Smithfield Marinated Fresh Pork - Skewers over Ramen Salad

by Emily

Ultra-Easy Grilled Marinated Pork Skewers over Cold Ramen Salad

In my world, grillin’ and chillin’ time is in full force. Austin is sunny and beautiful on a regular basis and the nights are getting longer and longer. No time like the present to fire up the ol’ BBQ!

Even though I love grilling on these nice warm evenings, I’m not a fan of marinating meat. I mean, yes, I am in theory, but let’s be real. I often forget until it’s too late and I’m already home from work and ready to start cooking. I don’t want to wait forever for my meat to marinate. Luckily I discovered Smithfield’s line of marinated fresh pork so my days of forgetting to marinate my meat ahead of time are over. They have tons of flavors available and once you bring them home from the store, you can head straight to the oven or grill.

I used some Smithfield marinated fresh pork to grill up some skewers at a dinner party with my friends last weekend and it couldn’t have been easier. It took us about five minutes to prep the skewers, six minutes to grill the skewers, and another five or ten minutes to throw together the salad (depending on if you buy pre-chopped ingredients or not). And the finished product was so good!

I’m planning on making this over and over this spring/summer, and I suggest that you and your friends do the same.

Ultra-Easy Grilled Marinated Pork Skewers over Cold Ramen Salad

by Emily

Cocktail O’ Clock: Knock it Outta the Park with the RBI Cocktail

Happy Opening Day! Today we’re celebrating the start of baseball season with lots of bourbon. Wait, bourbon? Yes, bourbon. Think beyond the Kentucky Derby, because this versatile liquor is great for spring and summer sipping during any sporting event, including baseball.

Today we used the classic Four Roses bourbon to create the RBI… no, not Run Batted In, the Raspberry Blackberry Infusion! We combined Four Roses with fresh berries to create a sweet, flavorful infused bourbon, then shook it with local honey and bitters and served it on the rocks for a refreshing libation perfect for drinking while watching your favorite team.

The Four Roses RBI Cocktail

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by BS

Every Day is Pie Day

I know Easter is just around the corner, but I hope it’s not too late to share this recipe that came in earlier in the month for Pi Day — aka the dorkiest holiday since Festivus.

Pi Day, March 14, celebrates the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, 3.14 – and those of us who love dessert as much as we love diameters tradionally celebrate with pie. Well, in my book it’s never too late to celebrate with pie.

Viki Sater, founder of Viki’s Granola, whipped up this function-over-form crustless pie, perfect for your Easter, Passover, Pi Day or just any-day-of-the-week stuffing your piehole festivities.

Viki’s Granola Mixed Berry Crisp

Topping Ingredients:
•   ¾ cups all-purpose flour
•   ½ cup (packed) light brown sugar
•   1 cup Viki’s blueberry almond granola
•   1 stick unsalted butter
Filling Ingredients:
•   4 cups frozen mixed berries (don’t thaw)
•   1/3 cup of sugar
•   1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Directions:
•   Preheat oven to 375^oF.
•   Lightly butter oven safe ceramic bowl.
•   Place topping ingredients into a bowl, working the butter into the granola mixture. Once complete, set aside.
•   Place filling ingredients into a large bowl and mix thoroughly.
•   Pour the berry mixture into the buttered ceramic bowl.
•   Pour granola mixture evenly on top of the berries.
•   Bake for 40 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit juices are bubbling.
•   Let it rest for 15 minutes before serving.

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by Emily

Genius Idea: Ceviche-Topped Beer

I encountered all sorts of tasty treats at SXSW this year, but one of my favorite food moments was this:

This is cans of Modelo on a block of ice, topped with fresh shrimp and fish ceviche and surrounded by oysters on the half shell. Have you ever seen something so beautiful?! I enjoyed this glorious seafood and booze buffet at Weather Up here in Austin, but you could easily recreate a display like this at home for your next dinner party or barbecue. Just make sure you keep that shellfish nice and cold!

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by BS

Cocktail O’Clock: Cherry Season, Meet Vermouth

Haven’t heard any updates from the nation’s capital yet, but here in Brooklyn the cherry blossoms are juuuuust starting to peek out — despite the wintry weather that is probably making them curl back up in their buds this morbid Monday. Snowy start to spring or not, I’m ready for some spring-season drinking, and when I think spring, I think cherries. This cocktail splits the difference between the kind of weather we’re supposed to be having and what we’re actually experiencing — a tart, fruity, but warm and filling spring-meets-winter drink.

The Eastbank

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by ES Guest

St. Patrick’s Day Hash

You know we love providing you with all those St. Patrick’s Day drinking ideas, but we’re gonna need something to soak it all up, aren’t we? Enjoy a St. Patrick’s Day recipe created by Pure Organic founder and author of Pure Food, Veronica Bosgraaf.

Saint Patrick’s Day in Michigan is kind of crazy. For example, one year we were all downtown in short enjoying the early, warm spring weather – but the next year we bundled up against a 20?F snowstorm. Luckily, the green beer still flows. St. Paddy’s day is a great reminder that the carefree days of summer are close.

On St. Patrick’s Day, I want festive comfort food. This vegan, gluten-free dish works perfectly, and it is so hearty you won’t miss the corned beef. I could make it for breakfast too, but then I’d have to give up my green beer. So put on your cutest green outfit, and no matter what the weather, enjoy the luck of the Irish! If you like, put an organic, free-range fried egg on top of each serving.

Irish Hash

Serves 4

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by Emily

Red Curry Coconut Pulled Pork

Spring is in the air and flavorful, fruity recipes are on my mind! This time of year is always pretty busy for me, but spring of 2016 is proving to be especially crazy, mostly because I’m officially six months away from my wedding (yes, shockingly someone has stepped up to the plate to spend the rest of their life with me, who knew).

So I’m knee-deep in all sorts of wedding planning and bridal budgeting, while trying to juggle a day job, all my blogging projects, and SXSW, which completely takes over the city of Austin in both good ways (parties, events, and bands galore!) and bad ways (traffic, omg the traffic).

Basically, this leaves me with zero time to cook. The good news is, I have a slow cooker. And with a slow cooker, you cannot fail. Throw some ingredients in there, set it, forget it, come home from your job or event or meeting and you have a piping-hot meal waiting for you to devour. In this case, that meal is a mouth-watering, sumptuous pulled pork that you will be oh so happy to say aloha to after a long day.

Of course, the ingredients you throw into that miracle slow cooker need to be good. And this recipe here is full of good stuff. We’re starting with a boneless netted fresh pork shoulder roast from Smithfield. This pork is the star of the show and it couldn’t be easier to prep. Literally go buy it at the store, take it home, cut it out of its net, and drop it in the crockpot. Done. No trimming, no chopping, no nothing. Love it!

Then you need some flavor to make your pork great. This is where the aforementioned fruit comes in. The pork shoulder is drenched in crushed pineapple and pineapple juice, plus a bunch of bright, island-y flair: ginger, soy, agave, sriracha, and curry paste come together to make a sweet-spicy-tangy sauce that is so perfect with this juicy, tender pulled pork. Oh, and you’re adding in some coconut milk at the very end for a little bit of creamy sweetness that takes this tropical pulled pork to the next level.

Even if springtime means “no time,” I promise this meal will come together in a snap and everyone will love it. Make sure to have plenty of sweet Hawaiian rolls and white rice on hand for serving!

Red Curry Coconut Pulled Pork

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by Emily

Wanted: The Sushi Burrito!

The ‘Sushi Burrito’ has hit NYC and it’s amazing.

Posted by INSIDER food on Friday, March 4, 2016

WHY do I live in Austin where almost nobody makes good poke, let alone a sushi burrito?! I want this damn sushi burrito that is taking NYC by storm… so bad! And, maybe a better question, WHY do I even want one of these damn sushi burritos so badly when I know fully well that it’s just one giant log of sushi cut in half instead of into rolls? I worked for a Japanese restaurant group for years, I’ve had more sushi in my life/body than most people I know, yet still, I WANT MORE. I want this giant sushi burrito in my mouth.

I wasn’t personally affected by the exclusivity of the cronut or the internet-wide fanfare over the ramen burger but this one is really hitting a chord with me and my stomach. I guess because sushi and burritos are two of my very favorite things to eat, my dumb self just can’t resist.

There’s plenty of sushi burrito chatter floating around the internet, but the above video from INSIDER Food is what really got me going. (Yes, even with its in-your-face flute jam.) Like I said, I totally realize there are very few burrito-esque qualities to this monstrous tube of deliciousness (no tortilla, no beans, just the rice and avocado aspect, which is also present in Japanese/Hawaiian food). I don’t care, though. I want to hit up Pokeworks and order this sushi burrito (or as they call it, “Pokiritto”) and order all the raw fish in the world. Preferably in burrito form.

If you’ve had the joy of experiencing a sushi burrito in your life, tell us about it! Worth the hype or totally overblown?

(Image: Pokeworks Facebook)

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by BS

Cocktail O’Clock: Signs of Spring

After a long winter, it is high time we get ourselves into spring drinking season. I don’t know about you, but by my calendar it is just about time to start thinking about sitting outside with an icy, fruity beverage. Yes, I know it is still snowing outside. No, I don’t care. This cocktail o’clock special comes from the Renaissance Montreal hotel — where I am certain it is still snowing, so if they’re already thinkin’ about spring drinkin’ you can too.

The East Cocktail

· 1.5 oz. Hennessy V.S.

· 1.5 oz. Sake

· 1 oz. Lime juice

· 1 oz. Lemongrass syrup

· 1 oz. Pomegranate juice

· 0.5 oz. Egg white

Combine all ingredients and shake vigorously. Filter the drink with a cocktail strainer into an Old Fashioned glass, already filled with ice.

in Drinks / Recipe 0 comments

by Emily

Late Night Eats in Mexico: Pastor to Die For

You guys. Look. Look at that plate of deliciousness!

Okay, let me take a step back. At the end of the week I’m headed to Tulum (which, in case you didn’t know, is a little beach town on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, about a 90 minute drive south of Cancun). I’ve never been to Tulum before, but I’ve heard it’s a wonderland of beautiful beaches & cenotes, Mayan ruins, bohemian vibes, and great food. And yes, when I’m back later this month, I’ll be sure to give you a full report, especially on the food aspect!

While Tulum will be a new travel experience for me, I do know one thing I plan on eating a TON of while I’m there: pastor tacos. Thanks to my visit to San Miguel de Allende (a gorgeous town in central Mexico, south of Mexico City) last year, I now realize how wondrous true pastor really can be. Pastor is a big late-night draw in certain parts of Mexico, and it’s so much better than the late-night hot dogs we’re used to in the USA. And sure, I’ve had plenty of al pastor here in Texas, but it is NOT THE SAME as the succulent, spicy, rich meat you find in Mexico.

The best pastor in San Miguel de Allende was at a little taco cart called Andy’s, which doesn’t open until after dark, so we’re talking late night treat only. And when I say taco cart, I mean taco cart. There’s a few little counter seats where you can get a glimpse of the action, but otherwise it’s standing room only. You walk up, order what kind of tacos you want and how many (trust me, never stop at just one) and then wait for your order to be ready and served up to you on a plastic plate covered in… more plastic.

So let’s talk about the composition of these tacos. The pork revolves around on a giant upright spit (think similar to a traditional kebap or gyro). The pork is sliced directly off the spit, fried up on the flat-top with gooey white cheese, garnished with traditional toppings (onion, cilantro, spicy salsa). You can also get pineapple or no pineapple. Some people have an aversion to adding the fruit, but I love it. You can see it roasting there above the pastor itself.

Just look at this glorious messiness… yes.

These pastor tacos are traditionally served on small corn tortillas, but you can also get “gringo” style which is basically the same exact taco, just served on a big flour tortilla. You really can’t go wrong either way! If you’re ever in San Miguel de Allende, Andy’s is definitely the place to hit up… they don’t have a website that I can find, but if you ask a local, they should be able to help you out. And as far as the best pastor in Tulum… well, I’ll let you know sometime in March!

in Food Travel / Pig 1 comments

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Blog

Ultra-Easy Grilled Marinated Pork Skewers over Cold Ramen Salad

The Four Roses RBI Cocktail

Viki’s Granola Mixed Berry Crisp

The Eastbank

Irish Hash

Red Curry Coconut Pulled Pork

The East Cocktail