Earlier this year, I was shopping for hardware in our neighborhood Lowe’s when I noticed about twenty-five Blackstone Griddles sitting near the entrance. Some of the Griddles had rust on the cooking surface, all covered in drywall dust. They were priced at well over $200. I went to find the manager.
The manager told me that the griddles were stored outside during the winter and were not covered. I asked him if the price was firm or if there was some “wiggle room” considering the condition. He asked me to make him an offer. Ten minutes later, I had a Blackstone Griddle in my truck, and Lowe’s had $100 of my money. I was elated.
After experimenting with recipes, I was convinced that anything I could grill, I could griddle. The versatility of a griddle makes it an excellent appliance for outdoor cooking. The first recipe I tried out for Helen was “Smashburger Tacos.” Unfortunately, I didn’t take pictures of the process, but I inserted a link to the video here and promise they are excellent.
One recipe I photographed is a side dish called “Bacon Fried Corn,” which worked extremely well with grilled chicken. When prepared for two, I used about a half-pound of bacon and crisped it on the Blackstone. When done, I set the bacon aside.
Next, I cleared most of the bacon grease from the griddle and added some diced green and red peppers and some diced onions on the griddle. I let them simmer in the remainder of the bacon drippings.
I used a one-pound bag of frozen corn for the next step and let them heat through completely alongside the peppers and onions. Once that step was completed, I mixed the corn, peppers, and onions together, added the bacon back into the mixture, and stirred in some fresh parsley.
I used Blackstone Tequila Lime Seasoning and a ribbon of Garlic paste for spices. Cheddar Jalapeno Cheetos are also added when finished to add a little crunch to the dish.
Thanks to my prowess as a multi-tasker, I grilled chicken thighs simultaneously and heated some fresh zucchini as a second side dish. The result was a delightful summer meal prepared outside without heating up the kitchen.
Sourdough Bread
I enjoy cooking, but I have no experience with baking outside of my favorite recipe for Molasses cookies (a recipe I’ll share in a future post). It was time to expand my range, but I didn’t know how or where to start—until this past week.
A lady in our exercise class walked into the gym sporting a large bandage. I asked her what caused the injury, and she said she had burned herself while baking sourdough bread. After wishing her well, I asked her to tell me about her bread recipe. She then said she would bring it to the next class.
Two days later, she walked into the gym with two copies of the recipe and a pint jar of “starter,” a key ingredient for making sourdough bread. I was thrilled and rushed home, ready to expand my cooking horizons. On the way home, I ran into the supermarket for a bag of bread flour, a product different from the All-Purpose flour we had in our pantry.
The recipe called for six cups of bread flour, a half-cup of buttermilk (or oil), a tablespoon each of sugar and salt, a cup and a half of warm water, and a cup of the starter. I blended the flour mixture into a stiff batter, then transferred it to a lightly-greased large bowl where it would rise overnight.
The next day, I sprinkled some flour on a cutting board and then dropped the risen batter onto the board, dividing it into three parts. Each part was placed into loaf pans and allowed to rise again. I let the loaves sit for about six hours.
When the loaves were ready to cook, I placed them in a preheated oven to 350 degrees and allowed them to bake for about 40 minutes. When done, I pulled them out to cool. The smell of fresh warm bread filled the kitchen, and I waited until my patience got the best of me and cut off a large slice…then bowed for five minutes. The bread came out light and very flavorful. If you like sourdough, this is an excellent way to prepare it. I’ve now made three batches, and Helen placed an order for one more to give away.
That’s what is on my plate—what’s been on yours?
Until next time, we’re eating well and Easin’ Along!
P.S. This post was shared with Retirement Reflections, a well-written blog by my online friend Donna Connelly. I have inserted a link to her blog here.
I can almost taste the Sourdough! And never knew what a “Smashburger” was until this video!
All sounds delicious..thanks for sharing.
Carolyn,
I served Smashburger Tacos to your granddaughters and they loved it. Bennett had more than one. Have a great week! Joe
Joe, Ask your Pastor if they will use your sourdough.bread for Holy Communion. If you can get your hands on good homemade wine offer that as well. Give of your best to the Lord.
Hi, David!
That’s a great idea. Our church has a camping weekend every fall and we have a communion service on Sunday during the campout. I’ll offer the bread for that. Thanks for checking in. Great to hear from you! Joe
Joe, if you are using a cup of the starter for the bread it can’t last long. How do you create more?
The bread and the meal look tasty. I will definitely try the grilled corn recipe.
Suzanne,
I sent a copy of the bread and starter recipe to your email. If you try the corn recipe, please let me know how it goes. I’m preparing it again tonight. I’m off you your blog to see what’s going on there. Have a great week! Joe
I am trying not to drool. Goodness that all looks so good. Keep playing with your new griddle and while you are at it expand your bread baking. Can’t hurt!!
Hi, Ann,
Indeed, it’s all good. My next mission is to make some plain white bread. I’ve enjoyed making the Sourdough very much. Just proves an old dog can learn new tricks :-). Please stay in touch! Joe
We have considered getting a Blackstone several times, but keep reminding ourselves that we are supposed to be downsizing. Sigh. However, your post is making me question that once again, especially if we found the great deal you did. The corn and chicken look delish!
Good afternoon, Marian,
I LOVE my Blackstone and am always looking for new recipes to try out. Fortunately, Blackstone emails out two recipes every week–some are great, others not so much. If you think you’re ready for a griddle, please note that you don’t need the biggest one out there. Ours is just a two-burner and it is perfect for us. Thanks for checking in. Please stay in touch. Joe
Hi, Joe –
Thank you for linking up with #What’sOnYourPlate. You had me engaged from start to finish. I was very impressed with your quick eye and negotiating skills at your hardware store. But your cooking was even more impressive. I absolutely LOVE sourdough bread but am afraid to try making it on my own. (I truly would not know where to begin).
I will definitely give your Smashburger Tacos and Fried Corn a try!
Thanks again for sharing!
Donna,
All of the recipes worked out well, but the Smashburger Tacos are fabulous. My granddaughters loved them and one is a picky eater. I sent you a copy of the Sourdough recipe. I hope you’ll give it a try. Thanks for checking in, and please stay in touch. Joe
Loved this!
Thanks, Ginny! If you like Sourdough, I’m happy to share! Have a great week. Joe
Now I’m starving!!! What a great deal. Got to try the tacos!!! Happy cooking!!! Luanne
Hi, LuAnne,
Bacon-anything will do that to you. If you try the tacos, let me know what you think. We love them. Say “hi” to Frank! Joe
Joe, I’m impressed by your cooking skills! Congratulations on scoring a griddle. 🙂
Eric is the grilling expert in our house. We’re currently trying to figure out our grilling scene for our tiny house. Do you leave your grill outdoors during the winter? I just realized since we’re screening in our front porch and back deck that we won’t have any covered space for a grill. I can’t imagine life without a grill, LOL.
Good morning!
Yes, we leave both our grill and the griddle on our deck all year. Buy a good cover for your grill, preferably one made by the grill manufacturer and has velcro straps or something like cords to give the cover a snug fit. That tiny home needs a grill! Great to hear from you! Joe
You’re singing my hubby’s song, getting a grill at a discounted price, Joe! A griddle sounds like a great idea. Your menu and food look fabulous and de-lish!
Hi, Terri,
I got a good deal on my griddle, and have loved using it. Hans will love this–I bought a table-top Blackstone for our trailer from a reclaimed property sale. It was brand new and in the box for $75! As the saying goes, “even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and then. Have a great week! Joe
Ummm fried bacon corn? I’m there!
Hi, Joanne,
Bacon-anything always gets me excited. I have several variations of bacon recipes for the griddle and all are excellent and fun to prepare. Thanks for stopping by! I hope you’ll come back. Joe
I applaud your excellent and successful use of negotiation tactics, Joe – nicely done! Your Bacon Fried Corn over a bed of spring greens would make a lovely summer salad. I’ll bet that Helen is encouraging and enjoying your griddle obsession – I know I would be! Looking forward to your molasses cookie recipe!
Good morning, Mary!
You can bet that Helen is enjoying the new griddle. I cook and we don’t heat up the kitchen–she’ll take that deal anytime. My molasses cookies are awesome! I’ll save some for you! Have a great week! Joe
Joe, Such a good deal you got at Lowe’s. What’s on your plate looks delish. Bring on summer!
Hi, Natalie,
Bring on summer, indeed! Today, we’re camping just outside of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The temperatures are perfect, and the rhododendrons are in full bloom. I’m going to fire up the griddle later. We’re good and hope you are as well. Thanks so much for stopping by! Joe
WOW! Think I’ll bring you to our house!!!💕💖
Hi, Ginny,
Anytime–just say the word! Have a great weekend! Joe