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Season the Pork. Rub the pork shoulder down with a bit of olive oil and your preferred seasoning blend. You can also use yellow mustard to rub down the pork, which is a popular method. But one of my absolute favorite meats to smoke is good old pork shoulder. Yes! Smoked Pulled Pork is the best. Pork shoulder is one of the easiest proteins to prepare. It is so hugely flavorful and filled with delicious fat, it just falls apart so easily when you cook it nice and low and slow....

Paprika comes from grinding dry pods of bell pepper or other chili peppers. It adds a rich color to your meal and enhances the overall appearance of your dish. But, what if you run out of this amazing spice? Here are a few suggestions to help you. Chili powder is usually used as a seasoning spice made with a combination of chili pepper base and made up cumin and garlic powder....

Easy One Pan Pesto Chicken Recipe I really wanted to call this One Pan Parmesan Pesto Chicken with Potatoes, Broccoli and Carrots, instead of Sheet Pan, because you only use ONE pan and ONE bowl to prep this meal – that’s it! So can we say its one-pan-ish? Regardless of its name, this Baked Parmesan Pesto Chicken Recipe is uber convenient to make and to clean up. Its for either those busy, hectic nights OR those so tired, just-want-to-finally-sit nights when making dinner sounds exhausting....

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H. Pickled mustard seeds are much different from mustard in so many ways. Let’s discuss this interesting condiment. Let’s talk about how we make them, shall we?...

There are some days where I’ll cook up an entire meal like rice, dal or curry, veggie, and some salad. Then there are some days when I really don’t feel like cooking at all and also do not wish to resort to that last option of take-out food. This Instant Pot quinoa pilaf is apt for those days! It doesn’t need much prep work and makes for a wholesome meal....

Cumin Powder is a core spice for Pakistani and Indian cooking. It is also commonly used in Middle Eastern, and Mexican cuisine. It’s a versatile spice that can be used to add depth and flavor to a wide variety of dishes, depending on how it’s used. Do I need to make Roasted Zeera Powder? For the longest time I put making bhunna zeera powder in the category of things that I definitely don’t have time to do....

Lassi is one of the most popular beverages in India to beat the soaring temperatures! While the classic lassi is amazing just by itself, you can definitely perk it up by adding different flavors to make a variety of flavored lassis. This rose lassi is a delectable twist to the traditional lassi. It is flavored with rose syrup, which not only adds a delicious rose flavor but also adds a gorgeous pink hue to this lassi....

Happy National Pasta Day! Today I’m celebrating with this ridiculously delicious Lightened Up Salsa Verde Pepper Jack Macaroni and Cheese because Mexican food + creamy pasta = my dreams come true. And hopefully yours too! I loooooove Macaroni and Cheese from my Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese to Beefy Buffalo Mac and Cheese to my Million Dollar Macaroni and Cheese and I loooove salsa verde from my Homemade Salsa Verde to my Salsa Verde Chicken to my Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas....

Brussels Sprouts Recipe I didn’t grow up on Brussels sprouts because my mom didn’t think she liked them – that’s because she never has had these Sautéed Brussels sprouts. My first introduction to Brussels sprouts was from a neighbor years ago. She said her favorite food in the world was Brussels sprouts – she said just saute them with a little butter, garlic and you have the best food in the world....

Like most Indo Chinese dishes, it hardly takes much time for schezwan potatoes to come together. Prepping up your ingredients is the key! Here, boiled and fried baby potatoes are tossed in a schezwan sauce base. It is of course much easier if you have the sauce already which is the main ingredient here. I love to prepare this schezwan sauce in a big batch and store it, when I run out of ideas or I want quick meals, this is a life saver....

Continuing with my series of traditional Goan Christmas sweets here on the blog, let’s talk about these sweet diamond cuts! Shankapali is yet another treat that’s prepared during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, and Christmas. It also happens to be one of the things that are served in the Kuswar i.e Goan Christmas sweet platter distributed to family and friends. But really, these can be prepared any time of the year, for they are perfect to snack on if you aren’t counting calories 😀...

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H. This chili is filled with a mix beef short ribs and Mexican chorizo, which is a spicy ground pork blend. The chili is simmered low and slow with fire roasted tomatoes, lots of spices, as well as chili beans, until the short ribs are melt-in-your-mouth tender....

Our family took a trip to Okinawa – the most southern islands of Japan last December. Since it was winter time, we didn’t get to enjoy the famed beautiful sandy beaches but there are so many activities to do on the island. From visiting the caves at Okinawa World to seeing the giant whale sharks at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, we got to experience the many personalities of Okinawa and of course, ate all different types of Okinawan food....

Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy (customizable) Pineapple Salsa Pork – crazy good, flavorful filling for burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, salads, etc. In addition to weekly meals, I love making this for company because its SO good, easy and versatile! Have you tried my Slow Cooker Pineapple Salsa Chicken? Its one of my all time favorite recipes, so naturally, I wanted another way to devour the slightly tangy, sweet and spicy flavors so Slow Cooker Pineapple Salsa Pork was born....

PIN THIS RECIPE TO SAVE FOR LATER What is Cacio e pepe? Before Patrick and I toured Italy this past fall (see my IG highlights), I wasn’t familiar with Cacio e Pepe, and now I am obsessed! It was on every restaurant menu in Rome because it is pure addicting, creamy, tangy, slurp worthy comfort food (and perfect for upcoming Valentine’s Day!). I promise you will crave it like crazy – I’m sorry and you’re welcome....

If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! – Mike H. Of course you can marinate any cut you’d like. The choice is yours. A good marinade will help you enjoy those tougher cuts, which are much more affordable, yet no less flavorful. Since you’re here, I assume you’re like me and you want your marinade and the resulting flavors they offer to have a bit of a kick to them....

It’s been ages since I last shared some dessert recipes here on the blog. I am sure you have already guessed from the title that my next post is going to be cheesecake and this strawberry topping is what I have used to top that lovely New York style Instant Pot cheesecake. I’m not really a fan of canned fruit toppings, but do use it in a pinch, as I did for my cheesecake jars....

Thai food is my absolute favorite with its symphony of savory, salty, sour flavors! Don’t miss Tom Kha Gai, Thai Chicken Noodle Soup, Red Curry Chicken, Panang Curry or Pad Thai. How to Make Crockpot Coconut Curry Chicken Video Thai Chicken Curry Ingredients Restaurant-worthy Thai chicken curry is at your fingertips! The ingredient list may look long, but keep in mind, we’re just dumping all of the ingredients in the slow cooker – no searing or sautéing required!...

These days, bento boxes have become synonymous with lunch boxes. I have seen so many wonderful bento lunch boxes filled with all kinds of food – from American comfort food, Tex-Mex, Indian, Italian to fusion – and it makes me really happy that the bento culture has gone global. As a Japanese mother, packing bento boxes for my two children is the ultimate act of love. And I believe it is the same no matter your background....

I’ve grown up eating this cake and it’s one of my favorite tea time cakes. Britannia fruit cakes are popular for this specific cake, I don’t even have a count of how many I may have eaten! I don’t mind eating it as a snack too. Ingredients needed This is a pretty simple cake that uses a basic vanilla cake recipe. It’s made using the usual suspects like; Flour Butter Eggs Granulated sugar Milk or buttermilk Leavening agents i....