Being one-half of the professional barbecue competition team, Smokin J’s Barbeque, I must figure out how to use leftover pulled pork, barbecue chicken, and beef brisket, regularly. For our most recent competition, The South Carolina Festival of Discovery, we only had pulled pork and brisket leftover. GO TO SMOKIN J’S BARBEQUE COMPETITION TEAM Of course, I had my standard pork and baked potato immediately. Adding cheese and butter, it is one of my favorite lunches. So, I created these brisket tacos, on the fly, incorporating my simple homemade salsa. Putting Garden Tomatoes to Good Use This year, my garden has been graciously supplying many tomatoes! My patio tomatoes have actually…
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Growing and Cooking Onions
Growing and cooking onions are treasured around the world for their pungent flavor and versatility in many dishes. Onion Characteristics There are two main classifications of onion – green onions, aka scallions, and dry onions, which are mature onions with a juicy flesh covered with dry, papery skin. There are dozens of dry onion varieties – way too many to go into for this post; however, we will concentrate on the stronger flavored, globe onion, which is what I used for the smothered pork steak recipe below. Globe onions can be yellow, red or white and range from 1-inch diameter, up to 4-inches. Rich in flavor and mildly pungent, these…
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Growing and Frying Summer Squash
Summer squash is common in many southern gardens. It was a staple on my grandma’s kitchen table. Varieties include CROOKNECK, PATTYPAN, and ZUCCHINI; however, I am a lover of summer squash. Summer squash has thin, edible skins and soft seeds. The tender flesh has a high water content, a mild flavor, and does not require long cooking. It is ideally grilled, steamed, boiled, sauteed, fried, or used in stir-fry recipes. Buying & Using Supermarket Summer Squash When shopping for summer squash look for those which are firm and feel heavy for their size. Small to medium size squash hold the most flavor, no bigger than 8″ long. The yellow skin…
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A Simple Healthy Dinner with Salmon and Potatoes
Let’s face it, I am not a fan of salmon alone, but pair it with potatoes, along with the health benefits, I will incorporate it in my dinner menu somehow. My memories of salmon are distorted. I remember my mother frying up salmon patties using canned salmon because it was cheap! My husband is not going to eat canned seafood, other than tuna. I wanted a salmon recipe that would be simple to prepare, delicious, and incredibly easy to clean up – Read on! I hit a home run! Health Benefits of Salmon Salmon is naturally loaded in Omega-3 fats. Don’t worry…
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Worldly Spices and Flavors
As home cooks and gardeners, we know plant growth and agriculture directly relate to geography and climatic conditions. For this reason, herbs and spices directly influence a region’s culinary fare. When creating delicious dishes at home, it is important home chefs familiarize themselves with the different herbs and spices. Through experimentation and practice, you will find yourself developing a feel for seasonings that will enable you to produce more consistently good flavor in your meals. Basic Principals for Herbs and Spices There are some basic guidelines in using spices and culinary flavors. The most important principal is herbs and spices should enhance the natural flavor of food, rather than dominate…
