The Cheap Gourmet

Gourmet Sweet and Tart BBQ Country-style Spare Ribs Recipe

I'm excited to share this gourmet BBQ Country Spare Ribs recipe with you. What began as an experiment turned out to be the best barbeque sauce I've ever tasted. The leftovers yield tastebud-exploding pulled pork BBQ that will leave you begging for more!

Country-style ribs aren't actually ribs. They are pork chops cut from the front of the loin near the shoulder. The attached bone is usually the shoulder blade. Country style ribs are meatier, yet less fatty than other rib cuts.

Packaged country-style ribs typically contain various sizes and thicknesses, making it difficult to cook to an even level of doneness. For this reason it is best to cook spare ribs in the slow cooker. Doing so will yield fall-off-the-bone meat infused with flavor.

The Sweet and Tart BBQ County Spare Ribs were served with homemade garlic, green onion, parmesan mashed potatoes; green beans with Canadian bacon; and Jalapeno corn muffins.

Keep an eye out at the grocery store and stock up on country-style spare ribs. These ribs generally sell for $3 to $4 per pound. Our grocer recently had them on sale for $1.99 pound. We purchased a 5-pound package and divided it in half. The entire meal cost less than $10 for two.

Gourmet Sweet and Tart BBQ Country-style Spare Ribs Recipe:
Serves: 2
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours

Ingredients:

2-1/2 to 3 pounds Country-style Spare Ribs
1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil
1 onion, quartered and sliced into 1/4-inch strips

Sauce:

1/3 cup Tamari Sauce (can substitute with Soy Sauce)
1/2 cup bottled Ketchup
1 Tablespoon prepared Mustard
2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Celery Seed
Dash of salt and freshly ground black pepper (optional)

Cooking Directions:

1. Trim excess fat from ribs.
2. In a 12-inch round skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it begins to evaporate from the pan.
3. Carefully add ribs and sear for 3 minutes per side.
4. Transfer to slow cooker Crockpot.
5. Place onion slices on top of ribs.
6. Mix sauce ingredient together and pour over onions and ribs.
7. Cover and cook over high heat for one hour.
8. Reduce heat to medium and cook for one hour.
9. Reduce heat to low and cook for four hours.
10. Transfer to serving dish or individual plates and serve immediately.

Gourmet Italian Sausage

If you're looking for freshest homemade Italian sausage, pasta, sauces, and Italian specialties, than today is your lucky day! Landi's Pork Store is Brooklyn, NY offers their line of specialty products via their website. Landi's original rice balls were featured on "Road Tested"; one of the Food Network's programs.

Not only will you find a multitude of fine food choices, you'll also be privy to an assortment of recipes. My personal favorite is Sausage, Cabbage and Potatoes.

To learn more about Landi's Pork Store, visit their website at www.BrooklynPorkStore.com.

All-Purpose Meat Marinade Recipe

Here's a recipe for an easy-to-prepare all-purpose meat marinade. You can use this marinade for white fish, chicken, turkey, red meat (it's awesome for London Broil), ribs, hamburgers, meatloaf and more. If you try it, stop back and let me know how you used it and how you like it!

All-Purpose Meat Marinade
Makes 1 cup

1/3-cup Soy Sauce (reduced sodium is a healthier choice)
1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/3 cup Balsamic Vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Adobo Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 teaspoon Black Pepper, freshly ground

1. Using a small wire whisk, combine all ingredients together.
2. Place your choice of meat in a glass baking dish and pour marinade over meat. Flip meat and coat the other side.
3. Place meat in refrigerator for 30 minutes and no longer than 2 hours.
4. Transfer meat to oven or grill and cook until done.

Note: If using the marinade to season hamburgers or meatloaf, use just enough to moisten the meat. Otherwise, you'll end up with a liquidy mess that won't be pretty or edible.

Tip: You can double or triple the recipe and store in a shaker bottle. Store in the refrigerator and use to season rice, vegetables, potatoes, or whatever strikes your fancy.

Enjoy!

Food Wishes Video Recipes

I recently found an amazing cooking blog. It's called Food Wishes Video Recipes and it's owned by Chef John. This blog features step-by-step cooking videos for American Classics, Asian and French Cuisine, Desserts, Dressings, Pasta, Poultry and much more. It truly is a feast for the eyes!

At Food Wishes Video Recipes you will find an ever-growing collection of mouth-watering gourmet recipes including. A few of the delectable creations include:

Chicken Breasts with Herbs de Provence and Mushrooms
Braised Chicken and Artichoke Hearts with Lemon, Cherry Peppers and Thyme
Mascarpone Brulee with Fresh Berries

If you love to cook, you're going to love this Food Wishes Video Recipes. Be sure to thank Chef John for sharing his cooking secrets!

Click here to visit Food Wishes Video Recipes blog.

Red, White and Blue Recipes for the 4th of July!

It's not too late to plan a bodacious red, white and blue menu for your 4th of July celebration. The Recipe Zaar offers an abundance of deliciously delightful concoctions that are certain to please your family and guests. You'll find everything from 4th of July Margaritas to Red, White and Blue Burgers and plenty of tastebud exploding desserts!

If you've never been to Recipe Zaar, you are missing out! Not only will you find thousands of mouth-watering recipes, you'll also be able to interact with other home cooks and chefs in the Recipe Zaar community, share your own recipes, and save recipes in a personal cookbook. Go check them out at www.RecipeZaar.com and sign-up for your free account today!

Photo by RecipeLink.com

Balsamic and Olive Oil Marinated Pork Shoulder Steaks Recipe

Balsamic and Olive Oil Marinated Pork Shoulder Steaks Recipe

Here is a quick and easy way to turn ordinary shoulder steaks into mouth-watering delicacies.

Balsamic and Olive Oil Marinated Pork Shoulder Steaks Recipe
Serves 2
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Marinade Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10-12 minutes

Ingredients:
2 6-ounce Pork Shoulder Steaks, sliced approximately 1/2-inch thick
1/3-cup Balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 cloves Garlic, minced

Directions:

1. Combine Balsamic vinegar, olive oil and garlic in a small bowl and whisk to incorporate ingredients.
2. Place Pork Shoulder Steaks in a glass baking dish and pour marinade over each steak. Use a pastry brush to evenly distribute marinade.
3. Place pork steaks into refrigerator for about 15 minutes.
4. Preheat broiler.
5. Place steaks on broiler pan and insert into oven.
6. Broil pork steaks for 5-6 minutes, then turn and broil for another 5-6 minutes.
7. Let stand for 2-3 minutes. Transfer to serving plate and serve immediately.

Complimentary side dishes include macaroni and cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, potato salad, side salad and dinner rolls.