Overall, I liked the way it came out but make sure you don’t overdo it on the pumpkin. Too much of it and you’ll lose most of the rum or have to squeeze it out! This time, I made milkshakes with it at a friend’s Halloween party. The hardest part? Meeting demand. I made alcoholic milkshakes for ten people before I ran out. Here are the recipes for both the smoky pumpkin-infused rum and the shakes that followed.
The World Food Championships: Sin City Judgment Day
It’s possible I could have had more fun at the 2013 World Food Championships—I just would’ve needed bail money to do so. Too much happened to tell you in one blog post so I’m opening up with this overview. If you want a visual guide, you can check out our photo album on our Facebook page. Seeing how the event invaded Downtown Sin City this November 7-10, let’s break down the festivities by their corresponding Seven Deadly Sins.
Hot News
Even though outdoor grilling and fall weather don’t agree with each other everywhere, a lot is still going on, like the two items we have for you this week. Especially if you’re a certain hot sauce with a chicken on your bottle.
Making a Pumpkin Smoker
Three years ago, I started turning monster pumpkins into smokers for Halloween. Not only was it a good excuse to play with freakishly large vegetables, it was an even better excuse to put an attractive woman into a devil outfit and take pictures for the blog. I also like the idea of food that smokes itself. The basic idea was simple. Clean out the pumpkin, cut holes in the top and bottom, and place it over a small electric hot plate as the basis for the smoker.
Masker’s Fiery Lemon Sorbet
One of my favorite hot sauces this year is CaJohn’s Frostbite. It’s a semi-clear concoction that’s opened up a whole new frontier of possibilities when it comes to upgunning the kick on foods I’d never add heat to with a conventional tomato or green sauce. Cocktails were an obvious choice but this weekend, I tried it with something very different: lemon/orange sorbet.
The Gilroy Garlic Festival: Vampire-Free for 35 Years
I love the Gilroy Garlic Festival almost as much as I do our own National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show. For the last thirty five years, California’s garlic hub, Gilroy, has hosted an annual event dedicated to The Stinking Rose (aka garlic). The event was founded way back in 1979 by Dr. Rudy Melone, Val Filice, and Don Christopher. Mostly likely as a way to celebrate garlic and raise money for charities, not so much as a way to deal with Northern California’s notorious vampire infestation.
Celebrate Mexico’s Colorful Cuisine & Culture on Cinco de Mayo
Whether you want to show your support for Mexican heritage—or if you’re simply looking for an excuse to whip up sangria and enchiladas, Cinco de Mayo is a holiday worth celebrating!
