About MZL

Howdy! My name is Robyn Clark and this is my Zesty life. I am a wife, mother, soap maker, and nature lover living in Austin, TX. Did I mention that I love to cook? I hope you enjoy this website. Here I bring you my passion for living life, making soap and my never ending desire to cook & eat yummy food.

I moved to Austin, Texas two years ago from Sonoma County, a quaint area in Northern California. Bet you didn’t know I was born and raised in a very small town and have never lived anywhere else until now?! (If you do know this and are my family member, you are excused from reading this; because you already know everything there is to possibly know about me.) Pretty amazing huh?

I have two very special dudes in my life – my husband Blue and my son Chance. We packed our Ford F-350 long bed and my Chrysler Sebring with our dog Echo, rabbit Cody, two cockatiels B.B. and Squaw, and our three cats Smooshie (a.k.a. Mama), Sasha, W.B. (a.k.a. White Bitch) and the rest of our stuff to start a new and exciting adventure here in Austin, TX. Two years later and a few animals less (we lost our dear birdies to raccoons and our rabbit passed from old age) we are now settled in and love livin’ in Texas. Our most recent family addition of the friendly furry doggy variety is Izzy (a.k.a. Gremlin). Warning: You will probably see way to many pictures of my adorable animal friends so I will spare you pictures at this time.

Here is a picture of my dudes:

dudes-pub

Aren’t they something?

And Zesty me

rc-pub

In case you were wondering, I am in no way a professional photographer, nor am I a “real” chef. (Want to know more?) However, I am a graduate of Sonoma State University, earning my Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a concentration in Botany. Pretty zesty huh? I love plants and plants love me. I enjoy the biological sciences, chemistry and nature and even worked as a formulation chemist in the pharmaceutical industry. I started my business, The Herb Room, here in Austin and have been making my own natural products for ten years. I love everything about formulating skin care products. Currently, I am offering my natural handmade soaps using only the purest essential oils and herbs. It gives me so much pleasure to share my soaps with you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy making them and using them. My Zesty Life truly encompasses all the things that I have a zest for doing in my daily life!

Myzestylife.com website is where you will find me in my zesty kitchen (where else?) cooking, cooking, and more cooking, taking pictures, and making and offering my natural handmade soaps from The Herb Room. I will share zesty tidbits of my daily life from spending time with my dudes, my critters, to being out and about enjoying the beauty of Austin. There is so much nature here which is surprising in such a big city! Remember - Austin is a big city for this small town girl!

I really enjoy the great outdoors – hiking, boating, fishing and camping. Yep folks, you heard it right, and in a real tent, no RV for this lady. I am fascinated with nature – plants, herbs, gardens, gardening, and taxonomy (I know completely nerdy right? and one of the reasons why I am a Botanist.) I will strive for a future category in this area for all you plant nerds out there. Currently, I am in love with my scrabble game on my iPhone (a.k.a. iBrain), LOVE to read, watch movies (am no movie snob), like fashion, (what girl doesn’t like shopping?) love laughing, and eating, of course. I also do some volunteering, am a homework helper, and a domestic goddess of sorts. In my spare time I also juggle and work for the circus…Seriously folks, I live a crazy, beautiful, colorful, and zesty life.

I hope you enjoy a slice of my zesty life!

Zestfully yours,
Robyn

Triple S Ribs|Sauce & Marinade


For fall off the bone goodness, Triple S has you covered. Triple what?
Triple S. As in Sweet, Saucy, & Spicy. Triple the goodness. No joke. A marinade & sauce that creates finger lickin’ madness. Your ribs’ new BFF. Triple S Ribs are so worth the triple time – marinated, oven baked, and then finished off with a mop on the Q. I served these up Texas style at the big Party and Q where I got my Zesty Grill Goddess on! We are talking 9lbs of pork spareribs and 7 lbs of loin back marinating in Triple S. Whoa! Yep.

It’s all about the Triple S. I triple dare you to make this…

Couldn’t make it to the big P A R T a Y and heard about my Triple S ribs? Showed up late to be denied Triple S pleasure? (These babies disappeared within minutes!) Partied hardy and have a case of the Triple S fuzzies? (You know who are!) Let me refresh your memory.
With this.

Honeymoon Chicken, Party Pasta Salad, and Triple S Ribs. Coming back to you yet?

That’s what I thought. There’s just no forgettin’ that sweet, saucy, and spicy mouthful of fall off the bone ribs. Me loves the Triple S. A sauce, a marinade, and pure mouth magic.

First thing’s first – ribs baby! I used a mix of pork spare ribs and loin back ribs but can’t wait to try Triple S Beef Ribs. Where’s the beef? In my garage. Garage? Yep. You heard it right! We bought part of a grass fed cow, which is currently living in the freezer in my garage…

Starting Ingredients:
Pork or Beef Ribs
Salt and Pepper
Pineapple Juice from 1 can (8 oz) Pineapple tidbits (reserve the pineapple tidbits)


Tender Triple S ribs start with a pre-soak.

Prep:
Rinse ribs in cool water and pat dry with a paper towel.
Place the ribs in a large, deep dish baking pan.
Pat a layer of salt and pepper on the dry meat.

Drain the pineapple tidbits, saving the pineapple juice and set the tidbits aside.
Pour the reserved pineapple juice over the ribs.
Cover and set aside to marinate for 2-3 hours or as long as you can!

Sweet, spicy, saucy, pampered ribs begin with a Triple S spa treatment. Let the Triple S, makin’ begin!


Equipment: Food Processor or Blender (for the “old school” peeps, a good old fashioned mortar & pestle will do. Wink.)

Ingredients:
3 Bay leaves
3 Tablespoons molasses
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon ground clove
1 teaspoon celery seed

1 teaspoon pepper
1 Tablespoon salt
1/3 cup brown sugar

1 Tablespoon Chili Powder (Gebhardt brand)
1 Tablespoon Chili Powder (Fiesta brand)
1 teaspoon onion powder

1 Tablespoon paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne
½ onion, yellow
3 cloves garlic
Dash of Tabasco sauce

¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
½ cup soy sauce
¼ cup vinegar

1 carton (26.46 oz) or can equivalent, crushed or strained tomatoes (Pomi brand)
1 can (8 oz) drained Pineapple tidbits

1 cup fresh Italian Parsley

Time to get our Triple S on!


In a food processor or blender add the garlic, half of a yellow onion, and three whole Bay leaves.

Time to add chili powder – two tablespoons of your favorite chili powder. I like to experiment making my own chili powder blends and I usually have a few regulars on hand. If you are a CAKE or Crazy Ass Kitchen Experimenter like me, you’ll be surprised to find the many different brands and styles of chili powders available and a vast array of differences in tastes between brands.  There are many options and unique regional types of chili powders, from New Mexico to Thailand, to the common chili powder used in your everyday chili con carne. Chili powders vary greatly, the taste and style will depend on the variety of chili pepper used, how it is processed, dried, powdered, prepared, and if  other herbs/spices were added to the powder blend.

I am using two kinds of chili powder: Gebhardt and Fiesta brand. But whatever you have on hand will do.

Gebhardt is a mild, all purpose chili powder that is a staple in my pantry. Not all chili peppers provide heat; a lot depends on the type of chili and how it was prepared for the overall characteristic that it may lend to the final blend. The Chipotle chili is a smoked chili, can be hot or mild, and is blended into chili powder mixes and used in Southwest cooking, whereas a Tepin chili is always super duper HOT. Just like hot sauces, chili powders come in all sorts of varieties, from muy caliente, to very mild, so have fun taste testing… BUT puleaze try it first before adding! You may be quite surprised by the heat that some of these chili powder blends offer!


Fiesta Chili powder adds a hint of heat, and contains chipotle, which adds complexity and a rich smoky flavor.

After the Chili powder is added, it’s time for the brown sugar.

Me gusta sweet Paprika! Paprika is the ground spice from the sweet pepper and is commonly used in chili powder blends. Spanish dishes use the sweet pimento pepper to create a spice called pimenton that is similar to paprika in flavor.

Add in a teaspoon paprika and

a half teaspoon of cayenne.

A teaspoon onion powder,

celery seed, and

half a teaspoon ground clove, plus

a Tablespoon of garlic powder.

On to the finishing touches -

one teaspoon pepper and a Tablespoon salt!

Whir the mixture up until it looks like a thick paste.

Oh yeah! A little taste of the tropics and the natural sweetness of pineapple.

Add the drained can of tidbits,

the molasses,

soy sauce, and

white vinegar.

Just to heat things up – a dash o’ Tabasco!

Pour the Pomi tomatoes in,

and pile on the fresh parsley. Another whiz in the processor and whaddya get? S as in STOP.

Take a lookie. Triple S.

Your sweet, spicy, saucy friend.

Triple S – a sauce & marinade made for mouth smackin’ finger lickin’ yum.

And for your pre-soaked ribs.

It’s time for a Triple S bath!

Ahhh. A Sweet, Spicy, Saucy Rib Spa.

S for Super. S for Succulent. S for Stupendous. S for So Satisfying.

Printable Recipe Printable Recipe

Triple S Ribs|Sauce & Marinade

Pork or Beef Ribs
Salt and Pepper
Pineapple Juice from 1 can (8 oz) Pineapple tidbits (reserve the pineapple tidbits)

Triple S|Sauce & Marinade

Wet Ingredients:
½ onion, yellow
3 cloves garlic
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 can (8 oz) drained Pineapple tidbits (reserve the pineapple juice for the ribs)
3 Tablespoons molasses
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
½ cup soy sauce
¼ cup vinegar, white
Dash of Tabasco sauce
1 carton (26.46 oz) or can equivalent, crushed or strained tomatoes (Pomi brand)

Herbs & Spices:
3 Bay leaves
1 Tablespoon Chili Powder (Gebhardt brand)
1 Tablespoon Chili Powder (Fiesta Brand)
1 Tablespoon paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon celery seed
½ teaspoon ground clove
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon pepper
1 Tablespoon salt
1 cup fresh Italian Parsley, whole leaf

Yield: 6 cups

Rinse ribs in cool water and pat dry with a paper towel. Place the ribs in a large, deep dish baking pan. Pat a layer of salt and pepper on the dry meat. Drain the pineapple tidbits, saving the juice and set the tidbits aside. Pour the reserved pineapple juice over the ribs. Cover and set aside to pre-soak for 2-3 hours. In a food processor or blender, add the onion, garlic, bay leaves, chili powder(s), brown sugar, paprika, cayenne, onion powder, celery seed, ground clove, garlic powder, pepper, and salt. Mix on high speed until the mixture resembles a thick paste. Add the drained pineapple tidbits, molasses, Worcestershire, soy sauce, vinegar, Tabasco, tomato sauce, and fresh parsley and mix on high until blended. Pour the blended Triple S over the pre-soaked ribs to cover; reserve 1-2 cups to use as a sauce and for mopping the ribs while cooking. Cover the ribs with foil, and set aside to marinate for 1-2 hours at room temperature or bring to room temperature before cooking. Store Triple S in glass bottles or jars with lids and refrigerate.
To cook: Bake covered in a 170° oven for 2-6 hours. Uncover the ribs during the last hour of cooking. Cooking times will vary depending on the amount (lbs) of ribs that you are cooking and your oven. When in doubt, select your oven’s lowest temperature and check the ribs periodically to make sure they are not overdone! The ribs should be grill ready, cooked and tender, but not completely falling off the bone. I let some of the rib meat fall off the bone to settle in the juices; this really is up to you & depends on how you like it and on the type of ribs that you are using. Remove the ribs from the baking pan and heat up the grill or BBQ to med/high or 375°. Place the oven baked ribs on the hot grill or BBQ and mop with the reserved Triple S sauce. Cook the ribs until they are darkened and charred. Serve with Triple S sauce, and triple love.

Enjoy!