Marinades, dry rubs, seasonings, and brines can all make pork chops delicious, but so can this often overlooked cooking fat.

This versatile fat makes my tamales, fried chicken, noodles, and baked goods so much better. Depending on the batch, lard's flavor can range from distinctly meaty to neutral and all-but flavorless.

Also, when and how to use it. It might not be an ingredient you hear about very often today, but lard has been used in kitchens around the world for centuries—and for good reason. Lard is a versatile ...

At the beginning of every month, I make a fresh batch of lard. I swing by my local butcher shop and lug home bags of leaf lard, the ropey-looking section of pork fat that clings to the pig's kidney ...