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Giving Your Meals the Wow Factor

Marla Milling
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Thinking of hosting a get-together for friends? Or maybe you’re in a relationship that’s moved past the dining out stage and you’re ready to wow your date with a creation from your own kitchen. Take it from us—there’s an easy way to make your dinner a true conversation piece. It’s all about finding the right spices and rubs to add a punch to whatever protein you are serving. Just Cook has blends for chicken, salmon, pork, beef and lamb.

The current offerings include: Herbed Coffee Rub, Any Day Chicken Blend, No. 19 Salmon Blend, Ancho Chicken Rub, Close to Curry Blend and Gimme Steak Blend. Buy individual tins for $8.50 or go for a sampler pack of all six for $45.

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Herbed Coffee RubIf you’re looking for the perfect dinner idea, grab some ribs at the grocery store and use the Herbed Coffee Rub. Along with the coffee, the ingredients include brown sugar, Kosher salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, chipotle, thyme, sage and molasses. Yeah, it’s as mouthwatering as it sounds.

Herbed Coffee Rubbed Baby Back Ribs

1 slab baby back ribs (or more)

4 tbs Herbed Coffee Rub

½ cup white wine 1 cup Herbed Coffee Barbecue Sauce (recipe below)

TEN EASY STEPS: 1. Remove the thin membrane on the back of the ribs before seasoning. It’s relatively easy to pull away or ask your local butcher to do it for you. You will also want to separate the ribs for this recipe 2. PLAN AHEAD – season the ribs generously with the herbed coffee rub. Do this 1, 2, or 3 days ahead. 3. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. 4. While the oven is heating, gently brown the ribs in a non-stick pan. 5. Make a big foil packet for this—spread a large sheet on the counter, double layer. 6. As the ribs get browned place them in the center of the foil. Once they are all browned, crimp the foil around the ribs leaving one end open. 7. Place foil pack on a roasting pan and pour wine into the packet. Seal and place in the oven. 8. Back for 3 ½ hours. Remove from oven, strain and reserve juice and allow the ribs to cool completely. 9. Mix reserved juice with Herbed Coffee Barbecue Sauce 10. When ready to serve, warm ribs over medium heat on the grill, basting with sauce.

Herbed Coffee Barbecue Sauce

(can be made up to a week ahead—makes 2 cups)

2 Tbs canola oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tbs yellow onion, minced

1 cup ketchup

¾ cup apple cider vinegar

2 Tbs dark brown sugar

2 Tbs Herbed Coffee Rub

1 Tbs cracked black pepper

DIRECTIONS: 1. Saute garlic over medium heat until fragrant and a little brown. 2. Add onion and cook until translucent. 3. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for a few minutes. 4. Remove from heat and serve, or after cooling completely, refrigerate for later use.

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Marla Milling
Marla Milling
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Marla Hardee Milling is a full-time freelance writer living in a place often called the Paris of the South, Sante Fe of the…
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