Ingredients 1 pound dried pinto beans 1 12 oz jar of salsa (brand and heat level of your choice) 1 tablespoon salt 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground pepper 1 tablespoon “Johnny’s Au Jus Sauce” 2 tablespoons bacon drippings 1 medium onion, chopped 1/2 pound smoked sausage, diced Directions
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Continue reading … BBQ Grail Salsa Beans

Growing up I was never exposed to very many different fresh vegetables. Vegetables were something you “had” to have on the plate and for the most part not a great deal of thought went into them. Most of the time they were the frozen type that got nuked in the microwave just before we all sat down at the table.
Winter squash is a vegetable that has always sort of baffled me. I’d pick them up at the store and wonder just how in the world you could eat something as hard as these appeared to be. Last year I gave Acorn Squash a try for the first time and really enjoyed the flavors it gave me off the grill. So when Mrs. Grail sent me to the store with the instruction of “just get a vegetable” I decided to give Butternut Squash a try. The squash grilled up great and tasted fantastic.
One of my favorite blogs belongs to John Dawson in Boise, Idaho. His website PatioDaddio BBQ has some of the best and most innovative recipes in the BBQ blog world. Not only is John a great cook but his kindness and generosity is the best. He is always willing to share all his recipes, techniques and know-how. He recently posted a recipe for zucchini fries. The recipe is 100% John’s except for a change in the seasoning. Here is my take on John’s recipe. (John’s original version can be found here.)

Continue reading Grilled Zucchini Fries
Mrs. Grail (Celeste) is usually responsible for our side dishes. I asked her to come up with a new pasta salad to go with some grilled turkey we had for dinner. She came up with a real winner. The Bacon Tomato Pasta Salad!

Continue reading Mrs. Grail’s B.T.P. Salad
For as long as I can remember I have had an aversion to squash. Growing up we didn’t eat it at all and then once I left home my only exposure to squash was in the Army mess hall where zucchini was steamed/boiled to something that resembled green mush with seeds. (I had a
Continue reading … “Dirty” Grilled Acorn Squash
Last weekend I traveled to Spring Valley to visit my mother for her 70th Birthday. With a large group of family members I got the job of cooking the birthday meal.
I needed a side dish to go with the grilled tri-tips we were having so I decided to adapt the Trash Bag Potatoes
Continue reading … Product Review: Simply Marvelous BBQ “Season-All”
Courtesy of GrillinFools
I’m always looking for some great side dishes to serve with bbq. I’m not a huge romaine lettuce fan, but this recipe from the GrillinFools blog has me interested. It’s simple, yet has some wow factor involved. Give it a look and maybe even a try.
Grilled Salad from The
Continue reading … Grilled Salad from The GrillinFools
When people see my surname I am often confused for someone who subscribes to a particular neopagan religion that worships Gaia or Mother Earth. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. My last name GAIAN is only two generations old. If my great grandmother had not gotten mad at my great grandfather
Continue reading … FoodBuzz 24, 24, 24: My Heritage In Bacon!