Weekly Cooking (and related issues) Thread

[Aliska]

Liz, I read your posts with kind of envy actually. You are not afraid to go where few have gone before lol. I just wanted to say I appreciate your posts and everybody's actually even if I don't comment specifically on them.

Yesterday my daughter picked up 2 of these for $5 each at our local Walmart. We will have to assemble them but I'm hoping it will work as i have missed grilled foods. Ordering online costs more and amazon a lot more.

And today's recipe haul is the following, think I'll get a new crock pot, too. That nutmeg looks sloppy and like it was sprinkled on after it was done.

https://www.recipesthatcrock.com/crock-pot-baked-vanilla-custard/

http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/robyns-crock-pot-herb-roasted-potatoes-195725

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a44681/honey-ginger-cedar-plank-salmon-recipe/

I will tweak the herbs some on the potatoes, good basic recipe.

[MomwithHope]

Looks good but missing some sliced flank steak. :)

[MomwithHope]

I just bought a pumpkin cake roll from a Mennonite bakery nearby. Had a piece today and wished I knew the recipe and here it is. Looks just like it. I have 3 small pumpkins left from the garden too.

[Liz]

This recipe goes together in a jif. You’ll love it. Better bake a second one.

COOKING TIP: Please, try to use canned pumpkin.

Cooked raw pumpkin does not have the taste of good old reliable canned pumpkin.

[Liz]

You could add flank steak....sounds like a tasty idea.

[Liz]

Yummy....Ina's planked ginger-honey salmon.

[Liz]

Yummy....Ina's planked ginger-honey salmon.

[MomwithHope]

I roast them pretty long and it tastes just like the canned, maye even a little dryer.

[MomwithHope]

I roast them pretty long and it tastes just like the canned, maye even a little dryer.

[Liz]

Roasting does intensify flavors....good suggestion.

[MomwithHope]

I go about 2 hours on 325 on a cookie sheet, halve or quarter them, cut side up. The shells get pretty hard but it’s super easy to scrape them out. I sometimes rub with butter. (he pumpkins that is)

[Aliska]

It's a nuisance but I've done it a couple times. You have to cook a lot of the liquid off until it is the consistency of canned. I only use Libby's canned pumpkin, 2 14 or so cans, quit using the large can for 2 pies. Every little detail in my pumpkin pies has to be just right lol. Maybe someone has a better recipe. Chef John got close to mine but he put 5-spice powder in it1

My granddaughter loves my pumpkin pie. One year a friend gave her a white pumpkin from their family garden. Not wanting to waste it and curious, I cooked it. They are hard to peel but now have one of those y teethy ones I used to peel my eggplant the other night.

I don't remember, but I think the flesh of the white pumpkin was orange. But my granddaughter would not eat it lol. So I probably ate the whole thing; it tasted pretty good to me.

Pumpkin anecdote. One year a pumpkin that had been whole, not seeded, sat on the stoop until it rotted. The following year I got some beautiful pumpkin vines. I didn't have the heart to pull them up, let them grown, and they produced 3 beautiful pumpkins. And the leaves are so thick they kept the grass down.

[Aliska]

Imagine that! Good catch. Now if I can afford the salmon. I used to be able to occasionally buy a whole one. Those days are over! This is only 2 pounds though. Thank you for posting that. And finding a smaller photo. I resized mine a lot in Photoshop - um no I only resized it to save with the recipe.

[Liz]

This is Ree's recipe. She says delectable treat will rock your world."You’ve gotta trust me on this one." Said she imagined a watery, semi-creamy concoction; turns out to be the creamiest, most delicious treat ever--like milkshake, but not nearly as sinful. Pumpkin pie filling, frozen solid, gives a lovely sweetness and flavor; vanilla yogurt takes it over the top. Add sweetener (sugar, honey, agave nectar, oj).

PUMPKIN SMOOTHIE

METHOD Layer in blender 3 c wh/milk, 1/2 c vanilla yogurt, 2-3 dashes cinnamon; add solid-frozen 15 oz can pumpkin pie filling; completely pulverize. Add more milk or yogurt if needed.

SERVE sprinkled with cinnamon grah/crumbs.

NOTES Lower-cals w/ plain canned pumpkin puree, plain yogurt, fave sweetener. Sprinkle w/ cinnamon and/or nutmeg.