It's FEED ME FRIDAY! (Roasted Garlic Hummus Edition)

courtesy of Daphne's California Greek

Whelpers... it's kinda still warm here. And I feel like melting. But... I have a major craving for hummus. Mmm... I really don't feel like driving all the way into Riverside and eating at Daphne's "California" Greek (WHY? did they change the name like that???)

and I really do just feel like pita bread (not to be confused with PITA - pain in the ass... bread) and hummus.

I love traditional. I love roasted red pepper. I love tahini (sesame seed paste). I love it all. And I really, REALLY love garlic. (shhh... don't kiss me!)

Most of the recipes I'd found start with canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans). But... I really don't like the briny-ness. Ew! ... and besides, I have some dried ones in my pantry. Some garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, some sesame seeds and a little oregano... and I'll be good to go. Yum-O!

THIS is the recipe I'm gonna try before I do the above recipe. I'll adjust the seasonings, and tell you how it was!

And fyi (if anyone in my family Santa is keeping my list)... most of these recipes require a food processor. Yes. I have one already... but it's old and dying (it squeaks!). So... to keep things on the quiet side (my hubs sleeps during the day, and heck! I'd like to totally watch my addictive television programs while I'm cooking/prepping... THIS is the food processor of my dreams!!!

It is quiet. It is quick. It is totally awesome. It has THREE! bowls (that all fit inside each other!). It has blades galore! It does everything I've ever wanted to do with food (except cook it, of course!). One disc has an adjustable blade... so YOU can adjust the thickness of a slice, should you want to...

But... it is a Williams-Sonoma exclusive. And... I can't find it anywhere else... for less than $299. Ugh.

My daughter and I love it so much... we're willing to split it as a Christmas gift together? (do I sound desperate?)

So... as I'm pulsing away with my chickpeas and garlic, I'll be fantasizing about this... and what could be... have fun! and if you try it... let me know how it was! Toodles!

It's FEED ME FRIDAY! (Smoked Tri-Tip Edition)

So, we went camping last weekend, for Labor Day... it was a grand weekend. and full of food. But we did something different this time...

We smoked some meats BEFORE we went!

We did tri-tip and pork ribs. The ribs used my special rub, click HERE for the post and recipe. And the tri-tip? I called my momma for that one.

She uses:

for the marinade...
1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce
1 c. soy sauce
1 bunch green onions, sliced (just the green part)
and for the rub... (poke holes in the meat and rub it in)
black pepper
garlic salt

And... like I always do... I adjusted it just a little:
for the marinade...
1/4 c. Worcestershire (Lea and Perrin's ROCKS!)
1 c. LITE soy sauce (Kikkoman's makes the very best)
1 bunch green onions, sliced (the whole flippin' thing)
4 cloves garlic (pressed or minced finely)
a pinch of ground cayenne pepper (for that little oomph!)
for the rub... (I don't have garlic salt, and wasn't about to buy any)
garlic powder
kosher salt
freshly ground pepper...
I mixed it all up, and rubbed the stuff WAY into the meat, massaging it throughout. I decided NOT to poke holes, as I didn't want any other "openings" for the moisture to get out later in the process... then... I put that puppy into a gallon Ziploc, poured in the marinade, threw it in the fridge, and flipped it over every coupla hours...

Hubs got the grill/smoker thingy going the next a.m. and we tossed it in there, along with some hickory chips. Mmm... boy! did that smell good. Smoked it for about 4 hours, basting it, when water was being added to the water bowl.

Anywhoo... here's the end result:

And when it was sliced:

Makes the best sandwiches... EVER!

Also, it makes for a much easier campout, with the meat done and everything... Woohoo! Means more time for PLAY!
Hope ya'll have a great weekend!

Feed Me Friday!!! A Recipe for My Special Rub...

And it's hotter than heck here... over 100 degrees! Whew! We're kinda sweltering, but hoping that our fellow countrymates survive Hurricane Irene. Cheers to you over there!

But, we're barbecuing this weekend! And pork ribs (with my special rub!) are on the menu...

It took me TWO years to get this just right, because I'm that picky! But it was worth it... I love it, my hubs loves it, my whole family loves it, and every time my hubs takes some to work for lunch, he always gets asked for the recipe.

Well folks... it's not a secret, and I aim to share, but... please do not sell it or make a profit off it, because... that wouldn't be fair.

Please note: I use light brown sugar and I grind my own spices, making them extra special fresh.

Lisa's Sweet N Spicy Rub N Grub

3/4 c. brown sugar

2 T. chili powder (just powdered chilis, NOT the preseasoned chili mix!)

2 T. ground cumin

2 T. garlic powder (I'd use fresh, but it would be ultra sticky!)

1 t. ground black pepper

1 T. onion powder (I grind up dried onion flakes for a little more texture)

1 t. fine sea salt (gives it a *special* taste)

1 t. ground cayenne pepper (more or less, depending on your taste buds... the sugar balances it out)

1 T. paprika (I prefer the smokey Spanish-type, but go with whatever gets your gusto)

(recipe can easily be doubled, tripled, or however many 'led you wanna do. just put the leftovers in an air tight canister AWAY from heat)

Mix it all together (I thread it through my fingers and crumble the grains between my fingers [clean hands, of course!] to get most of the lumpy bumpies out and make sure that it's really all smooth and as consistent as possible.). Rub it all over your meat GENEROUSLY. Massage the stuff in, and leave it with quite a bit on top that still sticks to it. Let stand at room temp about 30 min (while your coals are getting ready). Spray foil with cooking spray (I use olive oil cooking spray). Wrap the meat up semi-loosely, leaving room for steam, but not too much, and crimp the edges of the foil (if you used two pieces do it all over, if you used only one, then at each seam), sealing it well. Your coals (or grill) should be about ready, and move them over to one side (or turn off one side gas burner). Put the meat over the unlit side, close the lid, and let it slow cook for 1 hour, then flip it, and do the same thing (be sure to check your heat source every once in a while to make sure it's still good!). Carefully take off the foil (there will be LOTS of juices... you can try to salvage them and make a sauce* or just let them go and give off steam, but DO NOT open it over the flames and put out your heat source. you're NOT done yet!) and place your meat over the DIRECT heat (the flames/coals... whatever) for 10 minutes each side to get the grill marks and finish it off. Let your meat rest covered (I use a turkey roaster) for 10 minutes, then carve and serve.

*If you'd like to make a sauce with your rescued juices, simple get them into a sauce pan and simmer them over med heat until syrupy. Makes for finger-lickin' goodness! MMM... mmm... YUM!

This is especially great with pork ribs (spareribs are better than country style) or even a roast. I love it with beef and chicken, too... and it's pretty great on veggies. Have a great grub!

Feed Me Friday!!! and the Proposal of other Days...

Yes, I know today is Saturday, but meh... Whatcha gonna do 'bout it? huh?

And I thought of this late last night... so the thought process was still working and here's my thoughts written down.

Starting THIS coming week... (can I get a drumroll, please?) I'll be writing/posting MORE! Woohoo! I'm thinking I'm going to have "days" (and hopefully... when I can... posts in between, as well). But, someone had commented to me (on another post I posted... of all things! YES! I totally DO read your comments and take them to heart!) that she specifies a certain day for a certain thing, and this sort of keeps her on a schedule.

School has started back, and I'm seriously trying to get on a schedule for ME! Yes... I said ME! ME does exist, it's not just for the kids or the hubs, ya know...

So...

Mondays - Queen of My Craftroom's Monday Mojo - where I post Design Team challenges that I've linked to her blog. By all means, please feel free to go to the Queen's blog as well, and see what the other designers and challenge-takers have done, as well!

Tuesday - Tip-sy Tuesday - where I post tips whether they be crafty, gardener-esque, shopping-esque, cooking-esque, or just general-wannabe-knowledge-esque. Pretty much what I've learned or found out through experience or others. And I totally love to give credit where credit is due, so if you'd like to share a tip, send it HERE (please... no SPAM!) I'd love to give you a shout-out and link up to your blog or website as well, so let's open the communication lines and begin a wonderful relationship! And I may even feature tipsters who haven't sent me anything... my friends and lovely/loyal followers and commenters... I love you all!

Wednesday - Wordless Wednesday - where... yeah... I post a picture that's worth more than words. I usually link up to Two of a Kind Working on a Full House, where she's got great tips and contests (win some FREEBIES everyone!) on everything from parenting to just life in general, and the Wordless Wednesday "HQ". Lots of my following friends (including A Nut in a Nutshell - another awesome friend with contests and tips!) It's fun to see what everyone's been up to and what thoughts/pics they have on the brain... Click around and check their posts out. Make some friends... I do! AND PLEASE!!! Leave comment love for peeps. Everyone needs a scratch on the back!

Thursday - Mama Kat's Losin' It Writer's Workshop (Writing Prompts) - on Sunday or (sometimes) Monday, Mama Kat posts some writing prompts, and a bunch of us "writers" post, based on these prompts. They are often fun and sometimes humorous, but sometimes sad, so... grab some tissue and jump around, because the tears will be flowing, either by hilariousness or compassion. And once again, this is a great way to visit others, leave some comments, and make new friends.

Friday - Feed Me! Friday - I'll either post a recipe that I've tried out with a photo tutorial and/or *gasp* maybe even a video or... a review of a restaurant or food product I've tried and what I opine about it... and for those of you who know me... I have LOTS of those! As a matter of fact, last night, we went to a "new" restaurant (new to me, but has been there for years, and I'd just never visited... huh?) and I was being me... analyzing everything. (Yeah... I do THAT!) He told me he didn't want everything to be analyzed... but then proceeded to hand me over a piece of fried tortilla from a chimichanga and asked me what I thought. Well... without "thinking" I started to tell him, then stopped, apologized and said, "Nevermind..." My 17-year-old daughter started cracking up. He didn't get it. Um... yeah... don't tell me NOT to do something and then ask me to do it! Very confusing for the blondness!

Saturday and Sunday are currently freebies for whatever I might decide to do. As... well... I haven't decided just yet. But hey! leave me a comment and tell me what you think of my lineup!!! I totally love that you leave me ideas and such and comments just totally rock (makes me feel like I'm NOT talking/writing to myself so much... hee, hee!) Blast 'em out, Baby!!!