Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Barbeque À La McCormick Grill Mates! Grilled Cocktails, Meat and More! (Pt 1 of 3)


First A Little History...

      
Over one year ago I joined a product introduction site called Crowdtap.

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     Crowdtap is a large internet focus group forum that liaises with many different brands and companies in an effort to test and market new products/services of various and sundry types.
     Brand actions I've been lucky enough to be chosen for include: OldNavy, Nintendo Wii, Woolite, Listerine, MAC Cosmetics, Ricola, Bacardi Rum, BMW and many, many more!
     Over the past year and a half or so- I've had so much fun trying new (Free! Yah-FREE! No gimmicks or catches- I swear!) things and throwing sample share parties!
     In exchange for consumer feedback to better their products and innovative new marketing ideas- brands/companies offer free product to Crowdtap members. If you are willing to participate with the utmost honesty (CT clients want to hear the bad along with the good!) and earnest exuberance- Crowdtap and their clients will also award you points, stars and TopAward prizes. All of which will help you to be awarded more product opportunities in the future!
     I should mention that points have the added benefit of acting like funds for the Crowdtap Store. The CT storefront offers gift cards or merchandise from various e-retailers such as Amazon, Dermstore, Shoebuy, Vitacost and more! You may also use points to make charity donations! If that sounds like something you'd be interested in- Don't wait! Click on the Crowdtap TapIn Button I've provided above and join the fun!


On To The Main Event! 





     Do you like grilled food? Do you enjoy Cocktails? If you are of a mind and a taster that agrees many food items are even better when sporting a few char marks- then you'll want to stay tuned to the next few My Fair Cookie posts! Inspired by McCormick's newly expanded line of GrillMates products- I will be sharing delicious new recipes I have either discovered or personally devised over the past few weeks in preparation for this months statewide Grill Ambassador festivities.
     GrillMates is a line of seasonings, rubs, marinades and sauces made by McCormick. In this Grill Master's opinion- McCormick has certainly brought their A-game to the table in a myriad of exciting new flavours and textures. McCormick GrillMates offers more than 40 types for your grilling pleasure- So you are sure to find more than a couple that fit your taste to a T! With great mixes like Mojito Lime, Baja Citrus, Brown Sugar Bourbon, Cowboy Rub (hehe), Vintage Smokehouse Honey, Molasses Bacon, and Backyard Brew (to name a few) one can most certainly expect to elevate their grilling prowess and results exponentially. 
     Being a long time McCormick fan- my spice cabinet has rarely seen the absence of GrillMates classics like Montreal Steak/Chicken, Lemon Pepper and Zesty Herb. Great tasting and reliable- for sure they will keep their spot in my overcrowded cabinet from which to kamicrazy divebomb at me whenever I open the door. But with the advent of MC's new line I am probably going to need to re-organize my pantry yet again! Another shelf (Of course not the Sprinkle shelf- the Sprinkle shelf is sacred!) that should be devoted to things like pasta and canned goods- will likely (here, there, everywhere I can fit them!) be taken over by MC's spices, marinades and sauces.
     This weekend I will be hosting a GrillMates sponsored Barbeque. After reading many different takes on American grilling classics in the forum discussion- I decided I wanted to take a small step outside the norm and go with adding an Asian flair (Thai and Chinese food are faves of mine!) to some of my main dishes as well as put my spin on the latest trend to come out of East Coast Cocktail Lounges- Grilled Cocktails!




All recipes on the following menu will be made/considered gluten free!

The Menu


Main Dishes

Spiced Brandy Herb Grilled Chicken 
Drizzled w/Spicy Orange Sauce 
Served over a bed of fried or sticky rice

Mojito Lime Lemon Grilled Chicken 
Drizzled w/Chinese Lemon Sauce
Served over a bed of fried or sticky rice

Baja Citrus Grilled Chicken 
Drizzled w/Sweet n'Sour Sauce
Served over a bed of fried or sticky rice

Molasses Bacon Slider w/Lightly Toasted Bun

Montreal Steak Burger w/Toasted Kaiser Roll

Sweet and Smoky Roasted Red Pepper Sausage


Sides

Fried or Sticky Rice

Grilled Fruit & Veggies- Strawberries, Pineapple, Watermellon, Shallots,
Zucchini, Orange and Pasilla (*Poblano) Pepper 

Garden Salad 
w/Balsamic Vinaigrette, Ranch or Blue Cheese

Seasoned Fries 
w/Brown Sugar Bourbon BBQ Sauce or House Ranch Dip

Salsa Fresca 
w/OnTheBorder Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips (best store bought tortilla chips evah!)

Kettle Krinkle Sea Salt Chips 
w/Memphis Spicy BBQ or Zesty Herb Cream Cheese Dip


Cocktails
(I have yet to test these out as I only finished tinkering with recipes last week!)

Smoke & Blushes 
Grilled Watermelon Cherry Hard Lemonade

Sun Seared Strawberry Paradise 
Grilled Strawberry Sunrise Guava Daiquirita

Flame Kissed Pinkolada 
Grilled Pineapple-Raspberry Whipped Colada

Smokin' Mojito Libre 
Grilled Mojito Vanilla Coke Libre

Salted Charamel Apple Pie 
Grilled Salted Caramel Green Apple Pie Slushitini

Blackened Berry Sour Sizzle 
Grilled Blackberry Spicy Ginger-Orange Granita Margarita

Smoke On The Water 
Grilled Pineapple Honeydew Tropical Cocktail 


Desserts

Toasted Coconut White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake

Fudge Topped Chewy Brownies
(*-^)

Stay tuned for tips on grilling veggies and fruit as well as detailed recipes for everything you see here!

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