Last night, to celebrate the end of the work week, I made hoisin baby back ribs for dinner.

They were epic.

It all began on Monday when Dave and I went grocery shopping.  While strolling down the ethnic foods aisle, Dave spotted the “Iron Chef” line of sauces and marinades.  They’re endorsed by Fuji Television, the station that produced the original Iron Chef series in Japan.  We were stuck between the General Tso’s sauce and the hoisin sauce, but Dave pushed to try the latter.  While strolling along the meat case, we saw a great sale on baby back ribs–so we picked up a rack and figured we’d try them this week.

On Thursday morning, I took the ribs out of the freezer and let them defrost in the refrigerator.  Then, when I came home from work, I placed them on aluminum foil and smothered them with the hoisin sauce.  I wrapped it tightly and set it on a metal baking pan in the refrigerator to marinate overnight.

When I got out of work on Friday afternoon, I returned home and placed the ribs in the oven around 6:30.  Using Emeril Lagasse’s cooking instructions, I oven baked them for 90 minutes at 325-degrees with bastings every 30 minutes.  Around 8:00, I opened the oven and the most delicious smell wafted out.  Dave and I each had a rib and agreed–they were absolutely scrumptious!

Check out a few pictures of the ribs and the hoisin sauce below, and be sure to give the sauce a shot!

The hoisin sauce--such great flavor!

The hoisin sauce--such great flavor!

The ribs--notice the charred drippings around the rack.

The ribs--notice the charred drippings around the rack.

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On September 12, Dave and I went apple picking with my family at Pochuck Valley Farms in Glenwood, NJ.  It was a blast–here are just a few of the many pictures we took!



Have you been apple picking yet this year?  Tell me about it with a comment!

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Acorns and autumn go hand-in-hand!

Acorns and autumn go hand-in-hand!

I’ll admit: over the past few months, I haven’t always made the healthiest of decisions when it comes to eating.  I love cheeseburgers (rare and juicy, with avocado slices on top–yum!), and there are just some days when I really crave a sweet dessert before bed.  General Tso could conquer my appetite any night of the week, and I’ve been a little too McCrazy for salty, crispy French fries.

Now that the seasons are changing and I’m feeling more motivated thanks to the cooler weather, I’m going to try to patch up a handful of my bad habits.  I currently have bad eating targeted.  During the spring, I switched from Lucky Charms and Cinnamon Toast Crunch to regular Cheerios with skim milk for breakfast.  It stuck.  Then, two months ago, I began having a SlimFast, yogurt, and cereal grain bar for lunch (split into a mid-morning snack, lunch, and a mid-afternoon snack).  It also stuck.  The only food vices remaining: dinner, dessert, and weekends.

My latest good habit?  Before I eat my lunch, I lock down my computer and grab my jacket before heading out for a stroll around the neighborhood.  I don’t walk for a long time–usually just 15-20 minutes–but it’s so pleasant.  I get to stretch my legs, take in the beautiful weather, and make mental notes about what I want my house and garden to look like.  There is a really cute development behind the office here in North Brunswick, and it’s a treat to meander along the shady sidewalks for just a few precious moments.

Now, if only I could motivate myself to get up extra early and use the pricey treadmill we bought back in July…  Ah, well–change is supposed to be a gradual thing, no?

What healthy choices are you making in your life?  Does the fall motivate you, too?  Tell me about it with a comment!

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