Journal

2011 - Week 20 Cooking Results

Chive Blossom Risotto

While this was good, and it did look very nice, and I used a whole lot of chive blossoms, but they really didn't stand up to the rest of the risotto.  So I put some blossoms in the stock that I used, I added them while cooking, and finished them off with chive blossoms.  But the chive blossoms have such a delicate flavor, they really didn't stand up to everything else.  It made me sad.  And it's not like I can try it again, since all by say 5 or 6 blossoms are picked and distributed (some for me, some for someone else).  Even with all that, it was still risotto and still delicious.

Chive Blossom Risotto

Eden Farms Hot Dogs

After mixed news on my favorite pork producer (they will no longer be coming to the Des Moines Farmer's Market, but when they deliver to Des Moines, would be willing to deliver to me), they do have their hot dogs and bacon at the grocery store that I go to most, so, in seeing these, I was happy.  And they were very good, like they always are, but I'm still not thrilled.

Eden Farms Ham (mashed potatoes, etc)

Bought a ham at winter market, figured I'd do a chive blossom dinner this year, but well, we've spent quite a bit of our spare money on my medical bills.  But I wanted ham, and to have a nice dinner on Saturday.  So cooked up half of the ham (there are still lots of leftovers), some mashed potatoes with parmesan and red pepper flakes, peas and some La Mie multi-grain bread.  It made for a good dinner, not a whole lot of prep (cause well most of it was just waiting).  Which is good for a lazy Saturday, while waiting for the end of the world in vain.

Foxhollow Poultry Farm chicken breasts (fresh, not frozen and I'll figure it out the night of)

So there were 4 chicken breasts, I used the first two I pounded out and sauteed, cut up and made some nice sandwiches out of.  The second time around, I sent Shannon out to pick up some extra things for tacos and sauteed them up, cut them in small pieces and we had some tacos.  Both times they turned out very well.  When I shared the results with the Foxhollow people, they mentioned Hula Chicken, which sounds odd to me, but I won't pass judgement on it, unless I make it.  though in browsing around a bit, I'm really not finding the graham cracker using recipe that she described.

Veggie Pizza (want to try this again)

And I still want to do this again.  I either had to many veggies on the pizza or to many in the pan, but either way I didn't get rid of enough liquid.  On top of that, I'm thinking adding the 3 tablespoons of Frank's hot sauce, does really help in the desire to get rid of liquid, so I may have to change how I add heat to the sauce.  I'm sure I have some spices in my drawer to add some heat without adding liquid.  Anyways, I'll try again.

Spicy Veggie Pizza, still not quite right

Pasta al Pomodoro (p142 May 2011 Bon Appétit)

Bland.  Maybe it was the way I made it, or the tomatoes I used (not the ones I normally use), but this was very bland.  I did take it for lunch and finish it off, but I added some Frank's Hot Sauce to it to bring it up to flavor.