Journal

2022 - Week 27 Cooking Results

Brats

The Fareway brats are bigger than the ones I have been getting from my local farmer, and while fine, not as good as the Crooked Gap ones.

Burgers

Shannon picked out some stuffed burgers and I cooked them up. Overall pretty good.

We tried a couple of sides, one was meh (Fareway Potato Salad), the other was ok (smokehouse pasta salad), and the 3rd neither of us really liked the flavor (smokehouse pasta salad).

Teriyaki Stir Fried Garlic Scapes with Chicken

We got out of the new Thor movie, and I didn’t feel like putting much of an effort into dinner, so I I chopped up the chicken thighs, tossed them with a bit of oil, Momofuku savory salt and some ancho chili powder. Baked them ad 375º for 20 minutes and put them on buns to make sandwiches.

So I guess Skipped?

Ham and Swiss Sliders

I picked up some Kings Hawaiian rolls, got some of The Royal from Red Table (at the Cheese shop) and some nice swiss style cheese and just vaguely followed the recipe. I did skip the sauce for the top of the buns, which sounds like it could’ve added more flavor. Even so, a pretty good little sandwich.

Pork Tamale Pie

I had sworn I made this before. It appears as if the ATK family of brands has called this multiple things. Skillet Tamale Pie under Cooks Illustrated (appears to be minus the pork and scallions but plus beef and garlic) vs Pork Tamale Pie. I guess they are different, technically, but it seems like it’s just a variant. Now I’m curious how many are like this. I noticed a search difference the other day when I was looking for thing. You would get different results, even though you have access on all the sites. I’m curious of the logic behind it.

Anyway, I made the pork version cause I had pulled out some pork for the 4th weekend but ended up not using that, and this seemed simple and familiar. I used chipotle chili powder, extra cheese, extra corn, and added things and baked them off. Pretty good, pretty good as leftovers. I think I like this version better then the beef one.

2022 - Week 27 Cooking

I visited the new Fareway meat market a week ago, so Shannon and I went yesterday as part of busy(ish) Saturday. We picked out a few items to celebrated the 4th of July extended weekend. We see the general purpose of it, and it’s nice to have a close alternative to the other grocery store, but closed Sundays, my grocery shopping day, does put a hamper on that relationship. Other Activities on that Saturday included: taking Shannon’s car in for an oil change / tire rotation, Blue Gate pickup, Car Pickup.

2022 - Week 26 Cooking Results

Brats

Good as always

Italian Sausage Sandwich

I had a pound of sausage, and the sausage needed for the frittata subtracted out, so I used the rest for a bit of a sausage and provolone sandwich. it was pretty good and a way to use the extra meat without some random thing later.

Eggs and Hash Browns

Scrambled eggs, hash browns baked in the oven. Good things.

Bison Sloppy Joes

So I’m not sure if that was what the Torpedo Extra IPA was supposed to taste like, the box appeared to be a bit old, but it was not my favorite. Though I did end up forcing myself to finish the 6 pack. The directions for this were a bit backwards.

It should’ve been prep the cheddar sauce, then do the meat mixture, then while the meat mixture cooks, you can cook the sauce. Otherwise you have to totally babysit the sauce while you cook the meat, trying to keep it at a temperature where it’s melted but not going to crust on the bottom.

That being said, I swapped out the chili powder with chipotle powder and they cayenne with jalapeño, which put the heat up a bit, on top of the poblano pepper that was in there.

It turned into more of a loose meat sandwich, then a sloppy joe, but adding the cheese sauce added an extra amount of sloppiness to it, I suppose.

It was flavorful, served on Kings Hawaiian pretzel rolls (who knew they existed), with a side dish. It took a bit of time, but was worth it for a weekend dinner.

Teriyaki Stir Fried Garlic Scapes with Chicken

On Friday, I mildly tweaked my back while cleaning the kitchen, so we got takeaway instead.

Delayed.

Italian Sausage and Potato Frittata

Relatively easy to do do, it was a good week night dinner. The microwaving of the potato slices certainly did cut down on the cook time. Pretty good.

Elderflower Syrup (finishing)

After a ~3 day soak, I drained the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl, the bowl and eventually into a jar.

2022 - Week 25 Cooking Results

Baked Blackened Fish Sandwich

So it wasn’t blackened, really, but it was nice a pretty good. I added some Momofuku savory salt int he mix and baked them. We proceeded to eat them on ciabatta buns and it was pretty good. I vaguely followed the recipe.

Chilled Sesame Noodles

I was waiting on a work thing to get finished, but had to consider the timing of being ready for AMS. So I was racing to get this done so we could be ready for a 7 start time. This was quick. Very Quick. I added the sauce together, got the toppings prepped all while the water came to a boil and the noodles, cooked and cooled. We ate, and we then watched The Fifth Element.

Beef & Three-Cheese Noodle Casserole

I added a teaspoon of red pepper flakes, used Mozzarella and added some ricotta, that I had leftover. I may have added more cheese, since my brain conversion failed me, but it still worked.

I really liked the sun-dried tomatoes, after cooking and baking. They added a burst of tomato flavor.

Brats

Good Things.

Chicken Salad

I pulled the chicken off a rotisserie chicken, and then proceeded to make a pretty good chicken salad. A good quick meal as the weather was being hot.

Taco Salad

I had almost forgotten about the Wabi Sabi first CSA pickup, so I ran out right quick to get it and chat with Farmer Ben for a bit. I then when back home and used the mushrooms and arugula immediately. In the taco salad. I don’t normally use mushrooms, so this was a bit different, but not too much.

Elderflower Syrup

It is that time of year again, and I know that my wife loves this, so I make it again. On a note of the, its a bit odd, after I got my haircut, I stopped by the new Fareway Meat Market, to just see what was there. It certainly seems focused around the meat. Like sides, preparation things, but it had a nice variety of things. While I had not actually planned to buy anything, there was some Fever Tree Elderflower Tonic water. So I had to get that, then I got a couple of other things that I wanted to try. and finally got to use a gift card that I had in my wallet for quite a while (I used part of it to buy ice, when we lost power during the 2020 Derecho). So I ended up spending just over 3 dollars past the gift card and came home to make the syrup.

2022 - Week 24 Cooking Results

Dave Chang’s Leftover Fried Rice

I made this again, it was still pretty good. I used shrimp again, and it was still a nice thing.

Baked Blackened Fish Sandwich

We met up with a friend and ate dinner at a place that has been around for a bit, but was new to us, So Delayed. I’ll take the fish out of the freezer today to use it tomorrow.

Brats

Again good. I paired Blonde Fatale Brats with Blonde Fatale.

Corn and Black Bean Quesadillas with Pepper Jack Cheese

I effectively doubled the recipe, and then cooked them as directed, and put some in the oven while I made the second batch. I made nice crispy sides and we ate them with joy.

Salad with chicken

Pulled the chicken, added some simple salad items, ate dinner. Simple, easy, quick.

2022 - Week 23 Cooking Results

Dave Chang’s Leftover Fried Rice

So this was general guidance. I bought some little shrimp and vaguely followed along and it turned out quite good. I did make more rice then I need, but I’ll be making this again.

Deer Sloppy Sammys

I found this in the big freezer and in the bag was some deer. This is a good use as deer tends to be lean. Good, overall.

Skillet Cheeseburger Macaroni

I swapped out the American cheese with Prairie Breeze, added a bit more mustard powder and a bit more Worcestershire sauce and pickles. It was a pretty good quick, simple dinner.

Spicy Orecchiette With Tuna, Peas, and Lemon

I got a nice can of tuna, and combined that with one I had in the cupboard to add more tuna then required. Added more peas and went from there. Pretty good dinner, though I did annoy my thermostat by making it think it was too humid in the house.

Brats

Good as always.

Sheet pan Breakfast

I over crowded the potatoes, so they didn’t get as cooked as they normally did, but other then that this was still pretty good.

2022 - Week 23 Cooking

We both have been cleared to "go back to work” while for me, that means if there is a reason to go to the office I can do that, but for Shannon her surprise “vacation,” is over and she went back to work. I was freed on Wednesday but continued til Friday, where I got petrol for the mower (outside) and picked up my Food Coop order (masked, cause they require it). Saturday we masked up and went to Hamilton and out to eat. I’m looking forward to grocery shopping today.