EDIBLES

Cook like a pitmaster from the comforts of home

Published

3 years ago

09/07/2022

(Family Features) For home chefs looking to take their cooking skills to the next level, it all starts with a little inspiration and a few new skills. Turn family meals into extravagant adventures, take backyard barbecues to new heights and impress friends and neighbors with pitmaster-worthy recipes.

In fact, it can be as easy as turning on the TV. From beef ribs and barbacoa to curried brisket rice and pho rub beef belly spring rolls, viewers are in for a treat by tuning into season 3 of “BBQuest: Beyond the Pit,” a video series that dives into the long-held traditions, new flavors and everyday inspiration that make Texas barbecue legendary.

The show follows four themes that capture the essence of Texas barbecue: legacy and tradition; creativity and innovation; Texas trailblazers; and family and community.

You can bring barbecue flavors home and cook like a pitmaster with dishes recreated from the series and developed by “Hardcore Carnivore” cookbook author Jess Pryles, including Smoked Chuck Beef Ribs, Grilled Jalapeno Cheddar Meatballs and Szechuan Skirt Steak with Crispy Rice.

“Since launching BBQuest four years ago, it’s truly remarkable to see how much has changed and yet stayed the same when it comes to Texas barbecue, and that’s exactly what you see in season 3,” said Rachel Chou, Texas Beef Council’s director of consumer marketing. “There has been so much exciting innovation around cooking methods and international flavors while there’s still a huge dedication to long-held recipes and smoking techniques.”

Learn more about the show and find inspiration to bring the taste of barbecue to your kitchen at BeefLovingTexans.com.

Smoked Chuck Beef Ribs

Recipe courtesy of Jess Pryles on behalf of Beef Loving Texans
Cook time: 10 hours, 30 minutes
Servings: 8

1 slab beef chuck short ribs (about 4 pounds)
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons coarse black pepper
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 cup water

Preheat smoker or pellet grill to 275 F.
Pat ribs dry with paper towel; remove moisture on surface.
Combine salt and pepper. Rub beef ribs well on all sides and ends with seasoning, coating generously.
Place ribs in smoker and close lid. Cook 5-6 hours.
In spray bottle, combine cider vinegar and water. Lightly spritz ribs every 30 minutes for first 4 hours of cooking.
Ribs are ready when completely probe tender. If parts still feel tough, continue cooking.
Once completely tender, remove ribs from smoker then wrap tightly in butcher’s paper and place in small cooler to rest 30 minutes.
To serve, slice ribs between bones.

Grilled Jalapeno Cheddar Meatballs

Recipe courtesy of Jess Pryles on behalf of Beef Loving Texans
Cook time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Servings: 15

1/2 cup tortilla chips, crushed
3/4 cup milk
2 pounds ground beef
3 fresh jalapenos, seeded and finely diced
1 block (8 ounces) cheddar cheese, finely diced
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons kosher salt

Place crushed tortilla chips in large bowl. Add milk and allow chips to soften about 10 minutes.
After milk is absorbed, add beef, jalapenos, cheese, paprika, garlic and salt. Mix well to combine then scoop approximately 1/3-1/2 cup of mixture to form meatball; repeat with remaining mixture.
Place meatballs on plate or tray and refrigerate 30 minutes to firm.
Heat grill to medium for two zone cooking.
Place meatballs on indirect heat side of grill away from coals or lit burner; close lid. Grill 25-35 minutes, or until meatballs reach 165 F internal temperature on meat thermometer.
Remove meatballs from grill and cool slightly before serving.

Szechuan Skirt Steak with Crispy Rice

Recipe courtesy of Jess Pryles on behalf of Beef Loving Texans
Total time: 35 minutes
Servings: 2

2 teaspoons Szechuan peppercorns
1 teaspoon five spice powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 skirt steak or bavette steak (about 1 pound)
1/4 cup vegetable oil, divided
2 teaspoons milk or cream
2 cups cooked white rice
sesame seeds (optional)
scallions, thinly sliced (optional)
cucumber, sliced (optional)
cilantro leaves (optional)

In skillet over low heat, toast peppercorns until fragrant, swirling in pan to keep from burning, about 2 minutes. Allow peppercorns to cool slightly then add to spice grinder or mortar and pestle with five spice and salt. Crush until fine powder forms.
Pat skirt steak with paper towel to remove moisture then season well with Szechuan salt on both sides.
Place skillet over high heat then add 1 tablespoon oil. When skillet is hot, add skirt steak and cook 5 minutes per side for medium-rare or medium doneness (135-150 F), turning occasionally. Remove steak from skillet then tent with foil to rest 3 minutes. Temperature will rise about 10-15 F to reach 145 F for medium-rare; 160 F for medium.
Lower heat to medium-high then add remaining oil and milk or cream. Add rice, pressing down gently with large spoon to form large, flat disc covering entire base of pan. Season with Szechuan salt, if desired, then lower heat to medium and cook 10 minutes until grains begin to turn brown and become crisp on bottom. Break up rice in pan to mix soft and crispy grains.
Slice skirt steak across grain.
To serve, place rice in two bowls. Layer with sliced skirt steak. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped scallions then place cucumber and cilantro on top, if desired.

SOURCE:
Beef Loving Texans

EDIBLES

Savory favorites to make St. Patrick’s Day special

Published

3 days ago

03/13/2025

bowienews

Hearty recipes for celebrating from the comfort of home

(Family Features) While some St. Patrick’s Day celebrations call for green beer and large gatherings, you may instead opt for a cozy evening at home with comforting foods and close friends. Whether your shamrock spirit leads you out for a local parade or you’re more of a stay-at-home leprechaun, there is one tradition all can agree on: delicious Irish food.

If a quieter night cooking at home is up your alley, you’re in luck. You can put a meal worthy of gold on the table with these festive Irish favorites from “Cookin’ Savvy.”

A hearty home-cooked meal loaded with flavor and sure to fill you with cheer, Irish Beef and Beer Pot Pie is made piping hot to warm up any St. Patrick’s Day party. Full of hashbrowns, carrots, peas and beef, it’s a twist on tradition served with puff pastry topping the tasty stew. A cup of your favorite stout beer, of course, will come in handy for deglazing the skillet to ensure you enjoy every bit of beefy flavor.

Perfect for serving as a sweet complement to coffee or tea, or all on its own as a nightcap nibble, Irish Sweet Soda Bread comes together in a snap so you can let it bake while enjoying the main course. Offering an easy way to participate in the festivities, it might just become a household favorite to be savored year-round.

Make your home a St. Patrick’s Day haven with these hearty recipes then discover more celebratory meal ideas from “Cookin’ Savvy” by visiting Culinary.net.

Irish Beef and Beer Pot Pie

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4-6

1 pound ground beef
1 cup stout beer
3 tablespoons flour
1 can (15 ounces) tomato puree
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 cup beef broth
1 bag (28 ounces) hashbrowns with peppers and onions
1 can (14 ounces) carrots, drained
1 can (14 ounces) peas, drained
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
1 egg

Heat oven to 400 F.
In large skillet or Dutch oven, brown ground beef; drain and set aside.
Over medium heat, deglaze skillet with beer and whisk in flour. After thickening, whisk in tomato puree and add Worcestershire sauce. Mix in ground beef, garlic powder and beef broth. Add hashbrowns, carrots and peas. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Place puff pastry sheet on cookie sheet. Beat egg and brush over pastry. Bake 10 minutes. Place hot puff pastry on top of beef mixture and serve.

Irish Sweet Soda Bread

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4-6

4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
4 cups self-rising flour
1 cup currants
2 tablespoons sanding sugar (optional)
coffee or tea, for serving (optional)

Heat oven to 375 F.
Mix melted butter and sugar then add buttermilk. Mix in flour and currants.
Flour hands and counter. Add sanding sugar to dough, if desired, and knead into ball.
Grease small Dutch oven or pie plate and bake 40 minutes. Serve with coffee or tea, if desired, or as a dessert.

Substitutions: Raisins can be used in place of currants.

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

EDIBLES

Create some unique St. Paddy’s delights

Published

3 days ago

03/13/2025

bowienews

Some folks like murder mysteries, some like autobiographies of world leaders, and some love a good beach read otherwise known as a romance novel.
I prefer a cookbook any day of the week. Lately, I have been going through my mom’s cookbooks, and I think the best are the pages that are beyond smudged and streaked with ingredients from long ago. You know somewhere on that page is a good recipe.
Hopefully, you have an inkling of which one it is. My favorite go-to cookbook is my New Doubleday Cookbook and pages 682 and 683 are so mucky with years of dribble and flour residue. Those pages are the best because they offer about 15 bread recipes, including sandwich yeast bread, rapid-rise yeast bread, and milk bread varieties.
These pages are the pages the book opens to when you just lay open the book. I encourage you to go to your mom or grandmother’s cookbooks and do the “lay it open” test and see which pages it automatically goes to because there is a golden opportunity to make something truly wonderful on that page.
I love baking bread; the aroma of a house filled with freshly baked bread is an incredibly visceral experience. I don’t think a candle labeled “bread” could come close to replicating it. Baking cookies is a close second for me, with the smell of lasagna coming in as my third favorite scent in any kitchen.

Read the full Love & Luck food page in your Thursday Bowie News. Find some new delights to cook up for St. Paddy’s Day on Monday.

EDIBLES

Save time with the skillet

Published

1 week ago

03/06/2025

bowienews

(Family Features) A warm, cozy meal may seem like a burden to make after busy winter days, but Skillet Lasagna lets you skip the craziness of home cooking with an easy, one-pot solution. Discover more comforting recipes that let you reclaim evenings with loved ones by visiting Culinary.net.

Skillet Lasagna

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4-6

1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
44 ounces marinara sauce
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup ricotta
1 1/2 cups frozen spinach
9 lasagna noodles
1 cup mozzarella cheese
bread, for serving
Parmesan cheese, for topping (optional)

In large skillet or Dutch oven, brown ground beef with onion power, garlic powder and salt and pepper, to taste. Drain excess grease. Mix in marinara sauce, heavy whipping cream, ricotta and spinach.
Break up lasagna noodles and add to skillet. Cover and let set over medium heat 10 minutes. Stir and top with mozzarella cheese. Cover and let set 10 minutes.
Serve with bread and top with Parmesan cheese, if desired.

SOURCE:
Culinary.net