Monthly Cooking Update

[Jamestown1630]

Dear Cooking Friends;

Since I changed my weekly cooking thread to a monthly one, I've received several private emails from folks who are disappointed at this change.

It's very gratifying to me that the thread has been so popular and that so many have enjoyed engaging it. As I mentioned in March, my life is going to be rather consumed with a couple of unusual projects over the coming Summer. I have felt that my free time wouldn't be predictable enough to give the thread the care that I tried to give it over the past several years.

However, if anyone would like to access the ping list on my home page, and post more frequent threads, that would be great. Yaelle and Cottonball have done a wonderful job of this in the past.

-JT

[Chipper]

I just use regular FoodSaver bags, vacuum seal with whatever spices on it I want. You aren’t use high temps, so the bags won’t melt.

[Liz]

Yum.....sandwich with mayo and arugula.......what could go wrong? Here's a quickie sandwich, Mexican-style.
Just thinking of these makes me salivate: toasted sandwiches; thin crisps, gooey middle--pretty well instant to make.
Vary fillings as you wish.

CHEESY QUESADILLA
METHOD Layer on soft tortilla covering allover w/ thin-slice cured ham.
On 1/2, sprinkle pickled jalapeno slices, grated cheddar, fine-chp scallion. Scatter w/ coriander leaves.
Carefully fold plain half over cheese. Lift carefully; brush each side with ol/oil.
Grill on hot ridged griddle min per side. W/ wide fine spatula, plate; cut 3 triangles.

SERVE w/ salsa.

[Liz]

This cooking thread shows you dont have to struggle for a weekly (or monthly) theme.

Just open the thread as J/T......people will flock to the thread b/c you are an excellent thread moderator.

[Jamestown1630]

LOL! We’re up to 143, and some regular threads don’t go that far ;-)

Thanks. I will check in as I can.

[boatbums]

It is a Crock Pot or Slow Cooker on Steroids Does so many things.

But does it speed-cook like a pressure cooker (i.e., cook dried beans in 1 hour instead of 4 like on a stovetop, or a pot roast in twenty minutes, etc.)? My Fagor even can deep fat fry chicken under pressure quickly!

Since we moved off the boat, I have to confess that I have not used my pressure cooker very much at all. I bought it for when we were cruising and dried beans were a cheap and lightweight meal that didn't need all day to cook on a stove. I've used it for pot roasts and pork and liked how quickly it cooked them and how they remained tender and juicy. I just may look into an Instant Pot now that everyone seems to really like their versatility and ease. Thanks.

[Jayster]

https://livesimply.me/2018/01/10/how-to-cook-dry-beans-instant-pot-pressure-cooker-recipe/

[CottonBall]

It’s supposed to be 29 here. It snowed a bit already. I see now why May 3 is our last frost date.

I’m late to the party planting my tomato and pepper seedlings. I guess that’s OK! They wouldn’t make it past tonight. I don’t think the greenhouse is going to keep them warm.

I look forward to making those tomatoes and freezing them. It’s nice to have another option for using the tomatoes other than just freezing and canning.

[boatbums]

Thanks!

[Liz]

Feeling Asian? Almost instant no-fuss crispy wontons....nice side or appy

CRISPY WONTONS / ASIAN DIPPING SAUCE

FILLING Mix 8 oz tub PHILADELPHIA Chive & Onion
Cream Cheese Spread, 1/2 lb leftover cooked grnd pork,
tsp ea minced gingerroot, sesame oil.

ASSEMBLY Center Tb Filling on 32 won ton wrappers.
Bring corners up/over Filling; twist tops to enclose.
Flatten bottoms. Place in 15x10x1" pan. Brush lightly
with water; sprinkle w/ sesame seeds.

BAKE golden 425 deg 10-12 min; drain on p/towels.

SERVE w/ ramekin of Sauce.

ASIAN DIPPING SAUCE 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds, 2 Tb soy sauce, Tb ea rice wine, water.

[NorthstarMom]

I guess it depends on what you are used to. I find a degree of comfort in what freaks you out :). I like some anonymity, but it gives me a sense of security to know that others are paying attention to my family.

I can see how it would feel smothering if you grew up differently.

[Liz]

Supposed to be the Cheesecake Factory recipe.

THAI CHILI PASTA in PEANUT SAUCE

SAUCE Mix cup smooth p/butter, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 3 tea chili paste, 2 tb br/sugar,
2 juiced limes, 1/2 cup hot water, minced gar/cl, tea ea rice vinegar, ground ginger, 1/2 tea sesame oil.

ASSEMBLY Layer on dinner plate cooked thin spaghetti (or use fave pasta), cooked chicken,
blanched carrot slivers, chp water chestnuts, chp cilantro. Pour sauce over; toss to coat.

SERVE topped with cilantro, chopped peanuts, few bean sprouts.

[CottonBall]

That’s the way things are in the holler. I just have to tell one person something and everyone else knows. I kind a like that after the anonymity of living in Bakersfield, where we didn’t even know the neighbors that were right next to us. I could look right in their windows from my living room but I didn’t know their names. Now, people a mile away know that I got an oil change for free or that hubby is on travel.

Now I’m going to use this to my advantage :-) I do have one liberal neighbor, right across the street. Go figure! She had a fit when I said we were going Galt and not paying into the system anymore. And then the Trump economy started so we jumped in. Now hubby wants to jump out, he is tired of the stress. So I’m going to make sure she knows about it :-) just being a bit obnoxious here. But it was really none of her business whether we work or not. She only works part time and her husband not at all. Talk about hypocrites!

[CottonBall]

Yum Liz! I have a Thai chicken pasta recipe that I keep forgetting to make. I’ll think I’ll either make yours or that one tomorrow. Thanks for reminding me! They sound real similar

[NorthstarMom]

As a teen I didn’t like my mom’s friends mentioning to her who they saw me with. However, the knowledge of that kept me on a fairly straight and narrow path. Now I hope people would tell me if they saw my teens in questionable company!

I don’t know many people here, but people know who we are! We are the weird, big homeschooling family who bought “that house” (a major fixer upper). As a kid I was so concerned about what people thought-needed approval in my small town. Somewhere along the line I found the courage to fear God and not man. Even in a small town where everyone knows your business!

[Yardstick]

It’s basically a pressure cooker with its own electronically controlled heating element built in, which lets it regulate the temperature much more precisely. This lets it stay right at the equilibrium point meaning less steam gets vented which helps foods retain more of their natural moisture. At the same time, because you don’t have to add as much extra water to offset the venting, the environment inside the pot is actually less soupy. What you get is a sort of happy paradox where the cooking process is comparatively drier — there are even recipes for things resembling cakes — yet retains moisture well.

That’s my take on it anyway. I don’t own a Magic Pot but I’ve been intrigued with them and the question of what exactly it is that’s special about them. I’m pretty sure it comes down to the benefits of holding the equilibrium through precise temperature control rather than primarily through venting like with conventional pressure cookers.

[Liz]

This recipe is supposed to have originated with Cheesecake Factory....but I dont know for sure.

Still it has an amazing blend of ingredients.......layers of upon layers of Thai flavor guaranteed.

[leaning conservative]

That looks & sounds so delicious! A good recipe for dipping my toe into Thai cooking. And I love Thai food!

[CottonBall]

I can understand teenagers not wanting their actions seem at times. But all that means is there not doing the right thing! Same with some adults.

I’m still amazed how many times God comes up in conversations with people around here. I think that makes it so much easier to have my actions be God-oriented, or at least be seen in the light of not being judged by the world standards. We have few liberals here so I don’t need to worry about that so much.

The only thing I really worry about here is coming across as too materialistic. People here, at least out in the country where I am, are definitely not that way! I’m pretty amazed with the lack of upgrades people live with. We remodeled our entire house, but have tried to downplay it to the neighbors. But I really can’t stand all the dark paneling and tiny windows, especially with my bad vision . So that was my excuse! and the floor was quite wobbly, so it needed reinforcing. So of course we had to replace the flooring on top of it! Only thing I didn’t have an excuse for was replacing the 70s kitchen completely. Boxes of cereal must’ve been no taller than 9 inches back then! Every cabinet was short. And the oven was tiny. But I did love the dishwasher! It was built before the environmental Nazis were in charge apparently . It actually dried the dishes, and had a heating element! Happy times ;)

I don’t think people here saw our house is a fixer-upper, although we certainly did! Every room is being redone, we are now on the second and third bedroom and almost finished. Other than painting the paneling in the basement white. What are you doing to your house?

[NorthstarMom]

We bought an old house that in the 70’s was converted in a half way house by a priest. Eventually a counseling center bought it and it was s group home for many years. When we bought it two and a half years ago it was like living in a 1970’s office with an old church kitchen. The pass through had fake wood accordion blinds (or whatever they are called when you can pull them shut horizontally across the counter). It was added onto so it’s a gigantic two story square. We had (still have in much of the house) drop ceilings with fluorescent light panels. We even had pull down fire alarms and big lighted exit signs.

The plus side is that since it was a licensed group home the “guts” are pretty good. Most of the changes are cosmetic. It’s a big house-9 bedrooms plus three offices. Perfect for us space wise. Just pretty ugly.

We are starting with the back section of the first floor: disconnected the institutional smoke alarm and sprinkler system, then removed the false ceilings from that part, reworked the back hall to created a mud room, had the lighting rewired and sheet rocked the mud room, what will be our pantry hall, dining room and middle hall (kind of a room/hall). My husband cut down salvaged boards into widths needed for farmhouse style trim for doors, windows and cased openings. So today we will be priming (still cold, but windows will just have to be open as oil based primer stinks) the faux ship lap wall in dining room and the windows. It’s a huge undertaking, and it’s only about 25% of the house. He has his own carpentry business so our project isn’t top priority, but the horrible spring weather has gifted us time for our house. But no income:-/. Soon he will build the new kitchen cabinets (I bought my farmhouse sink last year just so we’d have it before funds ran low!) and we will tackle that. Then our beautiful new flooring can replace the awful asbestos tile that is in this part of the house. Then a breather for a year or so to save up funds to tackle the front part of the first floor and maybe the basement family room.

[GOPJ]

Thanks.