Behind the Bites

Sweet and Smoky Spice Rubbed Pork Chops

A very simple pork barbecue rub featuring brown sugar, smoked paprika and cumin. The brown sugar creates a caramelized crust on the meat and is loaded with flavor. This is a great rub for pork as well as chicken. Ingredients Step 1 Make Spice RubThoroughly combine all seasonings in a…
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Reuben Smash Tacos

Corned beef on rye bread with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and 1000 Island dressing (or Russian dressing depending on the maker) is a basic Reuben sandwich. To make it a taco I swap the bread for a tortilla and add a ground pork patty. Caraway seeds are responsible for a large…
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Make a Box Cake Taste Like a Baker’s Cake

Most box cake directions call for water, oil and three eggs. Using milk, butter and four eggs instead of three provides the cake with the richness and moisture of one made from scratch or by a baker. The recipe I made for this post uses Strawberry Cake Mix, Cream Cheese…
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Roasted Chicken Salsa Verdé

Spice rubbed roasted chicken with salsa verde. This recipe uses one big skillet, starts on the stove top and finishes in the oven. Check out the video!!
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S’mores Bar Treats

I am not the first to make this amazing treat. However, I was standing in the cereal isle of the local grocery store, looking at the plethora of varieties and thinking – “which will pair well with a marshmallow binder like crispy rice cereal. ” I had eaten Fruity Pebble…
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Jalapeño Popper Breakfast Casserole

A cheesy egg casserole with jalapeños and bacon. An easy and delicious way to start the day. Once again the elements of the jalapeño popper show it’s versatility in making any type of dish better!! Ingredients Step 1 Whisk and Mix Crack eggs into a large bowl and whisk until…
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Instant Pot Smoked Ribs

This instant pot smoked rib recipe features smoke flavor from steam rather than fire. I learned this technique when I worked at the Texas Roadhouse for a brief stretch in 2014. The Roadhouse’s famous “fall off the bone” ribs are seasoned and baked on a rack in a foil covered…
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Sweet Pickle Ranch Dip

This dip features ranch seasoning and sweet pickles but the real secret is the brine from the pickle jar … Lets get the Party Started!!! Ingredients Mix, Refrigerate In a large bowl, mix together sour cream, pickles, juice, ranch seasoning and garlic. Refrigerate 30 minutes for dip to thicken and…
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