Weekly Cooking (and related issues) Thread

[Jamestown1630]

I recently picked up a nasty ‘bug’ that threw me into a six-day fever. No idea what it was, but I’ve never been laid-out so badly, or so little interested in food - all I could taste was salt, and salt was revolting. I finally hit on vanilla ice cream as tolerable, and ate nothing else for days. There are still some ‘notes’ that I can’t taste, and I’m craving the weirdest things: “MacDonald’s Fish Sandwich???” - my husband must feel that he’s got a pregnant lady calling him at work and demanding this-or-that be picked up on the way home. But, things are improving.

After visiting the doctor I had a prescription to be filled and, too sick to wander the store while it was prepared, I settled into the little waiting area by the Pharmacy. I can’t stand to sit and do nothing even when ill, and looked around for some diversion.

Across from me was an older Hispanic man slumped in his chair with his eyes closed, looking like a saint in an old Spanish painting. I wondered what malady had led him to sharing that space and existential misery with me; but he seemed so intent upon withdrawing entirely from earthly matters that I felt no invitation to conversation would be welcome.

Across the aisle were the Clearance Racks, which I had inspected earlier in the week. NEVER leave a drug or grocery store without checking these out – you can find some great deals for pennies on the dollar. I have gotten higher-end cosmetics that I might never have tried, toys for kids for Christmas, great stocking-stuffers, and a lot of closeout seasonal items, for almost nothing. My best buys this Summer were some leggo-like kits for my nephews, and a big supply of canning-jar lids, all gotten for 75 per-cent or less of retail.

By my elbow, I found a little diabetes pamphlet that included recipes, including one for Summer Squash; I modified it slightly, and came up with this:

Summer Squash with Feta Cheese

2 Summer squash and 2 Zucchini, shaved into thin, broad strips – you can use a mandoline (please don’t), a vegetable peeler, or one of the new spiral veggie slicers.

½ C. fresh Parsley Leaves, chopped

½ C.freshly -squeezed Lemon Juice

1 clove Garlic, minced

1/4 C. Olive Oil plus 1 tsp.

¼ tsp. Crushed Red Pepper

Salt and Black Pepper

1/3 C. crumbled Feta Cheese

Whisk together the ¼ C. Olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, parsley and red pepper in a small bowl and set aside.

Heat the 1 tsp. Olive Oil in a frying pan until shimmering, and saute the squash just 3 or 4 minutes, until slightly cooked and translucent. Let cool slightly, and then pour the reserved marinade over the squash, season with salt and pepper, toss well, and let chill for several hours. Before serving, toss the squash with the feta, adjust seasoning, and serve.

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Fried Zucchini Blossoms are something I’ve always wanted to try, and this looks like a good recipe:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/squash-blossoms-stuffed-with-ricotta-354966

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Plain, steamed zucchini can be livened-up with this sauce. I originally found this in a low-fat cookbook back in the 1980s, so it didn’t include the butter, which can be added to make a richer sauce:

Mustard Sauce for Steamed Zucchini (Low Fat, but you can add butter :-)

Mix in a saucepan:

½ C. Chicken or Vegetable Broth

1 Shallot or Scallion, minced

1-1/2 tsp. fresh Tarragon

2 T. Dry White Wine

1 T. Arrowroot (or cornstarch)

1-1/2 tsp. Fresh Tarragon (or ½ tsp. dried))

1/8 tsp. Black Pepper

Cook uncovered 2 or 3 minutes. Melt in 1 T. butter, if desired.

Serve over steamed vegetables; especially good with Zucchini.

-JT

[Jamestown1630]

But they’re just not like they used to be. They’re soggy, not crispy - it’s like they make a bunch at once, and then microwave them when one is ordered.

You can make a very good one at home, with those Mrs. Paul’s breaded fish things, some good sliced cheese, and tartar sauce :-)

[Trillian]

One of my favorites. I make this often..

Trillian’s Zucchini and Potato soup

4 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 a large sweet onion, diced
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 carrot, diced
1 stalk of celery, diced
3 medium zucchini, diced
1 14-oz can of diced tomatoes, with juices
1/2 cup of homemade marinara or crushed tomatoes
2 medium potatoes, diced
1 tablespoon of minced parsley
4 cups of homemade chicken stock
Salt and pepper to taste

Saute garlic, onions and parsley for a couple of minutes in a large saucepan. Add celery, carrots and zucchini and saute a couple of minutes longer. Add tomatoes, sauce and potatoes then fill pot with a mixture of chicken stock, water and seasonings and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium and simmer for 45 minutes.
I like to serve this with cooked tubetti, shells or mini penne pasta and top with lots of parmesan cheese.

[leaning conservative]

So glad you’re on the mend, I was worried about you. I love McDonald’s fish sandwiches. They are deliriously delicious to me ; )

[lizma2]

From what I have read tonight, it does not kill good bacteria. (It’s on the internet...It must be true!)

Also I read that iodine is something we need and I’ve been using non-iodine salts when I cook for a long while and I think it’s time to switch back to Morton’s.

Not a squash fan but

STUFFED ZUCCHINI

3 zucchini
1/4# sausage
1/2 med onion
1 clove garlic
dab of butter
salt and pepper
1/2 t Italian seasoning
1/2 cup mozzarella or parm
Spaghetti sauce

Boil zucchini for 7 min. Scoop out middle. Brown in butter (wonder if I got this from Paula Dean!!!) the scooped out zucchini, sausage, onion, garlic, salt, pepper and seasonings.
Put mixture in zucchini, Top with cheese and a bit of spaghetti sauce. Bake 350 for 20 min

p.s. Glad you’re feeling better!

[Jamestown1630]

Thank you. And I greatly enjoyed the virtual chicken soup you sent ;-)

Much better than the carryout from across the street.

-JT

[leaning conservative]

Is it in the medicine aisle?

[Jamestown1630]

We recently switched to Celtic Gray sea salt, mainly for finishing; while it’s not considered a significant source of iodine, it is full of important trace minerals, and they also make this:

http://www.celticseasalt.com/product/seaweed-seasoning/

[Talisker]

Is it in the medicine aisle?

Used to be, I don't think so any more. Get it online.

[Talisker]

AFAIK, it only kills the bad guys. It’s extremely rare to have a reaction to iodine, but it does happen ocasionally. So you should test one drop in some water when you feel fine. If you don’t suddenly spasm and flop like a fish and then swell up and burst, you’re probably okay with it. :-)

[lizma2]

I know but I love their bun!

Off topic but I make my own tartar sauce

1 c. mayo (gotta be Dukes)
1 t Dijon
1 T capers
1 T lemon juice
3 T diced very drained tomatoes
2 T pimento diced or roasted red peppers
1/2 t Worcestershire
1 t dill

I look forward to Lent so I can live on this stuff. Not exactly the purpose of Lent so I give up cookies at bedtime to make up for it!

[Jamestown1630]

Yes, I’ve read that iodine supplementation can be complicated ;-)

Probably something to get medical advice about, and read-up on carefully before using. Here’s the wiki, including a blurb on toxicity:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lugol%27s_iodine

-JT

[Mariner]

I split my baby heirloom straight neck yellow squash lengthwise, slather in EVOO.

Then a sprinkle of garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper.

Grill face side down for 5 mins on a HOT grill and serve with whatever else hit the grill.

[tubebender]

Lady Bender and I, Lord Bender attended the Humboldt County Fair where Guy Feiri is appearing as this is in his home town of Ferndale Ca. I wish we could have stayed for his show but we spent our time checking out all the youth exhibits and there were many in various categories including food and fur...

[leaning conservative]

I don’t care for his cooking/competition shows, but I really enjoy D D & Drives. I like the publicity he gives to local, small restaurants & I they always make me hungry!

[leaning conservative]

Thanks!

[MomwithHope]

We have used Hain’s idolized sea salt forever.

[leaning conservative]

; )

[Rebelbase]

Anyone here try the recently found Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe?

[Jamestown1630]

I didn’t know it was ‘found’ - isn’t that one of those great secrets, like Coca Cola?

-JT

[Jamestown1630]

My favorite Fair things are the Giant Pumpkin, and the deep-fried veggies.

-JT