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Gramma Hazel's Wing Brine

4/1/2025

Gramma Hazel's Wing Brine: A Flavorful Recipe for Perfect Chicken Wings
If you're a fan of mouthwatering chicken wings that burst with flavor, you’ve come to the right place! Today, I’m sharing one of my all-time favorite recipes—Gramma Hazel’s Wing Brine. This brine is the secret to making your wings incredibly juicy, tender, and packed with delicious layers of flavor. Whether you're grilling, baking, or deep-frying, this brine will elevate your wings to a whole new level.

Why Brine Your Chicken Wings?
Brining is an age-old technique that’s used to infuse moisture and flavor into meat. By soaking the chicken wings in a flavorful brine solution, you allow the meat to absorb all of the seasoning, ensuring that each bite is full of rich, savory goodness. The result? Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and bursting with flavor!

What Makes Gramma Hazel’s Wing Brine Special?
Gramma Hazel’s Wing Brine combines the perfect balance of salty, sweet, and spicy. The secret ingredients, like the addition of beer, bay leaves, and Gramma Hazel’s special seasoning, make this brine stand out. Not only does it help tenderize the chicken, but it also creates a deliciously aromatic infusion that will make your taste buds sing!

2022 Episode 2

Ingredients

Chicken Wings/Drummies (your choice, but I love using a mix of wings and drumsticks)
1 C Beer (Apple juice, water, wine, or grape juice are all excellent substitutes if you prefer a non-alcoholic option)
½ C Kosher Salt (The kosher salt is perfect for brining, helping to draw out the natural juices and lock in flavor)
Bay Leaves (They add a wonderful aromatic flavor to the brine)
Red Pepper Flakes (For a touch of heat that pairs beautifully with the other flavors)
½ C Brown Sugar (The sweetness from the brown sugar balances out the salt and adds a subtle caramelization)
2 Tbsp Gramma Hazel’s Special Seasoning (This is the magic ingredient that brings everything together and takes your wings to the next level!)

Directions

Prepare Your Chicken: Place your chicken wings or drumsticks in a large Ziplock bag. You want enough space to ensure the brine can fully coat each piece of chicken.
Mix the Brine: Add all the brine ingredients into the bag with the chicken. Pour in the beer (or your preferred liquid), followed by the kosher salt, bay leaves, red pepper flakes, brown sugar, and Gramma Hazel’s special seasoning. Seal the bag tightly.
Let It Brine: Place the Ziplock bag with the chicken and brine in the fridge. Let it sit overnight for at least 12 hours. The longer it marinates, the more flavorful and tender the chicken will be. This step is crucial for the brine to fully work its magic.
Prepare to Cook: After the brining time is up, remove the chicken from the brine. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. This will ensure a crispy exterior once it’s cooked.
Cook and Enjoy!: Now you’re ready to cook your brined chicken wings! Grill them, bake them in the oven, or deep-fry them to your liking. Regardless of the method you choose, you’ll end up with wings that are perfectly seasoned, juicy, and bursting with flavor.

Tips for Perfect Wings

Dry the Chicken: Always pat the chicken dry after removing it from the brine. Moisture on the surface can prevent the wings from getting that beautiful crispy skin.
Cooking Method: Whether you choose to grill or bake your wings, a high-heat cooking method is key to getting that crispy exterior while keeping the inside tender and juicy.
Customize Your Brine: Feel free to experiment with the brine by adjusting the amount of red pepper flakes or brown sugar to suit your taste. Want a more savory brine? Add a bit of garlic or onion powder. Want a little more sweetness? A touch of honey can do wonders.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This simple yet powerful brine recipe takes chicken wings to a whole new level. The combination of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors will keep your guests coming back for more, while the tender, juicy meat will leave them wondering what your secret is. It’s the perfect recipe for family gatherings, game day, or any occasion that calls for a crowd-pleasing dish. So next time you’re planning to make chicken wings, be sure to give Gramma Hazel’s Wing Brine a try. You’ll never go back to plain wings again!

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Red Snapper Drink

3/6/2025

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Ingredients

2 oz Gin
2 C Lutz Bloody Mary Mix
Lemon Squeeze
6 Cooked Awesome Shrimp
6 Stuffed Green Olives
Skewers
Lemon Wedges

Directions

Put ice in two glasses.
Add gin, Bloody Mary Mix and a squeeze of lemon.
Alternate cooked shrimp and stuffed green olives on a skewer.
Garnish each drink with a skewer and lemon wedge.

Red Snapper Drink is a Mad Dog & Merrill® Original Recipe from Episode Twenty One of the 2021 Season of the Midwest Grill'n Show. Watch "West Allis" for this great recipe from America's Favorite Grill'n Show and More! Episode recipes include Kobe Beef, Bloody Mary Shrimp, Lemon Pork, Apricot Sausage, and Red Snapper Drink. Download the E-Book by visiting the Mad Dog & Merrill Online Store and become a Lifetime Member of the Mad Dog & Merrill® Grill'n Club to gain FREE access to all episode E-Books.

Mad Dog & Merrill® only endorse the highest quality of products and services.
What kind of grills do Mad Dog & Merrill® use? Our favorite grills include Pit Boss Pellet Grills and Louisiana Grills.
Where can the products used on the Midwest Grill'n show be found? Sun Drop Soda, Awesome Shrimp, and Wisconsin Potatoes.
Help us thank our sponsors by patronizing their local business, such as Shooting Star Casino.
Produced by Lashbro Visual Communications.

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Apricot Sausage

3/6/2025

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Ingredients

1 lb Andouille Sausage
1 lb Polish Sausage
2 C Sauerkraut
1 jar Apricot Preserves
1 can Apricots
1/2 C Bacon Bits

Directions

Place sausages on planks.
Mix remaining ingredients together.
Place mixture on top of sausages.
Grill until sausages are cooked through. About, 35 minutes

Apricot Sausage is a Mad Dog & Merrill® Original Recipe from Episode Twenty One of the 2021 Season of the Midwest Grill'n Show. Watch "West Allis" for this great recipe from America's Favorite Grill'n Show and More! Episode recipes include Kobe Beef, Bloody Mary Shrimp, Lemon Pork, Apricot Sausage, and Red Snapper Drink. Download the E-Book by visiting the Mad Dog & Merrill Online Store and become a Lifetime Member of the Mad Dog & Merrill® Grill'n Club to gain FREE access to all episode E-Books.

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Lemon Pork

3/6/2025

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Ingredients

Pork Tenderloin
Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
2 Tbsp Citrus Twist
2 Tbsp Garlic Pepper

Directions

Place Pork Tenderloin on Cedar Plank.
Sprinkle with fresh lemon juice, Citrus Twist and Garlic Pepper.
Grill about 35 minutes.
Use a meat thermometer. Your meat is done when it reaches 145 degrees.

Lemon Pork is a Mad Dog & Merrill® Original Recipe from Episode Twenty One of the 2021 Season of the Midwest Grill'n Show. Watch "West Allis" for this great recipe from America's Favorite Grill'n Show and More! Episode recipes include Kobe Beef, Bloody Mary Shrimp, Lemon Pork, Apricot Sausage, and Red Snapper Drink. Download the E-Book by visiting the Mad Dog & Merrill Online Store and become a Lifetime Member of the Mad Dog & Merrill® Grill'n Club to gain FREE access to all episode E-Books.

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Bloody Mary Shrimp

3/6/2025

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Ingredients

2 lbs Awesome Shrimp
1 C Lutz Bloody Mary Mix
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 oz Gin
1 Lemon, squeezed
2 Tbsp Garlic
2 Tbsp Up Nort Pepper

Directions

Mix all ingredients together.
Marinade for a few hours.
Place on cedar plank.
Grill until shrimp is cooked through.

Bloody Mary Shrimp is a Mad Dog & Merrill® Original Recipe from Episode Twenty One of the 2021 Season of the Midwest Grill'n Show. Watch "West Allis" for this great recipe from America's Favorite Grill'n Show and More! Episode recipes include Kobe Beef, Bloody Mary Shrimp, Lemon Pork, Apricot Sausage, and Red Snapper Drink. Download the E-Book by visiting the Mad Dog & Merrill Online Store and become a Lifetime Member of the Mad Dog & Merrill® Grill'n Club to gain FREE access to all episode E-Books.

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