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Burger Monsters with Bacon Ketchup

Burger Monsters

Everyone loves burgers but these Halloween Burger Monsters are extra fun. Grab your favourite toppings (Bacon Ketchup of course) and let everyone create their own fun burger monster. Cheesy ‘teeth’, pickle ‘tongues’ and olive ‘eyeballs’, they’ll definitely be a graveyard smash!


Burger Monsters

How to make burger monsters

If you’re looking for new Halloween food ideas, or just a fun way to get the whole family involved in making dinner, these Burger Monsters are sure to be a hit.

Step 1: Make your burgers

For these Burger Monsters I made homemade beef patties, but you can use any store bought ones if you prefer. My burger recipe is pretty simple, I mix 500g of ground beef with 1/4 cup of Taste of the Okanagan Bacon Ketchup. Form the mixture into 4 patties and refrigerate until you’re ready to go.

Step 2: Gather your toppings

This is where you get to have some fun and get creative. Make cheese slices into teeth by cutting a zigzag pattern into one edge. You could make square teeth, buck teeth or even fangs. Sliced sandwich pickles make great tongues, and for eyes your possibilities are almost endless – black or green olives, cherry tomatoes, cocktail onions, capers, sliced hard boiled eggs. You could use Thai chilies or red pepper slices for horns. Try blue corn tortilla chips for bat wings, and mushrooms for ears. Use your imagination and be sure to share your favourite ideas with us in the comments.

Step 3: Grill your burgers & toast your buns

Preheat your BBQ to medium-high heat. Generously salt and pepper both sides of the burger patties. Place the burgers on the grill grates and cook, uncovered, for 4 to 7 minutes on each side (or until 160F). Butter your buns and lightly toast them on the grill, being carful not to burn them.

Step 4: Make your Monsters (Assemble your burgers)

Assemble your burger however you like. Cheesy ‘teeth’, pickle ‘tongue’… don’t forget to add some Bacon Ketchup to resemble blood. Add your top bun and decorate with eyes, ears, horns, and wings.

Sink your teeth to this spooky and filling monster burger for the perfect Halloween bite! 

Burger Monster
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Grilled Peach & Prosciutto Pizza

Grilled Peach & Prosciutto Pizza

Forget tomatoes… This grilled pie combines savory and sweet with caramelized peaches, oozing mozzarella, salty prosciutto, and fragrant basil. All grilled together on your backyard BBQ, so you can skip turning on the oven.


Forget the oven! The easiest way to cook pizza at home is on your BBQ. Grilled pizza is a backyard staple for us in the summer time (or really all year round) not just so we don’t heat up the house by turning on the oven, but because most ovens can only reach a temperature of around 450°F, where are your BBQ can get closer to 600°F. While this isn’t quite as hot as a typical pizza oven, it’s the next best thing.

What you’ll need for this Grilled Peach & Prosciutto Pizza

Good pizza is all about simple quality ingredients. Less really is more in this case so you want to make sure you’re using the best ingredients you can get your hands on, and be careful not to overload your pizza.

  • Pizza Dough – I used frozen store bought pizza dough, which makes things super easy. Ask your local pizzeria, or Italian market, they’ve usually got some in their freezer section. If you’ve got a favourite dough recipe though, go ahead and use that. No matter what dough you’re working with, let it come to room temperature (you want it to be malleable), and be sure to flour anything the dough touches—your counter, your hands, your peel, if you have one—to prevent sticking.
  • Peaches – We want fresh peaches for this recipe, frozen ones just wont cut it. Wash them, and slice them, but don’t bother peeling them.
  • Prosciutto – Again since there isn’t much to this pizza make sure you’re using quality prosciutto. Trust me you’ll taste the difference.
  • Mozzarella – I used two types of mozzarella for this pizza. Fresh, sliced mozza, spaced across the crust and shredded low-moisture mozza to top it all off.
  • Taste of the Okanagan Jalapeno Gin Jelly – We’re using this in place of your typical tomato sauce. It brings out the sweetness of the peaches with just a little bit of kick.
  • Basil – Top it all off with some fresh torn basil

How to grill pizza

Grilling pizza is not difficult, but it does require a bit of preparation and some timing. You’ll want to get your grill as hot as possible, and have all your ingredients ready to go before you start. You’re going to cook the pizza right on the grates, and it’s going to come together pretty quick.

While you’re BBQ is heating up I like to grill the peaches. Simply brush them with a little olive oil and place them directly on the grill. Leave them for about 5 minutes or until you’ve got some nice grill marks, and then flip them over. Cook for two more minutes, and then transfer them to a plate and set aside. Close the lid on your BBQ and let it come the rest of the way up to temperature.

Gather the rest of your ingredients beside your BBQ and stretch your dough into about 10-12 inch rounds, don’t worry they don’t have to be perfect. Once your BBQ is nice and hot wipe down the grates with a bit of oil, and place your stretched out dough right on the grill. The trick to grilled pizza is that you cook the plain dough first, then flip it and top it.

Grill the dough for about 2 minutes, than flip it and spread the Taste of the Okanagan Jalapeno Gin Jelly all over the grilled side. Spread your fresh mozzarella around the pizza add the grilled peaches and sprinkle with the shredded mozzarella. Cook until the cheese has just melted, then remove from the grill and top with prosciutto and torn basil leaves. Drizzle with a little melted Jalapeno Gin Jelly and serve.

Grilled Peach & Prosciutto Pizza
Grilled Peach & Prosciutto Pizza

Grilled Peach & Prosciutto Pizza

Forget tomatoes… This grilled pie combines savory and sweet with caramelized peaches, oozing mozzarella, salty prosciutto, and fragrant basil. All grilled together on your backyard BBQ, so you can skip turning on the oven.
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lbs pizza dough
  • 250 g fresh mozzarella
  • 150 g low moisture (pizza) mozzarella
  • 1 peach cut into thin wedges
  • 12 slices prosciutto
  • 1/2 cup Taste of the Okanagan Jalapeno Gin Jelly
  • 1/3 cup fresh basil

Instructions
 

  • Pre-heat your BBQ to as high as it will go
  • Brush peach slices with oil and place them directly on the grill. Leave them for about 5 minutes or until you’ve got some nice grill marks, and then flip them over. Cook for two more minutes, and then transfer them to a plate and set aside. 
  • Gather the rest of your ingredients beside your BBQ and stretch your dough into about 10-12 inch rounds, don’t worry they don’t have to be perfect. Once your BBQ is nice and hot wipe down the grates with a bit of oil, and place your stretched out dough right on the grill. The trick to grilled pizza is that you cook the plain dough first, then flip it and top it.
  • Grill the dough for about 2 minutes, than flip it and spread the Taste of the Okanagan Jalapeno Gin Jelly all over the grilled side. Spread your fresh mozzarella around the pizza add the grilled peaches and sprinkle with the shredded mozzarella. 
  • Cook until the cheese has just melted, then remove from the grill and top with prosciutto and torn basil leaves. Drizzle with a little melted Jalapeno Gin Jelly and serve.
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Sheet pan shrimp tacos with Fiesta Pear Salsa

Sheet pan shrimp tacos with Fiesta Pear Salsa

Ready to shake up taco night? These sheet pan shrimp tacos with Fiesta Pear Salsa will definitely do the trick. Quick, easy and healthy, if you’re bored with your usual taco night options, it’s time to switch things up.


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Sheet pan shrimp tacos with Fiesta Pear Salsa

This simple dish takes almost no time to make, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights. All you need is a handful of ingredients and you can have dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes. Simply toss shrimp with our South of the Border Taco Seasoning, roast for a few minutes until pink and juicy, then pile them into warm tortillas, filled with mashed avocado and crunchy slaw. Top with Fiesta Pear Salsa and you have your answer to Taco Tuesday. 

Here’s what you’ll need to make these sheet pan shrimp tacos:

  • Shrimp – I like to keep a bag of frozen shrimp in the freezer for easy weeknight meals. They thaw quickly under cold running water, making them the perfect last-minute dinner solution.
  • South of the Border Seasoning – This all in all-in-one taco season brings instant flavour to shrimp, chicken, beef and even veggies. 
  • Tortillas – Flour or corn, store-bought or homemade you can use which ever type you prefect. We like to lightly toast ous in a dry skillet, but you could also warm them in the oven. 
  • Slaw – While the shrimp are roasting you can whip up this simple slaw. Just mix shredded cabbage (or coleslaw mix) with a quick dressing made from sour cream, lime juice and our South of the Border Seasoning.
  • Fiesta Pear Salsa – This sweet, tangy and Spicy Salsa is unlike anything you’ve tried before.
  • Optional Toppings – You can customize these tacos with your favourite toppings like fresh cilantro, pickled red onions, sliced jalapenos, crumbled cotija (or feta) cheese, or serve them as is. Either way you won’t be disappointed.
Making creama for South of the Border Coleslaw

HOW TO MAKE SHRIMP TACOS:

Here’s a quick overview of how to make these sheet pan shrimp tacos. Full instructions included in the recipe below…

Cook the shrimp: Preheat the oven to 425. On a sheet pan, toss the shrimp with lots of South of the Border Seasoning and arrange them on a single layer. Roast for about 8-10 minutes.

Prep the slaw: While the shrimp are roasting, prep the slaw. Mix sour cream with lime juice and South of the Border Seasoning then toss with shredded cabbage (or coleslaw mix). Feel free to add shredded carrots and chopped cilantro, but if you’re in a hurry like I usually am, straight up cabbage is all you need. 

Assemble the tacos: Mash some avocado straight on to the warm tortillas. Load on a generous serving of the slaw, add a few shrimp and spoon over some Fiesta Pear Salsa. Top with some crumbled cotija cheese, cilantro or any other toppings then dive in!

Fiesta Pear Salsa the perfect topping for Shrimp Tacos

Sheet pan shrimp tacos with Fiesta Pear Salsa

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 lbs Shrimp peeled and devined
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 2 tbsp Taste of the Okanagan South of the Border Seasoning
  • 1-2 Avocados
  • Tortillas
  • Cotija Cheese (or feta)

South of the Border Slaw

  • 2 cups Shredded Cabbage
  • 1/2 cup Sour Cream
  • 2 tbsp Taste of the Okanagan South of the Border Seasoning
  • 1/4 cup Fresh squeezed Lime Juice

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 450° F
  • On a baking sheet, toss the shrimp with olive oil and Taste of the Okanagan South of the Border Seasoning. Arrange in a single layer. Roast 6-8 minutes or until the shrimp is cooked. Set the shrimp aside.
  • While the Shrimp is cooking make the slaw. Mix the sour cream, lime juice and Taste of the Okanagan South of the Border Seasoning together in a small bowl. Pour desired amount over shredded cabbage and toss. You'll have extra dressing, but you can add extra to your tacos.
  • To assemble your tacos, mash some avocado on the warm tortillas. Load on a generous serving of the slaw, add a few shrimp and spoon over some Fiesta Pear Salsa. Top with some crumbled cotija cheese, cilantro or any other toppings then dive in
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Olive Tapenade Pasta Salad

Olive Tapenade Pasta Salad

Now that the weather is heating up, it’s the perfect time to whip up a big batch of pasta salad. This Olive Tapenade Pasta Salad is almost no-cook which is perfect this time of year, and it comes together so quick and easy you’ll want to make it all the time. What’s the secret? It’s as simple as opening a jar!

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Olive Tapenade Pasta Salad

Our Olive Tapenade is not only a delicious dip or spread it works wonderfully with pasta. Swap out your jar of marinara for our Olive Tapenade and you’ve got yourself an easy dressing/sauce that works with both hot, or in this case cold, pasta.  Throw in a few accompaniments like veggies, nuts, herbs, or cheese and put it on repeat all summer long.

How to make Olive Tapenade Pasta Salad

The ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need:

The Pasta – Short cut pasta works best in pasta salad. You want a shape that has lots of nooks and crannies to catch all the dressing. Think farfalle, fusilli or rotini.

The Dressing – This really is the easy part. Simply mix a jar of our Olive Tapenade with some Red Wine Vinegar and olive oil for a simple and tasty dressing. You can pick some up at the Kelowna Farmer’s Market or select wineries and specialty food shops throughout Western Canada. Or of course you can always order online.

The Accompaniments – This is where you get to mix it up and have a little fun. Use what you have in the fridge or play around with different add-ins every time you make it. Today we’re using cherry tomatoes, mixed olives, marinated artichoke hearts, cucumber, pine nuts and marinated bocconcini. We even reused the olive oil from the bocconcini to make the dressing.  If you wanted to make it a little heartier, you could add in grilled chicken, tuna, or even chickpeas would be great.

The ingredients for Olive Tapenade Pasta Salad. - Tomatoes, olives, shallots, artichokes, pinenuts, basil, and mozzarealla

Tips for cooking the pasta

  • Cook it in extra-salty water. Serving food cold tends to mute its flavors, so you want to make sure your pasta is well-seasoned as it cooks.
  • Cook the pasta a little longer. Since you’re not cooking it in sauce and serving it warm, cook the pasta a minute longer than you normally would, but don’t let it get mushy. Pasta gets hard and chewy as it cools, so this extra cooking time will keep it moist.
  • Add the dressing while it’s still warm. If you toss the pasta with the dressing while it’s still a little warm, it’ll absorb the dressing better and be more flavorful.

To make the pasta Salad

Start off by cooking your pasta according to the package instructions. Remember to cook it about one minute longer

While the pasta is cooking you can prep your other ingredients. Mix the tapenade with the red wine vinegar and olive oil. Chop your cucumber, shallots and tomatoes. Toast your pine nuts and tear some pieces of basil so they’re bite sized.

Once your pasta is cooked and drained, combine everything together in a big bowl, toss with tapenade and either serve immediately, or place in the fridge, covered, until you’re ready to eat it.

This is a nice recipe for prepping ahead of time for parties or even work lunches. The pasta holds up really well in the fridge and would be great to make on a Sunday for the week ahead. It actually takes on even more flavor as the salad sits!

How to make Olive Tapenade Pasta Salad
Olive Tapenade Pasta Salad

Olive Tapenade Pasta Salad

Now thatthe weather is heating up, it’s the perfect time to whip up a big batch of pastasalad. This Olive Tapenade Pasta Salad is almost no-cook which is perfect thistime of year, and it comes together so quick and easy you’ll want to make itall the time. What’s the secret? It’s as simple as opening a jar!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Course Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 500 g Short Cut Pasta
  • 1 jar Taste of the Okanagan Olive Tapenade
  • 2/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1/3 cup Red Wine Vinegar
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • 2 Shallots finely diced
  • 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes halved
  • 1 Cucumber diced
  • 1 jar Marinated Artichoke Hearts
  • 2 cups Mozzaralla Balls I like the marinated ones
  • 1/3 cup Toasted Pine Nuts
  • 3/4 cup Mixed Greek Olives pitted
  • 4 Pepperoncini Peppers thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup Fresh Basil Leaves

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta 1 minute longer than the package directions. 
  • Mix Taste of the Okanagan Olive Tapenade with Red Wine Vinegar, Olive Oil and Salt & Pepper.
  • Add the cooked and drained pasta to a large bowl. Add all the other ingredients and pour over the dressing. Toss while it's still warm.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.
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Easy Pulled Pork

Pulled Pork Sauce for easy pulled pork sandwiches in your slow cooker

This cooler weather has us craving comfort foods. Those easy dishes you can just throw in the slow cooker and forget about. Pulled pork is one of our go-to’s! Make this easy pulled pork in your slowcooker or oven. Simply add our Pulled Pork Sauce to your pork butt and you’ll have dinner ready when you get home.

And don’t forget about our quick Apple Cabbage Slaw… the perfect way to top off these sandwiches.

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Pulled Pork

Ingredients

  • 1 boneless pork shoulder (about 4-5lbs)
  • 1 bottle Taste of the Okanagan’s Pulled Pork Sauce
  • Buns
  • Apple Coleslaw (Stay tuned for the recipe)

Instructions

  • Season the pork shoulder with salt & pepper and place in your slow cooker.
  • Dump the bottle of Taste of the Okanagan Pulled Pork Sauce on top.
  • Cover and cook until the pork is fork tender, about 6 to 8 hours on high or 8 to 10 hours on low.
  • Remove the roast from the slow cooker, and shred the meat using two forks.
  • Skim the fat from the liquid left in the slow cooker. Return the shredded pork and stir the meat into the juices.
  • Add pork to toasted buns and top with Apple Coleslaw (Stay tuned for the recipe)
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Peach Chipotle Chicken with Grilled Peaches

Have you ever grilled your peaches? 🍑 We’re making the most of the last few days of summer, and of course peach season with this easy BBQ recipe!

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Peach Chipotle Chicken with Grilled Peaches

Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 3 ripe peaches washed and cut into quarters
  • 1 whole chicken or your fav pieces, eg. Thighs, drumsticks, breasts
  • Taste of the Okanagan Peach Chipotle BBQ Sauce
  • Cilantro
  • Limes

Instructions

  • Preheat your grill to medium-high
  • Season your chicken pieces with salt and pepper and place on the grill. Cover and cook over medium heat for about 15-20 minutes, turning once or twice and brushing with Taste of the Okanagan Peach Chipotle BBQ Sauce during the last 2 minutes of grilling.
  • Brush peaches with a little oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill peaches until slightly charred, about 2 minutes per side.
  • Add chicken and peaches to a large serving dish and garnish with cilantro and limes.
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Strawberry Parmesan Chicken

Strawberry season comes and goes all to quickly for my liking, so we’re making the most of it by using strawberries in more than just our desserts. This sweet yet tart sauce is a great accompaniment to parmesan stuffed chicken, making a meal that’s elegant enough for entertaining but easy enough for a weeknight.  

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Strawberry Parmesan Chicken

Ingredients

For the Chicken

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
  • 2 ounces Parmesan cheese
  • 4 large fresh basil leaves
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • Salt & pepper

For the Sauce

  • 2 cups fresh strawberries halve or quarter if large berries
  • 2 tablespoons TASTE OF THE OKANAGAN CRANBERRY STRAWBERRY VINAIGRETTE
  • 1/4 cup White Wine
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
  • 2 tablespoons grated parmesan

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Cut a horizontal pocket in each chicken breast half by cutting from one side almost, but not through, to the other side. Cut Parmesan cheese 4 1/2-ounce pieces. Wrap a basil leaf around each piece of cheese; stuff into chicken breast pocket. Secure pockets closed with wooden toothpicks or skewers. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • In skillet cook garlic in oil over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add chicken and cook 5 minutes or until golden brown, turning once.
  • Transfer to oven safe dish. Bake, uncovered, 15 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink (170 degrees F).
  • While chicken in baking. Deglaze the frying pan with white wine. Add strawberries and TASTE OF THE OKANAGAN CRANBERRY STRAWBERRY VINAIGRETTE.
  • Cook on medium heat for 5-7 minutes until strawberries have softened.
  • Add half the basil and cook 1 minute longer.
  • When chicken is done pour strawberry sauce over chicken and sprinkle with remaining basil and grated parmesan.
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Beer Can Chicken

If you’ve never had Beer Can Chicken before you’re missing out! Besides being incredibly tender, moist & succulent the bird on a can makes a great conversation piece. 

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Beer Can Chicken

Ingredients

  • 1 4-pound whole chicken
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3 tbsp TASTE OF THE OKANAGAN MAGIC SEASONING
  • 1 can beer
  • TASTE OF THE OKANAGAN BEER SMEER BBQ SAUCE

Instructions

  • Remove neck and giblets from chicken and discard.
  • Rinse chicken inside and out, and pat dry with paper towels.
  • Rub chicken lightly with oil then rub inside and out with TASTE OF THE OKANAGAN MAGIC SEASONING. Set aside.
  • Open beer can and take several gulps (make them big gulps).
  • Place beer can on a solid surface. Grabbing a chicken leg in each hand, plunk the bird cavity over the beer can.
  • Transfer the bird-on-a-can to your grill and place in the center of the grate, balancing the bird on its 2 legs and the can like a tripod.
  • Cook the chicken over medium-high, indirect heat, with the grill cover on, for approximately 1 hour.
  • Based chicken with TASTE OF THE OKANAGAN BEER SMEER BBQ SAUCE and cook for another 15 minutes or until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F in the breast area and 180 degrees F in the thigh.
  • Remove from grill and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.
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Lamb Burgers

Everyone loves a good beef burger, but why not mix it up and throw something different on the grill. Try this lamb burger: meaty and juicy, topped with yummy feta, lettuce and our sweet and savoury Orchard Chutney. 

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Lamb Burgers

Ingredients

For the burgers

  • 1 lb. Ground Lamb
  • ½ Lemon Juice & Zest
  • 2 Garlic Cloves Minced
  • 1 Small Onion Diced
  • 1/3 Cup Toasted Pine Nuts Fry in a dry skillet over medium heat until brown
  • ½ Tsp. Kosher Salt
  • ½ Tsp. Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 Egg Slightly Beaten
  • ½ Cup Bread Crumbs
  • ¼ Cup Parsley

To assemble

  • 4 Whole Wheat Pita Bread
  • Lettuce
  • 4 tbs TASTE OF THE OKANAGAN ORCHARD CHUTNEY
  • Crumbled Feta Cheese

Instructions

  • Mix the ground lamb with the rest of the burger ingredients and form into 4 patties.
  • Pan fry or BBQ until brown on both sides about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).
  • Spread the pita bread with mayonnaise and TASTE OF THE OKANAGAN ORCHARD CHUTNEY.
  • Add roasted red peppers and crumbled little Feta Cheese and top with the lamb patty.
  • Serve with Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries and Dill-icious Dip