Weekly Cooking (and related issues) Thread

[Jamestown1630]

The picture above may look like a sickly amoeba; but it's fish, cooked in a very convenient and mess-free way: in parchment paper, or, en papillote

The very first time we tried this, it turned out perfectly. If you line your baking sheet with foil, there's little clean-up, and if you've never created a parchment packet, there will be a tutorial in Chef John's video below. This is an especially good way to cook fish as it always comes out very moist and tender.

But there are other ways to do 'food in packets', including Hobo Packs, a traditional Boy Scout specialty, which can be done in the oven, on the grill, or in the coals of a campfire. We tried a typical one the other night, and it came out very well, and just involves layering prepared stuffing mix, chicken, broccoli and Ranch dressing on a big foil square, and folding it up into a leak-proof packet (we tend to fold these 'burrito' style):

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/foil-pack-chicken-broccoli-dinner-75460.aspx

While researching this, I found a neat little site with lots of Boy Scout Recipes

http://www.boyscouttrail.com/content/recipe/show-recipes-bear.asp

Finally, here is the recipe for Chef John's fish 'amoeba', pictured at the beginning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHl1AAAeKGM

-JT

[Jamestown1630]

This week, Hobo Packs; or, if you're fancy, STUFF en papillote :-)

(If you would like to be on or off of this weekly cooking thread ping list, please send a private message.)

-JT

[SMGFan]

Hi

May I suggest you considering checking out a new cook book by Freddie Prinze , Jr. ? http://www.backtothekitchenbook.com/backtothekitchenbook/index

[disndat]

My wife makes 8 or 10 hobo packs at a time and freezes them. I take them to work for lunch.

[Jamestown1630]

I hadn’t thought about that, but it’s a very convenient way to make food ahead.

-JT

[Jamestown1630]

Thanks for the tip! I’ll keep an eye on it.

-JT

[disndat]

We have a toaster oven at work. I slip in a bit before lunch and get one to heating. Better than a sandwich day after day.

[kalee]

I have made these two recipes for shrimp. I use this technique often in the summer for all sorts of things.

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/shrimp-en-papillote

http://www.foodnetwork.co.uk/recipes/shrimp-en-papillote.html

[Jamestown1630]

Those look great; I hadn’t even thought about shellfish.

-JT

[Calvin Locke]

You forgot to mention the classic reference, “Manifold Destiny”. Especially good for driving to a picnic, with the meal cooking along the way.

[Jamestown1630]

LOL! I had never heard of that, but was initially reminded of cooking salmon in the dishwashing machine :-)

Then, I looked it up:

http://www.wisebread.com/cooking-great-meals-with-your-car-engine-the-heat-is-on

[FreedomPoster]

I have a ton of oregano I need to clear out of the herb garden, it is taking over one of my big raised planters.

Suggestions?

[Jamestown1630]

Well, here are a lot of recipes:

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/1070/ingredients/herbs-and-spices/herbs/oregano/

But if I had an over-abundance of any herb, I’d freeze or dry it. Here’s a way to freeze fresh herbs for future use:

http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/03/how-to-freeze-herbs-for-long-term-storage.html

-JT

[Calvin Locke]

I remember reading the review of it in the Parade Magazine Sunday insert. Must have been back in the 1980s.

[disndat]

Foist it on your neighbors. :-)

[Excellence]

After years of searching, I finally found the recipe for oatmeal hamburgers I lost years ago. I’ll post it when I get to my computer in the morning.

[pugmama]

This is a nice and easy menu. The fish (in paper) gets great review, as it is very moist.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/easy-entertaining-with-michael-chiarello/8-series/my-first-dinner-party.html

[Jamestown1630]

I wonder if our brethren in the Prepper threads have considered this...

[Uncle Miltie]

Keeping it simple tonight with the last of the year’s fresh spinach:

1) Fry Hard and Hot in a 12” cast iron pan:

* 1 Onion, chopped
* 6 Slices Bacon, chopped to 1/2 inch pieces
* 8 Mushrooms, sliced
* Pepper
* XVO
* Continue until everything browns nicely

2) Continue to Fry and add sequentially:

* Huge bushel of spinach, as much as a 12” cast iron can take
* 6 cloves garlic diced
* 1.5 TBS Brown Sugar
* 1.5 TBS Balsamic
* Heavy shaking of smoked paprika

Yum yum yum!

[Jamestown1630]

But...that’s what you do with Zucchini! But again, they probably go together well :-)

-JT