Tonight I'm forgoing my usual
soups, stews, and chowders for a relaxed Southern favorite:
barbecue. This morning I'll literally be dropping my pork into the
slow cooker, pouring in a few basic ingredients, and in six hours, the sweet aroma of North Carolina-style pulled pork will be wafting out of my kitchen. The fall-apart tender finished product, with its intensely tangy sauce, will no doubt become a family favorite.
This
barbecue tray with veins pokes fun at the juices that flow from grilled red meat. Its dark sense of humor is not for the faint of heart. What do you think of it?
This week is all about quality over quantity: There aren't as many festivals on our radar, but all of them are can't-miss events. The
Giant Omelette Celebration is sure to be an egg-cellent time. Now that we have
yet another excuse to drink beer, let's enjoy some at the
Great World Beer Fest.
It's the middle of Fall, and the festivities are bigger than ever. From
Spencer, WV, to
San Francisco, there's something for everyone, whether you've got a
craving for candy or a
hankering for ham. Know of something we've left out?
Across the country this month
Oktoberfest celebrations are in full force. There's something for you, whether you want to savor the last of the Summer with a
seafood festival or switch your mindset to Fall by enjoying one of the many
harvest celebrations. Have a tip for another event?
On Monday,
John McCain took a detour from the typical campaign trail to make his special baby back ribs recipe on
Rachael Ray's daytime
show. Here are some interesting things I learned from watching him demonstrate his signature dish on TV:
- Apparently, the potential president gets his ribs from Costco. Rachael Ray seemed surprised: "I've been to Costco, [but] I just didn't picture you two with a cart!"
- To my surprise, McCain seemed very confident in his cooking skills.
Pork tenderloin may not be the first thing that comes to mind when barbecuing, but it's just as easy to grill as other meats like chicken breast. In this rendition, grilled lemon and pork tenderloin are served with
broccoli rabe and pistachio couscous. As this cut of meat is fairly lean, it makes for a healthy, well-rounded meal.
In the height of good weather, food and festivity abound, and right about now, I'm wishing I could teleport myself around the United States. First I'd hit up Manhattan for
Wine 2.0's wine sampling this week, followed by the
Shrimp & Grits Festival in Georgia, and then some classic
Eli's cheesecake in the Windy City. Don't miss out on these events — if you do, you'll have to wait another year!
I've always loved barbecued fruit, such as grilled
pineapples and
peaches. So for a recent dinner party, I fused shish-kebab style skewers with fruit to create a warm, juicy dessert! I used figs, nectarines, and pineapple, but other fruit such as apricots, mangoes, and cantaloupe would be equally delicious.
Don't
leave your grills (or pets) unsupervised at any outdoor parties! Have some extra sticks and
balls to distract him from hovering around the BBQ and your yums. If your speedy pup grabs something piping hot, or gets too close to the grill, you should have a plan, and supplies, to treat paw burns.
