Shir Birinj (Rice Pudding)

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

This is a favorite desert, using the ever-present rice. The vanilla essence is sometimes omitted in villages where it may not be available.

Ingredients

2 cups cooked rice
1 1/4 cups milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup raisins
chopped pistachios for garnish

Instructions

Combine all ingredients except the pistachios and place in a greased baking dish.

Bake in a 300 degree F. oven for about 45 minutes until done. Garnish with pistachios and serve.

Grilled Banana Splits

Grilled Banana Splits

Dave DeWitt Rapid-Fire: Quick & Easy Grilling, USA Leave a Comment

Speaking of traditional desserts, how about a Barbecued Banana Split? As easy as pie, a delightfully rich treat, and another dish that will cement your reputation as being a master BBQ dessert maker.

Ingredients

1 stick unsalted butterGrilled Bananas
1/2 cup brown sugar
8 ripe bananas
Vanilla ice cream
Hot Fudge Sauce (or Caramel, Butterscotch, etc.)
Whipped cream
Chopped nuts

Instructions

Preheat your barbecue grill to 350 to 400 degrees F. and spray the grill heavily with PAM or another grilling spray.

Combine the butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan and cook over medium-low heat until the butter is completely melted and the sugar is dissolved. With a sharp knife, cut each banana in half lengthwise, leaving the peel on the halves.

Brush the cut side of the banana halves with the sugar mixture and place the bananas cut side down on the grill. Grill until golden brown and caramelized, about 2 minutes. Re-spray the grill with PAM and turn the banana halves, peel side down and brush the upper surface of each with more glaze. Grill the bananas 2-3 minutes longer or until tender.

To serve, place two grilled banana halves in a sundae dish or shallow bowl. Top with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, drizzle with your favorite dessert sauce, and top with whipped cream and chopped nuts.

Cream Cheese, Chocolate and Jam Turnovers

Cream Cheese, Chocolate and Jam Turnovers

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

Here’s a simple, elegant dessert you’d never, ever think of cooking on a BBQ grill. Everyone loves turnovers, and these are so simple you can do them with your eyes closed. For variation use apricot and golden raspberry jam, thinly sliced kiwi and blueberries, thinly sliced peaches and crushed blackberries—let your imagination go wild. And, if you are daring, add a tablespoon of cognac, rum or fruit liqueur to the mix before placing into the filo dough.

By the way, filo dough can takes hours to make, so just pop into your local grocery store and buy a box of pre-made dough, thaw it slowly following the directions, then craft up a delicious dessert of browned and crisp turnovers with yummy fruit hidden inside. One caution: when these come out of the oven wait at least ten minutes before eating, as the fruit inside can scald and seriously burn you if you dig right in.

Ingredients

Barbecued turnovers2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
3/4 cup cream cheese
1/2 cup apricot jam
1/4 cup orange marmalade
1 small bar of milk or semi-sweet chocolate
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon milk
1 1/2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar, for sprinkling

Instructions

Pre-heat a BBQ to 425 degrees F., mounding the charcoal on one side only (or, if using propane, turn on the burners on one side of the BBQ only).

On a lightly floured surface, roll out each sheet of pastry into a 12-inch square and cut each square into 4 (6-inch) squares. In a small bowl mix the apricot jam and marmalade together.  You can also use fresh fruit and berries here, if sliced or chopped into small pieces.

Put one very full tablespoon of cream cheese in the center of each pastry square, add another very full tablespoon of the fruit jam mixture, then add one 2” x 2”-inch square of chocolate. Lightly brush all four of the edges of each pastry square with water.

Fold the pastry squares in half diagonally to form triangles, pressing the edges together firmly with the tines of a fork that you have dipped in milk. Seal the edges well.

Mix 1 egg with 1 tablespoon milk and brush the top of each turnover with the egg wash.  

Sprinkle a tablespoon of water on a baking sheet, and arrange the turnovers on the sheet. With a sharp knife cut several slits in the top of each turnover (for steam vents). Sprinkle the turnovers with the confectioner’s sugar and bake them on the unheated side of your BBQ for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are puffed and golden.  

Remove the baking sheet from the BBQ and sprinkle the turnovers with more confectioner’s sugar and serve them warm, with ice cream if you wish. Wait 10 minutes before eating, as the fruit filling can be dangerously hot.

Pulled Pork and Beans with Cinnamon BBQ Sauce (234x196)

Pulled Pork and Beans with Cinnamon BBQ Sauce

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

This recipe takes a lot of time but the end result is well worth it. Pork shoulder roasts go on sale at the supermarket all the time, so you get maximum bang for your buck. I cold smoke the pork while the beans are soaking and cooking. 

Ingredients

2-3 lb pork shoulder roast
1 lb bag of dried red beans

Cinnamon BBQ Sauce:
8 oz cans tomato paste
8 oz water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup Worcester sauce
2 1/2 tablespoons molasses
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon thyme

Instructions

Soak the beans in water overnight, per the instructions on the package.

Cold smoke the pork shoulder for 2 hours over 1 cup of water-soaked apple wood chips, changing the chips every 20-30 minutes.

While the pork is smoking, rinse the beans and place on a low heat for 90 minutes, partially covered. Place the beans in a crock pot.

Blend all other ingredients except the sauce until smooth, then add to the pot and mix with the beans.  Set the pork atop the beans, turn the crock pot on low, and let cook on low for 8-10 hours.

About an hour before completion, the pork should be fork-tender. Place it on a cutting board, shred it, and mix it back into the pot for the last hour of cooking.

Heat scale: Mild

Tri-Tip with Five-Spice Rub (480x480)

Tri-Tip with Five-Spice Rub

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

For as simple as this rub is, it goes great with red meat, especially tri-tip.

Ingredients

One 3 1/2-5-pound tri-tip roast
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon chile powder
1 tablespoon crushed black pepper
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon mustard
1 tablespoon garlic powder

Instructions

Mix all the spices in a bowl and spread the mixture evenly on a cutting board.  Gently coat both sides of the tri-tip in the mixture.

When using my trash can, I cold smoke it for two hours and transfer it to a heated charcoal grill to finish cooking. You want to grill the tri-tip until it reaches 145 degrees F at its thickest point.

If you have a higher-burning hot plate, you can hot smoke the tri-tip for 2 hours or until the meat reaches 145 degrees F at its thickest point instead of grilling it. Hot smoke for 2 hours or until the meat reaches 145 degrees F at its thickest point.

Let it rest for 20 minutes, then slice against the grain and serve. Black cherry wood chips complement beef wonderfully. If you want a deeper flavor, you can cold smoke it for 3 hours instead and finish it off on a hot grill.