Journal

2017 - Week 50 Cooking Results

December 17, 2017

Curried Turkey-Peanut Soup

I really enjoyed this, I had planned on using closer to two pounds of ground turkey, since I didn’t have leftover turkey, but I used one of the pounds to make turkey burgers. This came together without much effort and tasted pretty good. The Peanut butter added a nice peanut flavor and smoothness to the dish.

Pizza with Chicago Style Italian Sausage (Remnant Hills)

I still have quite a bit of flour that is used for bread making, generally, so I used the last of the King Arthur bread flour and combined that with, I think King Arthur High Gluten bread flour. It was a much darker dough, with quite a bit more elasticity. I actually had to have it rest 4 times while I was stretching it out to fill the half sheet pan (normally it's 2 times). I used mozzarella from Lost Lake Farm, since my normal supply was out for the time being and I learned my lesson about using lesser mozzarella. I also picked up some of their Camembert, which I'm looking forward to trying.

This was also combined with a special mix of Italian sausage. Over all, everything really turned out well, the mozzarella was fantastic, sausage was a bit more herbed then I was expecting, but quite good. and the crust turned out fantastic.

Kung Pao Chickpeas

Delayed.

Lamb & Fennel Sausage (Lucky George) and Salad

Good Quick Done

Eggs and Maple Sausage (Lucky George)

I may have over cooked the maple sausage a bit, well to high. We had them with bagels.

2017 - Week 47 Cooking Results

November 26, 2017

Pork Burgers

Easy, good, done.

Hot Dogs

...cause I have a lot of hot dogs left. These are still all pork hot dogs.

Chipotle Chicken Thighs

So I made chipotle mayonnaise, and then we had sandwiches, it was quick, it was pretty good, it was super easy.

Thanksgiving

I think this went off OK. I had a few challenges here and there, but for the most part, it was a fairly familiar menu. Seems like people had a good time, lots of conversations. Objectively, I should've felt relatively accomplished. I was however exhausted into the next day. I also got to use a blowtorch, which was interesting. I think I need more practice to get the golden brown sugar color, like it should have...or get the gas that has a lower temperature. I think there may be more usage of this as time goes on. It makes me curious to get that really high heat and use it to perhaps finish something. I guess we'll see how it goes.

So who won? I'll first start of by saying, I love ham, and both hams were on a level far exceeding the hams that you would buy in the super market. There is a clear care for both the animals and the process of making the ham. I know Ethan and Crooked Gap and I've met many of his Hereford pigs. I've had a growing relationship with Jason at Lucky George, and while I haven't visited his farm, I get the impression that they are lucky Large Black pigs to be there. I've met some of the staff at Story City Locker (the processor for both farms that I prefer). So that all being said, you'd be lucky to have either ham on your table. But I'd give an edge to the Large Black pigs. I liked the fat, just a bit better (yes this is not a common thing), but it had a slightly better texture at the edge. Both hams did have a beautiful fat cap.

With a number of leftovers I made a ham soup. Using ham from both and the ham bones from both.

2017 - Week 44 Cooking Results

November 5, 2017

Shepherd's Pie (using root vegetables purchased yesterday, and mutton, vaguely using Alton Brown's Guidance)

I love me some shepherd's pie. Even if you don't have the lamb or mutton that it requires, you can easily make a very filling dish that is worth the time and effort. I do like peas and corn, but the issue with them is that they are relatively high in carbohydrates compared to other vegetables. Because of this I swapped out with turnips. Frankly this was the right thing to do. Good Stuff.

Pumpkin Mac & Cheese (bechamel + pumpkin puree + Prairie Breeze) + Chicken (less mac and cheese for me)

I really should deep dive into this to find that right balance of cheese, puree and bechamel. I think I may have over did it on the pumpkin and it needed a bit more seasoning throughout, but overall made a good dish.

White Bean and Chorizo Chili (Saturday or Sunday)

Moved to Sunday (today)

London Bangers and salad

Quick, easy and good.

Pork Burgers

Yep, yum.

2017 - Week 38 Cooking Results

September 24, 2017

Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Squash

Heat came back with a vengeance, so I had to take a pass on this. I sautéed the chicken and made it into sandwiches. It should cool down this coming week, so I'll try this again.

Roasted Tomato Sauce Pizza

So clearly a pizza is a sum of it's parts, and if you fall down on one, the pizza fails. So last time around when, due to forgetfulness, I used sub-par cheese, it brought everything down. This time around it was maybe a bit to saucy (I still haven't gotten the right weight of self roasted tomatoes to use as opposed to drained canned tomatoes). But the taste was as good as it should be.

Roasted Acorn Squash, Kale and Italian sausage over rice

This was a nice, healthy meal. The Italian sausage adding protein and fat. I used less rice then I normally would've, but I think that was for the best (have to watch that carb intake). I had leftovers for a few lunches.

Migas

For some reason, I choose these recipes that call for 12" non-stick skillets. I don't have one, I don't want to buy one, but whenever I do it in my 12" skillet, there's always a bit of a drawback (just started to run the skillet through the dishwasher again). Even so, this was kind of like a breakfast burrito, except in the pan. Pretty easy to do.

Foxy Blonde Brats (Lucky George)

Good Stuffs, still should find the beer to go with these.

2017 - Week 36 Cooking Results

September 10, 2017

Bratwurst Reuben (Need to use the other rye bread in the freezer)

Yep, good stuffs. My own kraut, some really good Alpha Tolman, and other good things. this is a fantastic sandwich.

BLT (probably the last of the season)

*sigh* The season is mostly done. It was fun while it lasted. We'll see you again in a year BLTs.

Egg and Chorizo Burritos

Simple and good.

I cracked open the Momofuku Milk Bar book to make chocolate crumbs and chocolate chocolate cookies. And made Sambal Oelek cashews (1 cup cashews, 2 T butter, 2 t Sambal Oelek). As a side note here, I don't know if it's amazon effect or that Whole Foods has a better source, but there is a $4+ / pound difference between Hy-vee ($14 something / pound) and Whole Foods ($10 something). I didn't believe it the first time I saw, but when I went back and checked...yep.

Anyways the cookies turned out really well, I went to a few stores to find glucose, but had no luck there. They turned out pretty well even using Corn Syrup. I've got another batch ready to go for today for a block meet up (in the fridge already).

2017 - Week 34 Cooking Results

August 27, 2017

Fresh Slow Roasted Tomato Sauce & Pizza

Let it be known, always choose good mozzarella, because if you don't, it really is detrimental to the pizza. This was my own fault, as I forgot that I needed the cheese. Luckily I was able to get enough parmesan off what was left in the fridge, but even so, I should've taken the trip to get fresh mozzarella, rather then the "fresh" mozzarella at the normal grocery store. It detracted from the experience as a whole. That being said, the tomato sauce was good.

BLTs

Om nom nom.

Roasted Tomatillos, Peppers taco salad.

Good Stuffs. Funny story. The peppers were a bit hotter then I expected and I should've used gloves. Needless to say, there was quite a bit of extra washing after the fact. Even so, good stuff.

Lola Burgers

I do like the add of the pickled onions. Plus I got to make a Gibson or two or so.

Cuban Beef Casserole with Corn Scallion Biscuit Topping

Slightly modified from the recipe for the purpose of incorporated the leftover roasted tomatillos and roasted peppers. I did quicken things up but using my food processor to quicken up the biscuit topping, however in doing that, the lid has broke again (making it unable to turn the lock so it'll spin, thank you mr knife), so that'll need to be replaced. Anyways it turned out pretty well. Lots of leftovers.

2017 - Week 33 Cooking Results

August 20, 2017

Chicken Tikka Masala (using fresh Tomatoes)

So an small army of children and my sister Emily and her husband, and my lil' brother Isaac showed up at my house. Since it was the day after Isaac's birthday I let him pick the dinner, approved it with Emily, then interpreted it from there. With the fresh tomatoes and some roasted tomatoes.

Finished with some picked that morning watermelon. Thanks to Jordan at Grade A Gardens for letting me come out and get one.

Funny thing, my nieces and nephews spent some time burying watermelon seeds in the dirt that the city had put in to fill in the added curb. So far, no watermelon plants, however, it did rain last night... So who knows.

Grilled Cheese with Slow Roasted Tomatoes and Leeks

Whole wheat bread, Prairie Breeze, fresh tomatoes (I still had some left) and some sautéed leeks. Good stuffs.

Italian Sausage Burgers with Slow Roasted Tomatoes and Leeks

Again, still had fresh tomatoes, and used that and the sautéed leeks. Easy simple meal.

Fresh Slow Roasted Tomato Sauce & Pizza

Delayed until today. Forgot to make the dough in a timely fashion.

Tomato and Bacon Breakfast Sandwiches

Added an egg, good stuffs.

As an added bonus, walking around the Farmer's market, I thought about robiola, tomatoes, english muffin bread and some pancetta. Made for a good dinner.

Twin Cities Obligatory Food Photos

May 29, 2017

Spoon and Stable

We went to brunch and had several pastries (including my semi-obsession with croissants). The best hash browns I've ever had, wonderful bacon (yes those thick slabs behind the hash browns are bacon)

The Bachelor Farmer & Marvel Bar

We shared:

Smooth duck liver pate, preserved vegetables, mustards
Salt-cured foie gras, arugula, cherriette radishes, cucumbers, pickled shallots, red wine vinegar
Sautéed ramps, parmesan, lemon
Warm popover, honey butter

Shannon had, "Roasted Scallops, wild rice, green garlic, lovage, asparagus broth" and I had "Duck Confit, wilted nettles, spelt, thyme, sweet and sour rhubarb", then for dessert we had "Chocolate cake, peanut butter ice cream, fudge, fleur de sel" and Vanilla Bean Panna cotta with blackberry jam? (the rhubarb one ran out, it made me sad)

At the marvel bar, I had Old Man and the Sea, Oakenshield, London Bridge, and Shanon had Candycane. Fantastic experience all around. TBF has shot up to one of my top five meals of all time.

Pig ate my Pizza (PAMP)

We weren't super hungry, but I didn't want to eat later and spoil the appetite for TBF. So we shared Hog Tots and Royale with Cheese pizza. Quite enjoyable.

Tiny Diner

This was relatively close to our first stop for coffee (Angry Catfish), so we headed over here and had a good meal. The buttermilk biscuits! Wonderful.

A Baker's Wife Pastry Shop

Very buttery croissant.

2017 - Week 17 Cooking - Results

April 30, 2017

Stressful week, good resolution. As a Side note, there is a clear need for an upgrade to the underlaying monetary system. It shouldn't a. cost $40 ($20 to initiate and $20 to receive) to do a same day transfer and b. take so damn long. that being said, Thanks to my current banking institution for not-recharging me for the cashiers check re-addressing.

Anyways, food.

Italian Sausage and Potato Frittata

After not feeling the desire to do this last week, it was really easy. And pretty good.

Ham Steak with Rhubarb Sauce

With guests, had to buy more ham steaks, ended up being pretty good with the rhubarb, sugar and pan drippings.

Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs with Parmesan & Red Pepper flakes

Oh oven...it's hard to know how much you miss something until it's easy to use ones again. I used olive oil, some parmigiano reggiano, and a few red pepper flakes and salt and pepper and tossed, and baked in the oven. Not bad for the ease of work.

Bratwursts

s'right.

Chorizo Tacos

With guests, these became taco salad, and because I didn't plan enough for guests, I added rice to expand the amount to make good sized salads. Good stuffs.

On Friday night, after Shannon and I got back from Who's Live is it Anyway?, My brothers, father and I shared most of a bag of Paqui Haunted Ghost Pepper Chips, it left more then one of us with upset stomachs, though, they were quite good.

Saturday, my brothers made dinner for my father's birthday. Quite the meal.