Melissa Cookston, a seven-time world barbecue champion, released "Fanning the Flames," and Taste of Home is giving away signed copies to readers.
Cookston's credentials speak volumes. She holds seven world barbecue competition titles, placing her among the sport's most decorated pitmasters. Her new cookbook translates that competitive edge into home cooking territory, offering techniques and recipes shaped by years spent competing at the highest levels of American barbecue.
The giveaway targets home cooks eager to master smoke and fire. Cookston's approach bridges the gap between backyard enthusiasts and professional-level results. Her competition experience means every recipe has been tested under pressure, refined through countless competitions, and designed to deliver consistent results.
This cookbook matters because competitive barbecue knowledge rarely reaches mainstream audiences in accessible formats. Most home cooks rely on regional traditions passed down through family or internet recipes of varying quality. Cookston brings a different lens: someone who has won repeatedly against professional rivals, someone who understands heat management, meat selection, seasoning balance, and timing at granular levels.
The timing aligns with barbecue's continued growth as a home cooking interest. Americans invest in outdoor equipment and techniques more than ever. Cookston's book offers structured guidance rather than guesswork, teaching readers why certain methods work rather than just instructing them to follow steps.
"Fanning the Flames" likely covers fundamentals like wood selection, temperature control, and rub formulations alongside competition-tested recipes. Cookston's perspective carries weight because she has competed successfully across multiple barbecue styles and meat types, from brisket to ribs to pork shoulders.
For barbecue enthusiasts, a signed copy from a seven-time world champion carries tangible value. It represents knowledge earned through dedication and repeated success. The giveaway functions as promotion for