Journal

2022 - Week 6 Cooking Results

Chickpea, Tomato and Rosemary Soup

This was fairly easy to put tighter and the addition of Parmesan (didn’t have pecorino romano on hand), added a nice element to it. I added a bit more chickpeas and tomatoes and pureed a bit to give the broth a bit more. I ate leftovers for a few times, and because Iðunn thinks it’s a game, she has tried to eat it a few times.

Bangers and Potatoes

Used some leftover potatoes and baked in the oven. Good things.

Mortadella grilled cheese

I pulled the loaf of bread my brother brought me out of the freezer and used Mortadella and Holy Cow. I cracked open the La Quercia Prosciutto Mustard that I ordered a bit before the winter solstice and this made a pretty damn good sandwich.

Hot Sesame Noodles with Pork

I was really hoping to have the leftovers, but Shannon took them to work. It took a bit for the tahini to sort of mix in. Maybe it would’ve been better with a hand blender in the hot water. I could’ve used a bit more heat, but even so, still quite good.

Sichuan Orange Chicken

I will admit that I may not be the best juicer, but I ended up using 5 oranges to get that 3/4th cup of orange juice, that being said it was a flavorful dinner. I added a bit more red pepper flakes and served it over jasmine rice. Quick, good and flavorful.

2022 - Week 6 Cooking

After a significant amount of time nestling at home, we are planning a vacation, it does coincide with a family reunion, but judging by the most recent family reunion, we’re planning our own activities, because why would we go to a place and just hang out with family and not explore the surrounding area (we arrive before and leave after)? Honestly, it is because nobody wants to take leadership, including me, so it becomes a plan of: some one gets annoyed, forces a decision, then vague plans get put in place. At least some people are moving.

2022 - Week 5 Cooking Results

Simple Fried Rice

I added more carrots, added celery, more ham. I added some Sichuan pepper on top of it. Perhaps a bit more oil. Still a bit basic, so I added some soy sauce and some sabal oelek.

Chicken Orzo

This was simple and good enough for both of us to eat it as leftovers, well me after I finished eating the Tingly Lamb.

Mongolian Beef Pasta

It was. Meh? I used some leftover pasta (as in half of a box that was left). Not that flavorful.

Tingly Lamb Ssäm with Quick-Pickled Celery (Today)

There is something that feel good about making something that takes a while and tastes quite good. I started a bit later then I should have. I did have some problems cutting the meat off the bones, but eventually got there. After searing the meat, cooking the veggies, and deglazing it with boomtown lager, the braise started and eventually the house starting smelling wonderful. While that was going on I prepared, the relish and took out some sourdough flatbread. Then while the meat warmed up, and I waited, the released smells brought joy. Time passed. Pulled out the meat, shredded it, back in at a higher temp. As the liquid evaporated, it was almost time to eat. Then it was.

Hamburgers

Ended up being pork, got a nice sear on them and served them.

2022 - Week 4 Cooking Results

Ham & Egg Sandwiches

English muffins, ham, egg and I added a wee bit of spicy mustard to it.

Taco Salad

Another good, relatively good meal.

Brats

Fresh Apple from Lucky George. Good things.

Ramen with Spam

I used ham instead, since I had some out. Chopped it up and cooked it up with some leftover onions, green peppers, and some freshly diced celery. I worked up the noodles and sauce using both of my electric kettles. It made for a pretty quick dinner.

Tingly Lamb Ssäm with Quick-Pickled Celery

Lamb still a bit solid, waiting for Sunday.

2022 - Week 3 Cooking Results

Curry Chicken Salad

Yeah I didn’t do all that stuff. I just added madras curry powder to the mayo and chicken.

Soy & Cider-Braised Chicken with Glazed Sweet Potatoes

I used skinless thighs and with that made some adjustments, accordingly. I tossed the chicken with the spicy seasoned salt, then used vegetable oil to replace the rendered chicken fat (not a great replacement, but what can you do). And cooked the onion, jalapeño and garlic. I used a Normandy Cider (rest for me), to deglaze the pan and then followed the recipe after that. Only I braised for a bit longer, because the chicken was raw, when I put it in for braising, as opposed to partially cooked.

I was surprised that my normal grocery store had white sweet potatoes, but I was not that surprised that they weren’t in the system, so I got them at a bargain, I’m guessing. Never bought white sweet potatoes before.

As a note, I overbought chicken stock a bit ago, and finally have made it through them all, with this dish (well half of the last box).

I made jasmine rice but instead of pepper added the spicy seasoning.

I really enjoyed this.

Baked Mac and cheese

This is a return to a favorite. This is a nice base that you can flex a little bit on, without having the sauce break or etc.

Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Breakfast Potatoes

I forgot to add the chili crunch at the end, but these were still quite good.

Pork Burgers

These ended up being lamb, since I found ground lamb first. Good as always.

2022 - Week 2 Cooking Results

French Bread Pizza (using up the rest of the marinara sauce)

Made a bit of garlic butter, then added the sauce, cheese and pepperoni to the top. Simple and ok.

Brats

Good as always.

Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup With Chicken

I used the rest of a jar of red curry paste, which wasn’t as concentrated as some others and some angel hair pasta (the other half of a box from a bit ago). This came together quickly, though did use a lot of pots. Pretty good, though the chicken did settle tot he bottom of the leftover container so I didn’t get a lot of chicken, until the last lunch serving of leftover. I added Sambal Oelek to mine.

Vidalia Onion Pie

I will state for the record that sometimes when you reduce the “steps” it makes it hard to read the recipe. I think sometimes the Team at Cooks Illustrated has a limit to how many “steps” they can make so instead of do this thing and this thing and also this other thing, it should be do this, start this, do this as actual steps.

That being said, this was actually pretty good. Mostly onion based, with cheese, eggs and some heat. I used the pie pan I have (which if I remember right is from Shannon’s kitchen collection).

Split Pea and Ham Soup

I’ve made this a few times. I added more celery, carrots, and ham. This was done on Saturday, which was pretty much, eat, shovel, recover from shoveling, make dinner. It’s a quite a good soup.