• 3½ to 4 pounds meaty beef short ribs
• Coarse salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 large yellow onions (about 1 pound total, sliced about ½ inch thick
• 1 carrot, chopped into ½-inch pieces
• 1 ½ cups porter ale, or more if needed
• ¼ cup beef, veal, or chicken stock, ideally home made
• One 3-to 4-inch leafy fresh rosemary sprig
• 1 large or 2 small bay leaves

THE GLAZE

• 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• Two 3-to 4-inch leafy fresh rosemary sprigs
• 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

Beer-Braised Short Ribs

Click image to enlarge

• 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 leek, white and tender green parts, trimmed, rinsed thoroughly, and thinly sliced
• 1 carrot, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Juice of 2 oranges plus zest of 1 orange
• One 14 ½-oz can diced tomatoes with juices
• 1/3 cup mixed Kalamata and green olives, pitted and halved
• 2 tbsp minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
• hot cooked rice for serving

Chicken Stew with Tomatoes, Oranges, Olives

Click image to enlarge

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 6 4- to 5-ounce fresh fish fillets, at room temperature
• 1 tablspoon Chef Paul Prudhomme's Blackened Redfish Magic, Seafood Magic, or Meat Magic

Bronzed Fish

Click image to enlarge

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup minced yellow onion
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons + ½ cup spicy barbecue sauce (we used Uncle’s)
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons minced parsley
• 2 teaspoons granulated onion
• 1 to 2 tablespoons half & half
• 2 well-beaten eggs
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound ground pork
• 1 bunch green onion tops, sliced
• ¼ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
• salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons catsup

Barbecue Meatloaf

Click image to enlarge

Seasoning Paste

• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon plus 1½ teaspoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon plus ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
• 1 tablespoon grated lime peel
• 1½ teaspoons white pepper
• 1¼ teaspoons ground cardamom
• 1¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1¼ teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 1¼ teaspoons ground savory
• ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon ground dried habañero
• chile peppers (see Notes, page 6) 4 bay leaves

1 (3-to 4-pound) chicken, cut into 8 pieces
4 tablespoons unsalted butter

The Best Damned Grilled Chicken I Ever Ate!

Click image to enlarge

• 1 pound macaroni
• 1 pound pulled pork (your favorite or click here)
• 1 cup barbecue sauce (your favorite or click here
• 1 pint heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons crushed garlic
• 2 teaspoons diced shallots
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon chile paste, sambal  olek preferred
• ½ cup mayonnaise

For the crumb topping, combine:

• 1½ cups panko bread crumbs
• ¾ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Barbecue Pork Mac and Cheese

Click image to enlarge

• 4 tablespoons bacon drippings
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 1 cup diced celery (inner leaves included)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon
• kosher salt or more to taste
• 2 cups canned organic whole plum tomatoes, undrained, chopped
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons pepper vinegar or cider vinegar (if you use cider vinegar, add a pinch of red pepper flakes)
• 1¼ teaspoons freshly ground
• black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 dried chiles de arbol, chopped, or a pinch of red pepper flakes
• 2 cups long-grain rice
• ½ pound andouille or chorizo sausage, grilled and sliced ½ inch thick
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, and cut into bite-size pieces if large

Savannah Red Rice

Click image to enlarge

• 40 dried guajillo chiles
• 20 dried ancho chiles
• 20 dried pasilla negro chiles
• 2½ cups fresh orange juice
• Grated zest of I orange
• ½ cup firmly packed dark brown
• sugar
• 9 cloves garlic
• 1½ tablespoons cumin seed, roasted and ground (page 164)
• 1½ tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1½ tablespoons distilled vinegar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 6 ounces cola
• 8 ounces Mexican beer
• 4 pounds pork shoulder, cut into ½-inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 24 (5½-inch)soft white corn tortillas, for serving
• Garnish: caramelized diced pineapple, Pineapple-Habanero Chile Salsa

Pineapple/Habanero Salsa:

• 1 pineapple, about 3 ½ pounds, peeled, cored, and cut into ¼ inch rings
• 1 orange or red habanero chile, dry-roasted, seeded, and minced
• 1 sweet red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and dices
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Tacos al Pastor

Click image to enlarge

• 1 12-ounce salmon fillet 

• scant 1 cup dry white wine 
• a few fresh basil sprigs, plus extra basil leaves, to garnish 
• 6 ripe Italian plum tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped 
• 2/3 cup double cream 
• 12 ounces fresh or dried spaghetti
• 4 ounces peeled cooked shrimp
• salt and ground black pepper to taste 

Shrimp and Salmon with Pasta

Click image to enlarge

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• ½ cup finely chopped celery
• 16-ounce can tomato paste
• ½ teaspoon oregano
• 3 teaspoons salt in all
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoon chili powder 
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 6½ cups water in all
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 4 eggs
• ½ cup milk
• 4 cups plain or seasoned breadcrumbs
• oil for frying
• 5 cups of cooked sticky rice

Arancini (Italian Rice Balls)

Click image to enlarge