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Melissa Cookston

A Food Blog from The Winningest Woman in BBQ

September 20, 2020 By Melissa 16 Comments

What I’ve been doing!

What have I been doing?

I’ve literally had to work harder than ever before to keep my restaurants alive and my staff working.  As for all of you, it has been a crazy year, and I can’t wait until 2021 (maybe I shouldn’t say that!)  Anyway, we have to cope with what we’re given, so I wanted to let you know of a few things I’ve been doing in my tiny amount of free time.

I’m also super happy that The American BBQ Showdown was finally released on Netflix!  We filmed the show last year, and, like everything else it seems, the ‘Rona delayed it until now.  The show was amazing to work on, and the producers did a fabulous job with it in my opinion.  If you haven’t seen it, please check it out!

Gardening

Both my husband and I grew up in families where you HAD to garden.  It was not a diversion, it was a necessity to get through the winter.  We’ve not grown any vegetables or plants since we’ve been married (almost 23 years!) but this year it just felt like a good plate of comfort food if we started a few plants, or “Victory garden” if you will.

Peppers, especially cowhorn and jalapenos, have been plentiful and are still looking productive, bell peppers not so much.  Squash- we grew straight neck squash and have had amazing fresh squash for weeks.  I cleared the squash and started plantings for a fall harvest- lettuce, kale, peas, beans, radishes, beets, carrots, brussels, cabbage and more.  I live in zone 7b, and it’s going to be hot until mid-October, so I’m pretty sure I can get some good yields.

I absolutely didn’t want to till up my yard to plant vegetables.  However, I am very lucky to have a huge outdoor patio, and I determined to use that space (well, apart from my grills.  It’s actually getting pretty crowded!).  I purchased some nice elevated planting beds, and some really ingenious vertical planters, and I’ve been growing away!

Probably one of the easiest and most flavorful things to get going in any size home is an herb garden.  I’ve grown basil, sage, chives, oregeno and thyme this year, and my family has been super happy with the wonderful fresh flavors.

Fermenting

Yes, I started fermenting!  I made some delish dill pickles and pickled okra (spicy and regular versions.)   I made some Bavarian sauerkraut, and I currently have a 5-gallon crock of cabbage fermenting to keep me in sauerkraut through winter.  Fermenting is so easy to do, and provides you such good flavor and healthy dishes, you really must try it.

Hot sauce has been my latest obsession.  I’ve been making a lot for family and friends.  It’s sooo easy.  I’ll post a recipe super quick!

Pickling

My late grandmother Tracey always made pepper sauce.  Not in the way “tabasco” is a pepper sauce, but in a more “peppers pickled in a semi-sweet vinegar solution” type of way.  I grew up on this stuff, and it’s transformative on turnip greens or pinto beans.  I’ve had lots and lots of peppers, and it’s a good way (along with candied jalapenos) to preserve peppers and still enjoy them for a long time to come.  I’ll post a recipe about that too!

Hope everyone is staying safe!

 

Melissa

 

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Filed Under: travel

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Holmes says

    September 23, 2020 at 2:41 am

    The show on Netflix is amazing!!! Ima fan now!

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      September 23, 2020 at 3:16 am

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  2. Stan says

    September 24, 2020 at 4:40 pm

    Do you have dine in hours at Green a Tomato?

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      September 25, 2020 at 3:32 am

      We are open from 11 am until 3 pm Monday through Friday. Thanks!

      Reply
  3. Rhiannon and Ric says

    September 27, 2020 at 5:32 pm

    We are loving The American BBQ Showdown over here in the U.K.! Learning so much from you, Kevin and all the competitors 🙂

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      September 28, 2020 at 6:56 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  4. Janet Strole says

    September 28, 2020 at 1:47 am

    I am not even a bbq fan but your show made me want to try more! Great show! Great focus on strong women! ❤️

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      September 28, 2020 at 6:54 pm

      Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  5. Jeannette says

    October 10, 2020 at 2:27 pm

    Melissa,
    I watched the Netflix series and absolutely loved it. My son has always been the “smoker” for our family but today I mixed up a rub that I saw you make on YouTube. I bought ribs and spices at Costco and I am going to wrap my Memphis dry rubbed ribs! I don’t have your talent (or pianist fingers!)for pulling the membrane, but I did my best. Thank you for the motivation!

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      October 10, 2020 at 10:39 pm

      Thank you! I love getting people involved in smoking and grilling. Trust me, it will open up new worlds of flavor for you!

      Reply
  6. Brent Brady says

    October 15, 2020 at 1:50 am

    Our entire family enjoyed the show and the history of the various cooking styles and traditions was very interesting. Our Brady Bunch Family is a huge fan and learned alot of new techniques. Looked up the location of your restaurants and will try to make a trip from our home in Chattanooga to eat soon!!!!!

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      October 15, 2020 at 11:34 pm

      Thank you, I hope you come by!

      Reply
  7. Dan says

    October 16, 2020 at 3:17 pm

    Melissa – watching your Netflix series inspired me to get my first smoker. Thank you so much, we loved it. I’m really excited to add a new cooking method to my repertoire!

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      October 16, 2020 at 3:52 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  8. Ryan Edwards says

    November 20, 2020 at 2:32 pm

    I also watched the Netflix show & could tell you were EXTREMELY knowledgeable bout BBQ and inspired me to purchase one of your cook books. I’m a ol south Mississippi boy transplanted to north Georgia & found that you have a BBQ just a hour away, which is GREAT. Thank you Ms Melissa for such good food !!

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      November 20, 2020 at 10:00 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply

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The BBQ Allstars

About Melissa Cookston

Melissa Cookston is a 7-time world barbecue champion; owner of Memphis BBQ Company, a successful barbecue restaurant with locations in Horn Lake, Mississippi and Dunwoody, Georgia; an author of two cookbooks, “Smokin in the Boy’s Room” and “Smokin’ Hot in the South;” and a celebrated southern Delta chef who is sponsored by Prairie Fresh.

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