What are you eating?

[DavidW]

I baked some kind of hominy casserole last night.  I'm trying to eat on a tight budget these days so I usually look for low ingredient list recipes or pick and choose what I actually want in the dish.  It is an adventure!  Last week I cooked a shrimp and broccoli stir fry, don't remember if I already posted about that.

[BWV 1080]

I baked some kind of hominy casserole last night.  I'm trying to eat on a tight budget these days so I usually look for low ingredient list recipes or pick and choose what I actually want in the dish.  It is an adventure!  Last week I cooked a shrimp and broccoli stir fry, don't remember if I already posted about that.

ever had pozole?  that is the way to eat hominy

[DavidW]

ever had pozole?  that is the way to eat hominy

Yes that is a favorite of mine, and my Father always cooks it for me whenever I visit.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I baked some kind of hominy casserole last night.  I'm trying to eat on a tight budget these days so I usually look for low ingredient list recipes or pick and choose what I actually want in the dish.  It is an adventure!  Last week I cooked a shrimp and broccoli stir fry, don't remember if I already posted about that.

Yes, trying to cook on a restricted budget can be challenging but sometimes in a good way (depending upon how tight the budget is and how many people you need to cook for).  I'm trying to remind myself to check out more beans and grain-based dishes (can also be better for your health).  That and trying to avoid food waste.

Must admit, I need to try dishes with hominy and grits; don't think that I've ever had either of those.  I do love corn though...been mostly eating it fresh on the cob when it's local.

A slow cooker can be very handy (particularly if you're working away from home).  It's good for a number of things like bigger and tougher cuts of meat, ribs, beans, etc. 

Leftovers are your friend.  There are various articles out there with subjects like "What to do with leftover roast chicken (or a store bought cooked one)".  Some cooks suggest washing everything right when you get home from the store.  I don't quite do that, but do think that it's a good idea to wash things like lettuce (separating the leaves), put in a spinner and then lay out on kitchen towels to finish drying.  Then put into a ziplock bag (I add either a towel or a bit of paper towel), close and then put into fridge.  Sometimes I'll also wash and cut up some carrot sticks and celery to have on hand.  Making a big batch of things like soup, spaghetti sauce or other things that freeze well are nice to have on hand (like for lunch or dinner).  You might want to consider investing in a small chest freezer--if you have the room.  They are very handy for storing things like the above, or when something is on sale (like frozen veggies, butter...things that freeze well).

Just some thoughts. 

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Sounds nice! 

Out of curiousity, I checked with a local Trader Joe's.  I asked about raw pine nuts and was told that they have them and that they are currently $9.99 for 8 oz.  So, that works out to be $20/lb.  I don't know how good a quality they are, but that beats the price that I paid for the ones from my coop!

PD

Yeah, I ordered some from Amazon after I made this first batch - as well as some authentic Sicilian tomato paste, "Strattu" - and some nice looking Sicilian anchovies.  My next pot will rock.      (If only my sister could be here ...)

By the way, which anchovies did you order?

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Re the recipe for grilled cheese (which you should really make your own), but I was curious about his added chipotle and bacon jam (which I haven't had before, but am thinking that it would be tasty):

https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a36148527/mythical-kitchen-best-grilled-cheese-recipe/

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Re the recipe for grilled cheese (which you should really make your own), but I was curious about his added chipotle and bacon jam (which I haven't had before, but am thinking that it would be tasty):

https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a36148527/mythical-kitchen-best-grilled-cheese-recipe/

PD

One thing that I am often doing (re making a grilled cheese sandwich) is instead of using butter, I'll spread some jarred mayo on the top and bottom slices of the bread.  You don't have to worry about whether or not the butter is soft enough to spread on the bread plus it gives a nice "tang" to the sandwich.  Try it! 

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Cooking videos

I ran across a new-to-me channel today called Almazan Kitchen (on youtube).  Quite interesting to watch.  He cooks outside in Serbia in forests or by rivers.  Never speaks, but makes these tasty looking dishes over fires that he builds.  His uncle contributes by doing all the filming (and not certain what else, but they are partners from what I understand).  Has a huge number of followers.

Has anyone else here watched any of the videos?

PD

[DavidW]

I haven't, but I have seen some Kent Rollins' videos where he also cooks outdoors.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I haven't, but I have seen some Kent Rollins' videos where he also cooks outdoors.

I remember running across one of his videos.  It might have been Uncle Roger reviewing his version of stir fried rice (not good!).

This one (I've only watched two so far) looked particularly tasty:

I wonder how the owl got in there (as an aside)!  Must be one that wasn't able to be released back into the wild?

PD

[BWV 1080]

Cooking videos

I ran across a new-to-me channel today called Almazan Kitchen (on youtube).  Quite interesting to watch.  He cooks outside in Serbia in forests or by rivers.  Never speaks, but makes these tasty looking dishes over fires that he builds.  His uncle contributes by doing all the filming (and not certain what else, but they are partners from what I understand).  Has a huge number of followers.

Has anyone else here watched any of the videos?

PD

No, but am a fan of this food porn channel

[Pohjolas Daughter]

No, but am a fan of this food porn channel

I watched her curried cauliflower recipe--looks very tasty!  She does make me nervous though the way that she cuts up her vegetables in her hands. 

Love the stones that she uses for grinding spices and food into a paste.

PD

p.s.  And boy, does she ever have a lot of subscribers! 

[ando]

Toast and hot tea. Had a couple of slices of this Lithuanian rye loaf with butter. Fabulous.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Toast and hot tea. Had a couple of slices of this Lithuanian rye loaf with butter. Fabulous.

Sounds good!  I love a good rye bread.  I suspect that that is from a local bakery?

PD

[ando]

Sounds good!  I love a good rye bread.  I suspect that that is from a local bakery?

PD

Yep. Had to refrigerate it, though. You know how quickly unprocessed bread attracts mold at room temperature. 

[Irons]

Last summer turned out particularly good for growing butternut squash. We have a glut. Made lots of soup for the freezer. Also mixing butternut with potato which makes for creamy mash being more healthy then butter or milk/cream. A nice simple recipe of roasted butternut squash and chorizo is tasty, opposites that work well together.

Butternut squash has a lot going for it. Versatile, healthy and stores well providing some plant stalk left on.

[ando]

Just finished a few banana pancakes. Haven't made these particular cakes in a while. I mash them right into the mix (blending makes a bland consistency).
Sipping coffee. Life is grand - for the moment. 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Just finished a few banana pancakes. Haven't made these particular cakes in a while. I mash them right into the mix (blending makes a bland consistency).
Sipping coffee. Life is grand - for the moment. 

I've never tried mashing them in before.  When I've made them, I would just add slices of bananas.

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Made some potato and leek soup today (between shoveling snow).  Still need to put it through my Mouli.

Might wait 'til tomorrow to finish it off...a bit tired.

PD

[ando]

I've never tried mashing them in before.  When I've made them, I would just add slices of bananas.

PD

No sliding off the stack.