I made a fantastic prime rib on my Char-Broil Big Easy the other day. I needed a rockin’ good homemade au jus to go with it. And this is it. I couldn’t get enough drippings off the rib roast to make an au jus, so this was the next-best-thing. Great beefy flavor.
Makes A Lot. And That’s A Good Thing.
This recipe for homemade au jus makes a pretty good sized batch (about 3 cups or so), but if you’re like me you’ll use a good amount. I like to freeze any leftover sauce. It’s great for dipping French dip sandwiches too.
Note: This recipe was developed using the Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Fryer. If you are cooking using the Char-Broil Smoker-Roaster Grill you should cook with the lid open and the temperature set to High. You might also need to adjust the cooking time.
This was my first time making prime rib on my Char-Broil Big Easy. It will definitely not be the last time. Preparation and cooking were, as always with the Big Easy, easy. And the end result was just crazy good. Tender, beefy and just flat out delicious. Incredible. This ended up being one of the best meals I’ve ever had.
I started with an almost five-pound rib roast. All I did was salt and pepper it. Nothing fru-fru. Just rubbed it on and into the Big Easy. Like I said, prime rib on the Char-Broil Big Easy is easy!
About 2 hours later the meat hit 125 F (and a bit higher in spots, so next time I’ll keep a closer eye on it). The weather was chilly, mid 50s, with some pretty good winds. I had expected the cook time to be 15 minutes/pound, but it ended up closer to 20 minutes/pound.
This was my first time making prime rib on my Char-Broil Big Easy. It will definitely not be the last time. Preparation and cooking were, as always with the Big Easy, easy. And the end result was just crazy good.
Combine the salt and pepper and rub over all sides of the rib roast.
Put the roast into a cooking basket and put into the Big Easy. Insert an cooking thermometer into the meatiest part of the roast.
Cook about 15 minutes/pound or until the meat reaches 125 F. Note: 125 F will give you a rare roast. If your guests prefer their meat done medium-well or well, slice and then finish on a grill instead of cooking the entire roast to a high temperature.
Once the desired doneness has been reached remove the roast to a baking pan and cover with foil and a kitchen towel. Let rest 20 minutes.
It has been a long, long time since I had real Cuban black beans. The last time was in Tampa, and I remember it like yesterday. Tasty, tender (but not mushy) beans in a broth that is a little thicker than a traditional soup. I was in a real Cuban restaurant somewhere in the city. It’s been so long ago that I don’t recall the name or even where it was. But I definitely remember the beans. Sometimes the memory of a really good meal stays with you for the rest of your life. Food memories are some of the strongest you have.
A Big Favorite In Our House
These Cuban black beans are just like the great beans I enjoyed over 20 years ago. They are so good that they could easily be enjoyed as a meal by themselves.
Everything about these beans is fantastic. The house smelled terrific while they cooked slowly on the stovetop. Every bowl was a bowl of bean happiness. Really.
I like to use my good ole trusty Dutch oven to make these beans and pretty much darned near anything like it on my stovetop. It’s nice and big and sturdy. That extra weight helps it maintain and distribute heat perfectly. As an added bonus, it’s actually pretty easy to clean up too!
These Cuban black beans are just like the great beans I enjoyed over 20 years ago. They are so good that they could easily be enjoyed as a meal by themselves.
These mini churros will disappear as soon as you make them. They taste just like the churros I remember getting from street vendors as a kid living in Peru. I used to hope that there’d be a churro cart at my school bus stop when I got out of school each day. The carts had little gas-fired deep fryers on them. The vendor would squeeze out the batter into the hot oil, and in minutes (and after a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar) you had a hot treat that you could not stop eating.
Deliciously Addicting
This version for mini churros using oyster crackers is even easier than the classic version. And no deep frying is required. But the flavor is the same. And oh, how good they are! You’ll find yourself unable to stop eating them too!
If you follow this blog you know I like a little kick in everything, even my snacks. So I was tempted to add just a bit of cayenne to the sugar mixture. But since I made these treats for my wife to share with her co-workers, I resisted the temptation. I doubt I’ll be as strong the next time I make them, which will be very, very soon.
You could’ve pushed me over with a feather. I thought that no way could these waffled fries be great. Potato flakes aren’t the first thing that come to mind when I think about making fries at home. To be honest, I don’t ever think of potato flakes. Well, I didn’t. Now I do.
Well, I was wrong. These little potato bites are highly addicting, and very… potato-y. And, there’s no deep frying involved. Clean up is a breeze. These are the fries of dreams. And they look way cool too!
Ready In No Time
It takes about 3 minutes to make these waffled fries. Our little waffle iron can only make 4 at a time, so I kept them warm in the oven’s warming drawer while I made the rest of the batch.
For a little twist on the usual fries, add a pinch of Cajun seasoning to the batter. Or freshly ground black pepper. Whatever suits your fancy.
Heat your waffle iron to high. Spray with non-stick spray.
Meanwhile, combine the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Let set until thick. Add more water, a little at a time, if the mixture is too thin to stick together.
Working in batches, form a tablespoon of batter into a small ball and place onto the waffle iron. Add as many as you can without crowding them. Close the waffle iron lid and cook 3 minutes or until golden brown and crunchy.
Serve hot.
Notes
These fries can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven.
Sweet and sour meatball appetizers have probably been around forever. I’ve certainly made them a time or two. I was looking for a different way to serve them. Something new that makes people not realize they’re eating the usual. Something with a great sweet and sour sauce and more. And so I made sweet and sour meatball sliders. These are a great way to get rid of those ‘oh great meatball appetizers again’ doldrums. Of course you still get great meatballs, but you get more. A lot more.
They Pop In Your Mouth
The crispiness and coolness of the cucumber really makes these sweet and sour meatball sliders stand out in the crowd. As does the tomato. They’re quite yummy and addicting. Make a bunch for your next family get-together and watch them disappear. They assemble in just minutes, making them perfect for feeding a crowd.
The crispiness (really a great contrast to the meatballs) and coolness of the cucumber really makes these sliders stand out in the crowd. As does the tomato. They’re quite yummy and addicting.Â
Place meatballs and sauce in a large sauce pan or pot and warm over medium heat.
Place a slice (or two if they are small) of cucumber on each slider roll bottom.
Add a meatball with a little of the sauce. Note: I flattened the meatballs just slightly using a wooden spatula so they would look a little larger on the buns. If you’re using larger meatballs you can probably skip flattening them.
Add top bun and secure with a skewer and tomato.
Notes
For a spicy version, substitute a slice of jalapeno for the cucumber.
I was so happy with just how great this homemade Canadian bacon turned out. The flavor is fantastic and the meat is just the right amount of tenderness. Now, I just need to do a better job trimming the pork loin before I start! Despite my lack of butchering skills, I’d make this again and again.
Wonderful Canadian Bacon
I loved this. I use it on my copycat Tiny Tim’s subs (creamy Italian dressing, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, Swiss, mozzarella, lettuce).
Canadian bacon on pizzas with a little pineapple is another favorite of mine. A slight variation on the traditional Hawaiian pizza. And of course this homemade Canadian bacon would be fantastic in an omelet or frittata.
I prefer to use fruit or nut woods when I smoke unless I want a heavier smoke flavor. Pecan, apple or cherry are my favorites. This time I used apple.
I was so happy with just how great this homemade Canadian bacon turned out. The flavor is fantastic and the meat is just the right amount of tenderness.Â
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword bacon, homemade
Prep Time 3 daysdays30 minutesminutes
Cook Time 2 hourshours
Total Time 3 daysdays2 hourshours30 minutesminutes
I usually pan fry my breakfast sausage patties. Sometimes I’ll cook them in the oven, but I prefer pan frying. I don’t like the mess, though. The splatter. The grease. So, when I came across this approach to cooking up sausages using a waffle iron I just had to try it. Waffled sausage patties… who knew?
Crunchy Delicious Patties
In about 3 minutes you will have perfectly cooked waffled sausage patties, with a little bit of a crust to them. You know what I mean. GBD. Golden Brown Delicious. I don’t trust sausages that don’t have a bit of crust to them. It’s just not normal. It’s hard to get that crust if you bake your sausages. Well you can get it, but you’re going to have to bake them for a while or have them spend some time under the broiler. This is easier.
I can cook four sausages at a time on our little round Cuisinart waffle maker, which is perfect for the two of us. Cleanup was very easy, too!
If I’d had any idea just how fantastic these sloppy Cuban sandwiches would be I would’ve been making them for years. Every week. I would say every day, but that wouldn’t leave me much time for grilling burgers and such. The meat mixture is just incredible. The ingredient list may look long, but there’s nothing that’s hard to find on it.
Messy Deliciousness
These sloppy Cuban sandwiches were messy. Sloppy. You pick one up and you never set it down until it’s all gone. The meat has a bit of kick, but not much, and it’s offset by the cool crunchiness from the pickles. These may well be the perfect sandwiches.
I like to use my good ole trusty Dutch oven to make these sandwiches and pretty much darned near anything like it on my stovetop. It’s nice and big and sturdy. That extra weight helps it maintain and distribute heat perfectly. As an added bonus, it’s actually pretty easy to clean up too!
I also make another great take on a sloppy Joe that uses chorizo called, well, a Chorizo Sloppy Joe. My Big Daddy’s Sloppy Joe is something a bit more traditional but with more grownup flavors. I’m a big Sloppy Joe fan!
There was a time when I purchased many of the rubs I used for cooking. Especially when it came to smoking pork butt or ribs. Now, I just use this simple but very tasty version of a Memphis rib rub. This fantastic seasoning mix is based on a recipe from Myron Mixon.
Sweet Heat
A little sweet, and a little heat (add more cayenne if you like) makes this Memphis rib rub perfect. It made my St. Louis-style ribs (and tips) something great. This recipe makes a nice big batch. Just store any extra in an air-tight container out of the light and away from heat.
I keep my homemade spice mixes in resealable containers. To identify them I write the name of the mix and the date on painter’s blue tape. The tape comes off easily when I’m done with the mix so I can re-use the containers for other things.
There was a time when I purchased many of the rubs I used for cooking, specially when it came to smoking pork butt or ribs. Now, I just use this simple but very tasty version of a Memphis rib rub based on a recipe from Myron Mixon.