Issue 020: Isn’t That Your Side Piece?

Hey Q-Crew!

So far this month we’ve seen mostly mains, but a good cookout is nothing without a little something on the side! This week’s recipes: Jerk Dirty Spaghetti & Jerk Cookout Baked Beans! Now you may be thinking, is spaghetti a side? The midwest loves to serve fried fish and spaghetti, but others think it’s strictly a main course. What do you think? Team side or Team main?

This month’s theme is You’re A Jerk! Well not you, I think you guys are fantastic. But we’re spending the next few weeks incorporating a single element into all of our dishes: jerk seasoning! The recipes run the gamut from mains to sides, Southern to Jamaican to Italian to Mexican, but every dish will feature jerk seasoning as a main ingredient. You can make your own jerk seasoning using the recipe here, or you can purchase a brand like Walkerswoood!

Jerk Dirty Spaghetti

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 50 minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 16 oz Spaghetti
• 1 lb Ground beef
• 1 lb mild Italian sausage
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp jerk seasoning
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 onion diced
• 1/2 green bell pepper diced
• 1/2 red bell pepper diced
• 1 scallion sliced
• 8 cloves garlic minced
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 16 oz beef stock
• 1 packet Lipton beefy onion soup

Step 2: Turn down to medium, add the diced peppers, onions, scallion, and garlic and sautee until softened.

Step 4: Sprinkle in the flour and stir for another minute.

Step 6: Stir in the Italian seasoning and lipton soup mix.

Step 8: Mix in your cooked pasta.then let rest for about 7 minutes. The sauce will get less watery and stick to the pasta better.

Jerk Cookout Baked Beans

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Yield: 40 oz

Ingredients:

• 4 cans baked beans
• 8 oz beef bacon
• 2 tbsp jerk seasoning
• 1/4 cup Honey
• 1 Onion diced
• 1/2 red bell pepper diced
• 1/2 green bell pepper diced
• 2 Scallions sliced
• 6 cloves garlic minced
• 1 bunch Thyme
• 2 Bay leaves
• 2 tbsp ACV
• 1/4 cup Yellow mustard
• 1 tbsp Rib rub

Step 2: Saute the onions, scallions, and peppers until beginning to caramelize.

Step 4: Stir in the beans, half of the chopped bacon, jerk seasoning, honey, acv, mustard, and preferred bbq rub.

Step 6: Simmer for 20 minutes stirring occasionally.

Step 8: Serve topped with remaining beef bacon.

Now on Ko-fi

Bonus Recipe: Wine Braised Jerk Oxtail

I found a great deal on oxtail and picked up a few packages, so we have a bonus recipe this week! This fall off the bone wine braised jerk oxtail is the perfect Sunday dinner to feed your loved ones. Pair it with garlic mashed potatoes, steamed cabbage, and a nice glass of merlot (If that’s your wave.)

For The (Food) Lovers E-Cookbook!

This PDF mobile cookbook is designed to be easily viewed on your phone so that you have all the recipes on hand exactly when you need them!