Weekly Cooking (and related issues) Thread

[Jamestown1630]

Many of us often wind up with bits and pieces or 'ends' of leftover cheeses in the refrigerator. But there's an app for that! and I first learned this from one of Jacques Pepin's television cooking shows: 'Fromage Fort', or 'Strong Cheese', is a recipe that makes a spread out of the various bits of cheese you may have languishing in the fridge.

There are lots of recipes for it, but here is a basic one; I usually have Cheddar, Swiss, Blue, and Jack hanging around; and I haven't found a combination that turns out badly, though you may want to use sparing amounts of the really 'stinky' ones, so that they don't take over:

Fromage Fort

1/2 pound of cheese pieces

1 clove of garlic

1/4 cup of dry white wine

black pepper to taste

Remove any rinds and mold, and place the cheese in the bowl of a food processor. Add one clove of garlic, 1/4 cup of dry white wine, and a little black pepper. Process until the mixture is smooth, and pack into small containers. It can be spread on sturdy crackers or baguette slices, and if used on bread can be broiled for an interesting melted-cheese appetizer. This also freezes very well, and is good to have along with one or two other freeze-ahead appetizers in the event of unexpected guests for snacks/drinks.

Some recipes add various herbs, like this one:

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Appetizers/FromageFort.htm _______________________________________________________

A while back, someone posted to FR an article by Camille Paglia, in which Paglia used the term 'smash the cucumber frames'. I had never heard this expression, and being inveterately curious about words and language, I started a search. It seems to have been a common term in Victorian England for general boisterousness, and is found in the writings of Dickens; but in the process I also serendipitously found a recipe for Sichuan-style Smashed Cucumber Salad that looks very good for the upcoming Summer season ;-)

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2015/09/sichuan-style-smashed-cucumber-salad-recipe.html

And if you're curious, here's a little article on Victorian cucumber frames:

http://www.oldandinteresting.com/victorian-garden-frames.aspx

The White Rabbit was dropped into one, in 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland':

-JT

[Jamestown1630]

Perhaps my general aversion to liver causes me to remember it as smelly ;-)

I do recall my school-kid friends bringing liverwurst sandwiches for lunch; but it just doesn’t seem to be a ‘thing’ around here anymore.

Yes, the fast-food burger places are nothing like they were when I was a kid. The only time we eat at McDonald’s now, is right after our yearly physicals - there’s a McDonald’s right next to the doctor’s office, and it provides a fun ‘poke-in-the-eye’ to health, after we’re done with being lectured ;-)

The fish sandwich there was pretty good in the past; but now it always seems like a warmed-over afterthought.

My heroine, addressing the issue of French Fries:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF31qCrclC0

-JT

[miss marmelstein]

Yes, of course, that was when McDonald’s fries were salted and fried in beef tallow. That company can blame everything under the sun for their problems but it was getting rid of the tallow that did them in.

[Liz]

Something else to do using strawberries loaded up on market shelves.

STRAWBERRY PINA COLADA / creates flowing lava effect.

Blender 2 oz rum, 1/2 oz coconut cream, 2 oz strawberries to smooth paste. Pour into Collins glass. Blender smooth 2 oz coconut cream, 2 oz pineapple juice, crushed ice. Pour atop strawberry mixture very slowly; strawberry mixture oozes to top along sides of the glass creating flowing lava effect.

SERVE Garnished w/ pineapple wedge.

[miss marmelstein]

Wonderful. And the Jersey strawberries are on sale - just bought some this morning at the Union Square Market.

[Jamestown1630]

I happened to eat at a Wendy’s today, and they had a new burger sandwich that was actually very good: a Bacon Mozzarella burger. It had very fresh and crispy spring greens on it, and a parmesan-garlic sauce. I was surprised, because I’m used to being disappointed in the fast-food burger places. (Their fries are as bad as McDonald’s, but at least they have the malt vinegar to go with):

https://www.wendys.com/en-us/hamburgers/bacon-mozzarella-cheeseburger

[miss marmelstein]

I always liked Wendys. Although you’re right, nix on the fries. I haven’t had fast food in a month although I don’t eat it all that much. A Roy Rogers has opened near me. What do we think of that?

[Jamestown1630]

“Howdy,Pardner!”

(When Roy Rogers first opened locally, the people behind the counter had to say that to each customer. We thought it was hilarious, and felt sort of sorry for them ;-)

I always liked Roy Rogers - especially the ‘fixins bar’, where they had a creamy horseradish sauce. I think there are only two of them in our area, now...

It’s been ages since I went to one, so I don’t know what they’re like now. I used to get the Sourdough Ham Egg and Cheese sandwich for breakfast when we were on the road in PA; that was good, too.

-JT

[miss marmelstein]

I had the roast beef sandwiches back in the 70s which seemed good to me. Also, a nice place to have a baked potato.

[Liz]

I’m glad to hear the Roy Rogers restaurants are coming back-——for cultural reasons.

A shame Roy’s son announced they were closing the Roy Rogers Museum......another piece of historic America gone.

[miss marmelstein]

Roy was my hero as a five year old. One of the best books I read in grade school was the story of Dale adopting a special needs child. I cried like a baby - except I was a baby, lol!

As with other American heroes (Robert E. Lee comes to mind), there are people on the internet who write vile lies about Roy in order to destroy the hope of decent Americans.

Thank God for FR.

[Liz]

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans——exemplify all-American.

Sometimes their movies still surface on cable-—very enjoyable.

[miss marmelstein]

They represent MY America - the one I grew up with.

[Liz]

The America the half-caste nitwit in the WH is destroying.

[miss marmelstein]

Or all Muslim half-wit? He certainly exposed himself this week.

[Liz]

Happened upon this article about best places to eat out in London.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/london-culture/london-best-places-to-eat/

66 London restaurants have been anointed by Michelin stars.

[miss marmelstein]

Thanks, Liz! I tend not to eat in Michelin-starred restaurants because I can’t afford it. But London has gorgeous food - and has had for at least 15-20 years. I’m planning a major trip there in ‘17.