Call Me Baby

Baby Back Spare Ribs

I recently realized that I was singing with wrong lyrics on Carly Rae Jepsen ‘s catchy hit song Call Me Maybe?  I sing loud and sometimes dance to the song - Call me baby – instead of maybe and this is crazy! I’m relieved to know that no one heard it, because I mainly sing in my car.

The above paragraph has nothing to do with the recipe. I just remembered it because of baby back ribs. Still too cold for barbeque outside, so I grilled it in the oven but if I ask my husband to barbeque he definitely would do it…even in the rain, wind… Hey, shut the door! Where you think you’re going, baby?  

Ingredients for 3 to 4 people

Equipment: steamer pan with lid

• 1 package of pork baby back ribs at least 18 ribs
• Sake about 1/4 cup
• Salt 2 teaspoons

1. Cut ribs to fit in your steamer rack but don’t put it in there yet.
2. Sprinkle sake and salt over ribs and rub it in. Leave it for 10 minutes.
3. Pour about a 2 cups of water in the steamer and put the lid on to boil water at medium high. 
4. When the steamer lets out steam then place ribs in the rack. Snuggle up to each other to fit.
5. Put the lid back on and steam for 40 minutes or so, check the water level half way through –add more hot water if necessary.

Make sauce and complete cooking  Note: This sauce is on the salty side, adjust miso paste and soy sauce for your liking.

Equipment: Line a 1 inch rimmed cookie sheet with foil; pastry brush

• Ketchup 4 Tablespoons
• Oyster sauce 4 Tablespoons
  
• Soy sauce 2 Tablespoons
• Miso paste 1 Tablespoon
• Tabasco 1 teaspoon or less
• Sesame Oil 1 Tablespoon
• Brown sugar 3 tablespoons (optional)
• Water 4 Tablespoons

1. Mix every thing well in a small bowl. Reserve 1/3rd of sauce in an another small bowl.
   
2. Heat oven to 400F
3. Glaze the steamed meat all over with 2/3rd of sauce using the pastry brush.
   
4. Bake it for 5-6 minutes. Glaze again with sauce and put it back in the oven.
5. Switched to Broil setting, broil or 2-4 minutes until edges get charred.
6. Cut meat along side of bone. Serve hot with reserved sauce.I grilled sweet potatoes and romaine lettuce too.

 

By the way, I like this part of the lyrics the best.

Before you came into my life
         I missed you so bad
   And you should know that        
    I missed you so, so bad

And I got the kick out of this video. Thank you troop for your service!!!

My son is deep into cooking now. He made bean burger which taste better than garden burger.
The oven baked cornmeal crusted cod was mighty fine!Cinnamon rolls were father and son efforts.

 

We three went to downtown Portland for ramen – new The House of RamenWe liked it!

Then we stopped for a cup of drinking chocolate at CACAO.Text me, maybe? You took your time with the call.I never go home empty handed. I’m so, so bad!I like the white chocolate with spicy passion fruit filling – spicy and sour.The smoky blue cheese chocolate spread. This is crazy! It’s hard to look right but this one is either sweet or savory. Yummmm.

These caramels are what my son wanted. I’m spoiled, I only eat Hokkaido caramel.

Then I checked out YO Vintage shop across the street from CACAO. The vintage Lizwear for $23, now you’re in my way!

Whole Foods on the same street (13th street) has a special feel to it. Hello gorgeous..I looked to you as it fell… Your stare was holdin’ .

I have many left over strawberries from other projects. I needed to address it before the spoilage.This is strawberry sauce. So very easy to make and not overly sweet. Put on yogurt or……on the cornbread my husband made the other day instead of jam.

Strawberry sauce

• Strawberries 400g Wash, remove stems and cut in half or quarter.
• Water 100cc
• Sugar 60g or more/less depending on your preference

1. Cook strawberries and water in a sauce pan at medium heat. Stir and crush the fruits with wooden spoon, 3-4 minutes.
2. Scoop off white foamy scum when it appears on top of the surface. Repeat as necessary This step is rather important for better tasting sauce. Approximately 8 minutes.
3. Add sugar and cook more until the fruits loose shape. About 10 minutes.
4. Strain through sieve and put in a clean jar/container. Keep in the refrigerator and use within 2 weeks.

If you have a question, here’s my number, so call me, maybe?

 

 

Grilling Lesson

Everything Barbeque

My husband doesn’t know why but he was asked to teach a barbeque class to group of women in our church. Heck, I don’t know either because he barely barbeques. I suspect it is partially something to do with unpredictable Oregon weather? As though he doesn’t like to cook in rain?  Whatever, I have no time to wonder – get ready for the event-like mow the lawn. Shoot I should have told my son to mow it while we were in Florida. On Saturday, instead of unpacking the suitcase, we started watering garden and nightmarish weeding!  4 hours and 7 minutes later I retired from weeding. Our yard still looked shabby but…Oh look at the clock! It’s almost supper time on the East Cost!

We washed up and propped up in the sofa after dinner and watched DVR’d ‘American Ninja Warrior’ This show is adapted from popular Japanese TV competition show called ‘Sasuke’. We love to see inhuman performances and wowed by their commitment and grueling effort, often don’t-try-this-at-home dangerous training is shown in their profile video. So how about our grilling? What are we going to make? I asked my husband. I dunno, what are you going to make?  He answers back in question form (how irritating!) Well, you better come up with a plan fast or it’s going to be last minute chaos.

Copies of Orange and soy sauce glazed baby back ribs and Apricot glazed chicken kabobs found in my recipe file which probably from Bon Appetite magazine. Though both have fruity soy flavor, use different kind of meats so I say go with it. Plus I wanted to try these recipes for a long time, this would be perfect opportunity I thought.

Orange and soy sauce glazed ribs

• 3-4 lb. Ribs, cut into individual ribs.
• 1 cup Soy sauce divided
• 9 garlic cloves, minced, divided
• 5 teaspoons Cumin seeds, divided
• 3 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes (or less if you don’t like it quite so spicy), divided.
• 3 Tablespoons olive oil
• 6 Scallions, finely chopped
• 1-1/2 cups fresh orange juice
• Zest from 1 orange
• Zest from 1 lemon

1. Put ribs in a large pot. add 1/2 cup soy sauce, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 teaspoon cumin seeds and 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes.
2. Add water till it just covers the ribs. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer.
3. Cover with lid ajar and cook until ribs are tender, about 2 hours. Drain and set aside.
4. Heat oil in a small sauce pan over medium heat and add remaining red pepper flakes and cumin seeds. Toast lightly about 30 seconds.
5. Add remaining garlic, scallions.Sauté till just soft,
6. Add remaining soy sauce, orange juice and honey. Bring to boil and cook till sauce is thick-about 15 minutes.
7. Preheat BBQ to hot. Brush ribs with sauce and cook until sauce bubbles. Turn and brush with sauce.
8. Transfer to a plate and drizzle sauce over if desired. Sprinkle citrus zest and enjoy.

Apricot glazed kabobs

• 1 jar Apricot preserves (10oz)
• 2 Tablespoons Soy sauce
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Chicken thighs-2-3 pounds or 1 thigh per person
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon black pepper

1. Put preserve in a 2 cup glass bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds.  Stir in soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic. Put 3/4 cup of sauce in a large zip-top-bag.
2. Cut chicken thighs (pork tenderloins are also a good choice) into bite size pieces. Add chicken to bag and marinate for 30 minutes or more at room temperature.
3. Remove chicken from bag and discard marinade. Spray the skewer with non-stick spray.Skewer chicken. Preheat BBQ to medium–high heat.
4. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
5. Put on BBQ and baste with 1/2 of the reserved mixture. Grill 3-4 minutes.
6. Turn and baste again with mixture. Grill another 3-4 minutes.

We barbequed water melon wedges, nectarine, and zucchini also. Someone brought chips and awesome homemade salsa. With kale salad, macaroni and cheese, and fruits tart I made, BBQ class turn to little get together party. It was hectic but we had lots of help too. My neighbor friend came early to give us a hand, she also went back to her house to get an ingredient we forgot to buy. Some ladies even stay behind to wash dishes. We appreciate you all very much.He is the only guy besides my husband. Trying to take the skins off of garlic. I swear he is 7 foot tall. His daughter on right is also very lean. Lovely girl.This little girl is so sweet. Kale salad

Fruit tart

 

Father’s Day

The morning was spent in church service. Not whole lot of time for an elaborate meal for Father’s Day dinner. We simply barbequed salmon and some vegetables. I made Dreamy Dessert with fresh picked strawberries from back yard for dessert. I don’t tell him enough but he is a great guy-often funny, always smart, usually kind and he has impeccable taste in women. He is not perfect but he is perfect in a sense and cute. Happy Father’s Day! Love you.Grilled beans and eringiPotato saladGrilled salmon with lemon kewpie sauce.Dreamy Russian cream

Strawberries in our back yard are flavorful .My husband loves chocolate.

Our neighbor friend brought bouquet of calla lilies growing in her yard. Striking looking!Too bad it is out of focus.I’m grateful for her kindness.