Instructions: Mix the spices in a small bowl. Store the rub covered in a cool, dark pantry or freezer.

This recipe yields 3/4 cup.

Comments: Sweet and fragrant, this rub flavors some of our favorite grilled pork dishes. Turbinado sugar - a crystallized, lighter version of brown sugar - contributes a coarse texture to the mix that enhances its crusting effect.

In spite of the conventional wisdom, sugar and fire dont always equal incineration. Sugar and naturally sweet foods such as oranges or tomatoes will burn over time at high temperatures, but when you use them properly in a dry rub, marinade, or glaze, they can produce a delightful caramelized crunch on grilled foods. If you keep the quantities proportionately small, cook the food only briefly, or grill over moderate heat, the sweetening contributes to a chewy, lightly charred, deeply flavored crust. The effect is similar to what happens with creme brulee, where the sugar topping melts down to a rich, brown caramel under a direct flame.

Yield: 3/4 cup

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