Comfort food
This is the time of year when we frequently think about "comfort food" and at our house, that can mean any number of things, including stew, chowder, or beef short ribs. Short ribs are the meaty ends of the beef ribs. When shopping for ribs, look for well-marbled, meaty ribs, firmly attached to the bone. For some reason, this cut of meat does not appear in all of our local stores, but they are worth the search.
The best way to cook short ribs is braising, which does require a lengthy cooking time, but after browning, and combining with remaining ingredients, there is little work left to do prior to serving. This slow cooking technique helps to tenderize the meat and also allows the flavors of the seasonings to infuse. The two rib recipes in today's column each use different seasonings for flavor, and we hope one of them will appeal to your family. Mashed potatoes are a perfect complement to short ribs, and a favorite recipe from Cook's Illustrated is included.
