Food Recipes

Chicken Rub

  • 1/4 cup paprika, smoked or sweet
  • 3 tablespoons ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons granulated garlic
  • 3 tablespoons onion powder
  • 2 tablespoons dried oregano
  • 2 tablespoons dried thyme leaves
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons coriander
  • .25 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Mediterranean Lamb Shoulder

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon rosemary
  • 2 teaspoons tumeric
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • .5 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • 1 teaspoon marjarom
  • .5 teaspoon salt
  • .5 teaspoon ground pepper
  • .25 teaspoon cayenne
  • 2-3 lbs of lamb shoulder (trader joe’s carry’s the right size)

Destructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 350
  • Combine all of the spices in a small mixing bowl or small jar and mix thoroughly
  • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a cast iron skillet on the stove to medium high
  • Remove the lamb shoulder from wrappings and smear a light coat of olive oil on the meat
  • Liberally coat the lamb shoulder with the spice rub on all sides
  • Sear the lamb shoulder on both sides for 3 minutes per side so that the spice rub becomes a nice crust
  • Remove skillet from stove top and put it with the lamb into the oven until lamb is at desired internal temperature: 135 for medium rare, 140-145 for medium
  • For best results, remove the lamb from the oven about 3-5 degrees before final, desired temperature and allow to rest in the pan for ten minutes…the lamb will continue to cook due to residual heat in the skillet
  • Slice and serve

Baby Back Ribs

Ingredients

  • 1 Full Rack of Baby Back Ribs (note, you can safely 2x, 3x, 4x dry rub for more ribs)
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1.5 teaspoons dark brown sugar
  • 1.5 teaspoons fresh orange zest
  • 1.25 teaspoons salt
  • .75 teaspoon ground cumin
  • .5 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • .25 teaspoon chili powder

Destructions

  • Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs (if not already removed)
  • Mix the spices and orange zest in a small bowl
  • Coat the meat side liberally with the dry rib, wrap in plastic wrap, and marinate in fridge for 1-2 hours
  • Have a beer Pre-heat oven to 275 degrees
  • Remove the ribs from the fridge and take off the plastic wrap Wrap the ribs loosely in aluminum foil and place on a cookie sheet or other pan to capture juice run-off
  • Bake in the oven for 3-3.5 hours
  • Remove from oven when meat forks off of bone
  • Rest the meat for 5 minutes, then unwrap
  • Brush on favorite bbq sauce on meat side, then grill or sear in a cast iron pan until sauce is carmelized.

Beef Barley Soup

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs beef chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 – 1 1/2 lbs potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch pieces (Yukon gold or russets are preferred)
  • 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 medium yellow or sweet onion, peeled and diced
  • 2 ribs celery, sliced in half lengthwise, then cut into 1/2-1 inch pieces
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 Tbsp better than bouillon beef base (optional but recommended)
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 6 cups beef broth or stock
  • 2/3 cup pearl barley

Destructions

  • Cube beef in large chunks, about 1 inch square.
  • If desired, heat 1 Tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over MED HIGH heat. Add beef cubes and brown for 1-2 minutes per side.
  • Add beef and all remaining ingredients to slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours.
  • Remove bay leaves and thyme stems and serve

TexMex Jambaylaya

Trigger Warning!

This will piss off foodie purists, but I love making fusion dishes from the flavors I love, so here goes my recipe!

Ingredients

  • 2 Ribs Celery, finely chopped
  • 1/2 Sweet Onion, coarsely chopped
  • 2-3 Smallish Serrano Pepper (add additional for spicier goodness)
  • 1/2 Bunch Green Onion, garnish chopped
  • 1/2 Bunch Cilantro, garnish chopped
  • 8oz of Red Kidney Beans (cooked)
  • 8oz of Black Beans (cooked)
  • 1 Bell Pepper, coarsely chopped (if you like bell peppers) 
  • 5 Medium Garlic Cloves, minced
  • 1 Tomato (preferred variety), Diced
  • 3/4 lbs of Andouille Sausage
  • 1/3-1/2 lbs of Beef Kielbasa
  • 1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 4 – 6 Sprigs Fresh Thyme
  • 1 tsp to 1 tbs Dried Oregano, to taste
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • Himalayan Salt (to suit)
  • Black Pepper (to suit)
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 1/2 Stick Cinnamon
  • 1 Pkg of Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice

Destructions

  • Follow instructions to begin making your preferred rice.  As rice is boiling/cooking, add bay leaf and 1/2 cinnamon stick to cooking rice mixture.
  • Over medium heat add onion, garlic, celery, tomato, serrano pepper (optional bell pepper) and 1 tbsp of olive oil and begin cooking down til all of the ingredients soften.
  • Combine spices in a ramekin and mix thoroughly.
  • In separate skillet/iron skillet, add cubed meat to skillet and cook thoroughly.
  • Once rice is nearing completion (5 minutes before hand), add spices from ramekin, cooked Andouille/Kielbasa and both beans to combined veggie mixture and stir thoroughly.  Continue to simmer on low heat until warm/hot and rice is done.
  • When rice is done, spoon onto plates and add sausage/veggie mixture to suit.  Garnish with green onion and cilantro.