food

Food

Kansas City Rib Rub
(from here, enough for 2 racks of ribs):

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup paprika
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cayenne

Kansas City Barbecue Sauce
(from here, enough for 4 racks of ribs):

2 cups tomato sauce or ketchup
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
5 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp paprika
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp chipotle powder (optional)
4 finely chopped garlic cloves
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
Salt to taste
Cayenne to taste

In a small pot:
1) Heat up the butter, fry up the onion until brown, add garlic and fry for another 2 minutes.
2) Add everything else, simmer for at least half an hour, the longer the better.

Ribs

I'm assuming a standard Weber grill.

1) Start the coals. I usually start a fire and then place a chimney of coals over it. It's possible to start the coals without the fire.
2) While the coals heat up, pat the ribs dry, slash the back side thoroughly with a knife (you're supposed to take "film" off, but I never manage), and cover both sides with the rub. Ideally, marinade in the fridge overnight.
3) Spread the coals out in the grill, just on the right side of it, and add some wood.
4) Place a loaf pan full of water over the coals, on the right side of the grill. This will keep the the coals cool.

5) Place the ribs on the left side of the grill, in a rib rack if you have one.
6) Close the grill, leaving the vent on top and the vent on the bottom just barely open.
7) Grill for 2 hours, then wrap the ribs in foil and grill for two more hours.
8) Uncover the ribs and smother them in bbq sauce. Grill for another hour.

One chimney of coals is enough for the full 5 hours, as long as you keep the temperature low. Don't open the grill unless you need to, but make sure there's a stream of smoke&steam coming out the top. Add water to the pan as necessary.

Boston Cream Cake

Desserts

The recipe is a bit complicated, but worth the trouble. Taken from the Fannie Farmer Cookbook.

Batter
Ingredients
6 Tbsp butter
1 c sugar
2 eggs, separated
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups cake flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 c milk

Cooking
1) Preheat oven to 350F, butter and lightly flour two 8-inch round pans.
2) Microwave butter on low until a little soft, then beat (cream).
3) Slowly add the sugar, beating until light.
4) Add yolks and vanilla, beat to blend well.
5) Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl, mix together.
6) Alternate blending dry ingredients and milk in, in 3 stages. Beat until smooth.
7) Separately, beat the egg whites until stiff. Stir 1/3 in, fold the rest in gently.
8) Bake 30-35 minutes, then cool.

Filling
Ingredients
1 c milk
1/2 c sugar
3 tbsp flour
1/8 tsp salt
2 egg yolks
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Cooking
1) Assemble the ingredients.
2) Heat milk in a pan until very hot, stirring constantly.
3) Add sugar, flour, salt very quickly.
4) Cook until very thick (~5 minutes), stirring constantly.
5) Add the egg yolks, cook another ~5 minutes, stirring constantly.
6) Remove from heat, add vanilla, and cool, stirring occasionally.
7) Cover and refrigerate.

Combining
Ingredients
4 1/2 oz semisweet chocolate (Ghirardelli is good)
3 Tbsp butter

Assembly
1) Spread filling between the two pieces of cake.
2) Microwave chocolate and butter together in the microwave on low until butter melts.
3) Blend the chocolate/butter mixture and cover the cake with it.
4) Refrigerate.

Coffee Cake

Desserts

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
4 Tbsp butter
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 Tbsp sugar mixed with 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 F.
Mix sugar, flour, baking powder, then use fingers to mix in butter.
Add egg and milk and mix up.
Put into 8 inch square pan (buttered) and sprinkle with mixture.
Bake for 20 minutes.

Борщ (Borscht)

Soups

Standard Russian/Ukranian soup, based on my dad's recipe. Takes about 2 hours to make, but it's not difficult - just a lot of chopping. I'm usually not very precise with the amount of each ingredient, so I'll give ranges rather than precise numbers. Careful with the beet - it'll make everything red.

Ingredients:
Beef - 2-3 lb
Beet - 1 (standard-potato-sized)
Potatoes - 2-3
Carrots - 3 (medium carrots)
Onion
Red bell pepper
Cabbage - about 3 potatoes' worth
Tomato paste - half a can
Dry dill weed - teaspoon? tablespoon?
Salt, pepper, oil