Mama Marie Bolognese

 

Mama Marie Bolognese

Some dishes speak louder than others. “I love simple, flavorful food—and this one was a no-brainer.” A longtime admirer of Italian cuisine wasn’t able to taste test Mama Marie’s Bolognese due to a work emergency but he was moved by the heartfelt story behind it and knew it was a dish that deserved to be shared. Great food is about more than flavor: It’s about bringing people together, whether over a plated dinner or a bowl of something timeless, like bolognese. Copied and altered from Edible San Diego Fall issue 2025.
Ingredients:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large white onion, chopped
1 package fresh basil, chopped
2 pounds lean ground meat, tri-tip, or 6 Italian sausages
3 28-ounce cans tomato sauce (ready-cut with basil)
1 12-ounce can tomato paste
1 28-ounce can tomato purée
1⁄2 bunch parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
Salt and pepper to taste
Italian seasoning to taste
4 bay leaves
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1⁄2 cup red wine
2 carrots, thinly sliced
1 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon ground anise
Directions:
Make The Bolognese

Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat and infuse with garlic, onion, and basil for 2 minutes.
Add the meat of your choice and sear for an additional 2–3 minutes, allowing the meat to brown slightly.

Add all the tomato ingredients, parsley, oregano, rosemary, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and bay leaves. Stir well to blend the flavors.
Use the empty tomato paste can to measure 1 can of water, and the large tomato sauce can for an additional can of water. Add both to the sauce and mix thoroughly.

Let the sauce simmer on low heat for about 3 hours, stirring every 15–20 minutes to prevent sticking.

After 30 minutes of cooking, stir in red pepper flakes and red wine for depth of flavor.

One hour before serving, add thinly sliced carrots, fresh lemon juice, and ground anise. This will allow the carrots to melt into the sauce and enhance its sweetness. 

Serve with your favorite cooked pasta.  Serves 10 to 12.

Glazed Parsnips

  

Glazed Parsnips

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

Pinch sea salt

1/2 teaspoon EVOO

2 -2 1/4 pounds parsnips. peeled

1/4 cup butter

freshly ground pepper

3 1/2 cups chicken stock

5 juniper berries

5 star anise, coarsely crushed

3 bay leaves

1/4 cup honey

lemon juice to taste

chopped tarragon 

1/4 cup golden raisins

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees,

To toast the pumpkin seeds,  mix them with a splash of oil and lightly sat.  Spread them on a baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes.

Cut each parsnip in half.  Melt butter in skillet over medium heat.

Toss parsnips in butter seasoned with salt and pepper for 10 minutes.

Add the chicken stock, juniper berries, star anise, and bay leaves, and bring to a boil. Cook until the liquid has almost completely evaporated.

Add the honey and cook until the liquid has become rich and thick and the parsnips are glazed. Taste and season with salt and lemon juice, then add the tarragon and raisins. 

Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with the toasted pumpkin seeds

 

Butter Beans With Smoked Pork

Butter Beans With Smoked Pork

This butter beans recipe with smoked pork shank is a hearty, Southern-style classic. It’s an easy, one-pot dish perfect for cozy dinners, and 

the leftovers taste even better the next day!
Ingredients:
1 pound dried Butter Beans
1 smoked pork shank, or pork hock
6 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
½ teaspoon salt
2 bay leaves
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
Fresh thyme, for garnish

Directions:
Quick pre-soak: Fill a 6 quart Dutch oven or large pot half full with of cold water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the beans and return to a boil. Immediately remove the pot from the heat, cover, and let rest for 30 to 40 minutes. Drain the beans in a colander and rinse with cold water.

Return the beans to the pot and add the chicken broth, to cover the beans by 1-inch. Add the smoked pork shank, onions, garlic, thyme, salt and the bay leaves.

Bring the pot to a boil then immediately reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the beans for 50-60 minutes or until they are tender.
Remove the pot from the heat, transfer the pork shank to a carving board. When the meat is cool enough to handle, remove and discard the bone, skin and any gobs of fat.

Use a fork to break or shred the meat into smaller chunks and return to the pot of beans. Stir in the lemon juice and ladle the beans into serving bowls garnished with fresh thyme sprigs.

Notes
The quick soak cuts down the cooking time and helps the beans cook evenly. Gentle simmering is key. A hard boil will wreck your beans and turn them into mush.

Butter beans can go from perfectly tender to overdone quickly. Begin checking for doneness at the 50-minute mark. When tender to the al-dente stage, remove the pot from the heat.

If your beans have been sitting in the pantry for years, they may not soften. Check the expiration date. 

Acid can keep the beans from softening properly, so stir the lemon juice in last.

A pork shank, cut from below the shoulder, is meatier than a smoked pork hock, which has more bone, fat, and gristle. For this recipe, the pork shank is the best choice.

I found a very tasty shredded smoked pork packaged in the refrigerated section at Costco. It is wood smoked and not the pork flavored with Liquid Smoke.

Nona's Minestrone

Nona’s Minestrone

Ingredients:

For the beans:
½ pound dried cannellini beans, soaked in water overnight
½ pound dried kidney beans, soaked in water overnight
½ pound dried garbanzo beans, soaked in water overnight
2½ bay leaves
1 tablespoon each, kosher salt, and dried garlic
3-inch piece rosemary
1½ tablespoons Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt

For the soup:
⅓ cup olive oil
1 small onion, finely diced
2 carrots, cut into small dice
2 stalks celery, cut into small dice
¼ pound potatoes, cut into small dice
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 cups water
1 (16-ounce) can organic chopped tomatoes
1½ tablespoons fresh thyme
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1½ teaspoons fennel seeds
¼ pound cabbage, finely chopped
3 leaves chard, tough ribs removed, cut into strips
Salt and freshly ground pepper
⅓ cup finely chopped Italian parsley for garnish
Grated Parmesan cheese for garnish, optional

Directions:
To cook the beans, drain and rinse the beans, placing the cannellini and kidney beans in a large pot and the garbanzo beans in another pot.

To the cannellini-kidney mix, add water to cover the beans by 4 inches along with the bay leaves, salt, garlic, rosemary and seasoning. Bring to a boil over high heat, skimming any foam from the top. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 1½ hours. 

Meanwhile, add water to cover the garbanzos by 2 inches, add 1 teaspoon salt, and bring to a boil over high heat; boil until tender, 1½–2 hours.

When the beans are nearly ready, heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. 

Add the onion, carrot, celery and potato and cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent, 3–5 minutes. 

Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. 

Add the water, tomatoes, thyme, oregano and fennel. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low. 

Add the kidney-cannellini bean mix along with about half of their cooking liquid; reserve remaining liquid to add if needed for consistency. 

Drain the garbanzos and add to the soup. 

Add the cabbage and chard and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender and the flavors have melded, about 30 minutes. 

Season to taste with salt and pepper

Ladle into bowls. Garnish with parsley and Parmesan at the table. Makes 4 quarts/serves 8–10.

Lamb Kleftiko With Herb-Pistachio Yogurt

Lamb Kleftiko with Herb-Pistachio Pesto Yogurt

Kleftiko translates to stolen meat, and it’s named after Greek rebels called the klephts, who challenged Ottoman rule of Greece and roamed the country from the 14th to 19th centuries. When they stole sheep, they would slow-cook them in covert pits to avoid being caught. Here, the traditional Easter dish features lamb shanks and potatoes gently braised in a lemony broth flavoured with oregano and mustard. A tangy, herby yogurt sauce brings a freshness and vibrancy to the tender meat and spuds.  Serves 6

Ingredients:
Herb-Pistachio Pesto Yogurt
1 stalk green garlic, white and light green parts only, or 2 garlic cloves
1/4 cup (60 mL) fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup (60 mL) fresh dill fronds, plus more to garnish
1/4 cup (60 mL) flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/4 cup (60 mL) shelled raw pistachios
1/4 cup (60 mL) extra virgin olive oil
1 tub (500 g) full-fat plain Greek yogurt

Lamb
5 medium-size Yukon Gold potatoes, quartered lengthwise
1 large cooking onion, peeled, cut in 6 wedges
1 large tomato, cored, cut in 6 wedges
3 bay leaves
6 lamb shanks, about 6 lbs (2.72 kg) total, at room temperature
1/3 cup (80 mL) extra virgin olive oil
Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
4 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp (15 mL) dried oregano
1 tbsp (15 mL) mustard powder
1 tsp (5 mL) sea salt
1/2 tsp (2 mL) freshly ground pepper
6 sprigs fresh oregano
Directions:
For the pesto yogurt, place garlic, herbs and pistachios in a food processor. Pulse a few times to chop. With motor running, slowly pour in olive oil, stopping and scraping down bowl as necessary, until it becomes a paste. Transfer 1 tbsp (15 mL) to a ramekin to garnish. Mix remaining pesto with yogurt. Transfer to an airtight container. (Cover and refrigerate both up to 2 days.) When ready to serve, transfer yogurt to a serving bowl and garnish with pesto and dill.

For the lamb, preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line a 16-inch (40-cm) round, 3-inch (8-cm) deep roasting pan or 3 × 11 × 16-inch (8 × 28 × 40-cm) rectangular roasting pan with parchment paper, overlapping on sides.

Place potatoes, onions, tomatoes and bay leaves in pan. Nestle lamb shanks in between vegetables.

In a medium-size bowl, whisk olive oil, lemon zest and juice, garlic, dried oregano, mustard powder, salt and pepper until creamy. Pour all over lamb and vegetables. Add fresh oregano.

Fold parchment on sides over lamb and cover with another piece of parchment. Tuck top parchment down sides, ensuring it is covered tightly to seal in moisture. Cover pan tightly with foil. Bake in oven until lamb and potatoes are fork-tender, 4 to 4 1/2 hours.

Raise oven temperature to 500°F (260°C) and remove foil and top parchment. Bake until lamb is golden, 7 to 8 minutes.

Serve lamb and vegetables straight from pan accompanied by pesto yogurt.   Serves 6

Cuban Black Bean Soup

Cuban Black Bean Soup

A delicious Cuban Black Bean Soup recipe can be made in an Instant Pot with dry beans or on your stovetop. Vegan and delicious! See notes for the stovetop version or canned beans.
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions diced
2 bell peppers diced (red and yellow are best)
1 ancho chili
6 garlic cloves
2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons oregano
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne or chipotle (optional)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
4 cups veggie or chicken stock or broth
2 cups water
1 lb. dried black beans, unsoaked, see notes

1 teaspoon honey or sugar
Squeeze of lime

Optional Garnishes

 Thinly sliced red onion (or scallions)

cilantro

avocado

sour cream, or vegan sour cream, 

toasted coconut

tortilla chips

roasted sweet potato chips or plantain chips

sliced fresh chilis

orange zest
Pick something crunchy, Creamy and green.
Directions Insta Pot:
Heat oil on the "sauté" function of your Insta Pot.  Add the onions, peppers, garlic, and salt.  Sauté 10 -12 minutes, until very soft.  Take your time here.

Add oregano, bay leaves, cumin, smoked paprika, and tomato paste.  Sauté for 1 minute.  

Add vegetable broth and water*, scraping up any browned bits.  If you are using soaked beans leave out the water. 

Add the dry unsoaked beans, give a stir and set Insta Pot on high pressure for 30 minutes.

Lemony Bean & Brassica Soup With Napa Cabbage & Dill

Lemony Bean & Brassica Soup

With Napa Cabbage & Dill

From creator Chef Diane Kochilas: "Cabbage lovers rejoice! This brassica-heavy bean soup is packed with several members of the Brassica genus, one of the healthiest and most nutritious vegetable groups in the world. I can’t help but think this soup is like an Ikarian garden on steroids, so to speak, chock-full of various species of these cruciferous vegetables and roots, many of which have long provided easy, inexpensive, and health-giving opportunities to make a delicious dinner that doesn’t cost that much or take much to produce in one’s own backyard. You can play around with this, adding, say Brussels sprouts or even kale to the soup."

Ingredients:

½ lemon

1 small celery root (celeriac)

¾ cup extra-virgin Greek olive oil

1 large red onion, chopped

1 large leek, trimmed and chopped

1 small bunch Chinese celery, trimmed and chopped (with leaves)

½ small head Napa or Savoy cabbage, trimmed and finely shredded (about 3 cups)

1 large carrot, trimmed, peeled, and chopped 

1 parsnip, pared and cut into a ½-inch (1½-cm) dice

1 rutabaga, peeled and cut into a ½-inch (1½-cm) dice

1 kohlrabi, trimmed and cut into a ½-inch (1½-cm) dice

4 garlic cloves

4 cups canned navy or other white beans, preferably organic 

(Rancho Gordo Note: We recommend our Marcella or Alubia Blanca beans)

10 cups vegetable broth or stock, or water

2 bay leaves

6 thyme sprigs

Fresh strained juice of 1 lemon, or more to taste

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 small bunch dill, leaves snipped or chopped

Directions:

Prepare acidulated water by squeezing and dropping half a lemon into 3 cups of water in a medium mixing bowl. Trim, peel, and dice the celeriac (celery root) and place it in the acidulated water. Set aside until ready to use.

Drain the celeriac. In a large soup pot, heat ¼ cup of olive oil and cook the onion, leek, celery, celeriac, carrot, parsnip, rutabaga, and kohlrabi until translucent and al dente, and until the onions are soft. Stir the garlic into the vegetable mixture. 

Add the beans, stock or water, bay leaves, and thyme. Reduce heat to low, bring to a simmer, keep the lid on the pot ajar, and cook until the vegetables are very tender, about 35 to 40 minutes. Fish out the thyme and bay leaves with a spoon and discard.

Using an immersion blender, puree a little bit of the soup in the pot, about 1½ cups or so—use your judgment to “eyeball” it. Doing this will create a creamy texture. 

Stir in the cabbage and cook the soup for 15 more minutes, or until the cabbage is tender. Whisk the lemon juice and remaining olive oil together in a small bowl and add the mixture to the soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and stir in the dill. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, and serve.  Makes 8 servings.

Diane Kochilas is a chef and award-winning author of numerous cookbooks, including a favorite of ours, called Ikaria: Lessons on Food, Life, and Longevity from the Island Where People Forget to Die. This recipe is from her new book, The Ikaria Way: 100 Delicious Plant-Based Recipes Inspired by My Homeland, the Greek Island of Longevity. It publishes on March 26th and we can't wait to get a copy. There are so many good things to eat the this region, and it's part of the famous Blue Zones that enjoy amazing longevity. Spoiler alert: Beans are almost always a part of the long-life equation.

Lamb Meatball Soup With Chickpeas

Lamb Meatball Soup With Chickpeas

Tangy and sinus-clearing like sopa de lima, consomé de barbacoa, and Tex-Mex tortilla soup. For an even tastier result without much extra lift, try swapping the cans for freshly cooked chickpeas (approx. ½ lb dried). We love the enhanced texture as well as the aromatic broth you can use instead of the canned stuff.

Ingredients:

Carrots
Red onion
Ground lamb
Chicken stock
Cilantro
Bay leaves
Chickpeas
Tortilla chips
Lime
Directions:
Cut 2 large carrots into ¼-inch pieces.  

Finely chop 1 large red onion. 

In a medium bowl, season 1 pound ground lamb with 

1 teaspoon salt and some pepper.

In a large Dutch oven or pot, heat ¼ cup olive oil over medium-high. Add the carrots and all but a handful of the red onion, season with S&P, and cook until softened and browned in spots, 3 to 5 minutes.

Add 4 cups chicken stock, 

2 cups water, 

6 or so cilantro sprigs, and 

4 bay leaves. 

Season with S&P,

bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the broth is flavorful, 5 to 7 minutes.

Add 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, including their liquid.

 Use a tablespoon measuring spoon to plop lamb meatballs into the broth. Simmer, stirring gently and occasionally, until the lamb is cooked through (160°F), 5 to 7 minutes. (Keeps for 4 days in the fridge.)

Finely chop ½ cup cilantro, stems and all. Remove the soup from the heat and discard the bay leaves and cilantro sprigs.   Season to taste with S&P. 

Crumble some salty tortilla chips into serving bowls, 

then spoon the soup on top. 

Add the remaining red onion, 

chopped cilantro, 

and a lot of fresh lime juice.     Serves 4

Lemon-Garlic Risotto With Peas And Crispy Prosciutto

                                                

Lemon-Garlic Risotto with Peas & Crispy Prosciutto

Lemon appears in many forms in this spring risotto. First, a whole lemon brings its sunny disposition to the broth; then the rice is finished with the sparkle of lemon juice and zest. Sweet peas, salty prosciutto crisps and nutty Parm round out this delightful dish.

Ingredients:

Lemon Garlic Broth
1 tbsp (15 mL) extra virgin olive oil
1 head garlic, halved crosswise
2 stalks celery, roughly chopped
1 medium lemon, about 4 oz (115 g), sliced
2 sprigs thyme
2 bay leaves
8 cups (2 L) water
Salt to taste
Risotto
1 tbsp (15 mL) extra virgin olive oil
8 slices prosciutto, about 2 oz (55 g), each torn into thirds
5 tbsp (75 mL) unsalted butter, divided
1 cup (250 mL) finely chopped shallots, about 3 to 4
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) arborio or carnaroli rice
Salt to taste
1 cup (250 mL) fresh or thawed frozen peas
1 1/4 cups (310 mL) grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
Zest and juice of 1/2 medium lemon
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions:                                                                                                                                         For the broth, heat oil in a large pot over medium-high. Add garlic and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add lemon, thyme, bay leaves, water and salt. Raise heat to high. When it comes to a boil, reduce to maintain a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes. Remove from heat. Strain into a container, and discard solids. Place 5 cups (1.25 L) broth in a medium saucepan and keep hot over a low heat. Save rest for another use.

For the risotto, heat oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add prosciutto. Cook, stirring often, until crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a plate. Set aside.

Reduce heat under pot to medium. Add 3 tbsp (45 mL) butter and shallots. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in rice and season with salt. Cook, stirring often, 2 minutes.

Ladle in 1 cup (250 mL) hot broth. Cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is mostly absorbed. Continue adding broth, 1 cup (250 mL) at a time, stirring occasionally, so rice doesn’t stick. When rice is almost perfectly tender—after 13 to 15 minutes—stir in peas. Cook, stirring constantly, until peas are tender-crisp, about 2 minutes more.

Take risotto off heat. Stir in remaining 2 tbsp (30 mL) butter, Parmesan, lemon zest and juice and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings. Transfer to a serving dish or divide among shallow bowls. Top with prosciutto and serve immediately.   Serves 4 to 6    Serve with a Pinot

Tuscan White Bean Soup

 

Tuscan White Bean Soup

Soup on a chilly day warms the soul.  Something about a bean soup is so satisfying yet so favorable.  This recipe simplifies the preparation if short on time or just want to shorten time in the kitchen with a choice of canned beans or dried beans.   

Ingredients:

1 pound dried white cannellini beans (for canned beans, see note)

Good olive oil

4 ounces pancetta, ¼-inch diced (see note)

2 cups chopped leeks, white and light green parts (2 leeks)

2 cups chopped yellow onion (2 onions)
2 cups (½-inc) diced carrots, scrubbed (5 carrots)
2 cups (½-inch) diced celery (4 ribs)
2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)
2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
8 to 10 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
2 bay leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

At least 8 hours or the night before you make the soup, place the beans in a large bowl and add enough cold water to cover the beans by 2 inches. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight. Drain the beans, rinse under cold running water, and drain again. Set aside.

In a large (10-inch) pot or Dutch oven such as Le Creuset, heat ¼ cup of olive oil over medium heat, add the pancetta, and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes, until browned.  

Add the leeks, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and rosemary and cook over medium-low for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender.  

Add the beans, 8 cups of the chicken stock, bay leaves, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and bring to a boil.  

Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 1 hour and 30 minutes, until the beans are tender.  Stir occasionally, scraping the bottom of the pot.  

Discard the bay leaves, cover the pot, and allow the soup to sit off the heat for 15 minutes.  

Add up to 2 more cups of chicken stock if the soup is too thick.

Reheat slowly, ladle into large shallow soup bowls, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, drizzle with olive oil, and serve hot.

FOR CANNED BEANS:

First, use 2 (14-ounce) cans of white cannellini beans.  Drain the beans, reserving the liquid.  Place 1 cup of the beans and ½ cup of the liquid into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and puree.  When ready to add the beans in the recipe, stir in the puree and add the remaining drained beans (discard the remaining liquid).

Second, use only 6 cups of chicken stock.

Third, simmer the soup for 45 minutes, rather than 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Notes: To reheat a second day, you’ll need to add some water, salt, and pepper.

Use bacon if you don't have pancetta.

Preparing Smoked Pork Tenderloin, Marinade and Dry Rub

Smoked Pork Tenderloin

Pork tenderloin slow cooked in the smoker is the way to go! Incredibly tender and juicy, it's extremely easy to make. This smoked pork tenderloin recipe is full of flavor and will quickly become one of your favorite smoker recipes! If you've never smoked it before, you're in for a mouthwatering treat!

Why this works:

Pork tenderloin is an inexpensive cut of meat and can be easily found at your local grocery store. 

Smoking a lean cut of meat is not only extremely juicy and flavorful, but is typically quicker to smoke. It's also a myth that smoking lean meat is more tough and tends to be on the dry side. Simply not true. 

Pork tenderloin tastes amazing the next day warmed up and served in a wrap, on top of a salad, or in a sandwich! 

Ingredients You'll Need For Pork Brine
This pork brine recipe has a citrus base which helps tenderize the meat. The brining process allows the meat to absorb the liquid to not only make the meat juicer and more tender, but to add flavor.

Orange & Lemon Slices: fresh citrus juice not only adds flavor, but the acidic level helps naturally tenderize the meat.

Apple Cider Vinegar: used to add flavor and the acidic level helps tenderize the meat.

Sugar: helps balance out the tartness from the citrus and vinegar with a hint of sweetness.

Salt: maintains the moisture level and also penetrate the food so the flavors in the brine can seep in. 

Garlic: adds a savory flavor.

Herbs: rosemary, peppercorn, and bay leaves adds layers of flavor in every bite.

Pork Dry Rub Ingredients You'll Need

Pork Tenderloin: 2-3lbs will feed 4-6 people.
Brown Sugar: adds a sweetness and helps with caramelizing the outside of the meat during the smoking process.

Byron's Butt Rub:a blend of spices that enhances the flavor of smoked meats. It has savory, smoky, and slightly spicy flavors.

Onion Powder: provides a savory flavor and adds to the depth of flavor.

Garlic Powder: pairs extremely well with the brown sugar by adding a hint of both sweet and savory.

Smoked Paprika: adds a subtle smoky flavor.

Salt & Pepper: for additional flavor enhancement.

Variations Barbecue Sauce: Skip adding this if you want to stick to only using the dry rub. The flavor is fabulous with only the dry rub, but I love adding barbecue sauce because it takes this recipe to the next level flavor-wise.

Byron's Butt Rub: If you don't have it, you can skip this ingredient. Even a small amount adds to the flavor!  

Paprika: Using smoked paprika adds a rich and smoky flavor. You can also use sweet paprika which has a mild and slightly sweet flavor. Hot paprika provides a significant kick of spiciness and is ideal for adding heat to dishes where a touch of fiery flavor is desired.

Wood Flavors: Any mild wood, such as apple or cherry provides the best flavor. Pecan is another good choice for this cut of meat.

 Preparing the Smoker   It doesn't matter what type of smoker you use for this recipe. The smoke time and methods will be the same. But depending on the type of smoker you use will depend on how you prep it.                                  

Start by lighting the smoker. Let it preheat until it reaches 225°F.   

If a water pan is being used, put a disposable pan or wrap the water bowl with aluminum foil before filling it with water. This helps ensure an easy clean up after the smoking process. During the smoking process, the meat will drip.

Depending on the type of smoker you use will determine if you should use wood chips, wood chunks, or pellets. If you use wood chips, they should last about 1.5-2 hours. Wood chunks will burn longer, about 2-4 hours.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

Step 1: Start by brining the meat. Place the pork in a large 13x9 dish. 

Step 2: Combine all the brine ingredients into a large bowl and mix well. 

Step 3: Then, pour the liquid brine mixture over the pork. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours. 

Expert Tip: For best results, brine for for 10-12 hours.

The tenderloins are still going to be wet from the brine which helps the dry rub stick to the meat better. There's no need to let them marinate in the rub. 

Step 4: After the brining process, remove the pork and place it on a large cookie sheet. Do not dry it off with paper towels. It should be wet when you apply the dry rub. 

Step 5: Lather both sides of the meat with the pork dry rub. Using your fingers, firmly press the dry rub into the pork and ensure all sides are covered. 

The tenderloins are still going to be wet from the brine which helps the dry rub stick to the meat better. There's no need to let them marinate in the rub. 

Step 6: When the smoker has preheated to 225°F, put the meat directly on the smoker grates. Close the lid and smoke the meat for 1 hour.

Step 7: Open the smoker lid and using a basting brush, lather on a savory and flavorful barbecue sauce to both sides of the meat. This is the point in the smoking process when I insert the digital meat thermometer and start monitoring the internal temperature.

Step 8: When the internal temperature of the pork reaches 145°F, remove the meat from the smoker and let it rest for 3 minutes. Grab a meat carving knife, slice, and then serve. 

The key to success when smoking a pork tenderloin is smoking it low and slow. And the results are full of mouthwatering flavor everyone will enjoy! 

Expert Tip: For best results, brine for for 10-12 hours.

 Preparing the Smoker

It doesn't matter what type of smoker you use for this recipe. The smoke time and methods will be the same. But depending on the type of 
smoker you use will depend on how you prep it.

Start by lighting the smoker. Let it preheat until it reaches 225°F.

If a water pan is being used, put a disposable pan or wrap the water bowl with aluminum foil before filling it with water. This helps ensure an easy clean up after the smoking process. During the smoking process, the meat will drip.

Depending on the type of smoker you use will determine if you should use wood chips, wood chunks, or pellets. If you use wood chips, they should last about 1.5-2 hours. Wood chunks will burn longer, about 2-4 hours.

Lamb Meatball Soup With Chickpeas

Lamb Meatball Soup With Chickpeas

Tangy and sinus-clearing like sopa de lima, consomé de barbacoa, and Tex-Mex tortilla soup.  For an even tastier result without much extra lift, try swapping the cans for freshly cooked chickpeas (approx. ½ lb dried). We love the enhanced texture as well as the aromatic broth you can use instead of the canned stuff.   Serves 4.
Ingredients
Carrots
Red onion
Ground lamb
Chicken stock
Cilantro
Bay leaves
Chickpeas
Tortilla chips
Lime

Directions
Cut 2 large carrots into ¼-inch pieces. Finely chop 1 large red onion. In a medium bowl, season 1 pound ground lamb with 1 teaspoon salt and some pepper.

In a large Dutch oven or pot, heat ¼ cup olive oil over medium-high. Add the carrots and all but a handful of the red onion, season with S&P, and cook until softened and browned in spots, 3 to 5 minutes.
Add 4 cups chicken stock, 2 cups water, 6 or so cilantro sprigs, and 4 bay leaves. Season with S&P, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the broth is flavorful, 5 to 7 minutes.

Add 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, including their liquid. Use a tablespoon measuring spoon to plop lamb meatballs into the broth. Simmer, stirring gently and occasionally, until the lamb is cooked through (160°F), 5 to 7 minutes. (Keeps for 4 days in the fridge.)

Finely chop ½ cup cilantro, stems and all. Remove the soup from the heat and discard the bay leaves and cilantro sprigs. Season to taste with S&P. 

Crumble some salty tortilla chips into serving bowls, then spoon the soup on top. Add the remaining red onion, chopped cilantro, and a lot of fresh lime juice.

Salmon Poached In White Wine With Tangerine & Bay Leaf

Salmon Poached In White Wine 

With Tangerine & Bay Leaf

This salmon dish is lovely served warm with orzo and buttered spinach but is also wonderful when chilled and added to a salad the next day. If you can’t find tangerines, mandarins will work well.   Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil
1/2 cup (125 mL) thinly sliced green onions
1 1/2-inch (4-cm) piece fresh ginger, sliced as thinly as possible
2 fresh bay leaves
2 tangerines, zested on a rasp
1 cup (250 mL) dry white wine
1 tsp (5 mL) salt
4 salmon fillets, each 6 oz (170 g), skin removed
1/4 cup (60 mL) mayonnaise
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 cup (250 mL) microgreens, divided
Directions:
In a large deep-sided skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add green onions, ginger and bay leaves. Cook for 7 minutes or until onions and ginger are softened.

Place 1 tsp (5 mL) tangerine zest in a small bowl. Slice tangerines in half. Juice 1 half into the small bowl with the zest, and set aside. Juice remaining halves into the pan once onions and ginger are cooked. Place 4 tangerine halves, along with the remaining zest, into the pan. Add white wine, salt and 1 cup (250 mL) water. Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Allow the liquid to simmer for 10 minutes to allow flavours to be released.

Carefully slide salmon fillets into poaching liquid—salmon should be fully immersed. If needed, add enough water to just cover fish.

Replace lid and simmer until salmon is cooked through, about 10 minutes, depending on thickness.

Meanwhile, stir reserved zest mixture with mayonnaise and season generously with black pepper to taste.

When salmon is cooked through, gently remove to a plate, drizzle with mayonnaise mixture and top with microgreens.   Serves 4

French Flageolet Beans

French Flageolet Beans

Our daughter Barbara, whom I respect as one of the best cooks I know, is very creative with a heart healthy vegan diet and tasty approach to nutrition.  She introduced me to organic beans a couple of years ago.  My first thought was that dried beans at the the grocery store had a difference in cost and was the difference necessary.  Oh yes!  One comparative taste and you will be on her bandwagon!  I have yet to prepare a recipe using the Rancho Gordo Beans without exceeded expectations.   I am off to the store for my bacon and fennel.  P.S. I am not vegan.  If you are vegan omit the bacon from recipe for maybe mushrooms.  This recipe serves 6 to 8.

Ingredients
1 pound dried flageolet beans
2 tablespoons good olive oil
4 ounces bacon, diced
2 cups medium-diced yellow onion (2 onions)
2 cups medium-diced fennel, trimmed and cored
2 carrots, scrubbed and medium-diced
4 teaspoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
2 cups canned beef or vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
1 large sprig fresh rosemary
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
The night before cooking, place the beans in a large bowl and cover them with water by 1 inch. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Drain the beans, rinse well, and drain again. In a large ovenproof pot such as Le Creuset, heat the olive oil over medium to medium-low heat, add the bacon, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until the bacon starts to brown. 

Add the onion, fennel, and carrots and cook for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften but aren't browned. Add the garlic and saute for 1 to 2 more minutes.

Add the flageolets to the pot and stir in the broth, bay leaves, and rosemary. (Don't be tempted to add salt! The beans will become tough.) Add 2 cups of water, which should just cover the beans, and bring to a simmer on top of the stove. Cover the pot tightly and bake in the oven for 45 minutes. 

Remove the lid, stir in 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper, and return the pot to the oven without the lid. Raise the temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 30 to 45 more minutes. The beans will be very tender and there will be just a little liquid in the bottom of the pan. (If the beans are dry, add a little more water.) Discard the bay leaves and rosemary. Taste for seasonings and serve hot.

Southern Butter Beans

Southern Butter Beans Recipe (Best Lima Beans)

Classic Butter Beans with bacon recipe for the most tender, flavorful lima beans that are perfect to serve as a side with your favorite southern dishes.

Ingredients
1 pound dried butter beans / lima beans
4 slices thick-cut bacon diced
1 large onion diced
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup sliced celery
4 cloves garlic minced, or less
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons chicken basebouillon or vegetable base
4 cups water

 Directions

Soak the beans: Place the dried beans in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Soak for 12-24 hours. If you are in a hurry, most bags of beans have a “speed-soak” method listed on the package.

Set a large 6-8 quart sauce pot over medium heat. Add the bacon. Stir and brown for 3-5 minutes. Add the onion, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves. Sauté for 5 minutes to soften.

Drain the beans. Then pour the beans into the pot. Add in the chicken base and water. Stir well.
Cover and simmer for 30-45 minutes, until the butter beans are soft.

Taste, then salt and pepper as needed.

Notes
For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon, add in a couple of tablespoons of butter, and use a vegetable base instead of chicken.

Store in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. They also freeze well! Once they have cooled transfer the lima beans to a sealed freezer-safe zipper bag or container, and keep them in the freezer for up to 6 months. Let them defrost overnight before reheating on the stovetop or in the microwave. You might need to add a splash of water or stock to get them back to the right soupy consistency.

Roast Beef With Blackberry & Port Sauce

Roast Beef With Blackberry & Port Sauce

The secret to keeping this topside juicy is fragrant Bay Leaves whizzed up into a verdant green brine.  Add a rich port-spiked sauce and you are in for a treat-- just make sure you have enough left over for sandwiches.

Ingredients:

2kg beef topside from the joint i.e.  (4 1/2 pounds top sirloin roast)

3 tablespoons fine sea salt

10 fresh bay leaves

2 large red onions, trimmed (skin-on) and halved width ways 

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour 

250ml (1 cup) ruby port (or rich red wine)

500ml pot fresh beef stock, 

1 tablespoon Red Currant jelly

300g (2 cups) frozen blackberries defrosted

Directions:

The evening before cooking (or up to 2 days before), brine the beef. 

Whizz the salt and 5 bay leaves in a small food processor, until finely ground to a pale green salt.  Put the beef inside a rimmed baking dish and coat evenly with the salt mixture.  Cover with foil and chill until ready to cook.

Preheat the oven to 150*C (300*F).  Put the remaining 5 bay leaves in a medium, deep roasting roasting pan with the onion cut side down.  Wipe off and discard the brine from the beef, then pat dry with kitchen towel.  Put on top the onions and coat with oil.

Roast for 2 hours to 2 1/2 hours, checking with a meat thermometer until cooked to your liking.  Carefully transfer to a serving platter and leave to rest for 30 minutes carefully tented with foil.

Meanwhile make the sauce.  Put the roasting pan (with the onions and bay leaves in) on the stove with a high heat.  Sprinkle in the flour and cook, whisking constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes, until just starting to thicken.  Pour in the port and boil rapidly, scraping the base of the pan as you go, until thickened again.  Add the stock and redcurrant jelly whisking again for another 1 - 2 minutes, then pass through a fine sieve onto a medium pan, pressing to extract as much juice as possible.  (discard the onions and bay).  Add any resting juices from the beef plus the blackberries.  Simmer briskly for 2-3 minutes, until thickened to your liking and the berries have burst a little, season if needed.  Thinly slice the beef and serve the sauce on the side.

Herb Marinated White Beans

Herb Marinated White Beans

This recipe is created with creamy white beans. It’s low maintenance and big on flavor, which makes it perfect for summer dinner parties or even Sunday meal prep. Here, white beans are tossed in a vinaigrette with shallots, lemon, vinegar, fresh marjoram, and extra virgin olive oil. Serve immediately or pop into the fridge– as the beans sit the dressing marinates them and lends incredible flavor. Enjoy on their own as a salad, fold into greens, like arugula, with roasted salmon or chicken, spoon over crusty toasted bread, and more. I recommend using Ayocote or Cannolini beans, which hold their shape well in salads and can stand up to a punchy vinaigrette.

Ingredients
1 lb dried whitebeans, such as Cannellini
1-½ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt (halve the amount if using Morton kosher salt)
½ large yellow onion, root intact
4 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
2 bay leaves
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Sprigs of fresh herbs, such as marjoram or oregano
Vinaigrette
1 large shallot, finely chopped
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 tbsp vinegar, preferably red wine or champagne
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper 
½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Cook and cool the beans + make the vinaigrette: While beans cool, prepare the vinaigrette in same bowl you’ll use for serving. To large bowl, add shallot, lemon zest and juice, vinegar, and few generous pinches kosher salt. Stir and let sit for about 5 minutes. Fold in the herbs, and slowly whisk in the olive oil to combine. Season with freshly cracked black pepper to taste.

Assemble + serve: Gently fold beans into vinaigrette, and season to taste with additional kosher salt if needed to bring out flavors. Serve immediately, or pop in fridge and enjoy at a later time (the beans will take on the flavor of the vinaigrette as they sit). Enjoy on their own, folded into an arugula salad alongside roasted salmon or chicken, or on crusty toasted bread.