The perfect barbecue rib is one of the most sought-after delicacies by connoisseurs as well as backyard chefs. Contestants in barbecue cook-offs around the country prepare secret recipes in hopes of taking home the grand prize for the best ribs, so there may be as many recipes in these competitions as there are contestants. However, the secret of great ribs is not only in the ingredients, but it is also in the method of preparation. In his book, "Barbecue! The Bible," Steven Raichlen emphasizes the importance of slow cooking, noting that Kansas City's KC Masterpiece Restaurant slow cooks its baby back ribs for 12 hours.
You can make delicious cookies without butter, eggs or any animal products. Vegan cookie recipes typically replace the butter with margarine or vegetable oils and the eggs with a wide range of substitutes, including ground flax seeds, cornstarch or arrowroot, mashed bananas or commercially produced egg replacers. Even if you do not eat a strict vegetarian diet, you may benefit from baking vegan cookies, particularly if you have children who suffer from allergies to dairy or egg products.
Don't let the fact that you live in an apartment or a home with no yard deter you from growing your own vegetables. Even with limited space or less than ideal lighting conditions, many vegetables thrive in containers as long as they are watered frequently. Put your green thumb to good use and plant a container vegetable garden right outside your patio door or on your balcony.
The combination of smoke from the grill and a tangy, slightly sweet barbecue sauce often make grilled BBQ pork chops worth the time and effort. If you want pork chops that truly stand out, you're better off using your own homemade sauce rather than a bottle of store-bought sauce, which is often overly sweet. Use wood chips on the grill to saturate the chops with the flavor of smoke.
Barbecued sausage can be a versatile dish. You can slice the grilled sausage and serve it with pasta and sautéed peppers for an Italian-inspired dish or you can place the cooked sausage on a bun as you would a hot dog. Pair the sausage with chunks of pineapple for a dish with a tropical flair or with roasted potatoes for a down-home, meat and potatoes meal. If you don't have a grill, you can cook the meat in a cast iron skillet or in the oven.
Add a touch of sweetness to grilled chicken by coating it in a thick, delicious, homemade honey barbecue sauce. If you like your food to be a bit spicy, add a dash of cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the barbecue sauce for a pleasant sweet and spicy contrast. If you have leftover sauce, use it to coat grilled vegetables or to garnish the cooked chicken.
Camping offers lots of excitement and entertainment for families. Child-friendly camping meals encourage young campers to chow down or even help with the cooking, depending on their ages. Some meal ideas work well over a campfire, with or without a cooking grate. Plan out your camp menu to ensure you have all the necessary groceries before you head into the wilderness.
While most kids love to watch seeds sprout into plants, they usually lack patience when it comes to reaping the rewards of their gardening projects. If you plan to use vegetables that are both easy to grow and fast to produce, your kids will have a better chance of seeing their garden through to the point of harvest.
