Recipe: Pork Belly with Pineapple-Avocado Salsa

If you like bacon, I’ll do you one better. Pork belly is basically uncured bacon. It’s delicious and full of flavor. Combine it with a fresh, citrusy salsa for one of your new favorite recipes. If you are inclined, wrap it in a warm corn tortilla for tacos that’ll make your tastebuds slap your eyeballs silly.

Here’s the recipe for Pork Belly with Pineapple-Avocado Salsa (PDF).

Ingredients:

2 lbs pork belly, 2-3” slab
2 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp cumin

Salsa:
2 c pineapple, diced
½ medium red onion, diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
1 avocado
2 limes, juiced
1 orange, juiced

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.

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Podcast: Episode 11 – Dietary McCarthyism

Master Your Kitchen

I have two tools for you to improve your cooking. First, there’s . This course is 36 video lessons to perfect the 12 most essential cooking methods. If you want to be able to have amazing food every single time you cook, you need to know how to execute these cooking methods flawlessly.

Cookbook Update In The Works

The second tool is The Real Food University Cookbook. Now, there’s no excuse for eating boring food! is currently nearly 200 Beef, Pork, Seafood, Poultry, and Sides & Salads recipes for $15.…

Why You Should Build A Relationship With Farmers

A couple of weeks ago, I was reminded of why it’s important to build a relationship with your local farmers. One of my favorite local farmers, Jim, decided to retire from the pork and beef business. This was a guy that I’d spend 15-30 minutes talking to most Saturdays at the farmer’s market, whether I needed any of his products or not.

To expedite the process, he sold his remaining pigs at $1 per pound of live weight, plus the processing fee. Edie and I decided that we really liked that price and wanted to stock our freezer now that we’re not living in a truck.…

Thanksgiving Menu: No-Bake Apple Tart

This is an absolutely awesome no-bake apple tart. For the crust, I’m using a trick I learned from my wonderful girlfriend who is quite the baker. We’re plumping the dates here to make them stickier, which makes for a much nicer crust. It holds together better and has a sweeter taste without adding much of anything to it other than a little apple juice: No-Bake Apple Tart.

If you want to download this to your computer, here’s a PDF of it: No-Bake Apple Tart.

For added fun and flavor, you can add bourbon or rum to the soaking liquid for the dates.…

Thanksgiving Menu: Pumpkin Mousse

No holiday dinner is complete without a little dessert. This mousse finishes the Thanksgiving extravaganza off nicely with just enough sweetness to satisfy your sweet tooth: Pumpkin Mousse.

If you want to download this to your computer, here’s a PDF of it: Pumpkin Mousse.

This makes about 6 ramekins like you see in the pictures above. Adjust accordingly depending on the size of your crowd.

Ingredients:

1 can coconut milk
1 c pumpkin puree (made from scratch or canned)
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
½ c honey
1 tbsp arrowroot
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp ginger
½ tsp nutmeg
¼ tsp salt

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

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Thanksgiving Menu: Rosemary Sweet Potatoes with Goat Cheese

Sweet potatoes might be the most quintessential Thanksgiving food, right after turkey. Unfortunately, they’re usually made with 6 tons of sugar. This savory recipe covers your sweet potato fix without stunning your taste buds with too much sugar: Rosemary Sweet Potatoes with Goat Cheese.

If you want to download this to your computer, here’s a PDF of it: Rosemary Sweet Potatoes with Goat Cheese.

Depending on the size of your crowd, you’ll want to upsize the amounts in this recipe.

Ingredients:

4 lbs sweet potatoes, diced
4 oz butter
8 oz goat cheese
2 tbsp rosemary, minced
2 tbsp coriander
4 cloves garlic, minced
¼ c honey
¼ c pecans, chopped

Directions:

1. Cover sweet potatoes with water and bring to a boil.

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Thanksgiving Menu: Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

This is the perfect way to get your guests to love Brussels sprouts. This is my favorite way to eat these little balls of flavor, loaded with delicious seasonings and nutrition: Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

If you want to download this to your computer, here’s a PDF of it: Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

Depending on the size of your crowd, you’ll want to upsize the amounts in this recipe.

Ingredients:

2 lbs Brussels sprouts, stems removed, sliced in half
½ red onion, sliced
6 cloves garlic, diced
2 tbsp oregano, chopped
¼ c olive oil
¼ c balsamic vinegar
1/3 c Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees.

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Thanksgiving Menu: Sage Green Beans with Pinenuts

Sage is a perfect addition to any fall or winter meal, particularly Thanksgiving. You can get this side on the table in no time, leaving more time to spend with your family and friends: Sage Green Beans with Pinenuts.

If you want to download this to your computer, here’s a PDF of it: Sage Green Beans with Pinenuts.

Depending on the size of your crowd, you’ll want to upsize the amounts in this recipe.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp butter
½ c sage, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 lbs green beans, trimmed
½ tsp salt
1 c water
¼ c pinenuts

Directions:

1. In a medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat, then cook sage 1-2 minutes, until it starts to wilt and blacken.

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Thanksgiving Menu: Ginger Carrots

This simple side will go perfectly next to your turkey, sweet potatoes, and other sides. The ginger and honey add the slightest hint of sweetness that matches the herbs and spices that are typical of Thanksgiving: Ginger Carrots.

If you want to download this to your computer, here’s a PDF of it: Ginger Carrots.

Depending on the size of your crowd, you’ll want to upsize the amounts in this recipe.

Ingredients:

1 lb carrots, sliced
¼ c butter
1 tbsp honey
½” ginger, grated
½ lemon, juiced

Directions:

1. Melt butter and stir in honey, ginger, and lemon juice.
2. In a baking dish, spread carrots thinly.

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Thanksgiving Menu: Cuban Stuffed Turkey

This turkey has a non-traditional flavor that your guests will flip for. How can you not love a stuffing that adds eggs and 3 more types of meat to your Thanksgiving meal? Cuban Stuffed Turkey.

If you want to download this to your computer, here’s a PDF of it: Cuban Stuffed Turkey.

(If you’re looking for a more traditional turkey, you’ll probably like this recipe for Turkey with Cran-Apple Sage Stuffing that I posted last year.)

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Mix all asado ingredients and rub all over turkey, inside and out.

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