Recipes
Smoked Pork Loin with Raspberry and Chipotle Glaze
1 (4-pound) pork loin
Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed
3 tablespoons dry spice rub for pork
1 (10-ounce) jar seedless raspberry jam
1 (5-ounce) bottle chipotle hot pepper sauce (recommended: Tabasco)
Preheat stovetop or outdoor smoker to approximately 230 degrees F. Trim the white "silver skin" from the pork loin and lightly coat the entire loin with olive oil. Sprinkle the rub liberally on all sides of the loin. Place pork in the smoker and smoke until internal temperature or pork reaches 150 degrees F, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Remove pork from smoker and wrap lightly in aluminum foil.
Meanwhile, preheat broiler. Place the jam in a medium bowl and stir in about 1/3 of the chipotle sauce. Mix well, adding more chipotle sauce until the heat and taste reach your personal preference. Unwrap the pork and cover with the glaze. Place on a broiler pan and broil until glaze is bubbling, about 3 minutes. Slice pork against the grain and serve.
Grilled Lamb Chops, Garlic, Olive Oil, Fresh Thyme, Grilled Lemons 1/2 cup Greek olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons for lemons
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup thyme leaves, roughly chopped
2 racks of lamb, 8 chops each, trimmed
Salt and freshly ground pepper
8 lemons, cut in 1/2 crosswise
Sprigs oregano and dill, for garnish
Whisk together oil, garlic and thyme in a shallow large baking dish. Add the chops and turn to coat. Cover and marinate for 1 to 1 1/2 hours in the refrigerator. Remove the chops from the refrigerator 20 minutes before grilling. Heat grill to high and grill the chops for 5 to 6 minutes per side for medium doneness. Remove and rest for 2 minutes. Slice into individual chops. Brush the cut side of the lemons with the oil and grill, cut side down on high for 1 minute. Turn lemons 45 degrees to make hatch marks and remove. Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon over the platter of chops. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with fresh sprigs of oregano and dill. Serve the remaining grilled lemons on the platter with the chops.
Seared Rib-Eye Steak with Arugula and Roasted Pepper Salad
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for brushing
2 (1-inch-thick) rib-eye steaks (about 1 pound each)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 cups arugula, washed and spun dry
11/2 cups roasted peppers, rinsed and patted dry
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Small block Parmesan (about 8 ounces)
In a large saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season steaks with salt and pepper. When pan starts to smoke, carefully add steaks. Allow the steaks to cook for about 3 to 4 minutes on 1 side, without moving or piercing the meat. This will help create a good, crusty sear. When steaks are brown, flip and sear the other side for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove meat to a large plate and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
Decoratively line a large platter with arugula. Tear the roasted peppers into large pieces and scatter over the arugula. In a small bowl, whisk in the remaining olive oil, balsamic vinegar and any meat juices that may have collected on the plate from the steaks. Season with salt and pepper. Slice the steaks across the grain and on a bias into 1 1/2-inch thick pieces. Lay the slices on top of the salad and drizzle with dressing. Using a vegetable peeler, shave about Parmesan over the dish. |
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