Meatballs with Soy-Mirin Glaze

My kids aren't the best eaters.

Well, let me clarify. The Big One is happy to try most things and has a broader palette (which mostly doesn't include vegetables), but the Little One has a diet whose entries you could count on one hand.

Wedged between the hot dogs and the chicken fingers are little meatballs that my wife get's from a local deli. He wants nothing to do with my Real Italian Meatballs, which is a point of contention and the reason I'll be taking him out of my will unless he changes his ways, but I figured I could at least try to replicate the golf-ball-sized spheres of beef he drools over whenever my wife returns from town. I tried once without much success, then a co-worker gave me a recipe, which I've based these on.

I'm pretty sure those deli meatballs use some kinds of canned beef gravy and I'm absolutely sure these are much better. As it turns out, the Little One thinks so, too.

Pork Chops with Hot and Sweet Peppers

Last night we went out with a few of the neighbors - sort of a holiday-couples-night-out. For me, the best part is that it was a good reason to send the kids to the in-laws for the weekend. Ahhh, sleep. And peace and quiet. And a clean house. I could keep going, but what I really wanted to say was that I ordered the house special, which inspired me to make something similar. Both were quite good.

Sausage and Peppers Recipe

I came clean many years ago and admitted my addiction to sausage and peppers. Maybe it's the southern Italian in me, but when I lived in NY City I couldn't pass a street fair without stopping at one (of the several) sausage and peppers stands for a hero.

These days I don't get to the NYC street fairs so much any more, but I still get cravings - really they're more like flashbacks - for some fennel sausage and sweet peppers.

Ingredients

- 9 Sweet Italian Sausages
- 3 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 Bell Peppers (Red, Yellow, or Orange), cut into strips
- 3 Cubanelle or Vinegar Peppers, cut into strips
- 1/2 Onion (red or yellow), cut into strips
- 1 Clove of Garlic, diced
- 1/2 Cup Red Wine
- 2 Tbs Fresh Oregano, chopped

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausages and brown well on all sides (about 3 minutes per side). Remove the sausages from the pan, and toss in the garlic. Cook the garlic for about 30 seconds, then add the peppers and onions. Toss well and cook for 2 minutes, then add the wine.

Bring the wine to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer and return the sausages to the pan. Cover the pan and continue to simmer for 15 minutes.

Remove the cover and cook for 5 minutes longer to allow the sauce to reduce a bit. Add the fresh and oregano at the last minute and serve with good, crusty, bread.

Stuffed Tomatoes Recipe

I'm always on the lookout for food items that might be conducive to being stuffed with sausage. When you think about it, what (savory) dish wouldn't be improved by adding a few links of italian sweet? So what matters most, then, is size and shape and when I saw a boxful of large, ripe, tomatoes at my local farm stand, I knew I was in business.

Pork Loin with Rosemary and Thyme

I finally made out to the local farmers market. I've been meaning to for some time but the weekends get so busy so fast that there's never time. So I went a little crazy when I got there, buying up everything I could get my hands on without really knowing how I was going to use it.

Among the bounty were HUGE bunches of Basil, Rosemary, and Thyme. At $2 each, I couldn't really pass them up. The basil went into a Pasta Salad and I used a good portion of the Rosemary and Thyme on some Pork Loin.

Grilled Pork Chops with Ancho Guajillo Chili Dry Rub

I was thinking about dinner this evening and this one came to me on the train ride home. I've been wanting to experiment with dry rubs for some time now and this evening seemed as good a time as any. I paid a visit to the Grand Central Market before I got on my train and picked up some ancho chili powder and a package of dried guajillo chili peppers. I figured I'd combine them with some of what I had in my pantry and hope for the best.

Baby Back Ribs Recipe

I'm an idiot.

It's that simple. I fully intended to post this baby back ribs recipe and take some nice pictures to go along with it but in the rush of my father's day gathering, I simply forgot. And by the time I remembered those two lonely stalks you see above were all that remained of four gorgeous racks of ribs. I'll update the photo next time I make them... Of course, now I have an excuse.