What's for supper tonight?

I went to Olive Garden over Christmas and they had NO BREADSTICKS. Fuckers.

Oh, and thanks. I downloaded a bunch of Jamie Oliver podcasts a while back and he used naan bread as a base for a dish, so I thought I'd try it myself. Mr. Oliver's looked a lot better than mine, but I imagine they tasted equally good. Highly recommend the podcast if you want some simple ideas.

 

The ribs were fan-freaking-tastic!

 

I had pork shoulder I'd cooked all day in a crockpot with whole cranberry sauce, chili sauce and stew veggies. Pretty darned good.

 

baked nachos

 

I didn't have dinner, per se (slept through it) but making whole wheat parmesan chips in the oven. I'll dip them in fat-free sour cream. Four points, and good.

 

I gave Dreamer_Dad a break and baked steak w/garlic salt and Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce in the oven. Fries also.

Steak was way too tough. Ideas anyone on any good marinades or on how to tenderize steak? I'm seriously trying to get into cooking new things/trying new things now and it's also healthier for pops since he A) thinks oil is a food group and B) would like a break from cooking all the time.

Thanks.

 

For steak, or ribs, or anything like that, your best bet is to marinate the hell out of them. Use something acidic, like vinegar or lemon juice, plus some sort of flavouring (spices, sauce, pretty much anything will do). Marinate for 24 hours if you can; less and you're not letting things soak in as much.

 

Generally speaking on any meat, a 24 hour brining will do wonders for juiciness and flavor. Wet marinades can be hit or miss, so brining, pat dry with a paper towel and then a dry rub or even wet sauce is a better alternative.
You can get a 1-pound sirloin up to snuff with a quarter cup of salt (I use kosher) and a quart of water. Warm water, and stir the saltwater to dissolve first.
It really does do wonders.
I usually top with a dry rub of Montreal Steak Seasoning or just use a combo of garlic powder, chili powder, a minute amount of finely ground dark coffeen cracked black pepper and lemon zest.
And bake the potato without foil. Just oil (or bacon grease) it up and throw it in the oven with foil under it to catch the drippings.

 

Got about 10 pounds of pig in the smoker.

All rubbed in a Memphis-style recipe that includes garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne, paprika, lots of brown sugar, celery salt and some onion powder.

Keeping it nice and wet with apple cider, and a water pan with apple cider, apple chunks, beer, Coke, lemon and onion.

Hi, Tom. ;D

 

Damn TBF, I'm coming down.

 

Bring beer.

 

Budweiser of course.