Birthdays are for children of all Ages. #letsparty #birthdaydinner

Saturday was my son’s 37th birthday. That makes me old as Methuselah as my mother likes to say. When they were young, I was a single mother and money was usually tight. I sold crafts to get them, one git. Going out to eat wasn’t usually in the cards and with no real place to eat in town I took a page out of My mom’s book and we had a family dinner.  They could invite a friend maybe two and my mom, dad, sister, her son and my brother and his wife and the children he had then and my youngest sister. We had the makings of a big birthday party. When mom was still with us, she would usually take the family party task. so that gave them two.  Then for mine, they got to invite a few friends to spend the night and I would make homemade pizza, or whatever the choice was and a cake or in my son’s case pie.

Even as adults we carry on the family dinner.  This year my son has chosen smoked baby back ribs, loaded potato salad and a black bean and corn salad.  For dessert a hot fudge cake.

He takes after his mom liking cooking and the next new thing. He has developed a fondness for cast Iron pans and I envy his collection.  He wanted a cast iron press so I ordered him a set hoping they arrive on time.

The Menu

smoked Baby back rib

Loaded Potato Salad

Black beans and corn

Hot Fudge Cake

Deviled eggs

For the ribs

, I have three racks of baby backs.

your favorite dry rub. I make a mixture of  Websters Mesquite a little brown sugar and some bacon chipotle. I also salt my meat first.

wash and cut the thin silver piece on the back. Season both sides well and let sit in the fridge overnight. The next morning take out and let come to room temperature. Smoke on 190  for 4 hours turning once. take out and wrap in foil and smoke 30 more minutes you can turn off the smoker and let sit now until half an hour before eating.  He likes his dry rub only so  That’s how I do. You can finish off with your favorite sauce on the grill.

sorry its a little blurry

He wants Loaded potato salad 

For this, I use about 3-4 pounds of potatoes washed and peeled. I cut into bite-sized dices

Sal, Pepper, garlic powder, Onion powder

4-5 chopped green onions

-1 pack of bacon cooked and crumbled.

1 block of shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup of sour cream, 1/2 cup miracle whip or you can use mayonnaise)

I am cooking the bacon in my new air-fryer for the first time

For the potatoes Put one cup of water into inst pot. Put potatoes in steamer basket with eggs on top with 3-4 eggs eggs

Place the lid on lock and cook on manual 5 minutes release steam and cool potatoes in cold water to stop cooking. Drain well, chop egg,  add other ingredients.

gently fold in all ingredients saving some bacon and green onion for garnish.

Black Beans and Corn

The black beans and corn is also an Instant pot recipe.  tough you can use canned and rinsed black beans just as well.

I am using this recipe for the black beans in my instant pot which as you see I love.

Instant Pot Black Beans

I am using half of the Black bean and corn.  Now all you need is your cook beans, Steam a bag of sweet corn, mix together. Add some paprika and a half package of your favorite chili mix ( I am suing McKormicks mild. I also found I needed a little salt and pepper to taste. You can add sauteed chopped onions and bell peppers as well.  for an added kick stir in drained Rotel tomatoes. ( left that out today)

And here it ll is. Looking all yummy!

 And for dessert..Hot Fudge Cake

For the  hot fudge cake, I chose this recipe from AllRecipes.com

The cake was better than I expected. It isn’t too sweet.

This month I am going to devote to instant pot recipes. Recipes I have tried and love or tried and failed.

Do you use an Instant pot? What is your favorite recipe so far? Any failures?