Dinner
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Pulled Pork
Easily one of the most recognizable forms of BBQ is pulled pork. Which, by definition, is a piece of pork that has been cooked to a temperature that allows itself to be pulled off the bone. Many cuts can be used but the most common is the shoulder, aka Boston Butt. A staple at every decent BBQ restaurant and competition. For first time smokers, pulled pork is an excellent option mainly because the shoulder is a very forgiving cut of meat.
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Chicken and Dumplings
Ah, comfort food. The culinary category that takes us to a nice, soft place with very little worry... and even less responsibility. A very broad-ranging category whose only membership requirements are that the dish takes you to another time and sets your mind at ease. Mac and cheese for some. Chicken noodle soup for the others. My comfort food list is fairly long. I guess nostalgia and gluttony go hand in hand for me. Explains a lot actually. But at or very near the top is chicken and dumplings. My ultimate comfort food.
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Fried Chicken Sandwich
During last year's fried chicken wars on social media, I remember thinking “I am so sick of this nonsense. I can't wait for this to be over.” Now, a mere year later, I would give my left arm if all we had to worry about was some stupid fast food marketing ploy. Amazing how much can change in a year. Anyways, fried chicken sandwiches are a secret obsession of mine. While I fully admit that there are better sandwiches out there, there is just something so delicious and simple about these things. The beautiful part is, they are really hard to mess up. If you've got even just a little…
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Black Eyed Peas
Black Eyed Peas are a New Year's Day tradition in the south. Although the name and recipe can change depending upon where in the south you find yourself (a lot of folks grew up knowing them as Hoppin' John but I always heard them referred to as Black Eyed Peas) the basics are still the same. This dish is one of several (cabbage and greens being a few others) that is supposed to bring you prosperity and good luck during the new year.