culture. Follow the below tried and tested techniques, and you will see a significant improvement in nearly all aspects of your business.

Step 1: Focus on your employee relationship

If you want to see a change across your entire business, you need to start with the foundations of your work environment, namely the relationship between yourself and other management and your employees.

When it comes to having a good company culture, your managers must lead by example. They need to work hard to keep the lines of communication open between themselves and their team so that all your workforce feel listened to and supported.

It is not enough to organize annual employee reviews. You need to actively facilitate ongoing and open relationships to create a strong and positive workplace culture.

Step 2: Provide mentoring

Leaders who are mentors are much more effective than those who create a barrier between themselves and their employees. In fact, when a manager acts as a mentor, employees feel more motivated, more connected, and more likely to have a favorable perception of the person in question.

Becoming a mentor, rather than just a boss, can help you to get to know your employees on a more personal level, which is instrumental in creating a good working environment. You can learn more about what it is like to work in your business and how day-to-day life goes. This could lead you to make some positive changes.

Step 3: Invest in CRM software

CRM, candidate relationship management software, is a highly useful tool that can help you to nurture relationships with potential candidates and provide a more streamlined hiring process.

This innovative technology can help you hire a diverse and inclusive workforce which, in turn, can dramatically improve both your company culture and your overall reputation.

If you struggle to attract the top talent in your industry and are worried that this is affecting your team’s morale, CRM software is just what you need to give you the edge over your competitors.

Step 4: Encourage employee recognition

Everyone likes to feel appreciated, which is especially true when they have gone above and beyond their day-to-day duties for their employer. However, many businesses fail to show their appreciation for their employees and even more fail to recognize their successes.

There are many ways that you can recognize your employees’ hard work, and it doesn’t have to involve a monetary reward.

The simplest and arguably most effective technique is to praise someone publicly. Easy to do and completely free, you will be surprised at how effective this can be in boosting employee morale. You should find that employees work harder for you.

If you have remote workers, make sure that you do not forget about them when it comes to praise and appreciation. Just because they aren’t in the office or workplace doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to have their efforts recognized.

Step 5: Be transparent

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many people’s jobs were on the line, studies showed that employees wanted complete honesty from their employers, even if the news was not good.

This trend for transparency has continued in the workplace. Now employees want their employers to actively communicate with them about all aspects of the business.

In terms of company culture, workplaces that are offer transparency have more engaged and happy employees. In contrast, ones that hold back tend to have a higher staff turnover and less motivated workers.

When it comes to transparency, it is important to be open about salaries. Ensure that everyone feels valued and appropriately paid for their contributions. If you don’t and staff leave, your reputation could become affected.Β 

Step 6: Do not micro-manage

If you are the type of leader who has to know what your employees are doing every second of the day, you should know that this can be hugely damaging to your team. In fact, autonomy is one of the most effective strategies for fostering a positive working environment as it shows that you trust your employees and their abilities.

Changing your organizational culture so that your employees can work more independently may be difficult at first, but you will soon start to see the benefits. Rather than setting specific goals or tasks for your team, set out the tone and expectations and let them find their own way.

You may be surprised at just how much better they work when left to their own devices.

Do you need more help improving your team culture? Here at Oleeo, our best-selling Talent Acquisition Recruitment Program can help you to hire a diverse workforce. This will transform your company culture and your business.

Interested to know more? Get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable team here – we are more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

The post Improving Team Culture appeared first on J-Top's BBQ Shop.

How to Organize the Perfect Wedding Catering

20 April 2022 at 07:56

Wedding planning, and in particular, wedding catering, can be incredibly stressful.

Food is one of the most important elements of any perfect wedding catering-especially for the guests and wedding party. While you will be busy soaking up the atmosphere, you will have to keep your friends and family happy on your wedding day by providing great food. Given that the lunch or dinner time is when most great memories are made during the big day, this brings a considerable amount of pressure to the catering menu selection.

To help you organize the perfect wedding catering and to make your big day’s wedding reception one to remember, here is a simple plan:

Create a specific theme for the event

The primary – and most important – step is to create a theme for the wedding reception. This will help you to choose a menu that corresponds with the rest of the event and ensure no one on your guest list dislikes the food. If you haven’t settled on your vision for your perfect wedding catering service, your wedding planner will be able to help you with this.

If you want a more casual wedding, then you might want to stick to a Southern BBQ BBQ catering company. Of course, if you want this customized theme, you will then need to decide which type of barbeque you want – and whether the wedding venue can accomodate this on your wedding day. There are four main types of southern barbeque – the Memphis barbecue, the Carolina barbecue, the Kansas City-style, and the Texas style.Β Β 

Perfect wedding catering by Select a wedding food menu that will please everyone

The best place to start with creating your own wedding menu is to ask your loved ones and family members whether they have allergies or other special dietary requirements. This will help you narrow down your menu choices and ensure everyone on your guest list can enjoy this memory making meal. Another key step when you plan a wedding catering the number of guests attending. Β Β 

If you choose Southern theme, with a BBQ catering service, but a few of your guests don’t eat red meat, you can always provide smoked chicken or turkey as the second entree option. BBQ chicken will satisfy a high number of guests, and it can easily be complemented with fresh salad, green beans or potato salad.Β 

Appetizers can be added to any catering menu with a variety of small plate options, which will add to the overall food experience at your perfect wedding reception. Another popular option for modern weddings is to hire a food truck to visit your venue to serve guests instead of a traditional plated meal.

A wedding men favorite for Southern BBQ weddings is pulled pork. This regional classic serves well whether a buffet style or plated mealis chosen.Β 

Although there are many menu options for a Southern BBQ wedding reception, the choice you make will be the right one. The foodand catering service you choose for your perfect wedding day should be enjoyed by all, but most importantly, you and your new spouse!

The post How to Organize the Perfect Wedding Catering appeared first on J-Top's BBQ Shop.

How to cook smoked beef brisket

20 April 2022 at 06:49

Smoked beef brisket is a fantastic BBQ meal to cook – especially if you have a large dinner party or family to feed. The reason for this is that the Recipe for beef brisket is simple, meaning that you won’t have to spend days trying to source obscure ingredients or invest hours trying to prepare it.Β 

Not only this, but a juicy smoked beef brisket can feed many people – up to fifteen if you buy a big beef cut – making it the ideal meal for weekend get-togethers. Rather than worrying about various cooking processes and difficult cook time, you can set and forget your brisket, leaving it to slow cook while you spend quality time with your family or friends.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that brisket is a low-quality dish.Β 

In fact, a smoked beef brisket can be delicious if you choose a good cut of meat, season it properly, and leave it to cook until it’s tender. When paired with any number of sides – such as fries, potatoes, and vegetables – you have yourself a balanced meal for minimal effort. It’s a fun recipe for beginners to try and cook brisket for the first time.

Without further ado, this is how to cook a smoked beef brisket:

Ensure you have the best ingredients

The most important step in any meal preparation is to ensure you have good quality ingredients. Thankfully, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to cook a great beef smoked brisket recipe, so a trip to the grocery store should suffice. At the grocery store, you should be able to pick up any extras you want to try also, such as paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt and BBQ sauce, as well as staple ingredients like brown sugar. Β 

Pre-prepare the beef

To prepare the beef brisket, place it on a cutting board and start by trimming off any excess fat on the fat side with a carving knife, and remove the silver skin from underneath it.Β 

Like many beef dishes, you don’t need to worry too much about adding a dizzying array of seasoning ingredients. Place the brisket in a roasting pan and add a generous sprinkle of black pepper and salt – coated with olive oil to seal them in.Β You can, of course, add garlic powder or kosher salt if you so desire, and mix it in a small bowl before adding to your brisket.

You can also look into creating or even buying in a brisket rub that will have all the seasoning you need for a more restaurant-style quality of smoked brisket recipe.

On the other hand, you could invest in a dry rub that you can purchase from places like Amazon to ensure you create the best brisket for you and your family without venturing out to the grocery store. On Amazon, you can even find ingredients such as apple cider vinegar, hickory, onion powder, and wood chips for however you are smoking your wrapped brisket.

When you have done this, set it aside for an hour at room temperature for resting time. Ensure it is covered, you may want to use butcher paper or aluminum foil to protect it.

Cook the beef

Once you have seasoned the pound brisket, it is time to cook.Β 

Place brisket in the oven and leave it to slow cook for around eight to nine hours. This total time will ensure it is tender and easy to slice once it is ready to serve.Β 

If you haven’t got an oven or want to cook it even more slowly, don’t be afraid to use a slow cooker instead. However, do make sure the internal temperature is at the right number before finishing to cook. Always test part of the brisket, usually the thickest part, with a meat thermometer before serving. Β 

Take the beef out and prepare for serving

This is the easy part. When you are satisfied that your brisket is cooked properly, take it out and carve it in on your cutting board.Β 

For those feeling adventurous, you can always create a red wine gravy to pour over your meal. To do this, pour the juices from the brisket into a pan and combine them with a healthy dose of your favorite red wine.Β 

Cook until half of the liquid volume has burned away, and then add butter and, if you have a sweet tooth, honey or brown sugar.Β 

Keep frying it until the liquid is thick and, well, gravy-like. You can then smother it over the brisket for extra flavor or use it as a sauce for the whole meal.Β 

Final words On Smoked Beef Brisket

As you can see, preparing a delicious beef brisket is simple, so long as you source good quality ingredients and put aside the time during the day to check on your brisket as it cooks. Soon, you will be enjoying the delicious smoke flavor of a Texas style brisket, with minimal prep time and an easy-to-manage cooking total time. Alternatively, you could try pulled pork instead of a beef brisket recipe, but again, ensure you have a good cut of meat, adhere to the right serving time and always check the internal temperature of the brisket before serving. Β 

The post How to cook smoked beef brisket appeared first on J-Top's BBQ Shop.

How do you make catfish taste good?

20 April 2022 at 06:41

Catfish is a cheap and cheerful dish that can trace its roots back to Southern cajun cuisine. Although this can be a healthy meal to add to your weekly intake, many people find the natural taste of a catfish filet to be unappetizing.Β 

This is understandable because catfish live at the bottom of freshwater rivers and lakes, which often gives them a muddy flavor and aftertaste. What’s more, catfish fillets have been known to taste faintly of their own lunch, which, when combined with the already fishy taste and flavor, can make the fillets an off-putting meal.Β 

Of course, it doesn’t have to be this way.

If you choose your fish wisely and prepare it properly, you can get rid of the unappetizing muddy taste and make your crispy catfish fillets delicious to eat.Β 

This is what you need to know to make the catfish you buy taste good, whether you serve it pan-fried or deep fry your fish fillets:

Make sure you choose the right cut of catfish

The Primary way to make catfish taste good is to choose the right example of the breed. When it comes to freshwater catfish, white and firm examples are the ones to opt for. Avoid a fishy smell when choosing your cold water catfish. Β 

You should also make sure the best catfish is as fresh as possible. This is obvious because the longer it has been sitting around, the worse it is going to taste.Β Be sure to choose an angler who provides as fresh as possible white fish.

How to cook catfish properly

The Secondary way to make it taste better is to ensure that you cook it properly, add the right seasoning, and eat it alongside complementary foods, including additions like coleslaw and lemon juice. Β 

Fried catfish is a great dish to cook. After all, it is a staple of soul cajun food, which must tell you something about how well this recipe improves the taste of the fish.

To make this, heat oil in a cast-iron skillet (although you can also fry catfish in an air fryer or deep fryer) and bring your oven up to temperature (200 degrees Fahrenheit), laying a baking sheet inside as you do so.Β 

At this point, you need to create a dish full of buttermilk, which you should proceed to lay the fish in. While it is soaking, create a mixture of cornmeal, flour, and spices (usually a teaspoon each of cayenne pepper, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder) in a bowl.Β 

Lift the fish out of the milk, smother it with the flour mixture, then lay it in the skillet full of hot oil.Β 

Given the high heat, the fish will fry quickly with the skillet lid closed (usually taking around three to four minutes on each side) to provide a golden brown crust.

Once the catfish is fried, you are ready to serve it with a much-improved flavor.Β Be sure to have paper towels handy for any oil or seasoning you spill!

Indeed, to add an extra zing to the catfish recipe, you could drizzle lemon juice and accompany with tartar sauce or even hot sauce . Β Β 

Another staple catfish dish is catfish creole, which can be prepared using a Dutch oven. This makes a good alternative to fried catfish, especially if you are looking for a lighter meal.

Try fried catfish with delicious hush puppy or collard greens as sides

Of course, as with any great meal, you can always make the fried catfish far better by combining it with some delicious sides, which both complement the existing flavor and give the dish more depth.

For example, you could easily prepare hush puppies alongside the catfish, given that they will both be fried and battered. If you are thinking of incorporating hot sauce, this is a good side to dip in it.

Alternatively, you could prepare collard greens, a southern staple, that pair incredibly well with a fried fish dish.Β 

The post How do you make catfish taste good? appeared first on J-Top's BBQ Shop.

❌
❌