2+2 Cookbook...

[elwoodblues]

ED: Read this whole post as well as my followup post. This thread is for people interested in cooking the same thing and working on/comparing receipe improvements with each other. Let's try that out and see how it works before posting new recipes. Actually, this gives me an idea....


Let's conduct our own test kitchen...Here's the plan. Each week (or so) someone will post a favorite recipe. The recipe will be critiqued/tested/altered/amended as group members test the recipe over the next few days. THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE WHAT'S COOKING THREADS: group members have a responsibility to try the recipe and make suggestions for improvement. After a while, we should have a pretty good recipe collection going.

Recipe Criteria:
Relatively easy (common ingredients/tools)
Easily Scalable (should be easy to scale up or down to make for a family or just 1 or 2)
Delicious (goes without saying)


Recipe #1
Cola Pork Chops

4 boneless pork chops
4 C Coke
1/2 C course salt
1 jalapeno
1 bay leaf
1 crushed garlic clove

Chop jalapeno and combine w/ coke, salt, garlic and bay leaf in large bowl. Place pork chops in brine mixture and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

Rinse and pat chops dry. Grill (using indirect method) for ~20 minutes (can use wood chips for smoke flavor if desired.) During last 5 minutes brush glaze (recipe below) on chops.)

Jalapeno Coke glaze:
1/2 C coke
2 T lime juice
1 C brown sugar
1 jalapeno

Bring all ingredients to boil...simmer 5 to 7 minutes.

[adsman]

Cola pork chops? Are you serious? I'm not taking the piss here, I'm truly surprised by this culinary combination. And that's a hell of a lot of salt you're throwing in there.

[elwoodblues]

Totally serious...you have to try it to believe it. Different: Yes. Delicious: Yes. The salt is just to create a brine solution (its also course/kosher salt) It helps to keep chops moist.

[El Diablo]

All,

I think this project requires enough effort by people that it might take a little longer to get a good number of people trying the recipes.

To keep the thread on track, a couple of rules to try out.

Only posts allowed in this thread are questions/comments about the recipe.

Once someone has tried the recipe themselves, they can post a recipe of their own for everyone to try and comment on.

Let's see how that goes for a bit. I think we have enough cooks around here to have at least a good handful try out each dish.

[KJS]

Will try it soon, by next Monday.

So really no heat directly under the chops? I have a gas grill with 2 sides. Heat one only, put chops on the other side?

KJS

[guids]

ED: <quids recipe holding 'til later>

[Reef]

ED: <Reef's recipe holding 'til later>

[Victor]

ED: <Victor's recipe holding 'til later>

[KJS]

Uh, let's not ruin this thread by adding new recipes just yet.

As El D said:

"Only posts allowed in this thread are questions/comments about the recipe.

Once someone has tried the recipe themselves, they can post a recipe of their own for everyone to try and comment on."

I would hate to see this locked now before it has a chance to work.

KJS

[elwoodblues]

[ QUOTE ]
So really no heat directly under the chops? I have a gas grill with 2 sides. Heat one only, put chops on the other side?

[/ QUOTE ]

I rarely cook on gas, but that sounds right. Anyone who cooks with gas want to comment on indirect cooking on a gas grill?

I would think that you would preheat grill, put chops on unlit side for about 20 minutes. Because each grill is different and you are cooking pork, make sure to check internal temperature before taking off the grill. Leave the lid on for the whole 20 minutes. You lose a lot of heat by opening the lid.