burkcooks.blogspot.com
Burk Cooks: February 2008
http://burkcooks.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html
Red Beans and Rice. Red beans and rice, with a patty of creole hot sausage. It's been more than 15 years since I left New Orleans, and I still smell "phantom" red beans cooking on Mondays, especially during Carnival season, the stretch between January 6th (12th Night) and Mardi Gras day. Dry red kidney beans. Are available at almost any grocery store and, in a pinch, they'll make a decent pot of red beans and rice. The genuine article is Camellia Brand. You are gonna make a fine pot of red beans and rice!
burkcooks.blogspot.com
Burk Cooks: Pollos Mutantes
http://burkcooks.blogspot.com/2009/02/pollos-mutantes.html
Pollos Mutantes is our current favorite treatment for chicken breasts - sweet, spicy and smokey, with a solid Southwest tang that pairs well with corn, beans and rice and grilled vegetables. I cooked it so often last summer that I eventually made the spice mixture one of my stock rubs, ¡Tres Mutantes! Make sure to go heavy on the rub - you'll get a nice crust, and a burst of flavor. And do let the chicken rest for a couple of minutes after grilling, so your bird will be juicy and delicious.
burkcooks.blogspot.com
Burk Cooks: Tuscan Potatoes
http://burkcooks.blogspot.com/2007/08/tuscan-potatoes.html
Ask Liz why she married me, and you'll hear the usual - for love, for money, it was her first time drinking Absinthe, etc. Ask her again, and she may tell you the truth: Tuscan potatoes. Tuscan potatoes are an extraordinary accompaniment to a grilled steak, a smoked tri-tip or a pork roast. They take a bit of work, but they're worth it. 3 sprigs fresh rosemary, about 5” long. 1 tsp rosemary salt. 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil. Drain and dry the potatoes with a dish towel or paper towels. Check your pota...
burkcooks.blogspot.com
Burk Cooks: Shake your pickles!
http://burkcooks.blogspot.com/2008/08/shake-your-pickles.html
Few things are as satisfying as the tart crunch of homemade dill pickles - bursting with garlic and spices and fresh cucumber flavor, these easy pickles take only 5 minutes to prepare, though they do need to sit a week in the fridge to reach peak flavor. Four-year-old Miles enjoys helping to make - and eat! These pickles, and he has invented a little song to sing as he shakes them to distribute the spices:. This recipe is adapted from Homesick Texan. 1/2 cup white vinegar. 1 TBL whole black peppercorns.
burkcooks.blogspot.com
Burk Cooks: February 2009
http://burkcooks.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html
The minute I saw the Bacon Explosion. I knew I had to try it: bacon, Italian sausage, more bacon, smoke - what's not to like? But the more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed. I like Italian sausage, but I don't usually think of it as something to throw on the smoker. I grill it or saute it or bake it or use it to top pizza. And that's what led me to what I have humbly named the Pizza Explosion - an inside-out, smoked log of oozing pizza goodness. 1 lb bacon (you'll need ten slices). Now, top the ...
burkcooks.blogspot.com
Burk Cooks: ¡Tres Mutantes!
http://burkcooks.blogspot.com/2009/02/tres-mutantes.html
Much as I enjoy the Tri-Wizard. Rub - especially on tri-tips and steaks - I've found that I consistently add a few more spices when I'm preparing chicken and fish. After a while, I put together a big batch of this mutant Tri-Wizard mixture, so I could have it on hand all the time. On potatoes, and stir it into mayo for a sandwich spread or quick dipping sauce for veggies or fries. 3/4 cup Tri-Wizard rub. 1/4 cup ground cumin. 2 tsp ground chipotle (or more, to taste). Labels: rubs and spices.
burkcooks.blogspot.com
Burk Cooks: Pizza Explosion
http://burkcooks.blogspot.com/2009/02/pizza-explosion.html
The minute I saw the Bacon Explosion. I knew I had to try it: bacon, Italian sausage, more bacon, smoke - what's not to like? But the more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed. I like Italian sausage, but I don't usually think of it as something to throw on the smoker. I grill it or saute it or bake it or use it to top pizza. And that's what led me to what I have humbly named the Pizza Explosion - an inside-out, smoked log of oozing pizza goodness. 1 lb bacon (you'll need ten slices). Now, top the ...
burkcooks.blogspot.com
Burk Cooks: Summer's End Pesto
http://burkcooks.blogspot.com/2004/08/summers-end-pesto.html
I picked up some sweet basil at the farmers' market yesterday and made a fabulous pesto for dinner. It's easy enough for anyone to fix and quick enough to prepare after work, and the flavors - sweet and tangy and earthy, with basil, cheese and aromatic garlic supported by nuts and olive oil - are just about enough to drive me crazy with delight. 1 cup lightly packed fresh basil (washed and dried). 1 TBL fresh Italian parsley. 2 medium sized cloves of garlic, peeled. 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Taste, and a...
burkcooks.blogspot.com
Burk Cooks: Get Your Adobo On
http://burkcooks.blogspot.com/2004/08/get-your-adobo-on.html
Get Your Adobo On. Good question. Depending on where you ask, adobo may generically mean "sauce" or "marinade" or a meal created with such a sauce (in Mexico and the Carribean) or specifically mean the national dish of the Philippines. Adobos vary quite widely in taste and ingredients, but most rely on marinating meats in a highly seasoned concoction. My adobo is a Cuban-style marinade adapted from a recipe in Steven Raichlen's The Barbecue! 1 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice (about 4 large limes). Don't fo...
burkcooks.blogspot.com
Burk Cooks: August 2007
http://burkcooks.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html
Ask Liz why she married me, and you'll hear the usual - for love, for money, it was her first time drinking Absinthe, etc. Ask her again, and she may tell you the truth: Tuscan potatoes. Tuscan potatoes are an extraordinary accompaniment to a grilled steak, a smoked tri-tip or a pork roast. They take a bit of work, but they're worth it. 3 sprigs fresh rosemary, about 5” long. 1 tsp rosemary salt. 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil. Drain and dry the potatoes with a dish towel or paper towels. Check your pota...
