Makes 4 to 6 servings
Homemade Pasta for Two on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is less about being in love and more about sharing love, whether that’s with a partner, a family member, or your very best friends. We may be biased, but here at The CIA, we don’t think there’s a much better way to show someone you care than to […]
How to Make a Pan Sauce with No Recipe
Just like you, we’re not making fully formed extravagant dinners every night of the week. Sometimes a basic pan-cooked protein + side is as good as it gets, like a sautéed chicken breast or seared pork chop. But just like the foundations of French cooking tell us, nothing makes a […]
Identifying Cuts of Meat
Knowing how to cook is more than knowing techniques, it’s also important to know all about the best ingredients for the dish you hope to prepare. Different cooking methods call for different cuts of meat, and the first step to making the right choice is simply understanding the physiology of […]
In Defense of Spam
Early in the semester, CIA students in my Food Writing course read “On Chicken Tenders,” by Helen Rosner, published in 2015 in Guernica. In this amusing but sincere defense of a derided, children’s menu staple, Rosner effectively argues against those who look down on ordering, eating, and celebrating the “perfect” […]
Kansas City Wet-Style Barbecue Pork Spareribs
Makes 6 servings Spareribs Ingredients 6 to 8 lb pork spareribs, baby back or St. Louis–style cut 1 cup prepared yellow mustard 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup onion powder 1/4 cup dry mustard powder 3 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 2 tablespoons kosher salt 1 tablespoon smoked […]
Making a Stew Without a Recipe
At it’s very most basic, a stew is bite-sized pieces of food cooked in a liquid, generally over low heat for an extended period. You can stew meat, poultry, fish, beans, vegetables, fruit—virtually anything—in broth, wine, beer, vinegar. Again, virtually anything. Stews are kitchen workhorses. You can make big batches […]
Meats for Low and Slow Cooking
Low and slow cooking is an ideal way to turn tough cuts of meat into tender, succulent roasts, braises, and barbecue.
More than a Trend: Bring Birria to Your Own Kitchen
If you spend any time on social media, you’ve surely seen photos of crispy, griddled birria tacos. Just the sight of them stops any foodie in their tracks. Melted cheese, golden brown and lacy around the edges. Tender meat, rich from hours stewed in chiles and tomatoes. And, of course, […]
New Mexican Green Chile Stew
Makes 5 servings Ingredients 1 cup dry white beans, soaked in water overnight 1 3/4 lb pork shoulder, cut into large dice 1 quart chicken stock 12 oz Anaheim peppers 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 1/2 cups small-dice onion 2 tablespoon minced garlic 3 cups medium-dice russet potatoes 1 tablespoon […]
Oven-Roasted Pork Butt with Pan Gravy
Makes 6 servings One 6- to 8-lb pork butt, bone in Rub Ingredients 2 tablespoons kosher salt 1 tablespoon sugar 2 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper 1 teaspoon caraway seeds Grated zest of 1 lemon Pan Gravy Ingredients 1 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped carrot 1/2 cup red wine […]
Pan-Steamed Cilantro and Pork Dumplings
Makes 8 servings Many hands make quick work, though if the company is good, why hurry? Gather your favorite sous chefs to prepare these flavorful dumplings, which are as fun to make as they are to eat. Remember, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and ugly dumplings are […]