Tag: Holidays

Food

Rack of Pork

thestlouiscooks

Happy New Year! We’re back at it with a holiday favorite, the rack of pork which is a pork loin with the bone in. I never had a rack of pork until later in life. This cut of meat is so succulent and flavorful. We love it when Fall hits and Costco starts selling this meat which is typically around Thanksgiving. Preparing the rack of pork is super easy. The challenging part is making sure it’s cooked to perfection while in the oven. All it takes is a close eye and a little TLC.

We celebrated the New Year with the rack of pork. The second time this holiday season. Cheers to the New Year!

Rack of Pork

  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Print

Ingredients:

  • 5-6 lbs. Rack of Pork – Pork Loin Bone In
  • 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil or enough to rub the whole rack
  • Rub pork with minced garlic – don’t hold back
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoon of Rosemary
  • Season with Salt and Pepper to your liking

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and prepare a broiler pan lined with foil.
  2. Place the rack of pork on the pan and rub with olive oil.
  3. Season with rosemary, salt, and pepper.
  4. Place the pork in the oven and cook in 450 degree oven for 15 minutes and then reduce to 350 degrees for 70-90 minutes or until an internal temperature of 145/150 in the thickest cut of meat. Halfway through cooking the pork, flip the rack to ensure proper cooking and browning on all sides. At some point, you may have to foil the bone part of the rack so not to brown too much.
  5. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before cutting. Eat and enjoy with your favorite sides.

Family, Kids, Life in General

Gingerbread Houses

thestlouiscooks

Gingerbread Houses

Making gingerbread houses is one of our favorite activities over the holidays.  In years past, we’ve made them from scratch.  By that I mean, we used graham crackers for the base of our house, purchased our own icing and candy to decorate.  It wasn’t always an easy task. Well this year was different.  I bought the Wilton Gingerbread House Kits with everything included.  Wow!  I don’t think I will ever go back.  The kits are so easy!  I purchased them at Michaels for $8.99 per kit and used a coupon – not a bad deal at all.  I also purchased some additional candy because we like to include Holiday M&M’s on our houses.

Ingredients:

  • Wilton Gingerbread House Kit
  • Additional Candy of choice (optional)

Directions:

  1. Have fun!

I highly recommend this activity with the kids.  Get a little messy, let the creative juices flow, eat some icing, and have some fun!

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Enjoy!

Family, Life in General, St. Louis Small Businesses

Get Out and About this Holiday Season

thestlouiscooks

Christmas and New Year Wishes

I can’t believe Christmas will be here in five more days.  I say this every year because as I get older and busier, time goes faster and faster.  However, you can’t let it go without getting out and about in your city.  Our favorite time to go see the holiday lights is the week between Christmas and New Years.  Although I love the hustle and bustle before Christmas, it’s a little crazy busy especially with three active children and two working parents.  Of course, my number one source for checking out lights and holiday activities in St. Louis is Kids Out and About in St. Louis.

Check out their holiday page for all kinds of activities throughout the holidays especially light displays, tree farms, holiday shows and events throughout the St. Louis area.   Attached is a link to their holiday page –  http://saintlouis.kidsoutandabout.com/content/master-guide-december-holiday-fun-and-around-st-louis

Kids out and About is a great resource for family activities. For those of you not located in St. Louis, you can also find this great organization in many other cities throughout the US and they continue to grow.

Get connected with them! Get out and about with your families this holiday season!

Kids out an about Logo

The St. Louis Cooks wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

More recipes and local St. Louis business features to come…Stay tuned!

Family, Food, Kids, Snacks

Mini Festive Flag

thestlouiscooks

All American Flag Snack
All American Flag Snack

I couldn’t resist making another flag snack this Labor Day weekend.  However, this time I wanted to change-up my old “go to” flag recipe.  I envisioned a smaller flag using raspberries for my red color.  It worked out great.  There is nothing easier than making these kabobs.  I must admit that I think this smaller version is prettier.  This all American treat is always a favorite with the kids too.

Mini Festive Flag

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Take five skewers/sticks and thread two raspberries, two marshmallows and four blueberries.  Follow pattern.
  2. Take seven more skewers/sticks and add four raspberries and three marshmallows.  Follow pattern. Arrange on a platter or dish.

The original Festive Flag recipe can be found on this blog http://wp.me/p3uZx8-U.  It’s a bigger version using strawberries.

You pick your favorite patriotic snack.

Enjoy!