As I’m writing this, Arkansas restaurants are just now beginning to slowly traverse the idea of re-opening; a delicate balancing act between keeping customers and staff alike safe while trying to calculate how exactly to reduce volume and capacity without going broke. The restaurant business already has a razor thin margin for success, but this “Dining in the Time of Covid” makes an insanely difficult endeavor even more challenging...and the real impact won’t truly be realized for months and years to come.
Spiced Cauliflower Steaks with Cilantro and Chives
In the meantime, as lovers of cuisine wait their turn to support area restaurants and eat out, we opt to nourish and entertain ourselves by cooking in. This year’s Thrill of the Grill feature showcases four delicious, simple recipes that were specifically designed to create with your family or close friends. Many of the ingredients may already be in your fridge or pantry, but feel free to substitute like items in any of the recipes, especially in regard to herbs, oils and vinegar. In fact, sometimes nothing in the world is more satisfying than playing “mad scientist” in the kitchen, especially under the guidance of other family members.
Backyard Smoked Pork BUTT
It’s that time of year to crank up the grill and smoker, and nothing in the world is as satisfying as slow smoked pork shoulder. Buttery, smoky, and utterly delicious, we love pulled pork in a myriad ways: nestled against scrambled eggs for breakfast, thrown into corn tortillas with fresh pickles for lunch, or piled high with potato salad and grilled bread for dinner.
German Potato Salad
Our recipe is classic, simple, and fantastic as a side to fried chicken and bbq pork; in fact, my 15 year old (mostly vegetarian daughter) had seconds, then thirds at dinner last night. We use the base recipe first brought to the United States by German immigrants of onions, mustard, vinegar, sugar, and bacon that together create a flavor and experience unlike any other potato salad on the planet.
Pulling MUSSELS From a Shell
This is a Dighero family favorite; one of those dishes that make the entire house smell delicious with garlic, fresh herbs, and of course that unmistakable briny mussel that ignites our imaginations and memories of the sea. Most mussel recipes are relatively easy and quick to prepare, so we love this version that only takes about 30 minutes to prepare, which makes it a dish that is perfect for a weeknight dinner after a busy day.