10 Minute Tailgate: Duke's Mayo Bowl

The Hokies did it!

With the win over UVA, the Hokies clinched a bowl berth, and an invitation to Charlotte to play Minnesota in the Duke's Mayo Bowl.  For this special occasion, I am whipping up a special menu, This "Carolina Twinkie" is a pimento cheese (made with Duke's mayo, of course) stuffed jalapeno encased with sausage and wrapped in bacon.  If this wasn't enough, I then smoke this bad boy for a couple of hours for a piece of slow-cooked heaven!  To pair with this dish, a cocktail fitting for our "golden" friends from the frigid north, a twist on a kentucky mule called "The Gold Rush".  I hope to see you all in Charlotte, but if you cant make it, please enjoy these recipes at home! GO HOKIES!

Ingredients

3 Jalapenos- Halved with stems and seeds removed.

1 cup Pimento Cheese: See recipe Below:

3 Lbs. Jimmy Dean breakfast Sausage

Thin Sliced Peppered Bacon (up to 3 per twinkie)

BBQ Rub

Pimento Cheese

1 lb. Shredded white cheddar cheese

½ cup cream cheese; softened to room temp

1 cup pimentos; drained and chopped

6 tablespoons DUKE'S MAYO

1 tsp Cayenne pepper

Salt to taste

Black Pepper to Taste

Procedure: 

Combine Ingredients for Pimento Cheese in bowl; set aside.

Halve Jalapenos (carefully) remove seeds and membranes) set to side

Fill Jalapeno halves with pimento cheese and pack into mound with hand

Take approx. ½ lb. sausage and pound out flat on cutting board; wrap evenly around peppers

Lay out bacon strip and starting at one end wrap the entire pepper with bacon.  Stretch if necessary.  

Liberally season with BBQ rub of your choice.

Place on smoker/Grill @250F degrees for 2hrs until 165 internal temperature. Remove and Let rest for 10-15 minutes and enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 oz Bourbon

.75 oz Ginger liqueur

.5 oz Ginger simple syrup (if not available, combine Ginger and simple syrup in glass)

.5 oz Lemon juice

Ginger Beer

Lemon Wedge (optional)

Procedure:

Fill Glass With Ice, Starting with Bourbon, Mix Ingredients and stir to combine, Fill with Ginger Beer.  Garnish with Lime.