NBC Videos

The magical combination of asparagus and bacon…so easy and SO good!

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

• 2 pounds asparagus (thin stalks are better for this recipe)
• 1 pound bacon, not thick cut
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

1. Cut woody stems from asparagus.
2. In a large bowl, toss the asparagus with olive oil. Sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper and toss again.
3. Lay 3 asparagus stalks on a cutting board. Take one slice of bacon and wrap around the stalks. Try to keep the stalks flat as you’re wrapping them with bacon (think of it like a raft). Tuck the ends of bacon inside, so they cannot come loose on the grill.
4. Preheat grill to medium-low.
5. Grill asparagus for 4 minutes with the lid closed. Turn over and grill for 4 more minutes. Turn asparagus again and cook for 4 more minutes.
6. Serve immediately.

Slather this garlic butter on bread, pasta, fish, and hot veggies…it rocks!!!

The World’s Best Garlic Bread

This is a recipe I make year round! It pairs perfectly with BBQ, lasagna, salads, pasta, fish, and just about everything else!

• 15 garlic cloves
• 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
• Rustic bread, sliced ½ inch thick
• 1 cup Flat Italian parsley, washed and minced
• Kosher salt

1. Finely mince the garlic. Place in a medium skillet with two sticks of butter. Melt butter and stir well. Cook on low for 30 minutes. Stir every 5 minutes. Butter should not get over heated, or it will burn. Low and slow, with tiny bubbles, is key to getting the butter and garlic cooked perfectly.
2. While butter is cooking, pick the leaves off of the parsley. Rinse well. Dry thoroughly. Chop finely.
3. Once the 30 minutes are up, move the pan off the heat. Let cool for a few minutes, then add the chopped parsley to the garlic butter.
4. Use a silicone brush, and brush the garlic butter onto the slices of bread. Lay the bread onto a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
5. You can freeze the bread at this point if you wish.
6. Bread can be baked or grilled (recommended).
7. To grill, preheat grill to medium to medium-high. Once grill is hot, place bread, sliced side down on the grates. Bread burns VERY easily, so you must stay close to the grill. Do not leave it unattended. Grill bread for 1 minute or so, and then turn over. Repeat on the other side.
8. To bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Reassemble slices to form a loaf. Bake for 20 minutes, or until bread is hot and crisped.

Tasty tri-tip is on the menu!! Watch me grill this popular cut, to everyone’s delight!

Santa Maria Tri-tip

• 1 tri-tip roast (2 to 2 ½ pounds)
• Oak wood chips, large piece of heavy duty foil

Dry Rub

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, minced

Basting Sauce

• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 6 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1. Start this recipe the night before you plan on grilling the tri-tip for the best flavor.
2. Prepare the dry rub by combining kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, and rosemary in a small bowl. Pat spices all over the tri-tip and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
3. Soak the wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes. Drain wood chips. Prepare a large piece of heavy-duty foil. Fold in half to double the thickness. Place wood chips in the center and fold foil over the ends to create a foil packet. Pierce the foil several times with the tines of a fork.
4. Make the basting sauce by combining the red wine vinegar, canola oil, garlic cloves, and Dijon mustard in a bowl.
5. Preheat grill to high. Place the foil smoker packet under the grates, right on top one of the burners. When you start seeing smoke, turn the heat down to medium-high.
6. Oil the grates with an oil soaked paper towel.
7. Place the tri-tip on the grill, and brush with basting sauce. Close lid and set timer for 4 minutes.
8. Turn tri-tip over, brush with basting sauce, and close lid. Set timer for 4 minutes.
9. Repeat these steps one or two more times, depending on the thickness of your steak. Use a meat thermometer and check. The temperature should read 130 degrees.

Tater tots are so trendy these days!! Watch me make a tasty dish using tater tots, ground beef, cheese, salsa, pickled jalapenos, , green onions, olives, and sour cream!

Tater Tot Taco Bake

• 2 pounds tater tots
• 1 ¼ pounds ground beef
• 1 cup water
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 cup cheddar cheese
• ¾ cup salsa
• 1/3 cup pickled jalapenos
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ cup olives, sliced
• ½ cup green onions

1. Preheat oven to 425. Bake tots on a foil lined cookie sheet for 25 minutes. Keep the oven on.
2. While the tots are baking, brown ground beef in a skillet and crumble well. Add packet of taco seasoning and 1 cup water. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
3. In a large cast iron skillet, or (13 X 9 casserole dish), place the hot tater tots. Cover evenly with the hot ground beef and then sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Add the pickled jalapeno slices, if desired.
4. Bake for 10 minutes at 425.
5. Remove from oven and top with salsa, green onions, sour cream, and black olives.

Try this amazing fresh summer salad recipe!!!

Summer Corn Salad

• 6 large ears of corn
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• ½ cup yellow onion, chopped fine
• 1 cup fresh basil, chopped small
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoons black pepper

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook corn in boiling water for 10 minutes, or until desired tenderness. Drain, cool, and cut kernels off the cob with a sharp knife.
2. In a small glass dish, combine the sugar and the rice vinegar. Microwave on high for 30 seconds to dissolve the sugar. Add the mayonnaise and olive oil. Whisk well.
3. In a large bowl, toss together the corn, tomatoes, onion, and basil. Pour the dressing over it and season with salt and pepper. Stir well and refrigerate until serving.

This dip will blow you away! Bacon, cream cheese, green onions, ranch dressing, and BBQ sauce, baked to perfection!! Perfect for Father’s Day or potlucks!

BBQ Chicken Dip with Bacon

• 1 cup red onion, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil

• 8 ounces softened cream cheese
• 3/4 cup ranch dressing
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 1½ cups rotisserie chicken meat, chopped

• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 ounces bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/2 cup green onions
• Additional barbeque sauce
• 1 box Ritz crackers

1. In small skillet combine olive oil and red onion and sauté using medium heat until tender, about 3 minutes.
2. In medium mixing bowl combine cream cheese, ranch dressing, garlic salt, pepper, sautéed red onion, and barbecue sauce. Mix well. Stir in the diced chicken by hand. Spread into an oven safe baking dish.
3. Sprinkle with the shredded cheddar cheese and then top with the bacon and green onions. Drizzle with additional barbeque sauce.
4. Bake for 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
5. Serve with Ritz crackers.

Your family will love you for this recipe! Flour tortillas, pizza sauce, cheese, oregano, pepperoni, olives, and garlic salt are all you need!

Pizzadillas

• 4 flour tortillas
• 2/3 cup pizza sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 2 tablespoons sliced olives
• 16 pepperoni slices

1. Lay flour tortillas out on a clean work surface. Spread two tablespoons pizza sauce out, to cover half of each tortilla. Sprinkle cheese on top of the pizza sauce. Next, sprinkle garlic powder and oregano on top of the cheese. Place four pepperoni slices on each tortilla. Place a few sliced olives on top of the shredded cheese. Fold tortillas in half and press lightly.
2. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Spray with non-stick spray. Place two pizzadillas in the skillet, and brown for 2 or 3 minutes per side. Press flat with a pancake turner.
3. Slice into quarters and serve.
4. These are a very convenient lunch to send to school with your child!

Watch this cute video and learn two kid-friendly recipes for Halloween! Decorate cupcakes with a spider web and create a black bubbling punch!

Spider Web Cupcakes & Spooky Halloween Punch

Spider Web Cupcakes

• 1 box Devil’s Food Cakemix, follow package directions to bake cupcakes
• 1 16-ounce tub vanilla frosting
• 1 3.5-ounce tube Wilton sparkle gel-black
• Wooden toothpicks
• 18 plastic spider rings

1. Bake cupcakes according to package directions. Let cupcakes cool completely.
2. Frost cupcakes with the vanilla frosting. Use black sparkle gel, and draw a spiral shape on top of each cupcake. Using a wooden toothpick, drag it through the gel icing from the center outwards. Repeat this process on all of the cupcakes. Top each cupcake with a plastic spider ring.

Spooky Halloween Punch

• 1 packet unsweetened Orange drink mix (.22 oz)
• 1 packet unsweetened Grape drink mix (.22 oz)
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 8 cups cold water
• 2 liters ginger ale
• 8 ounces dry ice **Do not handle with bare hands. Use tongs….adult participation required!

1. In a large glass punch bowl, combine the grape and orange drink mix packets.
2. Add the sugar and cold water.
3. Stir until sugar has dissolved.
4. Add the club soda.
5. Store in the refrigerator until party begins.
6. Just before guests arrive, place the dry ice into the punch bowl using tongs.

This is a special cookie recipe for any time of year! I’m going to show you how to make something special with everyday ingredients. Making browned butter will give these cookies a delicious caramel taste that you will love!

Browned Butter Sugar Cookies

This is a special cookie recipe for any time of year! I’m going to show you how to make something special with everyday ingredients. Making browned butter will give these cookies a delicious caramel taste that you will love.

• 1 cup butter, salted
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup sugar

1. Melt 1 cup butter over medium heat in a heavy sauce pan for 2 minutes. Continue cooking and stirring. Watch closely until butter foams and turns a delicate golden brown color (3 to 4 minutes). Immediately remove from heat and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Use a hotpad or trivet under the pan in the refrigerator.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Combine the browned butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat using medium speed until well mixed. Add the flour and mix again.
4. Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Roll the balls in sugar. Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten with tines of a fork, in a crossing pattern.
5. Bake for 11 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Watch this cooking demonstration on how to make one of my favorite recipes! Miso, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and Japanese rice wine make the perfect marinade for fresh salmon, which cooks up quickly on a cedar plank!

Miso & Ginger Glazed Salmon on Cedar Plank

• 2 lbs salmon, boneless and skinless
• ½ cup miso paste, red, room temperature
• 1/3 cup Mirin (Japanese rice cooking wine)
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar, unseasoned
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup green onions, sliced thinly
• ¼ cup ginger root, grated
• 4 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
• Cedar plank

1. Soak cedar plank in water for 2 to 4 hours before cooking the fish.
2. In a glass bowl, combine the miso with the Mirin. Using a spatula, thoroughly combine the two ingredients, so no lumps remain. Once smooth, add the rice vinegar, soy sauce, green onions, ginger, and sesame oil.
3. Place the salmon filet in a Ziploc bag, and pour the sauce over the fish. Marinate for 2 hours before cooking.
4. Preheat grill to medium heat for 15 minutes. Place the cedar plank on the grill and close lid, to preheat the plank for 5 minutes.
5. Place salmon on top of the hot cedar plank. Pour remaining marinade over the fish. Close the lid and cook salmon for 12 to 18 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fish.
6. Serve immediately.