Prime Rib Recipe - My thoughts on Christmas Dinner

For many years we celebrated Christmas dinner with a traditional roasted turkey, but most recently we have deviated from that segment of tradition by enjoying our Christmas Dinner of Roast Prime Rib.

 

Through the years spent in the food industry, I have witnessed in numerous research & development laboratories, attempts to shorten cooking time, injected compounds to enhance the flavor of the meat and other means of tenderizing and basically changing the structural composition of the Roast. Of course, being young and brave and enjoying the element of “change”, I enthusiastically joined in on the “taste tests” conducted before the “new improved” product would be introduced to the market place. Rarely did this type of product reach the retail market but these experiences firmly implanted in my mind the need for simplicity when it comes to standing rib roasts.

I do not casually use the terminology of “Prime Rib” in relationship to “standing rib roast” as being the same.  The similarity is, the standing rib roast I choose, is of Prime grade meat.  Because of the additional marbling of fat veins throughout the meat, the tenderness and flavor is, in my opinion, somewhat superior to the lesser grades most frequently available in the super markets. Therefore, I can refer to my roast as true “Prime Rib”.

As for other lessons learned, do not try to rush the cooking time by increasing the heat. The meat could possibly be more “chewy”, less moist as well as a less satisfactory flavor.

Remember “low and slow”, simply allow the extra time in your meal preparation

The seasonings should also be reasonably simple to prevent over riding the natural flavors of the roast. Following are a few suggestions from my kitchen for preparation of a Standing Rib Roast. Please consider the following as “tips” as I am not including a formal list of ingredients.

For a 6 lb roast:  Total cooking time 2 ½ to 3 hours.

Trust your instant thermometer.

Bring your roast to room temperature at least two hours before cooking. After an hour season with coarse salt and coarse cracked pepper and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.

The Rub:  In a small bowl combine 8 finely chopped garlic cloves, finely chop the leaves of 10 sprigs of thyme as well as the leaves of 10 sprigs of rosemary, and 2 T Olive oil. Whisk to blend then rub this mixture over the roast. Set aside.

Peel about 10 shallots but leave whole, about 10 Roma tomatoes halved and 4 T. unsalted butter cubed. Place this combination in the bottom of a roasting pan and evenly distribute. At this point you have a choice of using a rack over the vegetables or placing the roast directly on the vegetables (bone side down).

Cooking: Place the roast in the oven and cook for 15 minutes at 500 degrees, reduce the temperature to 300 degrees and continue to cook, basting the roast every 30 minutes with the pan drippings, until a thermometer inserted in the center of the roast reads 115-120 degrees F for rare. Remove the roast from the oven, cover with aluminum foil, set aside to rest for 20 to 30 minutes.

To serve:  place the roasted shallots and tomatoes on a platter, place the slices of roast alongside, season with coarse salt and pepper to taste, and if you are so inclined, drizzle with some good balsamic vinegar.

Tip: Guide for doneness other than rare.  120 to125 degrees F. for medium rare; 125 to 130 degrees F. for medium.  Please also consider my approach to this recipe as a guideline only.  Use your creative spirit and talents to create your own variation with other vegetables and herbs. Have fun with your cooking and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Happy Holidays and good eating.

Clark Williams

Beer Can Chicken Recipe - One Two Cha Cha Cha

Beer Can Chicken

When my daughter comes to visit, she always asks me to make beer can chicken....now is it because she knows she gets to consume the excess beer or is it the fact that she likes to talk to the chicken like it's a dancing talking bird? Quite humorous.

The brand you choose should be one you like to drink and as the summer months are warm, a few extras on ice wouldn't hurt! 

Ingredients:

1                      3 ½-4 ½ lb. Fresh whole chicken       

1                      12oz. Can of beer

                        Dry seasoning rub

                        Butter for basting

Option               Handful of mesquite, hickory or applewood wood chips for smoking soaked in water for 1 hour and placed in a chip smoker box on the grates

Seasoning Rub:

3 T                   Black pepper

3 T                   Kosher salt     

1 tsp                Liquid smoke

½ cup              Brown sugar, tightly packed

½ cup              Spanish paprika

2 tsp                Granulated onion

2 tsp                Granulated garlic

1 tsp                Cayenne pepper

Tip:                 Combine the liquid smoke with the salt for even distribution of the smoke flavor then combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly, set aside in tightly sealed container to prevent caking until ready to apply.

Method:

Preheat grill for indirect medium heat. Dry the chicken thoroughly with paper towels, apply rub to the entire carcass making certain to put some inside the cavity. Fold the wings to the back of the chicken (no trussing necessary). 

Pour about 1/3 of the beer from the can to prevent the beer from boiling over during the cooking process. (It is your choice what to do with the 1/3 portion of beer). Insert the can of beer into the cavity. Place the chicken in an upright position on a metal tray (I use a foil pan with 1”sides which also serves as the drip pan), spread the legs to act as a support for the chicken while cooking. Cook for 1 1/2 hours, basting intermittently, or until the internal temperature at the thickest part of the thigh reads 180 degrees F.

Remove from grill and let rest 15 minutes. Carefully remove the beer can from the chicken paying particular attention to the contents of the can being very hot.

Cut, serve and enjoy.

**Note, the cook time in this recipe is for my grill. Many grills do not have high BTU's and will take longer to cook. You can always finish in a 350 degree oven if your cook times are not working as noted above.