HELP! - Cooking for 3hrs at an Ace Hardware, need ideas

Ozzie_Isaac

I have a friend who manages an Ace Hardware, she is short staffed this weekend and asked if I could cook this weekend on a Green Egg and a Traeger.  I said sure, and now that leads to my question,

What should I cook?  I have two goals 1. Feed the Staff; 2. Samples for customers

They like to do some unique and fun things, to showcase the Egg and that it isn't all about smoking meat.  What do you guys do as a go-to for fun samples that are easy to cook and eat for people?  I am stepping way out of my comfort zone hear, but pretty excited.

alaskanassasin

Half inch steaks for the win!

Ozzie_Isaac

alaskanassasin said:

Half inch steaks for the win!

And 175 is done!

alaskanassasin

I am not much help but I think it is awesome that you are helping a friend in need. Good luck

RRP

If cost and time is no issue then I highly  recommend ABTs 

if just feeding the masses…then go with seasoned chubbs of 1# 
Beef AKA “fatties”

Gulfcoastguy

Spatchcock chicken, jalapeño poppers, pork tenderloins, pineapple spears, all basic stuff that new customers can see them selves doing besides hotdogs and hamburgers. 

caliking

alaskanassasin said:

I am not much help but I think it is awesome that you are helping a friend in need. Good luck

i hit the agree for this one. 

Off the top of my head, some hits that I've noted from past eggfests:

- pineapple gems
- pig shots
- ABT's (already mentioned above)
- some sort of "bite of steak"
- tortilla pizza (decent pre-made/store bought tortilla, sauce, protein, cheese... you get the idea). Kids love this. A lot of people have kids.
- decent quality sausage, cut up into bites, poked with a toothpick. 
- "best appetizer you'll ever eat" (or something like that ala SGH, popularized by @Hotch)
- ice cream cone cupcakes (also made popular by Hotch)
- something big batch... jambalaya, stew, gumbo, etc.

Depending on time/level of commitment, I would suggest one or  two commonish items, and one "wow! I wouldn't have that that I could do this on a BGE/grill/smoker, etc. " item. From my own experience, people are usually very appreciative, when someone throws down something other than the typical fare. 

Don't feed the masses. Be special. I say this, because I know that you can cook.

johnmitchell

Baby bella mushrooms.Take the stems out then fill with a mix of cream cheese, bacon crumbles and a slice of jalapeño. Cook indirect. Easy to be served and eaten. Have fun!!

ColbyLang

Drums and flats on the BGE, pork belly burnt ends on the Trager 

ColtsFan

Some of the things we’ll do for small store cooks. Pepper stout beef, buffalo chicken dip, ABTs, pulled pork grilled cheese, baked beans, roasted cauliflower, brats, Mac and cheese. 

The PSB I usually do ahead and vacuum pack. Then all I have to do is reheat in a half pan. The pulled pork grilled cheese is a fan favorite. We use 2oz cups for samples. 

WeberWho

A recipe I made up that Nibble Me This turned into a detailed recipe they use at Eggfests:

https://www.nibblemethis.com/2017/05/jordans-drunk-pickles.html?m=1

JohnInCarolina

Probably too late but pork belly burnt ends are always crowd pleasers whenever I’ve made them or seen them made by others.

GrateEggspectations

I took note of the comment about showcasing the Egg for things other than smoking meat. 

Great, super easy app that yields great results is smoked cream cheese. You likely know, but just take a stick of cream cheese, coat it in rub on all sides and then smoke it. You could either grill fresh bread into little crostinis to serve it on, or do fresh-bake bread on the Egg. 

Desserts on the Egg also seem to amaze people, as they don’t expect it. Some chocolate chip cookies would be easy to pull off and equally easy to serve. 

lkapigian

+1 on dessert, dump cakes are easy to pull off and delicious… aside from the usual “ poppers, burgers” etc, people come to the things not for the “ usual suspects” you can cook on anything , I’d precook some items and warm up on the egg there , burnt ends Pork or Brisket , pulled pork etc

BTW, 1/2” well done steaks are awesome 

GoldenQ

ikapigian.   The well done steak bites sound good have you ever tried them

lkapigian

GoldenQ said:

ikapigian.   The well done steak bites sound good have you ever tried them

Garlic or Asian Steak Bites are quick and easy , cube sear toss in garlic butter top with parsley or your favorite Asian Sauce or Glaze top with Sesame Seeds 

fishlessman

we used to have a butcher shop here that served samples, enough you could eat there for lunch while picking up steaks. old people flocked there for a free meal. small cups with mac and cheese, shepards pie, pulled pork

 their pulled pork had a light amount of mesquite in it which for small samples was not a bad thing. 

they were big on selling marinated steak tips so they had maybe 10 different flavors served on a tray with tooth picks and some shrimp, green lightning shrimp would be easy and a quick cook.

 they also baked apple slices with the pie ingredients, a splash of bourbon in that would be good, keep it simple, bake it ahead and warm up a casserole tray or two of that

caliking

This thread needs to be pinned

Legume

Caveman something.  Prep for carne asada mini tacos would be easy and familiar in AZ and quick turnover.

Could you figure out Sonoran hot dogs maybe in the traeger?

Canugghead

My cheater eggfest cook> super easy and popular, can be cooked first or even before the crowd arrives, let it cool and serve near the end when attendees are in meat coma. 

GrateEggspectations

Legume said:

Caveman something.  Prep for carne asada mini tacos would be easy and familiar in AZ and quick turnover.

Could you figure out Sonoran hot dogs maybe in the traeger?

Maybe Ozzie can fly @lousubcap in to assist with the demo. 

Elijah

I remember this from the Georgia mountain eggfest. It was at the first booth and was great. Like the recipe says I prepped everything and then just assembled and heated for a crowd. I likely didn't use Hellmann's 🤢



AsiParm Potatoes

By EggyBear.com

Ingredients:

12 medium size red potatoes

1 ½ cups Hellmann’s mayonnaise

1 cup shredded asiago cheese

1 cup shredded parmesan cheese

1 ½ teaspoons chopped garlic

1 teaspoon chopped parsley

Big Green Egg Set-Up:

Fill the Big Green Egg to the top of the fire box (not the fire ring) with

charcoal. Light it in the middle with a map gas torch or your preferred

method. Install the plate setter with the legs up. Bring the dome temperature

to 375°F.

Directions:

Wash the potatoes. Place them in a pot big enough to hold them covered with cold

water. Boil the potatoes until they are about 80% done. The potato should be firm

but not hard. When ready, remove from the hot water and place in a bowl of ice

water to stop the cooking process.

Place the mayonnaise, cheeses, garlic and parsley in a mixing bowl and mix well.

Place the mixture in a quart size Ziploc bag.

Cut the chilled potatoes into ¼ inch thick slices and arrange them on a grill safe

tray.

Snip off one of the corners of the Ziploc bag and pipe mixture on each potato. If

you prefer, you can simply spoon the mixture onto the potato directly from the

mixing bowl. However, piping is easier.

Place them on the Big Green Egg grill grate and bake them at 375°F for

approximately 10-15 minutes or until the topping is golden brown.

Remove them and let them cool for about 5 minutes. ENJOY!!!

Notes:

We often do steps 1 and 2 ahead of time. We place the cut potatoes on wire

mesh pizza trays so that the bottom of the potato is exposed to the open heat.

You can place the potatoes directly on the grill grate. However, using a wire

mesh pizza tray allows you to prepare 30–40 pieces at a time and place them

on and take them off the grill in seconds.

Yield:

Approximately 60 pieces

Gulfcoastguy

Jalapeño Popper Cups
8 slices thick cut bacon cooked and crumble
6 jalapeños diced
8 ounce cream cheese 
1/2 cup mozzarella or cheddar cheese 
a can of flakey biscuits 

spray muffin pans. Set up for indirect heat at 350F. Split biscuits in half and line muffin pans with them. Mix the rest of the ingredients and put into biscuit cups. Bake 14 to 16 minutes. Makes 16 so multiply as needed. Recipe from Chile Pepper Magazine. 

kl8ton

The Salado Brisket Chili?  

DoubleEgger

http://itsmyrub.com/bacon-wrapped-pineapple-gems/

Ozzie_Isaac

Okay, so work has been absolutely insane for the last about 3 weeks (7 days a week 12hr days), and today was no different.  However, I have been reading the suggestions in between and I am getting super excited (eggcited?).

My friend mentioned they usually have one of these customer/employee events every other month.  Their BGE Rep that has done these for years died and the new Rep that was hired for the region apparently has never even cooked on a BGE !?!

This go round I think I am going to go basic:

1. Bacon wrapped goat cheese stuffed dates with honey hog rub (on BGE)
2. Pig Shots with Dominator Sweet Rib Rub & cream cheese with jalapeno slice on top (one Traeger)
3. Cheese Cake Factory Street Corn (on BGE)
4. Some sort of dessert, thinking the brownies (on BGE)
5. For the crew, I might do carna asada tacos or spatchcock chicken tacos (Traeger if chicken, BGE if carna Asada)

(hmmm, might need to bring one of my BGEs looking at my plan above?)

I am practicing the cooks tonight.  There are so many amazing recipes and ideas you guys provided, I will definitely be testing them out and preparing if I get called up to the big leagues again.  I really wanted to do ABTs, but they take a ton or prep time for me,

RRP

WOW…was I just lame-brained last night and missed that you also need to demo a Traeger???

Me thinks that you have gotten Many valuable suggestions about egger treats but nothing about Treager ideas…which I can’t help you with anyway.

So you proud Traeger owners do you want to step up and help out that fellow egger?

Canugghead

I you do brownies, line the pan with parchment paper for easy serving. Good call for chicken in Traeger.

@rrp, most dishes can be cooked in either cooker, heat is heat. If anything, a decent sized Traeger is at least double or triple the capacity of a large BGE, so it's not limited to just one dish at a time. Thats a big advantage given the short 3-hr window. Still love my BGE but I stopped drinking the green Koolaid long time ago 

Ozzie_Isaac

Canugghead said:

I you do brownies, line the pan with parchment paper for easy serving. Good call for chicken in Traeger.

@rrp, most dishes can be cooked in either cooker, heat is heat. If anything, a decent sized Traeger is at least double or triple the capacity of a large BGE, so it's not limited to just one dish at a time. Thats a big advantage given the short 3-hr window. Still love my BGE but I stopped drinking the green Koolaid long time ago 

Traeger has enough room for the chicken and pig shots at the same time.  I honestly wish I was cooking at home, I know what and where everything is.  I need to make sure I am ready to adapt and improvise.  Will also bring as many of my accessories, pans, knives, etc as I can.

Ozzie_Isaac

Okay pig shots are out.  They are ugly and didn't hit the spot.  Corn and Dates are in.  Making some brownies right now.  Might add pineapple spears to the menu as a replacement.

You guys have provided so many amazing recipes!  Thank you.  I plan to start working my way down the list in preparation for the next time.

I like the idea of mac&cheese in a 2oz cup with little sampler spoon.  Same for the various pulled pork items.

The steak bites tossed in different glazes.  Maybe sous vide the steak, cut in half lengthwise, hard sear, then toss in sauce?

ryantt

Norah has had good luck with s’more cones.  Quick and easy to make.      

Sugar cones filled with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips.   Toss them on the BGE in a jalapeño popper rack and you’re good to go.