Pork Back Ribs

I have yet to find a meat eatin person who didn’t like babyback ribs.  I am sure there are some out there, but the thought scares me.  Most of the time when folks say they can’t make them, or prefer to go to a eatin house to get em’ It’s because of one thing alone.  ” Ain’t got no grill!!”  I gotcha covered.

Here’s what we’ll need:

2 racks pork babyback ribs

1 12 oz. (300 ml) can of Beer ( I use bud light )

1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce

Garlic powder ( optional )

OK, so you want to put the ribs in a large roasting pan MEAT SIDE UP.  Sprinkle the garlic powder over the ribs lightly, then pour the can of beer in the pan. Put the lid on and place in a 350 degree oven for 35 min to steam the ribs.

While that is cooking, pour the BBQ sauce in a large bowl.  You want it to be large because it will also have to hold the drippings.

when the timer goes off, drain the drippings into the bowl. mix well.   Coat the ribs with the sauce and put back in the oven.  reduce heat to 300 degress and cook for 40 min, and baste about halfway through

Folks never believe me when they hear that the ribs were cooked in an oven.

Enjoy

Vegetable Beef Soup

So with this classic, there are many variations on a theme.  For me this is almost considered a left over creation, in as much as it is made with leftover roast.  I have made it 100% fresh and it is very good, but I like it best with the leftover roast.

So here’s what we’ll need:

1-1.5 lb cubed beef. ( as stated before I use leftover roast)

1 32 oz. (quart) container  Swanson’s beef broth

3 c Potato ( diced )

1 bunch celery ( top the celery and just start slicing while still attached to the bunch. When it starts getting to the light part…stop )

1 small bag baby carrots

1 large onion ( diced )

1 clove garlic ( pressed and minced )

1 T salt

1 t. ground mustard

3 C water

1 T Worcestershire sauce

These are prolly the easiest directions in the world to follow….   Combine everything in the pot.  Simmer on med-med/low  for 3 hours.

Stir every half hour or so and add a little water as needed.

Enjoy

Pea Salad

I can’t tell you the first time I had this, because my mother has been making this since before I was born.  It has been a staple in my life, since I have had a life.  So it’s only right to share this dish, that I hope will be served in my family long after my grandchildren’s grandchildren are gone.

here’s what we’ll need:

1 can sweet peas ( thoroughly drained )

1/3 c. chedder cheese cut into 1/4″ cubes

1 hard boiled egg ( chopped)   optional

1/4 c. onion  ( finely minced)

3 T. Mayonase or Miracle Whip

Combine ingredients, stir.    Serve Cold

Dirty Rice

Now this is a cajun dish that is a full meal on it’s own.  I have had many incarnations of Dirty Rice.  Some have been good…. some, not so much.

This is a pretty solid recipe, and will be sufficient to feed about 4 healthy folks and leave some leftovers.

Here’s what we’ll need.

2 c. white rice

1 lb. Ground Beef

1 lb. Ground Pork

1 lb. Ground Chicken Giblets ( heart and gizzard)

1/2 c. butter

1 c. celery ( finely chopped )

1 c. Onion ( finely chopped )

1 c. Bell Pepper ( finely chopped )

1 T. Miced fresh garlic

1 t. gound Black Pepper

2 T.  Worcestershire  sauce

1 T. Salt

1/2 c. red wine

Cook rice according to the directions on the package, but don’t start it real early. You’ll see why in just a minute.

In a large stock pot, combine everything but the rice and the wine. Cook over medium heat for  3 hours stiring every 15 min or so.  When it’s cooked for 3 hours, add the cooked rice and the wine.  Reduce heat to low and cook for another 30 min, stiring often.

Enjoy

Almond Toffee

This can best be described as a mouthgasm.   I have shamelessly taken this recipe from my mother, who has agreed to my re-posting it.

1 lb. of butter

1 lb. light brown sugar

32 ounces of sliced almonds

12 regular Hershey bars

Heat oven to 300 degrees to roast almonds in the pan

you will use for the candy.  I knead them to break

them up some and smooth them out in pan.  I roast

them while I am starting my candy for about 5-10 min.

After taking the pan out of the oven I take out of the

pan all but a thin layer of almonds and the rest go into

a bowl to add to the toffee topping…on top of the choc.

Bring butter and brown sugar to a boil (at this point I

add a handfull of almonds saved from the pan).  I cook

at medium high on an electric range/med. gas.  I use

the Taylor Thermometer and bring it to 283 degrees

removing immediately and pouring it over warm almonds

spreading evenly.  Quickly cover with the Hershey bars

and smooth out then add the rest of the almonds and

lightly press all with a potato masher.  After it cools

a little, I press with the potato masher again.  Let it

set for 24 hours before cutting into pieces.

The secret to this recipe is to “wash the pot” as it

is cooking by dipping a rubber spatula (Pampered Chef

preferred as it can tolerate high heat) into a cup of water

and washing down the sides of the pot frequently…this

keeps the sugar from crystallizing on the sides.

This all sounds difficult but if you have your candy

unwrapped and stacked beside the pan where your

candy will be poured…it will take about 30 minutes.

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

I have yet to meet anyone who thinks asparagus is ok.  Seems to be one of those love it or hate it.  Well I love it, and this is my page, so here is a good one =-).

Here’s what we’ll need:

1 bunch fresh asparagus  ( cleaned and trimmed )

1 brick Pepperjack cheese  ( cut into slivers about half as long as the asparagus and about as big around as a pencil )

1 pkg Bacon  ( I use Wright’s Peppered Bacon )

take 3 spears of asparagus and surround a sliver of cheese with them.  Wrap the asparagus in bacon, and place on a non-stick deep cookie sheet.

continue this process for as many servings as you choose.  3 wraps is about perfect as a side.  4-5 for just a finger food snack.

place the sheet in the oven and bake at 350 for about 15 min, or until bacon is at desired degree of done.

Enjoy

Hamburgers / Cheeseburgers

The hamburger has been around for ages.   So obviously this is not new.  That being said, here is my spin on the good ole American icon.

Here is what we’ll need:

2 lbs   ground beef ( or textured soy protein for our vegetarian friends )

1 t. ground cumin seeds

1/2 t. chili powder

1/4 c.  Worcestershire sauce

ground black pepper ( optional )

Get ya a big bowl, and combine all the ingredients in it .  For this…. ya gotta use your hands ( so make sure you wash before and after ).

Thoroughly mix all the ingredients until all the liquid is absorbed into the meat.

Form patties of a size to your choice.

Cook /grill  until the liquid runs clear.

Enjoy

Enchiladas

For those who are in for a south of the border taste, without going to the local Mexican Food joint, here is something to satisfy the craving…

For this recipe I am going to cheat.  Making enchilada sauce from scratch is a pain in the ass, but is better than the canned. But, like I said, I am cheating so we are going to use the canned.

Here’s what we’ll need:

1.5 lbs lean ground beef.

2 T. Chili Powder

1/2 C diced white Onion

20 oz. Can Enchilada Sauce

Salt and Pepper to taste

2 C shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

14 Corn tortillas ( get the good ones )

11.5 x 9 baking dish

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

In a skillet, combine ground beef , onion, chili powder, salt and pepper.

Cook till beef is done.  drain.

add Enchilada sauce and simmer for 10 min.

While meat is simmering, heat Tortillas so they are warm and soft.

Spray baking dish with non-stick spray

place about 3 T of meat on each tortilla, in the center, then roll tortilla and put in dish ( seam down )

repeat till dish is full.

Cover with cheese.

Bake till cheese is melted.

Serve with your favorite side dishes

Enjoy =-)

Yup, them there is Biscuits

What is it about a home made biscuit that starts making the mouth water? I don’t know either cept to say that they’re damned tasty. Pretty simple to make and the results?…. ZOMG FEED ME!!

So here is what we’ll need:

2 C Flour

4 t. Baking Powder

3 T. Butter

1/3 t. salt

3/4 C Milk

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients well. Use a pastry blender to blend the butter in to the flour. You know it’s well blended when it looks like a bowl of flour pellets. Slowly add the milk and stir well. Now it’s going to look like a big gooey ball. At this point I place a piece of newspaper on the counter and coat it with flour, and dump the dough onto it. Coat your hands in flower and kneed the dough for about a minute. ( for all you folks that say don’t over handle your dough…. I got something you can handle =-) This i my blog ). Now the dough should be smooth. Roll out to about 1/2″ thick. Grab ya out a water glass/coffee cup and coat the rim in flour. Cut out your biscuits and placed on a greased cast Iron skillet or other baking dish. Place em kinda close to each other so they rise up ( and don’t spread out and get hard ). Give em a light topping with melted butter and bake for 15 min.

Enjoy

Kitchen Sink Skillet

As the Name suggests, there is quite a bit of stuff in this. ” Everything but the kitchen sink” as it were.

This is enough to feed 4

8 Large eggs ( blended well )

8oz. tube of sausage

1 bell pepper ( diced )

1 medium red onion ( diced )

2 Jalapeño peppers ( diced )

2 Cups fresh potato ( diced )

2 Large Tomatoes ( diced )

3 C shredded Cheese ( I use a blend of Colby/Monterey Jack/Cheddar)

1t. chili powder

1t. black pepper

1/2 stick real butter

In a large frying pan (skillet) melt butter. Then add potatoes, Onion, peppers, black pepper, chili powder, and sausage. Cook till sausage is done and potatoes are tender.

Drain fat from skillet.

Add eggs and scramble well. When eggs are done, remove from heat and top with cheese and tomatoes. Cover till cheese is melted.

Enjoy