Brent Schrader

Instant Pot Pulled Pork Shoulder

February 1, 2017January 31, 2017by Brent SchraderLeave a comment

Pork shoulders are a great batch cooking option for protein. We’ve long been fans of pulled pork, and we even have a couple of different sauces for you to consider (option #1 and option #2). That said, good pulled pork hasn’t always been a quick process. Quite the contrary, it has been a half-day or more of slow stewing or roasting.

Now, with the magic of the Instant Pot (which, honestly, has always been around for years by way of pressure cooker), this can be done very quickly. We think you’ll love this preparation as well as how quickly it is assembled. Plus, you get to make a homemade rib rub, great for pork shoulder as well as ribs. You’ll thank us later.

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Pork Chop Suey

January 25, 2017January 24, 2017by Brent SchraderLeave a comment

Chop Suey has been popularized in America through Americanized Chinese restaurants, although it has a history in Asia and the South Pacific as well. What I hadn’t realized is that Chop Suey roughly translates to “assorted pieces” (thanks, Wikipedia!). I’m always excited to find different cultural versions of “kitchen sink”-style meals. In the spirit of assorted pieces, I learned all of this and prepared this recipe when confronted with uncooked boneless pork ribs that had to be cooked or frozen—we didn’t even have to make a trip to the grocery store to put this together, in true Chop Suey fashion.

I enjoy the spirit of making something with what you have on hand. It’s not as intimidating as an episode of Chopped, but it’s empowering to know that even when a meal isn’t already prepared, you have the tools to make one in your refrigerator. I am sure you’re going to enjoy this recipe.

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Tex-Mex Breakfast Bake

January 11, 2017January 10, 2017by Brent Schrader8 Comments

For the start of 2017, I’m trying something that I normally despise—eating breakfast. Most mornings, I don’t find myself particularly hungry and I get by with a cup of black coffee and wait until lunch. That said, it’s always been a hunger decision rather than a dislike of breakfast foods. You can see from our multiple breakfast recipes that we’re pretty keen on breakfast foods (although Heather is a much bigger fan of pancakes and waffles).

This recipe hits a number of must-haves for me: you can make it in one pot, it makes multiple servings, and you can make it spicy. This skillet dish reminds me a bit of chili, but the addition of cauliflower and the final step of baking the dish brings the texture closer to a breakfast casserole. And if you’re like me, and like things spicy, you can cover it in hot sauce with no regrets.

Without further ado, I hope you’ll enjoy this recipe for our tex-mex style breakfast bake.

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Easy Overnight Refrigerator Pickles

January 4, 2017January 8, 2017by Brent Schrader4 Comments

Pickles—just thinking about them makes my mouth water. They’re easily one of my favorite snacks, and I’ve been known to sit down on the couch with one of the gigantic jars you can buy at Costco and put a serious dent in the supply. We’ve also come to love local pickles as well as craft pickles. Brooklyn Brine makes some amazing flavor combinations, especially spicy ones, that we love, but our wallets do not (plus, they’re not quite gluten-free).

Making pickles with a traditional brine is fun, and like craft cider or wine in a lot of ways (fermentation), but it is definitely not an immediate reward. When we made our own pickles back in 2012 based on another recipe, we waited a good 5 days before trying them and had mixed results. We also did something similar with Brussels sprouts a little while back. Even with this recipe, it took the better part of a week.

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Oven-Baked Beer-Brined Pork Ribs

December 21, 2016December 20, 2016by Brent SchraderLeave a comment

Ribs are a summertime staple at our house, and I’d reckon yours. Standing outside in the warmth of the summer sun (perhaps drink in hand), the smell of charcoal and simmering ribs on the grill is as strong in my mind on a December morning as it is in the peak of July. If grilling isn’t a strong suit of yours, or you’re hoping to enjoy ribs even in the cold, this week’s recipe is right up your alley.

Making ribs in the oven is a great adventure—you get the benefit of setting a consistent temperature and your whole house smells like heaven! These ribs are no exception. One way to combat ribs drying out (on the grill or in the oven) is to brine them. Brine can be as simple and straightforward as salted water, or you can add some great flavors to the meat. Tenting or wrapping your ribs in foil is also an effective tool. For these, we did both, because who doesn’t love juicy ribs?

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