Weekday Ribs

People in Memphis take their barbecue seriously. In fact, many have perfected it to an art form. I am not here to argue that “low and slow” (the mantra for grilling ribs in the South) is not the best but the reality is that I just don’t have time to tend to the grill for hours on a busy weeknight.

By baking the ribs first in the oven, I have taken the guesswork out of making flavorful and tender ribs.

For a boost of flavor and moisture, I first slather my ribs with yellow mustard. For seasoning, I then apply a generous dose of barbecue dry rub seasoning. Wrapping them up tightly in foil seals in the juices that will make the ribs extra moist and flavorful. Throw them in the oven and forget about them! In an hour or so, they will be falling-off-the-bone tender.

To get that beloved smoky charred flavor, I finish the ribs on a hot grill just before serving. It only takes about 5 minutes per side. For a sauce-based wet ribs, slather them with your favorite barbecue sauce before throwing them on the grill. For Memphis-style dry ribs, leave off the barbecue sauce and add extra dry rub prior to grilling.

Weekday Ribs

1/4 cup French’s yellow mustard
1/4 cup barbecue dry rub seasoning
2 slabs pork baby back ribs (about 3 to 4 pounds total)
Vegetable oil, for the grates
1 1/2 cups your favorite barbecue sauce

Preheat an oven to 300°F.

Place each slab of ribs on a double layer of aluminum foil. Evenly slather both sides with the mustard. Generously season the ribs with the dry rub. Tightly wrap each slab of ribs in the foil and place on a baking sheet. Cook until meat pulls away from the bone and is easily pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat a clean grill to medium-high with the lid closed for 8 to 10 minutes. Lightly brush the grates with oil.

Carefully remove ribs from foil, pouring off any liquid. Brush the barbecue generously on both sides of the ribs.

Place the ribs on the grill. Close the lid and cook the ribs until sauce begins to bubble and brown around the edges, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Serve ribs with extra sauce, if desired.

Serves 4.

Source: Simply Grilling (Thomas Nelson, Spring 2012)

 

Sliced Apricot Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches with Apricot Mustard

This is a great appetizer for a dinner cocktail party. The pork tenderloin cooks quickly and the apricot preserves with Honey Dijon mustard add just the perfect touch of sweetness.

Sliced Apricot Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches with Apricot Mustard
Adapted from Simply Suppers by Jennifer Chandler

For the Pork Tenderloin:
1 pork tenderloin (about 1 1/4 pounds), trimmed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup apricot preserves
2 dozen yeast rolls

For the Apricot Mustard:
3/4 cup apricot preserves
2 tablespoons French’s Honey Dijon Mustard

To prepare the Pork Tenderloin: Preheat the oven to 395 degrees.

Rinse the pork tenderloin and pat it dry with paper towels. Generously season with salt and pepper. In a large cast-iron or oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat, warm the oil until a few droplets of water sizzle when carefully sprinkled in the skillet. Sear the tenderloin until well-browned on all sides, about 3 minutes per side. Brush 3/4 cup of apricot preserves over the top and place the tenderloin in the oven to finish cooking, about 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the tenderloin to a cutting board with a well. Cover loosely with foil and let the pork rest about 5 minutes before thinly slicing.

To make the Apricot Mustard: In a small bowl whisk together the apricot preserves and Honey Dijon mustard until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

To assemble: Place a slice of pork tenderloin garnished with a spoonful of Apricot Mustard on each roll.

Serves 10 to 12.

Cooking Tip: If you are unsure if the pork (or any other meat) is fully cooked, use a meat thermometer. Pork is safe to eat when it is cooked to an internal temperature of 155 to 160 degrees.

Cuban Sandwich

In the early 1900s, the Cuban sandwich (known as “a sandwich Mixto” in Cuba) became a popular lunch food for workers in both the cigar factories and sugar mills of Cuba. When Cuban immigrants came to South Florida, they brought their favorite sandwich with them. To this day, these tasty, toasted sandwiches have remained the favorite snack of Tampa and Miami.

But you don’t have to head to Miami to enjoy this Cuban favorite. It’s easy to make this popular pressed sandwich at home.

Enjoy!

Cuban Sandwich

1 1-pound loaf of ciabatta bread, ends trimmed and cut into 4 pieces
4 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
4 teaspoons unsalted butter
8 slices Swiss cheese
1/2 pound thinly sliced baked ham
8 ounces roast pork, sliced
1/2 cup sliced dill pickles

Cut the bread in half lengthwise and place on a work surface. To assemble the sandwiches, evenly spread the insides of each sandwich with 1 tablespoon of the mustard and lightly butter the outside of each sandwich with 1 teaspoon of the butter. Inside each sandwich, layer 2 slices of the cheese, 1/4 of the ham, 1/4 of the pork, and 1/4 of the pickles. Close the sandwiches. 

Heat your panini maker or sandwich press to medium-high. Place the sandwiches inside, press down, and grill until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted, about 8 minutes. Serve warm.

Serves 4.

Cooking Tip: If you don’t have a panini press, you can cook the sandwiches on a griddle or skillet. To create the “pressed” sandwich, place a heavy skillet on top of the sandwich and press down as it cooks.

Variation: Ciabatta bread is an Italian white sandwich bread. If you can’t find it at the bakery, use crusty sandwich rolls instead.