Journal

2014 - Week 19 Cooking Results

Ramp and Sausage Risotto (Blue Gate, Crooked Gap)

This is very good.  I doubled the recipe (had a whole pound of sausage) and maybe didn't have enough ramps, but it was good stuffs.

Penne with Ricotta and Spring Garlic Sauce (Cleverley Farms)

Maybe a bit garlicky, but maybe I added more garlic than was required.  That being said, it was a good way to highlight the spring garlic.  I don't know if I'd make it again though.

Ham Steak and Mashed Potatoes and Spring Garlic

Good combination.  I didn't really want to disturb my chives before the blossoms come out (and got cut off, shared or eaten), but this worked out great.  That ham was good too, and with a salad made for a nice round meal.

Pork Burgers (Crooked Gap)

yay!  this is what I wanted.  A double helping of pork (ground and bacon), a bit of cheese and some good bread.

Chorizo Tacos (Crooked Gap)

I fell into the random holiday trap, and it was still good.  I think the chorizo was a bit spicier than the last time around, but still not up to the level that one would like.  Still pretty good over all.

2014 - Week 19 Cooking

The DTFM is back!  Spring has been a bit rough for growing things, clearly, but it is nice to be able to walk around and say hello to most of the vendors that I frequent that have returned and to talk to some new ones.  We picked up some delicious Maple Syrup from Great River Maple, but we ran out of money, so we'll have to get back to them for some of the Maple Cream.  We started restock the jams in the cupboard and all those good things.  I was hoping someone would have some well dried out garlic for use, cause I miss local garlic, but what can you do?

2014 - Week 18 Cooking Results

Spaghetti and Italian Sausage (from last week)

Some stuff from the cupboard (tomato sauce, paste), some stuff from the box (onions), some from the drawers (dried herbs, spices) and boom, pasta!

Smoked Lamb

We had a second hunk of lamb that Joseph smoked for us last week and had smoked lamb sandwiches.  Nothing is like lamb.  And these were pretty good.

Egg Salad

So one of the things around that around this time of year, seems like something that should happen.  So I boiled up some eggs and a couple of days later, made a nice simple egg salad.  It was eggs, onions, mayo, deli mustard and a touch of sambal oelek.  Good stuffs.

Ham & Peas & Mac & Cheese

So I added so much ham and peas that it loaded up into another pan.  This was kind of sort of based on Alton Brown's Baked Mac and Cheese.  I did end up using Andeer Traum, a bit of Vella Dry Jack, some Vacherin Fribourgeois Crepi and some Parmigiano Reggiano.  Does that sound excessive?  Well it was a bit, but still quite a fine combination, savory and delicious.  Also my cheese selection is mostly gone, so we're better off and not being wasteful. 

Ham, Scrambled Eggs and Onion

This turned into ham and eggs on a ciabatta bun.  I still kind of want to do this, but you know sometimes you get requests.

Ham (Steaked) and Mashed Potatoes (with Chives)

delayed until today!

2014 - Week 18 Cooking

So I'm trying to clear out some space in the freezer.  It's not really winter anymore, though winter has been holding on with a death grip and occasionally pops up its head, and Shannon usually swaps out soup for Frozen meals.  So That is the point of doing the things that I've been doing.

On another matter, my pork vendor (occasionally lamb and beef too), Crooked Gap, has not renewed their placement at the Farmer's Market.  I certainly understand the decision (timing, etc), but will miss that weekly interaction.  Maybe I'll just have to have a separate "pork" budget.  Honestly what I need to do is sign up for his meat CSA and get me a freezer for the basement, though I need the freezer first.  This means we need to make space in the basement for the freezer and figure out how to get it in there.

On the note of freeing up freezer space, HAM!  I have a big ass ham in the freezer and I'm going to use it.  I debated waiting for the chive blossoms to come, but, they're just starting to pop their heads up.

  • Spaghetti and Italian Sausage (from last week)
  • Smoked Lamb
  • Egg Salad
  • Ham & Peas & Mac & Cheese
  • Ham, Scrambled Eggs and Onion
  • Ham (Steaked) and Mashed Potatoes (with Chives)

2014 - Week 17 Cooking Results

Chicken Salad

Rotisserie chicken is such a nice start to many meals.  So this is usually done on a Wednesday, since that's when they are on sale at Gateway, and it worked out good this day as well.  I wanted chicken salad last week, but it didn't work the way I wanted.  So this was a simple combination of things that were in the fridge to make a good meal.

Pancakes and Sausage

Again, home late from work, tired.  Sausage + egg + Ciabatta bun + cheese.  nom nom.  Though it would've been a nice day to have pancakes.

Lamb Burgers

So I topped the lamb with a bit some Von Trapp Farmstead's Oma.  It was a nice added flavor on top of the lamb.  Yum yum.

Spaghetti and Italian Sausage

We had smoked lamb instead (thanks to Joseph) with mashed potatoes, delayed until next week.

Sausage and Peppers

Came home way later then I wanted to, so I rushed to get this done.  Still good.  Used the Crooked Gap Hot Italian Sausage.  Good stuffs.

Green Onion Sausage Pizza

nom nom nom.  The rack was a bit lower then I wanted, however, the crust looked better, but didn't have the same taste that I go after.  Note to self:  Adjust rack, before oven heats up to 500º...

2014 - Week 16 Cooking Results

Black Bean and Pepper Jack Burgers

Delayed.  Went to Zombie Burger for dinner and HOQ for dessert with a couple of my brothers, my wife and Hyrum's family.

Salmon with Mashed Peas and Tarragon Butter

Didn't have enough peas.  Used fish, butter and aleppo pepper, then a salad on the side.  Was pretty good.

Peas and Carrots with Jamaican Curry

This was tasty, and surprisingly filling.  I wonder what it would be like with the peas and carrots that it asks for.  anyways, good stuffs, pretty quick to make to.

Baked Mac and Cheese + Pumpkin (based on this)

So I forgot to to put in the canned pumpkin.  Maybe it was just an excuse to have mac and cheese?  Meh...it was good.  I used a good chunk of Prairie Breeze for the cheddar part of the equation.

Roast Chicken

Ok, so I misread what was on the package...or didn't read it at all.  Turns out it was the Guineafowl that I had bought a while back from Crooked Gap.  I wasn't totally familiar with it, but vaguely remember someone telling me to cook it low and slow.  So I did.  A little salt and pepper and some olive oil.  Cooked at 320º for a bit.  I may have overcooked it a bit, but even so it was kind of as it described.  Somewhere between a turkey and chicken in taste.

Chorizo Tacos

Quickly made, delicious.

2014 - Week 15 Cooking Results

Green Onion Sausage Pizza

Good as always.  Such a good combination of flavors.

White Bean Burgers with Tomato Olive Relish

So the basil that the recipe called for turned gross, and instead of going to get another batch, I just didn't use it.  That being said, the tomato olive relish got the pass from Shannon, which is not a surprise (olives), but the burger itself (minus the basil) got a better rating than the other ones I've made, so I'm going to try them again, to do a comparison.

Rice bowl with Fried Egg and Avocado

So eating this it came together very quickly (other than the Avocado which was under-ripe), and was very good.  The runny egg with the rice was great.  This could turn into another one of those "I don't feel like cooking" staples.  Certainly a swapp up from the egg sandwich (the standard).  Good stuffs, other than I hate buying Avocados.

Chickpea Salad Sandwiches

Meh.  Kinda bland.

Chorizo (Crooked Gap) Tacos

So I took the chorizo, added some black beans and some Enchilada Sauce (from Juan's) and used that as the basis for the dinner.  I also added some spices to bring the heat up a bit.  It turned out pretty good.  I'm pretty happy with it.

Pork Burgers

I thought I had straight up pork, but did not, so they ended up being pork sausage burgers.  Pretty good none the less.