Weekly Cooking (and related issues) Thread

[Jamestown1630]

I think we’ve only ever done two or three things in a crock pot that really turned out well; my crock pot has gotten the most use as a way to carry to a party and warm up dishes that have already been cooked otherwise. But one of the things we’ve found that the crock pot does pretty well is pulled pork. (Don't laugh, Texans - we're currently apartment dwellers ;-)

We’ve tried several recipes that turned out OK, but I wanted to make pulled pork in the crockpot like the Carnitas that we get at Chipotle (again, don't laugh! I just like it). A few months ago, I ordered what looks like a lifetime supply of Juniper Berries, because someone online had insisted that they were the key – but for us, they were not; and now I’m stuck with a huge vacuum-packed jar of berries that I’ll probably never use up in the remaining time that the Lord has allotted me.

But: I think I found the recipe last weekend. My husband signed up to receive email recipes from Cooks Country, and a recent one was for ‘Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas’; we tried it, and it was excellent. The secret seems to be citrus, which you don’t really taste AS citrus; but somehow, it adds that elusive 'je ne sais quoi'.

A slight variation of the recipe is available at the Mels Kitchen Cafe website; the Cooks Country recipe suggested crisping the final product in a fry pan, but Mels Kitchen does it under the broiler, and I think that makes a better product:

https://www.melskitchencafe.com/slow-cooker-pork-carnitas

After about a year of ‘window-shopping’ pressure cooker options, we have decided to purchase an Instant Pot. We are going for the 8-quart ‘Duo’, because that seems to offer the most versatility. I became interested in this product because of all the reviews on how well it does hard-boiled eggs (makes them very easy to peel, even very fresh eggs) bone broth, and yogurt-making. Husband is interested in the fast-cooking of meats.

Do any of you who have an Instant Pot have favorite recipes/uses for it?

-JT

[Aliska]

I would have waited tomorrow, but you touched my heart as you sound just like I have been most of my life. With my health issues, I wasn't sure I'd live through it. I wish I had some reassuring and comforting words. I was the same way with my kids, hated taking them to the dentist, too. If only you could go to a safer place like a hospital and just get put under and get it over with. I saw a diabetic walking through a ward once with his mother fussing over him, late 20's maybe, he had to go to the hospital to have his teeth extracted.

Instead you have to go way out on some strip where they all are clustered, far from medical help (although you know they have equipment and training for emergencies); it was easier before they moved way out there and in a nice place.

What did me in many years ago was I had to have the deep cleaning where they go under your gums. I'm really sensitive, and I opted out of novocain because they have to give you a shot for every tooth. It was sheer torture; I got out of there and thought let my teeth go and get them all out, although that's not a good option either.

Maybe when it's time for you, you can break it up in easier pieces and try not to think of the rest. Get somebody good with novocain especially (one missed once and couldn't get it numbed right, I resisted, so even though I had eaten, he gave me a general and that is the easiest way to go. They won't do it now.

Then find somebody good for dentures and get some ready. Most people except those with top notch plans have to pay themselves - I did - dentures were $1200 or so with a discount for paying ahead. Now teeth were about $300 apiece for the "easy" ones. Mine were easy . Wouldn't know it by me.

Make up your mind to see it through as best you can. If you can't, you can't wear them and there's no law that says you have to. There are always ways to adapt, and I don't mean implants. To me, those would be a horrible ordeal, too. I never understood how my kids could waltz over to the dentist like it was nothing. They didn't have to go through what I did as a child. That's when it started, and my mom usually made me take the bus and go by myself, not always.

My psychology doctor was no help either. There's got to be somebody out there that can listen to your fears and help you take it in baby steps. And I used to hide my fears which takes even more energy and makes the apprehension even worse. Anticipatory anxiety. Freud had it, too. Never healed anybody either. Now I just tell them I always get anxiety before these things, it's built in; I have NO control over it. And then this surgeon who pulled at least 5 teeth over the years couldn't find my records and didn't remember me! How's that for me being a nobody? And the receptionist looked something up a few weeks before and said I last saw him in early 2015!

I hope I didn't add to your worries by my description. I got to thinking I didn't know because I didn't want to know or think about blood and gauze, etc., because I could have found out if I'd wanted.

You WILL get through it, and it's never quite like you imagine. Life just throws us some hardballs. When you get a chance if you get a chance or don't feel like it, how soon do you have to deal with yours? You don't have to do it all at once. I'm facing it too because I don't have a chance of total healing until they are all out AND six months for bones and all to really heal. I may never heal with my stomach problems; I try not to dwell on it and just do the best I can. At my age, I have to ask myself what I want to get better for? There's nothing left I really want to do or am physically able to do. But life has taught me to take pleasure in the least little thing, and I will still get hurt if something goes wrong with it. My plants destroyed. Little birds die or something kills them. I never know what I will get attached to next. Over and over and over but I still want to care for them; it gives my life meaning I don't get from my family which I have to accept the way they are. The ones I loved the most are gone except for a couple and one, my favorite and only granddaughter, moved away.

And for imperious, nasty nurses (and sometimes it's unexpected) I consider if I should go back there. I try to be rational about it and not burn my bridges with the doctors. And my ins said I should let them know, but it has to be really bad if I complain about them; it could come back on me or cause trouble for them, more likely the first. There sure have been several lately, on the phone, too, but there have been some super nice ones, too, or indifferent ones that at least don't give me a hard time about something. I told her she was pretty before the work, never do that but it was spontaneous and true when I really got a look at her face. Then I watched her with the doctor. Sometimes they can't help it and fall in love with them . . . .I really don't know what made me think of it as I was watching them interact. My psych nurse who retired, I suspected the same thing. In love with my psychiatriast who retired and died suddenly not long after that; she retired not much later, or it was just the way it fell out. How did I go there? I better clean up and go to bed. Nite and be good to yourself, let me know how it goes if I don't throw in the towel and get out of this house and town somewhere different. Too many shootings here lately, Chicago comin' here, taking over whole areas in town making them almost no go day or night, hard to believe. Yes, I think I will. Fed up with it all.

Sorry it's long again. People can skip over it. Oh no, her again lol. I could delete it all but I'll post it. If I had a cell phone like most people do now, I wouldn't be able to type so much

[lizma2]

ROFL!!! Thx for the chuckle!

[Jamestown1630]

I can’t just now find the original article we used, but I’ll keep looking; here are a couple:

https://www.finedininglovers.com/stories/the-science-of-dry-brining/

https://www.bonappetit.com/story/dry-brine-chicken

We have so far just used salt, but you can add seasonings. I can’t remember now how long we let the turkey brine, but I’ll dig that up too.

The result was far superior to wet brining that we’d done in the past, and a lot easier to manage.

[Jamestown1630]

Here is the article we first used for dry-brining our turkey - I believe it was Freeper boatbums who first introduced me to this way of doing it:

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/18/food/fo-calcook18

[CottonBall]

“Maybe when it’s time for you, you can break it up in easier pieces and try not to think of the rest.”

Sage advice. That’s what I try to do with each day. Take each project, each chore, each problem - one at a time. Otherwise, it get can get overwhelming.

No, you didn’t add to my worries ;) It won’t be for a while yet, since the dentists are not done nickel and diming me yet. However, NOW I am not so annoyed at them! Perhaps postponing this process is a good thing, LOL!

[CottonBall]

45 years old! egads! I have a blender that is probably going on 40.

They made things good back then, didn’t they?

What I love about the older crockpots is that they really did SLOW cook. I bought one last Christmas, on a really good sale that I couldn’t pass up, and it boils on low! My old one doesn’t do that. That just makes the meat tougher. I imagine the same people that made my washer not use hot water were involved.

[Califreak]

Ooh great idea.

I couldn’t do without any of my crockpots.

[greeneyes]

Me Either. I use mine a lot. I tend to need to get whatever cooking I’m going to do done in the AM, or I run out steam, and grab fast food or Microwave dinners.

But I can put something in the crockpot for supper while breakfast is cooking, and just eat a salad bar type stuff for lunch. Keeps it healthier.

In addition, I use a crockpot to make yogurt, spaghetti/lasagna sauce, and render fat into lard. I haven’t tried any crock pot desserts yet, but might just do that for this holiday season.

[greeneyes]

Meant to include you on post 167.

[greeneyes]

OOPS - I meant 168.

[Jamestown1630]

I haven’t tried it yet, but it seems that things like fruit crumbles/bettys might work in a crock pot.

And there are lots of cake and cheesecake recipes for the Instant Pot.

[greeneyes]

I don’t have an instant pot yet. Probably won’t get one - I have a 4 or 6 qt. pressure cooker somewhere. If I buy one more kitchen gadget, I’d have to find something to get rid of. No space. I already have to put my big stockpots and big canners in the emergency food storage area, and I need to can more stuff.

[Jamestown1630]

I know. Every time I buy a new ‘thing’, I have to rearrange my tiny kitchen AGAIN. I just thought this might be useful, and worth it. Will let you know.

[Jamestown1630]

By the way: our Aerogarden is working out very well. We had a bumper crop of herbs - so much that we didn’t get around to using all of them. This weekend, we’re planting the ‘heritage salad greens’.

[greeneyes]

I have read a lot of articles about preppers using them.

[Jamestown1630]

I’m not sure they’re as good as sprouting seeds for micro greens, when it comes to prepping; you can keep the sprouting seeds for a very long time, and even freeze them. They’re more packed with nutrition, and just need water, not electricity. But the Aerogarden is a nice adjunct to have on hand.

[Califreak]

I do the heavy prep/cooking in the morning too for the same reason.

[boatbums]

My preferred way now is the dry brine for a turkey. The wet brine, I thought, gave the breast meat a “ham” kind of texture. The dry brine actually works for a roasting chicken and, believe it or not, a whole beef tenderloin (though it only needs an overnight brine in the fridge).

[CottonBall]

Those sound wonderful! And very fancy together. I keep forgetting I can make my rice more interesting by adding stuff to it.

[CottonBall]

“have a killer recipe for chicken thighs with swiss chard and grape tomatoes done in a balsamic reduction.”

Sounds delicious, could you post the recipe?