What’s Your Favorite Jack Daniels Competition?
What’s your favorite Jack Daniels competition? Mine, and many other people’s favorite, is the annual Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue. There are seven categories in which to compete: Pork Ribs, Pork Shoulder/Butts, Beef Brisket, Chicken, Dessert, Cook’s Choice and Jack Daniel’s Sauce. Yum, people from around the world competing to see who can make the world’s most delicious BBQ using Jack Daniels whisky.
The final Jack Daniels competition is held in Lynchburg, Tennessee, in the United States. Lynchburg is a community tucked away in the rolling hills of the Southern United States, a sleepy community that receive nearly all its annual visitors because it is the home of Jack Daniels whisky.
Oddly enough, this huge Jack Daniels competition is held in a county that does not allow drinking. In the US, it’s called a “dry county”. The county forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages, as do many places in the Southern United States, mainly due to religious considerations of residents.
Any Jack Daniels competition is a huge deal, and well worth attending in person if possible. Naturally the BBQ competition draws the most attention because everyone loves BBQ foods and Jack Daniels makes a great BBQ sauce. Everyone present at the competition has some “secret” ingredient they use to make their BBQ sauce special and it’s fun to sample foods and try to guess what their secret ingredient is. .
Salmon Tartare
For this dish, you should use the freshest wild or farmed salmon. Chilling it in the freezer for 20 minutes makes it easier to dice.
4 servings
PREP TIME: 40 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 40 minutes
Ingredients
1 8-oz. boneless salmon fillet, skinless
1/4 cup finely diced, seeded cucumber
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 1/2 tsp. minced fresh chives
1 1/2 tsp. minced fresh cilantro
1 1/2 tsp. grapeseed or vegetable oil
1 1/2 tsp. minced, seeded jalapeño
1 1/2 tsp. minced shallot
3/4 tsp. minced peeled fresh ginger
1/2 tsp. Asian sesame oil
1/4 tsp. (scant) lime zest
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Thick-cut potato or tortilla chips Read the rest of this entry »
Grilled Polenta with Corn and Parmesan
6 servings
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup corn kernels
3 cups water, divided
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup stone-ground cornmeal
Additional olive oil
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese Read the rest of this entry »
Crispy Fried Zucchini Blossoms
8 appetizer servings
Ingredients
Vegetable oil (for frying)
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
12 ounces chilled Pilsner, lager-style beer, or club soda
3 stiffly beaten egg whites
Zucchini blossoms (stamens removed; about 2 dozen)
Sea salt Read the rest of this entry »
Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms
8 appetizer servings
1 cup ricotta
1 tablespoon freshly chopped mint
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
zucchini blossoms
Vegetable oil (for frying)
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
12 ounce chilled Pilsner, lager-style beer, or club soda
Zucchini blossoms (stamens removed; about 2 dozen)
Sea salt Read the rest of this entry »
Fried Zucchini Blossoms
8 appetizer servings
Ingredients
Vegetable oil (for frying)
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
12 ounces chilled Pilsner, lager-style beer, or club soda
Zucchini blossoms (stamens removed; about 2 dozen)
Sea salt Read the rest of this entry »
Grilled Vegetables with Mint Raita
IMPROV: Add or substitute corn on the cob, eggplant slices, or portobellos.
6 servings
2 cups plain whole-milk yogurt
1 cup chopped fresh mint
2 teaspoons garam masala
Salt and pepper to taste
Cut into 6 wedges each:
2 red bell peppers
3 large zucchini
2 red onions Read the rest of this entry »
Ceviche Verde
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 pound fresh Pacific halibut or other firm-fleshed fish
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
3/4 cup green olives, sliced
1/2 cup tomatillos, diced
1/4 cup onion, very finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1 jalapeño, stemmed, seeded, and minced (optional)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Tostadas or torilla chips Read the rest of this entry »
Avocado and Crab Soup
4 servings
Ingredients
1/2 cup lump crabmeat
1 celery stalk, diced
1/2 tablespoon chervil, chopped
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 avocados
1 cup vegetable stock
2 tablespoons crème fraîche
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
3/4 teaspoons kosher salt Read the rest of this entry »
Pistachio Ice Cream
Ingredients
2 cups whole milk
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 1/2 ounces cream cheese, softened (3 tablespoons)
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 cup toasted pistachios, very finely ground
1/4 teaspoon pure almond extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt Read the rest of this entry »