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

[Trillian]

I wish I could help out with the cooking thread. My brain fog has just been debilitating lately. On one positive note, I have been able to slightly taste garlic and espresso for the last couple of weeks!

[Jamestown1630]

Don’t worry. We will carry on. I hope you feel better soon, and your taste buds continue to expand their horizons ;-)

[CottonBall]

mmmm i luv coconut!

i have 5 bottles of cream of coconut. when i need a fix, i have a tsp or two. pretty amazing stuff!

I have a cake recipe where you make a white cake then poke holes and pour this cream of coconut in, mixed with a little sweetened condensed milk. Talk about a coconut cake on steroids! Most other cakes aren’t coconutty enough for me.

[lizma2]

See my mom a couple times a year, call her non-stop but it’s probably about 4 years since I’ve been downtown Asheville.

Mast General Store... I’ll check it out this summer. Though can’t see me in Birkenstocks (What I really want to do is get together with my brother’s this summer and go Zip Lining!)

Grew up on Lake Michigan where nothing will eat you when you swim and saw “Jaws” before I saw the ocean! Mountain girl here.

[leaning conservative]

Oh my, that sounds so good & I am having a huge sweet tooth lately. Pease give the amounts of coconut & condensed milk. I may make this Saturday!

[leaning conservative]

Glad to hear some taste is coming back. I hope it continues for you : )

[lizma2]

You live in Johnson City??? I love that place!!!

Go a little south, it’s spectacular! (Is that Sam’s Gap?) Every time I drive though J.C. I stop somewhere. Gas station or fast foodery. I just love being there.

Now do they have a Johnson City Republican Women’s Club?? That’s all I need. LOL!

I think I want to retire there. Not staying in anti-middle class Maryland.

[CottonBall]

“Now do they have a Johnson City Republican Women’s Club?”

funny you should mention that! i just joined it this year. it’s the largest republican club in Tennessee, even bigger than Nashville or Memphis. And they are not GOPe - every meeting is about Trump and what he has accomplished. The mayor and numerous city council and school board members attend - men are welcome, btw. All the gubanatorial candidates will speak this year...i know that’s spelled wrong!

actually i live in the mountains outside Elizabethton, but it’s near JC. And the lake and the AT. And Bristol. Relatively near. We wanted to be in the country so driving is expected. but the scenery is spectacular so i don’t mind!

[CottonBall]

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/7994/coconut-poke-cake/

this looks like what i make. i might not use the whole can of condensed milk - about 1/3rd or half i think. otherwise it’s just sweet without intense coconut flavor. i add a tsp if coconut extract to the cake mix but it probably doesn’t need it with all that cream of coconut. i also use a straw to make the holes - the liquid seems to absorb better that way.

i always modify web recipes, lol!

[leaning conservative]

Thanks so much!!!!

[leaning conservative]

Thanks so much!!!!

[CottonBall]

you’re welcome- let me know if you like it!

[bgill]

PEPPER SPICE BREAD

3/4 C warm water
1 egg
4 T honey (I used SF honey)
1/4 C sugar (splenda)
1 t black pepper
1 t anise
1/2 t salt
1/4 t allspice
1/4 t cinnamon
1/4 C butter (margarine)
1/4 C chopped pecans (mixed nuts from a can)
1/4 C dried milk powder
3 C bread flour (regular AP flour)
1 pkg yeast

Set bread machine for 1.5 lb loaf.

I made this many years ago and happened upon the recipe again. Yesterday, we had it on a sandwich and it’s better this morning plain for breakfast. It needs a hearty sandwich. Would be good as a steakhouse bread. It leaves a slight bit of heat from the pepper.

[Katya]

apparently you can mill your grains before baking with the unit, friends and relatives have been oooh-ing over the thermomix for a while. Ahh,now I see... what you’re discussing is a pressure cooker... I have an old fashioned one that goes on the stove. It’s the best thing for cooking/stewing cheaper cuts of beef that come out mouth-watering and tender.

[Jamestown1630]

I wonder if leaving out the anise would ruin it; I’m just not crazy about that. Or do the other spices subdue it?

[Jamestown1630]

"come out mouth-watering and tender."

That's what amazed me about the Instant Pot. The old tales about pressure cookers were that they rendered everything tasteless; but we've had wonderful experiences cooking meats in ours.

I remember reading an article about a chef who swore he wouldn't cook artichokes any other way than in a pressure cooker, because it retains so much more flavor. I'm anxious to try them in the Instant Pot this year.

[bgill]

Don’t know. My anise is old so can’t say about the potency but it’s a tasty recipe.

[MomwithHope]

Getting caught up on this thread. I DVR the Pioneer Woman episodes and fast forward through them to see what she is cooking. Have found a few dishes I like that way. Tomorrow I’m doing her “spatchcock chicken” (sp?) on the grill not in the oven. Basically take a whole chicken and cut out the spine with shears so it unfolds into one whole flat chicken. Rube with olive oil, parsley, salt & pepper and whatever else you want. Cooks evenly and looks nice too. She did hers on a pan sheet with roasted veggies.

[lizma2]

Sounds like heaven. I’ll be there someday.

[Trillian]

Barbara Bush’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup butter (salted)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar (Iight brown)
2 eggs
2 cups flour (I used 250 grams)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups instant oatmeal (I recommend Quick Cooking)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 package (12 ounces) chocolate chips

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Blend butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Add 2 eggs and beat.
Sift (I just mixed) together flour, soda, salt, then add to batter and stir until blended.
Add instant oatmeal, vanilla and chocolate chips.
Drop by tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees.
Let cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

https://www.cookiemadness.net/2018/04/barbara-bushs-chocolate-chip-cookies/