Grilled Crispy Pork Belly

I love pork belly, from which bacon is born.  Sometimes I’m not sure which I like more, the salty-smoky-cured bacon, or the juicy, tender, and delicious pork belly in all its intact glory.  Pork belly is a super-versatile cut, especially if the skin is left on, and it’s absolutely fantastic by itself, in tacos, in… Continue reading Grilled Crispy Pork Belly

Pan-Seared Beef Tri Tip

In the post-holiday haze, I’ve been craving beef.  Never mind that we had a big prime rib on Christmas, which essentially disappeared because it was mind-blowingly good (I know, I shouldn’t have taken a vacation from the blog when I was making that bad boy), but I’m kind of turkeyed and ham’ed out.  You too? … Continue reading Pan-Seared Beef Tri Tip

Easy Cajun Stew

You know when you have a mishmash of things in your kitchen and you experiment a little and throw things together and hope it comes out? That was me, last night.  It was our first real chilly, grey, and rainy day of the autumn and I figured I’d make some soup.  With flavored broth, some… Continue reading Easy Cajun Stew

Sunday Red Gravy: Spaghetti and Meatballs

I’m not Italian, but I can’t deny the appeal of a house that smells like slow-cooked tomato sauce — the herbs, the garlic, a hint of pork, maybe some soft Italian bread.  Here in Oklahoma where I live, autumn is creeping in and the evenings are becoming perfectly chilly.  Excellent weather for some spaghetti and… Continue reading Sunday Red Gravy: Spaghetti and Meatballs

Easy Meal: Pasta Carbonara!

Okay so, I know I haven’t been around much and I have to sincerely apologize — between house guests, yard work, a clown, caretaker and character of a bulldog, and lots and lots of the kind of work that actually pays me, I’ve been kind of swamped!  I felt it only right that one of… Continue reading Easy Meal: Pasta Carbonara!

Braised Beef: Pot Roast, Short Rib, Oxtail

A dear friend came to visit last week, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d made him a meal, if ever.  Since he’s a bachelor and a guest, I asked him to let me make a nice home-cooked dinner.  He’s fond of pot roast, and as such, tonight at Casa Sass it is a… Continue reading Braised Beef: Pot Roast, Short Rib, Oxtail

Carnitas! (Fried Mexican Pork)

I have a soft spot in my heart for Mexican food.  To me, Mexican food can be sort of the perfect comfort food. Once you get past really Americanized Mexican food and Tex-Mex (all of which have their place, and I dig on all of them), you find authentic Mexican food is an amazing mix… Continue reading Carnitas! (Fried Mexican Pork)