Barbecue Pork Chops

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Summer is in full swing, and barbecues are being pulled out every day by families all over the country.

If you don’t feel like the classics like ribs, burgers, or chicken, you can always grill up these juicy pork chops! They’re healthier than beef, not to mention a whole lot cheaper, but heartier than chicken.

We use mesquite barbecue sauce for ours, but you could slather yours in whatever you’d like!

Grilled Mesquite Pork Chops

Barbecue, Comfort, Comfort Foods, Dinner, Meals for a Crowd, Meat, Pork, Spicy

Grilled Mesquite Pork Chops

Ingredients

1 package of bone in pork chops
1 TBS onion powder
1 TBS black pepper
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp curry powder
1 bottle mesquite barbecue sauce

Instructions

Place pork chops on a baking sheet to prepare.
In a medium bowl, combine onion powder, black pepper, paprika, and curry powder.
Sprinkle half of the seasonings over the pork chops. Flip and repeat on the other side. Rub seasonings in to adhere to meat.
Heat grill to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place chops on grill for 5 minutes, then lower heat to 425 degrees. Cook for 10 minutes.
Flip pork chops and spread sauce on up side. Cook for 5 minutes, then flip again, covering the other side with sauce.
Cook for an additional 5 minutes before flipping and covering in sauce again.
Remove from grill and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Pair these with a salad and maybe a side of corn or potatoes for the ultimate summer meal!

Getting bored with all this barbecue talk? Let us know what you want to see next!

July 1, 2019July 1, 2019

Spicy Hush Puppies

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When we fried up our catfish, I looked into what sides commonly got paired with deep fried seafood in the south. I saw coleslaw, greens, and hush puppies – which intrigued me. I had never had hush puppies, but Lexi and her family love them.

Of course, I couldn’t just make hush puppies. I added my own twist, adding just a touch of spice that gives your throat a tickle without overwhelming you. They paired great with the catfish, and are amazing on their own as well!

Spicy Hush Puppies

2 hours

Cook Time: 6 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours, 6 minutes

Appetizer, Comfort Foods, Dinner, Freezer, Fried, Meals for a Crowd, Sides, Southern, Spicy, Vegetarian

Yields 18-24 pieces

Spicy Hush Puppies

Ingredients

3/4 cup corn meal
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 TBS sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp creole seasoning
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 bunch green onions
1 egg
1/2 cup buttermilk

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine corn meal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cayenne, creole, and salt. Mix until well combined.
Thinly slice green onions. Add to a medium mixing bowl with egg and buttermilk. Mix thoroughly.
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Mix until just combined – do not over mix.
Lightly grease a mini muffin tin. Spoon batter into tin, filling each cup about halfway. Place tin into freezer for about 1.5-2 hours. (See notes for long term storage.)
Heat deep fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place frozen hush puppies into fryer in small batches. Fry for 3 minutes, then roll and flip. Cook for an additional 3 minutes. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels.

Notes

Frozen hush puppies can be stored in the freezer in an air tight container for up to 6 months.

Want to pair your Southern soul food with something else? Maybe try our homemade french fries or a salad instead!

June 10, 2019

Tomatillo Salad Dressing

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Our first subscriber request! This one goes out to you CL!

This copy cat dressing from one of America’s favorite Mexican restaurants is to DIE FOR! Its smooth, tangy, savory, and light – meaning you can smother your salad in it and not feel guilty.

Its an easy dump and blend recipe. Anyone can do it! Especially when you have the power of a Ninja blender to back you up.

You’ll need to start with a ranch dressing base. You can either make your own, or use the store bought stuff. I HIGHLY recommend the homemade kind. It has a stronger, fresher flavor, and free of chemicals and preservatives the stuff from the store has.

Tomatillo Salad Dressing

Dinner, Jalapeno, Meals for a Crowd, Mexican, Salad, Sauce, Sides, Spicy, Summer

Tomatillo Salad Dressing

Ingredients

2 cups of buttermilk ranch OR 1 1/2 cups of homemade ranch (see ingredients below)
4 cups of loosely packed cilantro
5 small tomatillos
1/2 tsp minced garlic
2 TBS fresh lime juice
1 jalapeno

For the Homemade Ranch

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp dried dill weed
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp dried chives
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp fine sea salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 TBS fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Quarter the tomatillos. Slice jalapeno in half and remove seeds and inner membrane.
Place everything in the blender. Blend until smooth and well combined.
Keep in an air tight container for up to 1 week.

This week we’re going to try this on a Crispy Chicken Taco salad. I will link it as soon as we’ve tried it out!

Thanks again to our subscriber for suggesting this recipe! Want to see your favorite recipe on our blog, or want to see us try something you’ve been eyeing? Drop it in our suggestion box at the bottom of the page!

April 29, 2019April 29, 2019

Mango Habanero Sauce

Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Need something to spice up your next chicken recipe? I personally have a hard time finding things that are spicy enough. My wife will be red in the face and crying while I shrug and say, “Eh…Its good. I just wish it was spicier…”

This sauce, though, brought it all for me. Full of sweet flavor and plenty of heat, I loved smothering our fried chicken strips in this sauce, but its great as a dipping sauce as well!

You’ll need to grab some habanero hot sauce, and we found the one we bought locally on Amazon! Its yummy on its own, and is a must have to add any sort of heat to your favorite sauces! Yellow Bird has a lot of other flavors I would love to try as well!

Mango Habanero Sauce

Sauce, Spicy, Uncategorized

Mango Habanero Sauce

Ingredients

2 cups mango nectar
Habanero hot sauce (to taste)
1 TBS corn syrup
1/4 cup cayenne pepper sauce
1/3 cup melted butter

Instructions

Combine mango nectar, corn syrup, and Habanero hot sauce to taste in a medium sauce pan. Heat through over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Once ingredients are well combined and heated through, add cayenne pepper sauce and melted butter.
Cook through until combined again. Reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until desired thickness.

Try this on fried chicken (or air fried chicken if you’re looking for a healthier twist) . Need something not so hot? Try our Zesty Asian sauce!