MIDWEST ACCESS: September 17,2026

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Check out all of the segments of today’s episode!

SEGMENT 1: Grillin’ & Chillin’ - Destination BBQ’s Jalapeño Popper Twists

Destination Bar-B-Q — The Road to Exceptional Grilling Starts Here

Jalapeño Popper Twists

A quick, easy recipe that looks fancy but comes together in just a few minutes. Perfect for tailgating season!

Ingredients

• Cream cheese, softened (about ½ cup, or to taste)
• 2 jalapeños, chopped (add more if you like it spicier)
• Cooked bacon, cooled and crumbled (thick-cut recommended)
• Shredded cheese (as much as you like)
• 1 sheet puff pastry
• 1 egg, whisked (for egg wash)

Instructions

1. Make the filling: In a bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, chopped jalapeños, crumbled bacon, and shredded cheese. Mix until well combined.
2. Assemble: Lay out the puff pastry and spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over half of the sheet.
3. Fold: Fold the pastry in half over the filling and press the edges together.
4. Egg wash: Brush the top of the folded pastry with the whisked egg (a fork or your fingers work fine if you don’t have a pastry brush).
5. Cut and twist: Using a pizza cutter, slice the pastry into strips about 1½ inches wide (cut wider for a more generous portion). Pick up each strip and give it a twist or two.
6. Grill: Preheat a flat-top griddle. For a nonstick, flavor-boosted surface, cook a couple pieces of bacon on the griddle first and let the pastry twists cook in the rendered bacon grease. Place the twists on the griddle and cook until the pastry is puffed and golden.

SEGMENT 2: Grillin’ & Chillin’ - Wildwood Sports Bar & Grill’s Burgers, Two Ways — Smash Burger vs. Classic Patty

Wildwood Sports Bar & Grill: Restaurant and Sports Bar in Rochester & Byron

Smash Burger vs. Classic Patty

Ingredients

Burgers:

• 1 lb. ground beef, divided into:
  • 3 equal portions (for regular patty burgers)
  • 6 equal portions (for smash burgers)
• All-purpose seasoning
• Parchment paper squares/circles (“patty paper”)
• Burger buns

Instructions

Burger topping sauce:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon (or so) ketchup
• 1 tablespoon (or so) mustard
• A splash of liquid smoke (the “secret ingredient”)
• A pinch of granulated garlic
• A sprinkle of all-purpose seasoning (for color and flavor)Instructions

Regular Patty Burgers

1. Place a portion of meat onto a parchment square inside a container lid (Christy uses a mayonnaise lid as a makeshift press).
2. Smash the meat down evenly to form a patty, then work the edges around into a nice, even circle.
3. Level it off and remove from the mold — you should have a neat, squared-edge patty.
4. Season the top with all-purpose seasoning, then flip the patty upside down onto the griddle with the patty paper left on.
5. Leave the paper on as it cooks — the paper traps steam and moisture, acting like a “blanket” that bastes the burger from the bottom heat.
6. Let cook undisturbed for about 4–5 minutes before checking.

Smash Burgers

1. Roll the smaller meat portions into balls (no need to pre-flatten).
2. Lightly oil/season the griddle, then place each ball of meat directly on the hot surface.
3. Let the balls sit and cook undisturbed for about 4–5 minutes — don’t touch them yet.
4. After 4–5 minutes, lay a sheet of parchment paper over each ball and smash it down firmly and evenly until thin.
5. Peel back the paper, season the newly exposed top side (since it wasn’t seasoned before smashing).
6. The searing process caramelizes the sugars in the meat across the entire bottom surface before it’s even flipped, which enhances sweetness and flavor — more surface contact means more caramelization than a regular patty gets.
7. Flip and let the burgers finish cooking; look for a nice buildup of moisture when you flip.

SEGMENT 3: Grillin’ & Chillin’ - The Reveal

SEGMENT 4: September Diaper Drive by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for Family Resource Center

Family Resource Center

JustServe

SEGMENT 5: Real Talk with Robin - Rochester, MN Fall Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase

Robin Gwaltney - Gwaltney Group | REMAX Results

Parade of Homes | Free Home Tour Event in Minnesota

Parade of Homes-Rochester | Rochester Area Builders, Inc.