Hey! It’s me! It’s been a while, and for that I apologize. Life caught up with me, but with the seasons changing I am drawn even more to the kitchen. I love it when the mornings are crisp and the evenings are perfect to be standing at the stove or enjoying smells coming from the… Continue reading Tuscan Pork Riblets with Balsamic-Dijon Glaze
Category: Meat
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
Baked Pork Rinds (Baked Pork Cracklins)
HOMEMADE. PORK. CRACKLINS. Do I have your attention yet? Calling all Paleo / Atkins / Baked-not-fried / I-Love-Snacks people and Secret Pork Rind Lovers: I MADE PORK RINDS. I know, right? WE CAN MAKE PORK RINDS. Here’s the kicker: Mine are baked. BAKED. How can this be? Delicious crunchy pork rinds that are BAKED? Done… Continue reading Baked Pork Rinds (Baked Pork Cracklins)
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!
Pasta Bolognese (Italian Meat Ragout)
Ever since we had John’s Baked Ziti a few weeks ago, I’ve been jonesing for pasta. I didn’t need anything particularly cheesy, but I really wanted the richness and comfort of some meaty noodles. Meaty. Noodles. I had always wanted to try to make a ragu/ragout style meat sauce, and started checking around for ideas… Continue reading Pasta Bolognese (Italian Meat Ragout)
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)