TruePlayerFlavor

Category: Celebration

  • Smoked Buffalo Chicken Wings

    This recipe was a late addition to our New Year’s Eve menu to say goodbye to 2020! It is also the first time we have attempted wings using the Traeger. We have certainly had great results with other chicken dishes on the Traeger, so we had all the faith these wings would be top notch.

    1 package of party wings (serves 4)

    1/4 cup corn starch

    1/2 cup of dry rub

    1/4 cup Heinz 57

    3 tablespoons butter

    1/2 cup Franks Red Hot

    Preheat Traeger to 375 degrees F. Wash chicken wings and pat dry. Place in a bowl and sprinkle with cornstarch all over and then again with dry rub. Be diligent to ensure the rub completely covers each wing; this ensures each bite will have optimum flavor! Take the time here and you will taste the quality and care.

    Smoke chicken wings for 30 minutes on the Traeger at 375 F turning once about halfway through. Try to limit the amount of times you open the smoker lid.

    While wings are on the smoker, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat adding Heinz 57 and Franks Red Hot. Whisk frequently and continue to simmer to help bring the sauce together.

    After 30-35 minutes the chicken wings should be approaching an internal temp of 165 degrees – the minimum for poultry – so remove from smoker and place in a bowl and coat liberally with sauce from the sauce pan. Once the wings have been sufficiently covered, return to the smoker (still at 375 F) for 10 minutes; this will help ‘set’ the sauce. Keep the sauce from the bowl/saucepan so you can sauce one more time before service. This dish travels very well! Pull at this point and then re-sauce/re-heat at your destination.

  • Beef Wellington

    2-3 pounds Beef Tenderloin (fat trimmed)
    Salt and Pepper to taste 
    3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    4 tablespoons Butter (divided) 
    2 Shallots (minced)
    2 Garlic cloves (minced)
    1 1/2 pounds Button Mushrooms (minced)
    3 fresh Thyme sprigs (leaves pulled)
    2 pieces Puff Pastry (thawed)
    1/3 cup English Mustard
    1 Egg plus 1 tablespoon of Water (whisked)
    1/4 cup Red Wine
    1/2 cup Beef Stock
    1 tablespoon Creme Fraiche

    Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment.

    Take the streak out of the refrigerator and let come to room temperature, about 30 minutes before you’re ready to cook it. Season well with salt and pepper. Heat a large pan (cast iron if you have it) over medium-high. Add about 3 tablespoons of oil to the pan and sear meat on all sides until golden brown, about 8 – 10 min. Drain the excess fat from the pan and set aside to cool.

    Heat another large saute pan over medium-high. Add 3 tablespoons of butter add the shallots and a pinch of salt and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the mushrooms and thyme, season with salt and pepper and toss to incorporate. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are cooked and there is very little moisture remaining in the pan. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

    Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to about 3 to 4 inches longer and 5 to 6 inches wider than the tenderloin. Brush the center area with the mustard and spread the cooled mushroom mixture onto the pastry, piling mostly in the center. Place the meat into the center of the pastry. Fold the dough around the beef to cover completely and seal by pressing gently.

    Transfer to the parchment lined baking sheet, seam-side down. Brush with the egg wash and season with salt. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the pastry is a nice golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 125 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit for medium rare. Remove from pan and allow to rest. Return the original saute pan over a medium heat; deglaze with red wine, scraping up the crispy bits with a wooden spoon. Whisk beef stock, remaining butter and the creme fraiche just until warm.