A bigtime game demands a bigtime chili, slowly prepared with hearty ingredients, bold textures and hard-hitting flavors. This season mix up your play call and ditch the annually forgettable canned tomato, red beans and beef recipe. Instead, audible at the line this weekend for winning twist on a traditional north African classic.

I’m throwing down that smoky backyard BBQ and a grate full of Kansas City-style winter Baby Back Ribs in a foot and a half of ice and snow, alongside my most trusted four-legged furry culinarian, Maddie. Teaming up with my good friends from Twisted Tea Hard Iced Tea, it’s all the right ingredients for the perfect weekend afternoon in the great white north of Pure Michigan!

Whether it be rain, snow, lots of snow, or sun and shine, for best results preparing these seasonal baby back ribs follow the 5 Pit Master best practices and step-by-step recipe below. Cheers and long live the long weekend! -David (and Maddie).

Inspired by days past of rustic camping adventures across the Rocky Mountains and cowboy steaks prepared under stars, these gargantuan, double-thick t-bone steaks were seasoned simply, seared and encrusted upon white-hot cast iron grill grates, then slowly barbecued to tender, medium-rare perfection over a smoldering inferno of charcoal and hardwoods. A bold ancho chili-honey butter compound is basted upon the steaks as they finish, infusing and layering the t-bones in a final layer of opulent flavor. To serve, the filet and strip are removed from the bone, cut across the grain into thick slices, then artfully plated back together on the presentation platter and garnished with toasted pine nuts, a garden of fresh herbs, and a dusting of coarse maldon salt. Cheers! -David

“It’s Christmas Eve. The one night each year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year we are the people that we always hoped we would be.” -Frank Cross

As winter snow falls over the resplendent great white north of Michigan’s cherry and wine country, our family eagerly retreats from the hustle and bustle of the hectic holiday season, gathering to enjoy company amongst one another, to celebrate, reminisce, and give thanks for the countless blessings we’ve been offered over the year past. Our time together annually during Christmas Eve, alongside the fireplace, are among my most favorite memories – evenings filled with laughter, great music, hand-crafted beverages and mouthwatering homemade fare.