A Backyard Lifestyle Blog
Rob Raleigh 
Food prep suggestions for grilling Food prep is one of the most laborious aspects of smoking BBQ. The cook itself is time consuming, for sure. But generally speaking you are tending to it and can do other things in the meantime. Even after the food is cooked, there is little more than letting it rest, … Read more
It is a beautiful Sunday so I thought I would put a corned beef brisket on the smoker. I decided to use the smaller Kamado Joe Jr only because later on this afternoon i want to go ahead and spatchcock a chicken which will definitely take up more room. The brisket that i have here … Read more
Here is what I recommend to people all the time who are starting out If you are new to BBQ and have been hearing how great it would be to own your own smoker, let me tell you that the rumors are true. It is Awesome! Even if you have been grilling for years, there … Read more
First off, No Fear. There is no reason to worry or be intimidated. If you have smoked BBQ before, this really is similar to everything you’ve done previously. I personally smoke mine on a Kamado Joe using charcoal and wood chunks, but this method applies to any set up. So let’s get started. Like all … Read more
Kamado Joe Accessory Rack Use It is a funny shape and most KJ owners put it into a drawer never to be seen again. I thought it might be helpful to ask the BBQ community how they use theirs and I was happy to get many great responses. The accessory rack that comes with most … Read more
Comparison of Lump Charcoal and Briquettes If you ever follow me on social media, you’ll find that I like to raz people about using briquettes. For the record, it is all in good fun. Both types are perfectly fine to use. But there are differences and here I am going to go over some of … Read more
A Neighborhood Backyard Barbecue Event Last year my neighbor invited me to a neighborhood gathering and the centerpiece of this event was a full, whole hog pit barbecue. Living in the South, I of course have been to these before. Entire catering companies here are dedicated to just this specialty. This one though was so … Read more
Direct grilling This term is how almost everyone defines grilling food. Placing your protein or vegetable directly over the heat source with nothing between the food and fire (or heated coals), except usually the grate on which the food rests. This method is intended to cook thinner pieces of food quickly. Examples would be vegetables, … Read more
While there is nothing wrong with owning products manufactured outside of the United States (I personally own a few myself), there is something to be said for Made in the USA. I know my next purchase will be domestic and very likely will be a custom, small manufacturer. The more that I see these beautiful … Read more
Homemade Vinegar Barbecue Sauce Recipe I live in North Carolina where pulled pork barbecue is King and anything besides vinegar barbecue would be just wrong. Here is my simple vinegar BBQ sauce recipe that you can whip together in minutes: Vinegar BBQ Sauce ingredients list Instructions on how to make a DIY sauce Combine all … Read more