Christmas Appetizers, Holiday Side Dishes & Favorite Christmas Desserts

On this week of the HowToBBQRight Podcast, we kick things off and set the tone for a food-filled holiday conversation (00:00). I'm finally coming around to the Christmas spirit (01:09)... We debate whether Christmas is really Malcom Reed's favorite holiday or if another one still holds the top spot (06:45). The conversation turns to wild game as we discuss how we've been using Malcom's elk meat and the different ways it's been showing up on our table (08:01). Holiday appetizer talk heats up as we talk about whether spinach dip should be served hot or cold at Christmas parties (12:30). We compare classic tailgating foods to traditional Christmas foods and decide where the line really is between the two (15:51). Sports news sneaks in with a discussion about Ole Miss's head coach leaving and what that means to Malcom (17:30). I think that Blue Plate deserves their very own Mayo Bowl, and why it just makes sense (18:12). Things get fun when we break down the BEST Christmas appetizers according to ChatGPT and see how they stack up to real-life favorites (20:56). A surprisingly heated debate follows over whether deviled eggs belong at the dinner table or are strictly party food (24:00). Malcom confesses to stealing a top-secret monkey bread recipe that's perfect for the holidays (31:32). We share our favorite Christmas desserts and what absolutely has to be on the table every year (33:05). Malcom thinks butter boards are "fat boy food", and here's why (35:40). We reveal the BEST place to get smoked sausage and what makes it stand out from the rest (38:50). Malcom walks through his guide to making homemade summer sausage and why it's worth doing yourself (41:00). I share a simple but genius hack I learned to keep your limes fresh forever (47:29). Hosting challenges come up as we explain how to host a vegetarian at Christmas without making it awkward or stressful (49:39). We talk about turning uncured ham into pulled pork and why you may just want to go with a pork butt instead (51:45). A member of the community made Touchdown Taters but made them breakfast-ready (53:47). We break down the best way to monitor meat and debate wired versus wireless thermometers for BBQ and holiday cooks alike (57:51). The Pick'em League update gives a rundown of where things stand and who's bragging this week (1:01:31). We highlight the Let's Get to Cookin' Community Giveaway Week 3 and how listeners can get involved (1:04:40). We wrap everything up and close out the episode with a classic HowToBBQRight sendoff (1:07:46).