A hearty, made-from-scratch beef soup recipe packed full of garden vegetables just in time to warm you up from the cool autumn air. I kissed my kids on their way out the door, closing it tight behind them, their small bodies wrapped in extra layers making their way down the leaf-lined street. I clutched a cup of steaming coffee, my fingers wrapping around the ceramic surface and pausing there, allowing the transfer of heat to my skin. I turned the water on to wash the breakfast dishes piled in the... more

Ole’s technique, tips, and recipe on how to acheive tender, smoked beef brisket to rival some of the best Texas barbecue joints. My parents were the children of small town Midwestern teachers and farmers who spent most of their formative years in Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Wisconsin. My six siblings and I grew up around the table eating home cooked meals put together with honest effort, but almost always lacking adventure. Mexican food was ground beef seasoned with a packet and spooned into... more

In which we turn our homemade ricotta into a spinach-and-ricotta-filled lasagna with ground beef and a homemade tomato sauce. The recipe and method of which was created and carried out by the four kids in our family with some help from their mom. “A light exists in spring Not present on the year At any other period.” -Emily Dickinson The beginning of spring marked more than just the vernal equinox in our house. New schedules are passed out during homeroom, and a new trimester calls for... more

Mildly piquant Poblano peppers add kick to this full-bodied black bean beef chili recipe with a cooling cilantro and avocado cream on top. We woke up in Narnia. Snow had cascaded down from a dark midnight sky and left a soft white blanket that covered the ground and coated the trees. The grey mountains of snow at the ends of driveways had been washed clean and sparkled. Footprints and ice crusts were covered with nothing but pure, unadulterated white. The weight of it muffles sound and makes everything... more

Succulent steak spiced with fiery cayenne is accompanied by a cooling, tangy chimichurri made with parsley and cilantro both, as well as the sharpness of a fresh-squeezed lemon. Temperatures dropped this week. If you live to the east, you’re feeling it now. A wicked wind cut through gloves and coats, stinging any visible skin with its razor-like edge. Hats became mandatory, sometimes left on indoors to keep a small bit of heat from escaping as the wind howled at the doors and shook the window... more

A smoked and slow roasted barbacoa recipe, Americanized only by the use of a smoker and a readily available chuck roast cut. A bonus chili recipe from the roasting sauce is included. I’ve spoken before about how our family’s cooking activities have “ruined” certain convenience items for us. In many cases, the recipes or techniques that we’ve developed at home, while they may take more time, result in a product far superior than what is commercially available. Things like burgers, barbecue,... more

Rather than smoked, these sweet and tangy basted ribs are peppered and grilled over offset heat for tender, juicy bites of goodness for your barbecue. Grilling meat is a great way to get most meals done in a hurry. Turn on the gas, sear up some steaks, and in fifteen minutes you can sit down to a terrific summer dinner. Sometimes, though, high heat and quick cooking are not the right way to do things. Every once in a while, the slow side of grill should be explored. The best example is ribs: Pork... more