I’m a sucker for rubs. I have a cabinet full. Each time I walk down the spice aisle at the grocery store, I stop and inspect – forever seeking that perfect rub for my various meat dishes. After much trial and lot of error, I have arrived at the conclusion that Sauer’s makes the best rubs in the business.
The C. F. Sauer Company is local, with headquarters in Richmond. Founded in 1887, they’ve certainly been around for a while. One of their most famous products is Duke’s Mayonnaise, a personal favorite. Sauer’s bought Duke’s in 1929, at the start of the Great Depression and they haven’t varied the mayonnaise one whit from the original recipe. Sauer’s also manufactures all the standard species and herbs.
But Sauer’s really likes to “rub it on.” They make simply outstanding rubs, including beef, pork, chicken, barbeque and others.
Sauer’s can be hard to find. I don’t think Kroger’s carries any of their spices and rubs. I usually have to go to Food Lion to buy Sauer’s products. But it’s worth the trip.
When it comes to rubs, the bottom line is this: Do you like the taste? I like all of the Sauer’s rubs. They complement meats and dishes without overpowering.
Here is a simple – and I mean simple – recipe using Sauer’s Chicken Rub that cannot get any easier. This is one of those “I don’t have a lot of time and don’t want to think much about dinner” recipes. It starts with one of the best values in the poultry section of the grocery store – Chicken Tenderloins. They cost about $4 a pound, but it is all protein – not a speck of waste. When the butchers prepare the larger chicken breasts, I think the tenderloins are the trimmings, and that’s why they are so inexpensive. The loins are tender and tasty, and in fifteen minutes you can have your meat entree on the table. Start with a pack of chicken tenderloins, a pound or so, Spread them out on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (for easy clean up). Run the chicken lightly with olive oil, sprinkle the with Kosher salt, coarse black pepper and Sauer’s Chicken Rub. Go easy on the rub, a little bit goes a long way. Put the tenderloins in a 375 oven for 15 minutes. That’s it. Serve the tasty chicken over a bed of buttered rice or pasta and you have just made an easy dish that’s super easy and delicious. Try Sauer’s rubs. They are all delicious and can help make cooking a snap.
Sauer’s Chicken Tenderloins
1 pound or so of Chicken Tenderloins
1 T olive oil
S & P to taste
Sauer’s Chicken Rub (to taste)