At some point this summer, I came across a deal for a two-year subscription to Saveur Magazine for something ridiculous like $5. I'd never seen an issue before, but was still mourning Gourmet (I'd just decided I would ask for a subscription for my birthday when they announced its demise. Poor me!) and figured it was a $5 risk I was willing to take!
I can't say it's completely won me over yet, but I'm giving it a chance.
Each issue has a little feature that includes a few important food-related dates of the month – festivals, feasts, birthdays, and the like. As I was sitting on the sofa next to the Lt. one night a few weeks ago, reading my magazine, I pointed out to him that December 1 is, apparently, Dr Pepper's birthday (or, the anniversary of its original patent) and jokingly suggested we celebrate!
Now, what you need to know about my husband is that he has a great love for Dr Pepper. My earliest memories of hanging out with him, more than ten years ago, include him running to the corner store for another bottle. When he was in college, he drank a truly ridiculous amount. His consumption is more moderate now, but his deep affection for this particular carbonated beverage remains as strong as ever.
I, on the other hand, couldn't stand the stuff. For years I chastised him for drinking so much soda, especially soda that tasted bad! When we started dating, though, I would occasionally take a sip from his bottle – he had at one point told me and Sukie that if we had a sip of his bourbon (another love of his) once a week for 20 years, we would learn to love it. I applied the same principle to his Dr Pepper, and lo and behold: by the time we were married (he had overestimated how long it would take), I had developed a taste for both bourbon and Dr Pepper (though not together).
Anyway…
Still sitting on that sofa, but a few pages later, I came across an ad sponsored by the Idaho potato folks and featuring a dish made with none other than the Lt.'s favorite beverage!
Dr Pepper Braised Short Ribs with Queso Fresco Corn Whipped Potatoes and Caramelized Tobacco Onions
Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? That's what we thought.
(For the record, the Lt. thinks it's hilarious that the first thing I cooked out of Saveur was a) a Dr Pepper recipe and b) from an ad.)
Fast forward to this past Monday, when I was making my menu plan for the week and actually remembered that Wednesday was Dr Pepper day! I dug out my magazine, looked up the link, and added the ingredients to my list. I was pretty proud of myself, and the Lt. was pretty excited when he heard the plan!
I'd never cooked short ribs before, so it was a fun cooking adventure for me.
And while this may look like a lot of meat for two people, the second thing you need to know about my husband is that he is a meat-loving Marine. He has a big appetite, and a great appreciation for red meat. I have never cooked too much meat – in fact, I once literally hid a steak from him so that we could have leftovers.
Browning meat is so satisfying.
The recipe actually calls for Dublin Dr Pepper which, for the uninitiated, is Dr Pepper made in Dublin, Texas using real sugar, instead of high fructose corn syrup. You can buy it from them online, but the shipping costs are huge (we've looked into it). Over the past few months, though, our grocery store has carried 125th anniversary Dr Pepper, featuring cute vintage cans and real sugar!
I think this was our last can. |
I bought up as much as I could because my husband may be a soda drinker, but I am my mother's daughter, and high fructose corn syrup weirds me out.
It was good, too! No wonder people obsess about Dublin Dr Pepper!
Sadly, however, the sugary stuff is gone from the shelves. I actually emailed the Dr Pepper people to find out whether it was gone forever, and received this disappointing response:
“Unfortunately, Dr Pepper Pure Cane Sugar is not currently in production. We have sent notice of your disappointment in the decision to our corporate team for further consideration.”
Disaster!
I never would have imagined myself doing this. |
So I had to use the normal stuff. (Sorry Mama!)
Of course, I made a few other substitutions as well, like using canned corn instead of fresh and cheddar cheese instead of queso fresco (I know they're not the same thing; I just simply forgot to buy the queso fresco). But mostly I followed the recipe. And you know what? It was really good!
The meat was tender and delicious, and while the onions packed quite a punch on their own, they were a tasty contrast to the mellow rib and potato when you had them all in a bite together.
And the Lt. proclaimed the potatoes “possibly the best mashed potatoes I've ever eaten.” It might have had something to do with the butter and half-and-half (not, mind you, that I used as much as the recipe called for). And the garlic and shallots. And the corn. Yes, I have to say – they were pretty darn good!
So there you have it – our first Dr Pepper Birthday Feast. We already celebrate the Marine Corps' Birthday, and now the Lt. thinks it's a great idea to add this one to the list. We'll see.
My family will laugh, but trust me – you would have enjoyed this dinner, too!
Erin says
This is the kind of thing that leaves the sweetest memories. 🙂
LeeAnn Balbirona says
Cute story and sounds tasty. But now tell us about the tobacco onions! I am picturing Anthony Bourdain's nicotine-infused ice cream.
Rosie says
They were really just caramelized onions with some cayenne and paprika – somehow that equaled tobacco?
hope says
Looks delicious!! I'm going to the link to print the recipe right now (before I forget!).
Rachael says
We love Dr. Pepper (and live in Waco, Tx, the home of DP) and we love beef, and we love mashed potatoes, so I just might have to try this. Call it a belated birthday party.
magdajhawthorne says
Other wacky soda recipes. Nigella Lawson has a ham in coca-cola recipe in one of her books and she says she never makes pork any other way. It is the only thing that has ever tempted me to make ham.
Rosie says
Really? crazy!
This wasn't actually my first Dr Pepper-infused meat; on a choir retreat in college my Texan friend once made chicken for all 60+ of us by cooking it in Dr Pepper. She served it, then made us guess the secret ingredient!
Tamara says
Isnt being married great, that you can do fun things together like celebrate Dr. Pepper day? Who else can you do these sweet things for, but your husband and kids…. My Mom has a family favorite recipe that we call Pepsi Chicken. It's total comfort food, and such a family tradition that we served it our wedding!
priest's wife says
looks really yummy- more info on the onions, please. We looooove onions around here
Deirdre says
I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this…. *tobacco* onions?!?
margo says
I haven't cooked with soda before, but I have heard the ham/coke thing is supposed to be good. And since I am also a Saveur subscriber (and devotee), I can make the ribs too! The thing I like so much about Saveur is that they have real people and real food as well as the gourmet. I mean, some of the food is on paper plates in joints in little towns.
Mary says
This looks awesome. I have baked a ham using Coca Cola before but I have never used Dr. Pepper. My hubby is also a pretty serious carnivore so i will have to add this to the menu next week. Thanks for sharing Rosie!
Nick says
Looks awesome!
natashamlawler says
Rosie you are such a good wife!!! I think it looks delicious and vote for it to be an annual tradition.
_Leila says
Except clearly not in December. You can celebrate his half birthday on June 1. At least that is what I would do, since December duties make me unable to breathe…
Jessie says
You need a gravy separator! http://amzn.to/gAQLP8 (Amazon link) That's what I use to keep my gravy from separating and being gross-looking.
And this looks really tasty!
anne says
I am interested in this because my gravy also looks gross in the bowl, (though not so much if it is made with milk). But I am wondering if I would actually want to strain all the fat out of it. Wouldn't that be…not as tastey?
Habou says
It looks so elegant and delicious. Just like on Iron Chief.
Patty LeVasseur says
Dr. Pepper seems to bring out the sugar Dr. Pepper every so often. I always buy a ridiculous amount of it as well. They had it out last year and I called and cried to them when they took it away and got the exact same response that you did. I will be sure to call them and let them know I am hopeful to see it again. I bet that we will see it in the stores again in the next year. Thanks for the recipe.
Rosie says
The two of us can storm the gates of Dr PepperLand with complaints, and maybe they'll make it a permanent option!
But I'm glad to hear that it at least appears periodically. I'm new to the soda-buying world (at least as a regular customer), you see!
Dixie says
While scouring the city of Paris (where we're living for a year) for a can of Dr. Pepper for my husband's shoes for St. Nick's Day, I discovered that the only kind you can get here is the sugar variety (canned in Belgium). It is ten times better! One more point for Paris…
I enjoy your site so much!
Jackie says
You rock! My DH also LOVES Dr. Pepper. Not only do I appreciate the recipe, but I'm glad to know there are other people obsessed with the stuff. Thank you, dearie.
RubberChickenGirl says
I am trying this soon. Bought the ingredients except I couldn't find shortribs. Bought spareribs instead. Hope they work.
Have you seen Pioneer Woman's recipe for pulled pork in DP? http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/03/spicy-…
RubberChickenGirl
Cat says
Sadly, Dublin Dr. Pepper no longer exists after a legal settlement with the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group. Production for Dublin Dr. Pepper ended in January 2012.
Nicole M says
I don't know if you have one near you, but Whole Foods makes “Dr. Snaps” which is basically Dr. Pepper with real sugar and all natural ingredients…
RubberChickenGirl says
I heard a quote about bourbon awhile ago and then wrote it down. I just remembered this post about the Lt. loving bourbon, so here it is:
Bourbon's the only drink. You can pour that champagne down the Channel.
Why wait years to drink the stuff?
Great vineyards, huge barrels ageing forever,
poor monks running around testing it,
so some woman in Oklahoma can say it tickles her nose!
~Grace Kelly's Character, Francie Stevens, in To Catch a Thief