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

[lizma2]

Really can’t picture this. Bread needs heat.

[Aliska]

Ha! Eating some KFC as I surf lol. I was so hunry for it, could eat it before I got my top teeth pulled last Thursday and these dentures are tricky not getting them to shift (I'm used to chewing on the only side that had a top and bottom t. Could be worse.

Sorry I went on a posting rampage there, and thanks for the comment.

KFC chicken or not, nothing will take the place of my turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy but oh so much work now, too much. I used to make a turkey dinner on the off-season we loved it so much. Those containers with the red tops keep stuff hot longer somehow.

It's really good tonight. Some nights not so much any more, depends on how busy and who they have working for them, taking proper care to do it right.

The potatoes not so great and skimpy servings for me, but I like them anyway. I love the seasoned green beans, not up to the cole slaw yet. Biscuits are nice but not my fav. I eat them anyway, usually later.

I even eat it cold the next day, but I can't bite it off, have to cut with knife and fork.

[Califreak]

Yeah, I know.

It would probably turn out to be a pale brick of some sort.

[Califreak]

The cuban sammich sounds tasty.

[Jamestown1630]

Aliska, is there a Popeye’s near you? Their spicy chicken is great - and when your teeth are back in gear, they make great coleslaw. The seafood platter is good, and biscuits,too.

I usually can’t eat the biscuits, I’m already full; so I freeze them for when I make sausage gravy, later

[Califreak]

I don’t know if the loaf would be ideal though.

Probably dense and pale.

Maybe I’ll try it for a lark.

[Aliska]

Yes, we just got a new Popeye's, cars were lined up too much then. It's further and haven't tried it yet. People have said their would drive to Peoria for it lol.

Did you say seafood? I'm a nut for seafood, the crispy, greasy Long John Silver stuff. Ours burned and are still waiting for it to reopen. Their crab cakes were so good. And the clams. Hard to find around here but too chewy.

Thanks for the encouragement and the tip about the teeth. It's these or nothing, not gonna get implants. And it was very painful for me, had to go with just novocain which was the least of it. This time it wasn't toothaches; it was gum and whole-mouth pain.

[Jamestown1630]

You’ll get through it. And do try the seafood platter at Popeye’s - you’ll like it ;-)

[Jamestown1630]

Yes, when I searched for it, the first page of links was for ‘survival food’ :-)

[EinNYC]

I only recently got a new crockpot, although my Crock-Pot was still working. It was, you see, 45 years old---and still worked perfectly. One of the original Crock-Pots. I only replaced it because I was afraid any day could be "the day" and I didn't want any safety hazards in the kitchen.

I use my new crockpot (another Crock-Pot, of course) all the time. The latest and greatest (which I'm chowing down on right now) is homemade chicken soup, because I am trying to shake a nasty cold. That hot soup with its veggies and noodles, is bringing me back to life.

[outofsalt]

"we have 'thermostat wars'"

When my wife was pregnant decades ago, I would walk down the hall and she would yell, "Don't you touch that thermostat!"

I'm older and appreciate warmth more than she does and I still get yelled at when I walk down the hall but, we were raised at different latitudes. Cuba for me and Iowa for her. Remember Ricky and Lucy?

Crockpots remind me of Polish weddings. Good food! Yum!

[leaning conservative]

Go mom, released from the shackles of cooking the turkey! And KFC is delicious. We have Popeye’s too, but I find it has no seasoning & no flavor.

[EinNYC]

Have you ever done a roast Cornish Game Hen in the crockpot, with brown rice pilaf as the stuffing? It comes out moist and delicious and you don’t have to baste.

[Aliska]

Thank you so much! Will do! We have a red lobster or did not far. But they are moving up to the corridor further out a ways. Hobby Lobby moved. recently.

[Bodleian_Girl]

My Crock-Pot has taken a big backseat to the Instant Pot.

[EinNYC]

What’s an Instant Pot?

[leaning conservative]

When I was a girl my grandfather would make grilled cheeses & Campbell’s chili w/ beans. I loved it so much & haven’t seen it in forever. I mean it was seriously delicious.

[Jamestown1630]

LOL! I’m the one who is always turning it up; husband is always turning it down.

He figures that he’s my ‘heat machine’ in the bed, and just tells me to pile on more clothes when I’m roaming around the place ;-)

(I think there’s a Scandinavian saying that there is ‘no bad weather, just bad clothes’; my husband is Italian/German/English but must have learned that notion, somehow...)

[Jamestown1630]

Do you have a favorite recipe that you do in it?

[Bodleian_Girl]

It’s a heavenly new device.

https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/quick-easy-instant-pot-recipes/