bourbon barbecue ribs

bourbon_barbecue_ribs_fathers_day_1If you really want to make Shan’s outrageously delicious brownies you are going to need some bourbon.  3 tablespoons to be precise.  This leaves quite a bit of whiskey goodness in the bottle.  The way I see it you have two choices – drink the leftover bourbon (a perfectly logical decision) or make yourself some mouthwatering ribs.  My man wanted to ribs and I aim to please (or maybe I wanted to post something meaty for Father’s Day…).

Meat in general is always scary for me due to the fact that a. I do not prepare or make it often and b. have to rely on others comments because it’s not something I consume.  With that being said I do enjoy making new things, regardless of whether or not I eat them.  Admittedly barbecue ribs at home had me a little hesitant – I feel like all over the country masters have their secret recipes and the ribs have to cook for hours on end in a very specific way.  When I spied this recipe on pinterest however I was sold.  The ribs are beautiful and the recipe, including a homemade sauce, could not be simpler.

First, combine your spices, you’re going to rub the ribs with this mixture later.

bourbon_barbecue_ribs_fathers_day_2Next grab a paring knife and remove the filmy membrane from the bone side of the rack.  This step was not my favorite.  At all.  (In fact editing the picture of it made my stomach turn a bit.)  After that disgusting task is complete you can rub your meat with spices, wrap in foil and stick in oven for 2.5 hours.

bourbon_barbecue_ribs_fathers_day_3While ribs are in the oven it’s time to whip up the sauce.  You get to use something called “liquid smoke”.  I opted not to read the label of what ingredients make up such a product, some things are better left not knowing.

bourbon_barbecue_ribs_fathers_day_4Once ribs are finished baking let them come to room temperature and set in the fridge overnight.  This will ensure that the meat stays on the bone while grilling.  And speaking of grilling all you have to do is baste those babies with the sauce a few times and they are ready to serve.

bourbon_barbecue_ribs_fathers_day_5 bourbon_barbecue_ribs_fathers_day_6bourbon_barbecue_ribs_fathers_day_7Serve ribs with extra sauce and beer (or bourbon).  According to the carnivores in my immediate family these were absolutely delicious.  Whether they were lying or not I cannot say for sure.  (But seriously, who’s going to tell a 9 month pregnant woman her food stinks?  A crazy person, that’s who.)  I can say with certainty though that they look impressive, smell amazing and came off the bone with little effort.  If I did eat meat I would give these babies a try.  According to my husband he will be eating these again and again.  Sounds like someone has some mastering of filmy membrane removal ahead of him…

Happy Barbecue-ing!

 

brandyjsig

 

 

bourbon barbecue ribs
 
Ingredients
  • 2 racks of baby back pork ribs
  • ⅓ cup packed dark brown sugar
  • ¼ cup smoked paprika
  • 2 tbs cayenne pepper
  • 2 tbs garlic powder
  • 2 tbs onion powder
  • 1 tbs ginger powder
  • 2 tbs kosher salt
  • 1 tbs ground black pepper
  • Ingredients for bourbon BBQ sauce:
  • 2 cups bourbon
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • ½ packed brown sugar
  • 2 tbs molasses
  • 2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbs malt vinegar
  • 1 tsp liquid smoke
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Remove the filmy membrane on the bone side of the rack. This material blocks flavor reaching the meat and will make the ribs tough. With a paring knife, start at one end of the rack and carefully peel the membrane away from the surface of the last bone. Use a paper towel to grip and remove it with one easy motion. (Slow and steady wins the race here.)
  3. Combine all spices and rub 2 to 3 tbs into each side of rib racks. Store leftover rub in airtight container for future use.
  4. Wrap racks separately in foil and place in oven for 2.5 hours.
  5. While ribs are baking, combine the wet ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat until the sauce has reduced to about half.
  6. After the ribs have finished baking, let them cool to room temperature and leave them in the fridge overnight.
  7. Turn your gas grill to medium high. Brush both sides of racks before placing on grill. Baste and turn frequently until the sauce is caramelized and charred.

recipe from Honestly Yum

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bourbon bacon pecan brownies

bacon_bourbon_pecan_ brownies_fathers_day_dessert_1 Savory and sweet, these are by far the manliest brownies I have ever made.  A shot of bourbon, crunchy pecans and yes, bacon.  I had to work up my courage to try them because I know that bacon in sweets is all the rage right now- but something about it feels wrong to me.  With Father’s Day in mind, however, I thought it was now or never for a bacon experiment.  One bite and it all became clear, I am no longer a sceptic.  Bacon just might have a place on a brownie.. at least for Father’s Day. bacon_bourbon_pecan_ brownies_fathers_day_dessert_2bacon_bourbon_pecan_ brownies_fathers_day_dessert_3 These brownies are a bit more work than buying and whipping up a premixed box for Dad, but if you’re really trying to treat your guy I promise they are worth the extra effort.  All of the texture, combined with the savory bacon and unmistakable hint of bourbon makes these brownies extra special! bacon_bourbon_pecan_ brownies_fathers_day_dessert_4

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This Father’s Day I am feeling extra grateful for Josh, and the other men in our lives.  Being a great dad goes so unnoticed in our society today, and too many times the ones that are screaming from the rooftops about what a great dad they are, are not.  The ones that truly are fly under the radar.. they don’t need you to know how deeply they love their families, it just shows.  It’s in moments that he could lay her in bed but chooses to snuggle her a few minutes longer instead.  The times that he reads the same Belinda Ballerina book 3 times in a row without complaint, because she wants to hear it one more time.  It’s in the moments that I catch him staring at her in the rear view mirror, with a grin on his face that I never saw before having her.  365 days a year, 24 hours a day, a job that never ends and you can’t take breaks from.   These dads, they certainly deserve more than one day a year on our calendar.  Their payment comes in the form of tiny kisses on the cheek, the sleepy “I love you daddy” she murmurs in the early morning hours.  Little moments that can not be captured on a camera, they just live in our hearts.. shouting louder than any words ever could, telling the stories of our lives, the grounding moments that make the world stop spinning.

Take time this weekend to really show your guy some love, because they may not always get the recognition that they deserve, but we certainly appreciate them. (And nothing shows him appreciation more than bacon.  Seriously.)

shansig

 

bourbon bacon pecan brownies
 
Ingredients
  • ½ lb sliced bacon, cooked (with fat reserved)
  • 8 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
  • 2 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
  • 1 stick plus 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp reserved bacon fat
  • 3 tbsp bourbon
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1½ cups all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F and line a 9-inch square pan with parchment paper. Spray the paper with vegetable oil and set aside.
  2. Cook the bacon over medium heart until crisp, draining on paper towels when done. Reserve 3 tbsp of the fat from the pan.
  3. In a saucepan melt chocolate with the butter, stirring frequently. Scrape into your mixer bowl (a large bowl and a hand mixer can be used also!), add sugars and bacon fat and beat well. Add the bourbon, followed by the eggs and the salt. Sift in the flour and cocoa powder. Beat until combined.
  4. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, and use a spatula to evenly spread. Add the chopped pecans and bacon to the top, pressing down on them very gently.
  5. Bake for about 50 minutes, until edges are set. A toothpick will not come out clean from the center, but it will set while cooling. Cut into squares once cool and enjoy!

bacon_bourbon_pecan_ brownies_fathers_day_dessert_6
{Original recipe by Food and Wine }

 

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diy mosquito bite relief

Nothing ruins a good summer time more than being eaten up by pesky mosquitoes.  And if you are anything like me they prefer you to all other guests (I read somewhere that Type O negative blood is their favorite, this holds true in my world).  Sure there are plenty of tricks to repelling the nasty blood suckers (like Shan’s fantastic natural spray).  But when not prepared you can become attacked fast leaving you with those annoying “just have to scratch” bites.  Here are some quick home remedy tricks that curb the itch:

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If you do not have any of these remedies on hand you can always do the old “make an x in the center of the bite with your fingernail”.  Or simply scratch till you bleed (yeah, we see the scars…).

Do you have any home remedies for relieving mosquito bites?

 

brandyjsig

 

 

 

Posted in diy, health & fitness, skin | Tagged | 2 Comments

full term wild (37 weeks)

My apologies for lack of variety in the maternity fashion department.  Here I am again, in another maxi dress.  Wait, is that a belt?  Yep, I went crazy and added one.  Truth is I feel great in a maxi and if a girl feels great in something at full term she sticks with it.

maternity_style_fashion_37_weeks_maxi_dress_1 maternity_style_fashion_37_weeks_maxi_dress_3 maternity_style_fashion_37_weeks_maxi_dress_2A week and a half ago a strange feeling came over me that baby boy was coming early.  Fast forward to today however and he seems nice and cozy – very much the way his big sis felt towards the end.  If he decides to hold out till due date that is more than okay with me.  Yes I have to sleep with 20 pillows, feel utterly exhausted at times and can’t go 5 minutes without a trip to the bathroom.  Yet I love having him in there and already know that bittersweet feeling of a pregnancy ending.  So there is no rush lil’ man, we know we will be snuggling you soon enough.

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|WEARING| H&M maxi dress/sandals similar/braided belt similar

 

brandyjsig

 

 

 

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national doughnut day 2014

donut_june_2014_1If there was ever a good excuse to devour a doughnut it would be that it is “National Doughnut Day”.  The first Friday of every June marks this sweet holiday.  Powdered, glazed, topped with sprinkles – these guilty pleasures are as fun to look at as they are to eat.  So much fun in fact that they have found themselves trending into more categories than just pastries.  Here are some of our favorites:

donut_june_20141Big Mouth Toys ‘The Munchies” Pool Float this may be the most instgrammed pool float ever.  Maybe it’s because it’s a lot less calories to sit in a doughnut than it is to eat one. 2Forever 21 Donut Print Bodysuit this has Carrie Bradshaw written all over it. 3Bread, Cake, Doughnut, Pudding one of Britain’s best bakers recently published a book that included secrets to making the best pastries.  We love this for the gorgeous photography alone. 4Apple iPhone 5c Assorted Donut Phone Cover the perfect way to carry your obsession with you wherever you go. 5Green Mountain Mini-Baked Summer USA Mini Donuts 4th of July is coming up – these adorable guys are begging to be on the picnic table! 6Ceramic Donut Coin Bank a fabulous gift for anyone obsessed with sprinkles and pink icing (that would be our daughters).

Cheers to doughnuts! (If you are not enjoying one by now what are you waiting for?!)

 

double_name

 

 

 

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