I love a kitchen gadget. If you've seen it on TV, I've probably tried it: air fryer, pizza oven, ceramic pans, you name it. About five years ago, I bought my dad a Traeger grill and smoker for Father's Day, and it turned out to be the best gift I never got for myself. It'll hold a low, steady heat for hours when I'm smoking brisket or beef shanks, then just as easily fire up hot for burgers, hot dogs, and everything in between.
That same range is what I love about Barbecue: Smoke Out (Ch 235 on DIRECTV). Old friends and barbecue experts Kevin Bludso and Noah Galuten move between low-and-slow smoking and hot-and-fast grilling, cracking jokes the whole time and proving just how many directions cooking outside can go. Here are three of my favorite recipes from the show — consider it your choose-your-own-barbecue-adventure: pick your protein, match it to your plans, and go from there.
