Journal

2018 - Week 37 Cooking

I have a smoker in my garage.  And while I don't feel as if it is mine, I believe I was told that it is.  However, it's the type of smoker that requires the constant tending, that I am not generally willing to do (I have done things that are long cooking and need monitoring, but that usually involves me napping or reading on the couch).  In doing research I have been coming up with a smokers to kind of start me off, and Traeger certainly makes the list, but they're on the expensive side.  One of their reps were at the local(ish) CostCo and made a pretty convincing argument, but the cost...the cost is challenging.  While trying to reduce debt and continue to live, it's always a balance to make high cost decisions, especially on something that I could end up not really using.  I guess the same could be said of the Sous Vide thing.  That's not near as expensive though.  That being said, I'm still thinking about both.

2018 - Week 36 Cooking Results

Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Ceaserish dressing

Well not so much grilled as sauteed, but when it comes down to it, it probably ended up being close to the same thing.  I liked how the dressing turned out, though sometimes I want something smaller then the full blender container, but then again, I would probably use it so infrequently...  This is often a debate I have with myself.  I often want a thing, but then I have to think is it worth the space in the kitchen and will I use it often enough to justify the space.  this is a probably not a thing that would justify the space.

Brats (Lucky George)

Also good Things!  Yay for labor day, even though it was very rainy

Pork Burgers with Bacon (Lucky George)

Good things!  Made for a good Labor Day Celebration.

Tuna & Noodles with Kimchi

Delayed!

BLT

As tomato season winds down, you have to have one more BLT.  It was good, as they always are with the fresh agreement.

2018 - Week 35 Cooking Results

Chicken Spiedie Skewers with Italian Dressing

So as I have been taking some time off to avoid my vacation bank max, it has been a lot easier to take the recipes that need a bit more time and get them going, then maybe take a nap, then work a bit more on it.  This really wasn't that hard, and only took a little bit of preplanning.  I had sticks leftover from the partial melon balls we made for one of Shannon's work things. so I used those, but I really supposed I didn't need to, as we just took the chicken and put them on buns with tomatoes and etc.  Still pretty good.

Chorizo and Potato Tacos

Chorizo acquired from Remnant Hills Farm.  Tacos made.  Good things.

Kimchi Mac and Cheese

I had leftover onions from the Chicken Spiedie and cooked the chicken that was meant for the grilled chicken sandwich, so I added those (cooked) near the end.  I even dumped in some of the remaining Italian dressing (just to use it).  I've made this before and it was quite good, and with these additions, it was still quite good.

Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Ceaserish dressing

Delayed?  Cancelled?  We went out with friends instead.

Lamb Burgers

The pork bag is getting pretty full, because of this, I puled out some pork instead.  Good stuff.

2018 - Week 34 Cooking Results

Herbed Cauliflower Rice with Chicken

So I’m not sure what I was doing last time, but using the grating blade this really turned out pretty well. I added a bit of Samuel olek to mine.

Spicy Carrot Sandwiches

The goodness returns, I have missed these. I used some grade a gardens carrots. I didn’t have  caraway seeds, which is kind of odd since I almost always have them around. Even so, they were quite good. I do miss good sourdough though.

Peanut Rice Noodles with Pork

I cannot express how much rice noodles turn into glue. That being said, warm, pretty good, cold. Wonderful. Though they did heat up quite a bit (spice).

Chorizo and Potato Tacos

Delayed!  I apparently don’t have any chorizo in the freezer. So we had just taco salad. 

Cinta Prosciutto Grilled Cheese

I have enjoyed eating this and in the grilled cheese, good things.

2018 - Week 33 Cooking Results

BLTs

Well...tis the season.  Turned out pretty well.

Blistered Shishito Peppers on hot dogs (all pork)

A little blistering goes a long way, and these combined with the wonderful all pork hot dogs are a very good combination.  On a side note I really need a vent fan.

Bacon Burgers (Lucky George) with Chile Verde (Juan's)

So there's the Chile Verde, killing it, and the bacon burgers being delicious.  Good stuff.

Bratwurst (Lucky George)

Lazy cooking week for the win.  Clearly a good thing.

Herbed Cauliflower Rice with Chicken

I was tired when I got home Friday, so we ordered in.  I plan on making this tonight.

2018 - Week 32 Cooking Results

Brats (Lucky George) and Insalata Caprese (Butcher Crick, Wabi Sabi)

This is what an Iowa based dinner should be like. the salad was wonderful as I let it marinate together for a bit.  The mozzarella (Lost Lake Farm) combined well with the tomatoes and basil to be a delicious combination.  Then brats done right.  Good things.

Grilled Cheese with Nduja and Tomatoes

Stole the idea from the Cheese Shop and added tomatoes.  It was quite good on a fairly generic sourdough.

BLT Wrap (sorta following this)

I meant to buy flour tortillas, but clearly reading is hard, and bought white corn tortillas.  basically a BLT wrapped in a white corn tortilla (including toasted breadcrumbs).

Pork Meatball Banh Mi

I've been really busy at work, and have started taking short naps when I get home (15-30 minutes (sometimes i don't sleep I just close my eyes)) just to set a line in the day and separate my thoughts.  But Thursday and Friday I was pushed a bit beyond and was just tired.

So For this night I took the pork and made pork burgers.

Gong Bao Ji Ding

This night I took an extra nap while the chicken was cooking in the oven and we had diced chicken sandwiches.