Three Fourth of July Fiery Firecracker Inspired Condiment Hacks!

The Fourth of July is one of the traditional days that grilling guru’s fire up backyard grills and smokers in order to feed family and friends. And, it’s that time of year when people get together for community picnics, outdoor concerts, and fireworks! Since we don’t recommend placing fireworks into your grill we do recommend going SPICY when it comes to boring things like ketchup, mayonnaise, and other items added to burgers, steaks, hot dogs, or whatever you’re tossing on the grill! Here are three firecracker inspired hacks that turn simple condiments into flavor-packed specialties.

The Spicy Mayonnaise Hack

This is a quick and easy hack that commercial producers have taken notice of. But, if you don’t feel like purchasing regular mayo as well as a bottle of the flavored kind then this tip is for you! Take some mayonnaise, put it in a bowl and add something spicy! You can use your favorite brand of hot sauce, some Dijon mustard, horseradish, or even Cajun seasoning. And, you can stir in minced onion, jalapenos, or whatever your creative grilling mind can come up with! The secret is to not go crazy with the heat as your guests might not want to grasp their throats while pouring cold liquids into their mouth. Go for a little burn with flavor in mayonnaise that can be used on everything from burgers and steaks to chicken and even as a dip.

Kent’s Easy Spicy Mayonnaise

• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons grated or prepared horseradish
• 1 tablespoon sour cream
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• Dash of garlic powder
• Dash of lemon juice

Combine in a bowl, mix well, cover and chill for several hours before serving. Add a little relish and seafood seasoning for using with seafood.

The Spicy Hot Dog Relish Hack

Everyone knows a person that is a complete hot dog freak. You know the person, which could be you, that we are talking about. They’ve probably started a bucket list of eating a hot dog from every MLB baseball stadium. Which is actually a pretty cool idea when you think about it. Anyway, hot dogs are a standard on the Fourth of July and we think it’s time to upgrade from plain mustard! If you’re going to add more toppings we suggest spicy hot dog relish. The basic tips that apply to the mayonnaise hack also apply here – grab some spicy stuff and stir it in with some relish! Or, start with spicy relish and add some mustard for an amazing hot dog topper. And, if you have a relative that does canning, ask them for some “chow chow” (see picture above)to help move your franks to another level!

Kent’s Jalapeno Hot Dog Relish

• 1/2 cup yellow mustard
• 1/4 cup jalapeno relish
• 1/4 cup pickle relish
• A couple of dashes of orange, lemon or lime juice
• A small amount of Dijon mustard if desired.

Combine in a bowl, mix well, cover and chill for several hours before serving.

The Spicy Raspberry Chipotle Barbecue Sauce Hack!

Want a sweet, sticky, thick flavored barbecue sauce that combines the sweetness of raspberry and a hint of heat? Sure, we could post a 12 to 20 ingredient recipe for the ultimate sauce recipe that would cost about $40 bucks to prepare because of specialty ingredients. Or, we do the hack version! This sauce is amazing with any type of poultry, great on pork, steaks, scallops, smoked sausage, and of course hamburgers! Plus – it’s one of the easiest condiment hacks ever!

Kent’s Cheater Raspberry Chipotle Barbecue Sauce

• 1 small jar raspberry jelly or jam
• 1 bottle plain store-bought barbecue sauce
• Some of the following, chipotle pepper powder, or chipotle pepper chili powder, or a few pureed chipotle peppers. You can use dried, canned etc.

Combine in a saucepan and cook over low heat. Add in your choice of chipotle seasoning a few dashes at a time. Taste, add more if desired, mix well, stir, allow to cool, transfer to a covered bowl and chill before serving if you want the flavors to intensify or serve warm off the stove.

As always, start with these recipe ideas and make them your own! And, when you get ready to fire up the grill this summer remember you can take your grilling to the next level with any of the amazingly cool items from the BBQ Dragon Store!

Author Bio: Kent Whitaker, also known as “The Deck Chef,” is an award-winning culinary writer and cookbook author. He’s also penned Young Reader, NASCAR and History titles. The former winner of the Emeril Live Food Network Barbecue Contest also covers football, motorsports, and bass fishing. Kent currently lives in East Tennessee with his wife, son, and a couple of dogs that love when he fires up the smoker or grill. You can reach out to Kent at www.thedeckchef.com, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.