Category: Dan Nichols

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Turkey Burgers

A favorite Caliber burger recipe on the Caliber Pro Kamado is using turkey ground, and some other special ingredients like teriyaki sauce and mushrooms. The insulation of the Caliber Pro Kamado and the pecan chips also help to create a juicy smoky turkey burger.

Mix the turkey burger ingredients listed below and form into patties. For best results, stick burgers in the refrigerator to firm up for at least one hour prior to cooking. Heat your smoker to about 300ºF (approximately 15-20 minutes) using lump charcoal within the center of the bottom charcoal plate. Add a small handful of pecan wood chips to the fire after the burgers have been placed on the grill. Close the lid to cook for about 8-10 minutes on each side, until meat reaches 180ºF.  This recipe also makes great smoked meatballs as an appetizer. You can also just grill these on the gas BBQ, but compare the difference in the flavor.

Ingredients for about 7-8 burgers:

1 lb turkey ground

1/3 large onion chopped finely

1/3 cup portabella or baby bellas chopped finely

1/4 cup teriyaki sauce or Italian herbs paste, depending on desired flavor profile

1/3 tsp crushed garlic

1 tsp olive oil

1 tsp garlic herb dry seasoning

1 tsp salt

1/3 tsp pepper

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Smoked Chicken Wings

Summer is here, and chicken wings are always a crowd-pleasing appetizer. This smoked chicken wing recipe using the Caliber Pro Kamado will keep your guests begging for more, and is one of Chef Dan’s favorite recipes. 

Wash your wings, then add your favorite dry rub or soak in a marinade, preferably at least one day before. You can even make them Asian style with sesame seeds and using a teriyaki marinade, like shown in the picture above, or just add a dry rub, like pictured below.

Prepare the Caliber Pro Kamado Smoker by filling the blaze basket accessory with lump charcoal. The basket should sit on the charcoal plate at the rear of the smoker with the hinged part of the grate above it for easy access. Bring the temperature of the smoker up to 250ºF. Once the temperature has settled, place your chicken wings directly on the grate. If you have the step up grill rack, this can almost double your cooking space. Now add a small handful of apple and pecan smoking chips to the blaze basket and close the lid. The smoker will “smoke” for the first 20-45 minutes of the 1½ -2 hour cooking process. After this time, there should be “clean” heat exiting the top vent. Too much time with “smoke” may impart a bitter taste into your wings. The meat is cooked when a thermometer probed into the wing reaches 165ºF. Enjoy the amazing juicy smoky flavor you get from the Caliber Pro Kamado, guaranteed to make your wings stand out from the rest.

Ingredients for Smoked Wings:
30-40 chicken wings
Your favorite dry rub or marinade
Apple and pecan smoking chips

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Smoked Brisket

Summer is around the corner, and this is a great recipe that will keep your guests coming back for more! A brisket, when cooked right, is a delicious and less expensive meat to serve at a BBQ party.

Prepare the Caliber Pro Kamado Smoker by filling the indirect blaze basket accessory with lump charcoal. The basket should sit on the charcoal plate at the rear of the smoker with the hinged part of the grate above it for easy access. Bring the temperature of the smoker up to 230-275ºF. Trim the fat from the brisket. Dust a light coating of salt and pepper or your favorite meat dry rub on your brisket and place it on the top grate once the temperature has settled.

Now add a small handful of apple and pecan smoking chips to the blaze basket and close the lid. The smoker will “smoke” for the first 30-60 minutes of the 9-10 hour cooking process. After this time, there should be “clean” heat exiting the top vent. Too much time with smoke may impart a bitter taste. Continue to cook the brisket, checking them every hour or so with the heat not exceeding 250-275ºF until the brisket reaches an internal temperature of 200ºF.

You will be amazed by how juicy this brisket is without having to inject broth into it or refuel your coals during the process. There are also lots of fabulous recipes out there to change up your brisket and create other meals with your leftovers.

Ingredients for Smoked Brisket:
12-15 pound brisket with fat trimmed to 1/4”
Your favorite meat dry rub, or just salt and pepper

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

Valentine’s Day Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

The Caliber Indoor Professional Range is outfitted with a true chef-sized oven that provides even baking results thanks to its proprietary “Tri-flow   ” convection technology and ultra-efficient flue design. Making the perfect cookie is now easy with this revolutionary new design of our gas range.  Enjoy this delicious cookie pie just in time as a Valentine’s Day sweet treat!

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla and beat well.  Add flour and stir well.  Fold in chocolate chips and nuts.  Pour into a well-greased baking pan, or for a true cookie pie pour in a pie shell.  Smooth out batter, and bake at 350ºF for 45-60 minutes depending on how crisp you prefer your cookie to be.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 Cup margarine or butter (softened)
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 Tablespoons vanilla or bourbon
  • 3/4 Cup sugar
  • 1 Cup all purpose flour
  • 1 Cup chocolate chips
  • 1 Cup walnuts or pecans (optional)
  • 9” Pastry pie shell (optional)

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Lamb Meatballs

Holiday Lamb Meatballs

Looking for a unique and delicious recipe to bring as an appetizer to your next holiday party? These simple lamb meatballs can be made within any of your Caliber Appliances. Lamb is a juicy, underrated meat full of health benefits (high in protein and iron, and is known to reduce cancer risks, stroke risks, can heal anemia and improves bone health).

Decide which Caliber Appliance you would like to cook on: grill, smoker or oven, and then you are ready to start. Preheat oven or grill to 375ºF. Mix lamb, garlic, shallots, jalapeño, mint, soy sauce and black pepper together. Roll meat into 2 inch diameter round balls. As they are made, place the meatballs in an oven-proof dish or skillet. Cover with aluminum foil or lid and bake or grill for about 20 minutes or until meatballs are cooked all the way through. This recipe serves about four people as an entrée or makes a great appetizer to serve at a party.

Ingredients:

  • 1 Pound ground lamb
  • 2 Garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 Shallot, minced
  • 1 Tbsp diced jalapeño pepper
  • 2 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
  • 1 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/2 Tsp black pepper

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Smoked Thanksgiving Turkey

Enjoy the amazing juicy smoky flavor of this turkey that you get from the Caliber Pro Kamado. Wash and brine your turkey with your favorite dry brine. Inject turkey under the skin with one cup of apple juice. Stuff turkey with your favorite stuffing and cover exposed stuffing with foil before cooking.

Prepare the Caliber Pro Kamado Smoker by filling the blaze basket accessory with lump charcoal. The basket should sit on the charcoal plate at the rear of the smoker with the hinged part of the grate above it so you can access it. Bring the temperature of the smoker up to 300ºF. Once the temperature has settled, place your turkey centered directly on the grate, breast facing up. Allow 1” of space between turkey and smoker lid. Now add a small handful of apple and pecan smoking chips to the blaze basket and close the lid. The smoker will “smoke” for the first 30-60 minutes of the 3-4 hour cooking process (20-30 min. per pound). After this time, there should be “clean” heat exiting the top vent. Too much time with “smoke” may impart a bitter taste into your turkey. Continue to cook the turkey, checking on it every hour or so with the heat not exceeding 325ºF or falling below 250º F. If the skin darkens too quickly, then tent foil the turkey to avoid burning the skin. This will be a turkey like no other.

Ingredients for Smoked Turkey:
15-20 Lb. Turkey
1 Cup apple juice
Your favorite dry brine and stuffing

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Pumpkin Pie Muffins

These sweet treats are perfect for a Halloween party or leading up to Thanksgiving. Beat 2 sticks softened butter and 1 and 1/2 cups of sugar with a mixer until fluffy. Next, beat in 4 eggs, a 15 ounce can of pumpkin, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix 2 cups of sifted flour, 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice, 1 teaspoon each of baking powder and baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture. Bake in 18-20 lined muffin cups for 25 minutes on 350 degrees F.

Once muffins are cool, you can eat them plain or add this delicious and easy cream cheese frosting recipe: beat 8 ounces of cream cheese, 1/2 stick of butter, 1 and 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until it thickens. Enjoy this great fall recipe!

Ingredients for 18-20 Pumpkin Pie Muffins:
2 sticks softened butter (1 cup)
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
15 ounce can of pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking powder and baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 ounces of cream cheese
1/2 stick of butter
1 and 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

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Grilled Zucchini

Grilled zucchini is such an easy appetizer or side dish to serve at your summer BBQ.

Wash zucchini and then cut in either rounds or spears. If grilling directly on the grates, we recommend cutting into rounds because they tend to flip easier without falling into the fire. Grilling baskets work great with vegetable pieces.

Lightly coat your zucchini with olive oil, salt and pepper. Heat the grill to a medium or high heat. If using a charcoal grill, place about a pie plate full of charcoal in a pile at the bottom of the grill to reach a medium to high temperature. Avoid using smoking chips with vegetables because they tend to impart a bitter taste.

Grill the zucchini for about 8-10 minutes on each side to get the nice char marks and soften the vegetables. If you prefer, add a little more olive oil, salt and pepper to taste right before serving. A delicious side dish addition to any summer BBQ. If grilling more veggies on your Rockwell by Caliber Social Grill check out this recipe from Sam the Cooking Guy by clicking here.

Ingredients:
5-6 Zucchini cut into rounds or spears
Olive oil
Salt & pepper to taste

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BBQ Ribs!

BBQ Ribs on the Caliber Pro Kamado Charcoal Grill and Smoker never tasted better!

These ribs will definitely be the hit of the party. To start, rinse your ribs in cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Trim off the excess fat and sharp bone pieces. Cut racks in half for easier placement into the 6-rack max rib accessory. Lightly coat the entire surface of the ribs with olive oil and mustard to help tenderize the meat. Cover the coated ribs in foil and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight. Right before cooking, apply a coating of your favorite rib rub over all surfaces of the ribs.

Prepare the Caliber Pro Kamado Smoker by filling the blaze basket accessory with lump charcoal. The basket should sit on the charcoal plate at the rear of the smoker with the hinged part of the grate above it so you can access it. Bring the temperature of the smoker up to 230ºF.  Once the temp has settled, place your rib rack accessory on the top grate and then your ribs vertically into the rack. Now add a small handful of apple and pecan smoking chips to the blaze basket and close the lid. The smoker will “smoke” for the first 30-60 minutes of the 4-5 hour cooking process and after this time, there should be “clean” heat exiting the top vent. Too much time with “smoke” may impart a bitter taste into your ribs.

Continue to cook the ribs, checking them every hour or so with the heat not exceeding 250-275ºF until the ribs are fully cooked (approximately 4-5 hours). Glaze the ribs with your favorite BBQ sauce or just enjoy the juicy smoky infused meaty flavor.

Ingredients for 6 racks of ribs:

  • 6 Racks of baby back pork ribs
  • Olive oil and mustard
  • Your favorite rib rub

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Watch and learn how to make these smoky ribs that will be the hit of your next barbecue in the video below!

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Smoked Brisket Chili

Do you still have brisket left from your last barbecue? Here’s a crowd-pleasing way to transform those leftovers. Place your 14” Caliber Cauldera Iron Cooking Pot in the holder above the charcoal prior to lighting your fire. Heat your Caliber Pro Kamado smoker to about 250-300ºF (approximately 15-20 minutes) using lump charcoal within the center of the bottom charcoal plate.  Once the pot is heated, sauté your bacon in the Cauldera until it is crispy. Add the onions and cook until soft (about 5 minutes). Add the bell peppers and garlic and cook an additional minute to soften. Add the raw ground beef and dry seasonings. Once cooked, add the brisket. Deglaze the pan wiht the beer and cook off the alcohol (about 1-2 minutes). Then add the coffee, Dr. Pepper, tomatoes, sauce, beans, corn and green chilies.

Add a small handful of pecan wood chips to the fire to give it an even smokier taste. Close the lid to cook a minimum of one hour. At this point, add salt to taste. The longer it simmers, the more flavorful the chili will become. If the chili starts to get too thick, you can add water (1/2 cup at a time) to thin it out.

Ingredients to fit the 14” Caliber Cauldera Pot (CTP22-CCA):
12 oz pack of bacon, chopped
2 large sweet onions
2 red peppers and 1 orange pepper, chopped
6 teaspoons of garlic, finely diced
1 lb of ground beef
5-6 cups leftover smoked beef brisket (cut up into 1/2” cubes)
4 tablespoons chili powder (more if you prefer spicier)
2 tablespoons cumin
1/2 teaspoon dry chipotle seasoning
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 (12oz) bottle of beer and 1 can of Dr. Pepper
1/2 cup coffee (cold and leftover from your morning pot)
2 (15 oz) cans diced tomatoes
2 (15 oz) cans tomato sauce
1 (15 oz) can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 (15 oz) can white beans (drained and rinsed)
1 (15 oz) can kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
1 (15 oz) can of corn (drained and rinsed)
2 small (4 oz) cans of diced green chilies
Salt to taste at end

Additional Toppings:
Sour cream
Shredded cheddar cheese
Chopped cilantro
Chopped sweet onions
Chopped serrano chilies

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