I'm sitting here at my desk looking out the window at a clear blue sky, which is a real rarity here in Pittsburgh, especially after the wet and humid summer that we had.

The modern day variation on brisket burnt ends

I've made this a few times when I wanted something different. It's light and flavorful instead of how heavy some Cajun / Creole dishes can be. I will often serve this over a boil in bag brown rice.

I've always enjoyed cooking. For me, it's been my retreat and something that brings me pleasure. From grilled peanut butter, chocolate and banana sandwiches as a kid to Yankee jambalaya as an adult, I have always tended to cook a little bit outside of the lines.