What's Cooking?

[matriarch]

Ahead of the curve again.

Some TV show just talked about how cheese boards are becoming trendy. We've been doing cheese boards for a few years now. After dinner, 3-4 good cheeses, fruit and nuts and port. It's the best part of a god dinner

Pears and roquefort.

It's always been the norm in England for as long as I can remember. Always finish a dinner with a cheese board and port.

Yes please to the roquefort.....but not at 71.5 in the morning.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I can't believe that there was once a time where that was all I looked forward to during the holidays, the eating. I feel disgusted at the memory of how I was then.

there's nothing wrong with enjoying the pleasure of eating, either...
but there is something to be said for the *quality* of what we consume over the *quantity*... I could eat a few cubes of cheese and a strawberry and a handful of almonds and be completely satisfied... but the hollowness of a less exquisite meal leaves me wanting, always... there is a (strangely) a deep connection you can make through food... just like you can with anything...

 

[Aurora Black]

Over the holidays, we had roasted lamb, pork and goat and they were all incredibly delicious. I avoided the turkey, which turned out to be bone-dry.

On New Year's Day, Greeks have a tradition of cutting a Vassilopita (a special cake baked in honor of St. Basil) and whoever has the piece that contains the lucky coin will have good luck throughout the year.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

We did a turkey. We brined it and cooked it upside down.

You soak it in brine to cover overnight (cup of kosher salt/gallon of water) and that helps it retain moisture.

You cook it breast-side down so that fat seeps into the white meat instead of out of it. Turn it over for the last hour to crisp up the skin.

Best turkey we've ever made.

 

[Aurora Black]

We did a turkey. We brined it and cooked it upside down.

You soak it in brine to cover overnight (cup of kosher salt/gallon of water) and that helps it retain moisture.

You cook it breast-side down so that fat seeps into the white meat instead of out of it. Turn it over for the last hour to crisp up the skin.

Best turkey we've ever made.

It sounds wonderful. You should come over here and give the locals some lessons for cooking a juicy turkey. The one that was served on New Year's was inedible.

 

[SeaCat]

Hmmmmm, last night was Beer Can Chicken. (If you haven't tried it don't laugh. Some of the best chicken you'll ever have especially if your grill has a smoke box.)

Tonight, ahhh tonight is heaven.
Marinated roast of beef, marinated in Garlic and Onion for 48 hours. Just before cooking it was hit with a heavy rub of fresh cracked pepper. The grill was fired up and th smoke box filled with beer soaked chips. Now the roast is slow cooking, away from the heat, and will be done in another hour.

This of course will be served with Baby Carrots and grilled Corn.

Cat

(Hey I may be poor but I know how to eat.)

 

[cloudy]

Hmmmmm, last night was Beer Can Chicken. (If you haven't tried it don't laugh. Some of the best chicken you'll ever have especially if your grill has a smoke box.)

Tonight, ahhh tonight is heaven.
Marinated roast of beef, marinated in Garlic and Onion for 48 hours. Just before cooking it was hit with a heavy rub of fresh cracked pepper. The grill was fired up and th smoke box filled with beer soaked chips. Now the roast is slow cooking, away from the heat, and will be done in another hour.

This of course will be served with Baby Carrots and grilled Corn.

Cat

(Hey I may be poor but I know how to eat.)

okay, I'm drooling now.

I have some homemade vegetable beef soup on.

 

[English Lady]

*joins cloudy in the drooling*


I plan to make a blackforest gateau at the weekend at the behest of my hubby. It will be a challenge that is for sure!

 

[SeaCat]

Well drooling is allowed.
The roast turned out great by the way.
Tomorrow is Smoked Grilled Chicken. (It's already been hit by a dry rub and is resting comfortably in the fridge.)


Cloudy, I have tried several of your recipes and have found them fantastic. Come on down and visit, we'll exchange recipes and backrubs.

Cat

 

[SeaCat]

*joins cloudy in the drooling*


I plan to make a blackforest gateau at the weekend at the behest of my hubby. It will be a challenge that is for sure!

Please send a recipe?

Cat

 

[matriarch]

I finally plan to bake tomorrow.

Apple and cinnamon buns. My favourites.


And one of these days, really will have to invite mum and dad gosling over for dinner.......a traditional English meal. That should scare them, it seems to scare everyone else.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

An Honest Bowl of Red

Spare me your chile recipes using filet mignon and hand-rubbed smoked Guatemalen mutant diploid jungle chilis. You want a great bowl of chile in half an hour without going to the gourmet store, here's what you do:

2-3 lbs basic ground beef, not too lean
1 medium onion, chopped
1 bottle cheap American beer
2 chicken or beef boulion cubes
2 Tbs mild paprika
2-3 Tbs ground cumin
1/2-1 tsp ground hot red pepper (to taste)
1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
2 cans of cooked kidney or pinto beans, drained.

Brown the beef over medium high heat in a big pot. Pour off the grease when it's almost done and toss in a chopped onion. Cook another ten minutes or so to limp the onion. Throw in everything else and cook 10-20 minutes.

Serve it with cornbread and experience the profound simplicity of a great, honest bowl of red.

(We make this so often I've started buying my spices at the Indian Grocery, when you can get like a pound of cumin for $1.29)

--Zoot

 

[cloudy]

Well drooling is allowed.
The roast turned out great by the way.
Tomorrow is Smoked Grilled Chicken. (It's already been hit by a dry rub and is resting comfortably in the fridge.)


Cloudy, I have tried several of your recipes and have found them fantastic. Come on down and visit, we'll exchange recipes and backrubs.

Cat

It's a deal.

 

[SeaCat]

Spare me your chile recipes using filet mignon and hand-rubbed smoked Guatemalen mutant diploid jungle chilis. You want a great bowl of chile in half an hour without going to the gourmet store, here's what you do:

2-3 lbs basic ground beef, not too lean
1 medium onion, chopped
1 bottle cheap American beer
2 chicken or beef boulion cubes
2 Tbs mild paprika
2-3 Tbs ground cumin
1/2-1 tsp ground hot red pepper (to taste)
1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
2 cans of cooked kidney or pinto beans, drained.

Brown the beef over medium high heat in a big pot. Pour off the grease when it's almost done and toss in a chopped onion. Cook another ten minutes or so to limp the onion. Throw in everything else and cook 10-20 minutes.

Serve it with cornbread and experience the profound simplicity of a great, honest bowl of red.

(We make this so often I've started buying my spices at the Indian Grocery, when you can get like a pound of cumin for $1.29)

--Zoot

Sounds almost like mine, except I add a pound of Bacon and half a bottle of BBQ Sauce. (I like to use chunked beef, but I'll take whatever is cheapest.)

A little trick, if you have the time is to cook it for a day on a slow cooker.

Cat

 

[SeaCat]

It's a deal.

The door is always open for you.

Cat

 

[English Lady]

Please send a recipe?

Cat

Oh,sure. Silly me! Here we go, this is what I'm going to be going off:

http://www.greatbritishkitchen.co.uk/recipes_result.asp?name=blackforestgateau


My husband found black cherries the other day and joked "If I buy these, will you make me a gateau" and his jaw hit the ground when I calmly said "yeah, sure!"


Nice sounding chille Dr M. Sacrilidge I know, but can you do it without the beer? We never have beer in the house here...

Oh, and I buy my spices at our local indian market -I love that place!!!

 

[mcopado]

The grill was fired up and th smoke box filled with beer soaked chips. Cat

Beer soaked huh? Never thought of that...You ever use applejuice???

Back at seminary when my housemate and I used to fire up the smoker (the $30.00) Coleman wet smoker that looks like R2D2, I used apple juice ass the moisture and hickory for the wood....mmmmm. Used to pack that puppy full of stuff from the KC outdoor market and let it go all day...

Ribs and brisket with dry rub. Chicken marianated for 24 hours in Olive oil, oregano, smoked paprika and garlic. Sausages. Occasionally a ham. Sometimes when we were flushed with cash and bought a lot of meat we'd double stack the smokers...Looked like we elected the Pope!

We'd feast for the week...

 

[mcopado]

Here's one of mine...

Rev. Michael’s Asian Tilapia
(Feeds 2 adults w/ side dishes such as greens)​

Preheat Oven to 375

1 ½ Tbs. Emeral’s Asian Spice Blend (or any commercial or homemade blend ) & 1 ½ Tbs. Curry Powder (mixed together)
1 Onion sliced across to form rings
3 Tilapia Filets
2 Limes
1 ripe mango cut in cubes
1-2 cups pineapple chunks
White wine or champagne (whatever’s open and available)
Handful of pumpkin seeds toasted in hot dry pan
Pinch of salt

Layer half of the onions on bottom of glass baking dish. Sprinkle one third of spice mixture over onions. Squirt half of a lime over onions and spices.

Lay fish on onion bed. Place rest of onions on top of fish. Sprinkle one third of spices on top of fish. And squirt more lime juice over fish. Splash some wine (or champagne) over fish.

Put diced fruit over fish, sprinkle remainder of spices, rest of lime juice and toasted pumpkin seeds on top of fruit. Splash another dash of wine over everything. Add a pinch of salt on top of everything.

Place pan with water on bottom rack of oven and baking dish with fish on middle rack.

Bake in 375 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Baste fish with liquid from bottom of pan and cook 7-10 minutes longer until fish is white, and flaky and fruit is soft.

 

[cloudy]

I LOVE tilapia! Gonna have to try this one.

 

[Aurora Black]

I am so hungry from reading all this. We have pork slowly roasting in the oven right now.

 

[Aurora Black]

Oh, wow! I just looked at the Gateau picture and it's to die for. Your husband is in for a treat, EL. I'm sure it will be mouthwateringly delicious. Is that even a word?

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Oh,sure. Silly me! Here we go, this is what I'm going to be going off:

http://www.greatbritishkitchen.co.uk/recipes_result.asp?name=blackforestgateau


My husband found black cherries the other day and joked "If I buy these, will you make me a gateau" and his jaw hit the ground when I calmly said "yeah, sure!"


Nice sounding chille Dr M. Sacrilidge I know, but can you do it without the beer? We never have beer in the house here...

Oh, and I buy my spices at our local indian market -I love that place!!!

Oh, love! That's what we call a Black Forest Cake over here! Terribly rich.

That's the one that gave rise to my theory of the Chocolate Taste Spectrum, like the Visible Light Spectrum. Just as the color orange fades into yellow on one end and red on the other, chocolate fades into butter cream on one end and black cherry on the other.

Well, I never claimed to be sane.

As for the beer-- Well, I guess you could make chili without beer. I guess you could make it without meat or chiles too, but it's not really chili then, is it? And where does the madness end?

I suppose you could just use beef or chicken stock, or maybe red wine. But Jeez, EL, I don't think the neighbors will talk if you buy a single bottle of beer! The alcohol cooks right out and it gives it a nice, earthy, malty taste.

Don't use dark beer though. That makes it bitter.

And you guys have such great beer over there too!

 

[matriarch]

Croissants baking in the oven for breakfast.........the smell is slowly beginning to permeate the house...........

Kettle boiling for tea or hot chocolate or coffee............

 

[English Lady]

Oh, love! That's what we call a Black Forest Cake over here! Terribly rich.

That's the one that gave rise to my theory of the Chocolate Taste Spectrum, like the Visible Light Spectrum. Just as the color orange fades into yellow on one end and red on the other, chocolate fades into butter cream on one end and black cherry on the other.

Well, I never claimed to be sane.

As for the beer-- Well, I guess you could make chili without beer. I guess you could make it without meat or chiles too, but it's not really chili then, is it? And where does the madness end?

I suppose you could just use beef or chicken stock, or maybe red wine. But Jeez, EL, I don't think the neighbors will talk if you buy a single bottle of beer! The alcohol cooks right out and it gives it a nice, earthy, malty taste.

Don't use dark beer though. That makes it bitter.

And you guys have such great beer over there too!

Not a big black forest gateau fan myself really, which will make the husband happy, he'll probably have to eat the whole damn thing *L*

Oh gees, you mean I have to buy beer? Ijust, well don't. Ok, ok if you insist I will do. Don't use dark beer, so you mean I need to use lager then?

We had chilli for tea actually (No beer) it was very nice actually, but next time I will try it with beer just because you told me to Dr M

 

[SeaCat]

Not a big black forest gateau fan myself really, which will make the husband happy, he'll probably have to eat the whole damn thing *L*

Oh gees, you mean I have to buy beer? Ijust, well don't. Ok, ok if you insist I will do. Don't use dark beer, so you mean I need to use lager then?

We had chilli for tea actually (No beer) it was very nice actually, but next time I will try it with beer just because you told me to Dr M

E-L,

A nice cheap Lager is good for the chili.

Cat

p.s. I never found that dark beers gave my chili a bitter taste, then again most of the dark beers I drink are fairly sweet.