Ingredients

• 2 racks baby back or St. Louis ribs; dry rub: paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, pepper
• BBQ sauce; apple cider vinegar spray; wood chips (hickory or apple)

Instructions

1. Remove membrane, apply dry rub. Let sit 1 hour. Smoke at 225–250°F 3–4 hours, spritzing with vinegar
2. Wrap in foil with butter and honey (optional), cook 1–2 hours until tender
3. Unwrap, brush with sauce, cook 15–20 min until glaze sets. Rest, slice, serve

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb ground beef (80/20), salt, pepper; brioche or potato buns
• American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles. Special sauce: mayo, ketchup, mustard, relish

Instructions

1. Form beef into 4–8 thin balls (2 per burger). Hot cast iron or griddle, no oil
2. Smash each ball flat with spatula, season. Cook 2 min, flip, add cheese. Stack two patties per bun
3. Toast buns. Build with sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles. Serve immediately

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour, 2 tbsp sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, pinch salt
• 2 cups buttermilk, 2 eggs, 4 tbsp melted butter. Butter and maple syrup for serving

Instructions

1. Whisk dry ingredients. Mix wet in another bowl. Fold wet into dry; don’t overmix (lumps ok)
2. Heat griddle, lightly butter. Pour 1/3 cup per pancake. Flip when bubbles form and edges set
3. Stack, serve with butter and warm maple syrup. Add berries or bacon if you like

Ingredients

• 1 lb elbow macaroni; 4 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup flour, 3 cups milk; 3 cups shredded cheddar (and optional Gruyère)
• Breadcrumbs, butter, salt, pepper, mustard powder

Instructions

1. Cook pasta al dente, drain. Melt butter, add flour, cook 1 min. Whisk in milk, thicken. Off heat, add cheese, season
2. Fold in pasta. Pour into baking dish. Top with buttered breadcrumbs
3. Bake at 375°F 25 min until golden and bubbling. Rest 5 min, serve

Ingredients

• 2 lb beef chuck, cubed; onions, garlic; chili powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne
• Diced tomatoes, beef stock, optional beans. Cilantro, lime, cheese, sour cream to serve

Instructions

1. Brown beef in batches, set aside. Sauté onion, garlic. Add spices, toast 1 min
2. Return beef, add tomatoes and stock. Simmer 1.5–2 hours until beef is tender. Add beans if using, heat through
3. Serve with cilantro, lime, cheese, sour cream, and cornbread or rice

Ingredients

• Mixed greens, grilled chicken breast, crispy bacon, hard-boiled eggs
• Avocado, tomato, blue cheese crumbles, chives. Ranch or red wine vinaigrette

Instructions

1. Cook bacon, slice. Grill or pan-fry chicken, slice. Boil eggs, quarter. Dice avocado and tomato
2. Arrange greens in bowls. Line up rows of chicken, bacon, egg, avocado, tomato, blue cheese
3. Drizzle with ranch or vinaigrette. Sprinkle chives. Toss at the table or eat as-is