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5/ TheBucknerClarion.com June 11, 2015 Dirt Road BBQ to Compete in 2015 Smoke Out Smoke Out in the Valley has become a new summer tradition in Buckner. This year marks the third year in a row Buckner has held the competition, located in historic downtown. Last year's reigning champion team, Dirt Road BBQ, has decided to compete in the upcoming competition on June 20-21. The team is comprised of four members, including Ryan and Karen Murphy. Their first competition as a team was during a small town festival in Iowa just four years ago. Karen said, "We have been hooked ever since." Dirt Road BBQ has been involved with the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), leading them to compete in multiple festivals a year, including Buckner's. The KCBS has provided them much success. They are currently standing in the 10th spot out of more than 4,000 teams within the society. KCBS started sanctioning Smoke Out in the Valley last year in an effort to grow the contest, which proved to work out in their favor – 17 more teams competed in last year's competition than in the prior year. Every team has to be judged in four different meat categories: ribs, chicken, beef brisket and pork. Karen explained that barbecuing chicken is what the team is best at but the reason they do not have a "signature" dish is because they need to have an open mind about every meat category in order to do well in the competition. Small town roots are a great influence to the team. The slogan on their T-shirts read, "Smoking where the black top ends." These small town roots also inspired their team name by listening to Jason Aldean's, "Dirt Road Anthem," a song about driving through the country reminiscing on dirt roads, bonfires and small town life. Dirt Road BBQ will be at the Sugar Mound Festival in Mound City, Kan. prior to making their stop at Smoke Out in the Valley later this month. They have competed in 11 competitions thus far this year and plan on competing in more than 30 before the year ends. Karen said, "I enjoy the fact that we get to go to competitions and meet a lot of great friends. It is a lot of work but having fun makes everything worth it." Smell That? It's Bacon Wrapped Red Onions It's Time to Get the Grill Smokin' Summer has arrived and family reunions are in full swing. So how do you turn a slab of ribs or a juicy cheeseburger into a full course meal that everyone is sure to enjoy? Don't forget about the appetizers, side dishes and desserts that make for a great start and memorable finish. Appetizers are meant to keep guests occupied before the main course. So, this summer, wow them with an appetizer that's wrapped with an American favorite – bacon. Bacon Wrapped Red Onions Bacon wrapped red onions are sure to satisfy any craving. The bacon forms a shell around tender onions that are basted in sugar, vinegar, molasses and barbecue sauce creating a salty yet sweet snack. Bacon can also be stuffed in a jalapeño pepper, combined with cream and Monterey jack cheese, leaving an explosive flavor guests will enjoy. Stuffed jalapeño peppers just need a little garlic, chili powder, bacon and cheese. Appetizers don't necessarily need to include meat. There are plenty of vegetarian recipes. Grilled tofu skewers with sriracha sauce are comprised of tofu chunks marinated with vegetables in a sauce made with sriracha, soy, sesame oil, onion and jalapeños. Vegetables that help create this healthy alternative are zucchini, red bell peppers, mushrooms, onions and jalapeños, all conveniently placed on a hand-held skewer. Once the appetizers are finished, it's time to serve the main course. Grill favorites - chicken and burgers According to Saveur.com, the Alabama-Style Chicken Sandwich is an all-time classic barbecue favorite. The hickory-smoked sandwich originated in 1925, when a railway worker by the name of Big Bob Gibson nailed a plank serving table to a tree, dug a pit in his Alabama backyard and served barbecue for anyone who passed by. The hickory-smoked chicken sandwich is not complete without its signature tangy, mayonnaise-based white sauce. The sauce gets its creamy substance by combining mayonnaise with horseradish, cayenne, sweet paprika, ground cumin and coriander. If the day calls for an original, the ultimate grilled cheeseburger is a safe yet satisfying recipe to use. Although everyone has their own way to make a cheeseburger unique, Saveur.com writes, "Adding egg yolks to freshly ground meat makes for a supremely rich burger." The burger is complete with a tangy cream and vermouth sauce. To satisfy the vegetarian in the group, the ground beef of the cheeseburger can be substituted with a vegan, gluten-free burger topped with caramelized onions, also known as Quinoa Veggie Burger. Side dishes A variety of sides are needed to complement the main dish. According to SouthernLiving.com, barbecue deviled eggs taste even better when layered with smoky chopped pork. The yolk filling is comprised of mayonnaise, mustard, hot sauce and paprika, then the egg is sprinkled with chopped pork or a drop of liquid smoke to provide a barbecue-like flavor. What would a barbecue be without the coleslaw? The key to great coleslaw is the dressing – the combination of milk, buttermilk, lemon juice and a little bit of white vinegar. SouthernLiving.com writes, "This recipe's creamy sweetness is the perfect partner to smoky barbecue." Who would have thought corn can be cooked with something besides salt and butter? "Smoking ears of corn, in the husks, over wood chips for 30 minutes creates an amazingly rich, smoky flavor. After the corn is smoked, top it with thyme butter for a fresh herb twist," recommends Southernliving.com. The sides table would seem empty without the potato salad. Instead of an original recipe of mashed potatoes, Big Daddy's Grilled Blue Cheese-and-Bacon Potato Salad grills the potatoes instead, creating a modern day potato salad. Red potatoes are cut in half, then mixed with fresh parsley, red onion and crumbled bacon slices to create the dish. Desserts Top off a hearty, delicious barbeque with a desert table. Add a little creativity and flair with Picnic Tablecloth Cookies Bars. InKatrinasKitchen.com explains the base for the bars is a sugar cookie mix smothered in buttercream. Tapes and strips of paper are added to make the gingham pattern, plus a few cookie crumbs and some black licorice complete the look of a tablecloth on a 9x13 cookie bar. Another dessert option is the classic carrot cake. Layers of carrot cake are moistened with a buttermilk glaze and topped off with a sweet cream cheese frosting. Have a favorite backyard barbeque recipe you'd like to share? Let us know. We'll include it in a future issue. Share your favorite recipes at TheBucknerClarion.com/contact-us. A special thank you to Jayme Williams for contributing these articles.