Matt's ABTs

ABTs, or Atomic Buffalo Turds have been around for awhile. They are especially popular with the owners of smokers because they can be cooked low and slow and get a nice smokey flavor added to them. That does not mean you can not do them on your Weber kettle grill or gas grill too, just remember to try to cook them slowly and make sure to account for the bacon fat that will render out of them.

Matt's Pad Thai

This is my take on Pad Thai. It is taken from Alton Brown's version with a change, I do not use the  tofu, my family prefers chicken. I have used the tofu, but you have to be very careful with the marinade that Alton uses, if you marinate the tofu too long, it comes out way too salty. I have modified this recipe to use dark meat chicken and for the marinade, I use low sodium soy sauce and water to cut down on the salt in the dish.

Grilled Chicken with Uncle Matt's Marinade

Some of you are familiar with the marinade I have been bottling. The following are directions on how to most effectively use the marinade.

ABOUT THE MARINADE:
The marinade is apple cider vinegar based with spices, onion, garlic, oil, natural sugar and some other stuff. It does not contain meat tenderizer, MSG, nor any peanut by-products. It was developed from a recipe that is used on the eastern shore by the volunteer fire departments for their grilled chicken fundraisers. The basic recipe has been used many times in the past at Sargent Family 4th of July parties and other celebrations. I have taken that basic recipe and added some other ingredients that I have found improve the flavor and performance. My nieces and nephews, who inhabit our pool during the summertime, have named the chicken I prepare for them "Uncle Matt's Chicken" and they seem to like it a great deal.

Shrimp Risotto

Friday is fish day now that the Lenten season is upon us. Here is a great recipe that you can do for the family on Friday night. Don't just save this for Lent, however, it looks great anytime.

I had never done a risotto before, but I found the recipe easy and the results were excellent! As usual, I have taken the recipe that is referenced and made it my own by changing a few things. First, I replaced the clam juice with oriental fish sauce. It is a great substitution and you will only notice a deeper and richer seafood flavor. It is optional, of course, you really do not need either the clam juice or the fish sauce. Second, I fixed the ingredient list, adding the Parmesan cheese that is called for in the directions but not listed in the original ingredients. Lastly, I call for you to add the broth in 3 additions instead of two. I think it makes the cooking a little more controlled and easier to manage.

Boston Baked Beans in Ceramic Pot

Hey gang, I needed a place to post my recipes so I decided I would start a blog. So the first recipe is, fittingly, taken from my big brother, Tad. This is a variation of the recipe that he and his wife gave us along with the authentic ceramic bean pot as a Christmas gift this year. I have made beans in the pot several times and I use his specified preparation of the beans, onions and salt pork. The changes I made are in the sauce preparation.

This recipe calls for an authentic ceramic bean pot with lid. My brother and his wife gave us an antique one, they being pretty abundant on Flea-Bay. You can also find them at kitchen stores new, like this one. The is recipe will fill a 3 quart pot.