Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Monthly Cooking Thread - December 2020

Posted on 12/01/2020 4:14:05 PM PST by Jamestown1630

To those who know Kimchi, this may seem like a joke – but it’s not.

I first learned to love kimchi when I had it made by a friend’s Oma 30-odd years ago, and I got pretty spoiled on the home-made stuff. We occasionally find jarred, refrigerated kimchis that can rival home-made in local supermarket produce aisles, but not reliably; and getting to the closest ethnic market is a traffic/parking nightmare.

I happened to see the Jayone pictured above in a local store, and bought it just for larks – but to my surprise, it’s actually very good! It may lack a certain element of fizz-and-zing that you experience with the ‘real’ stuff, but for a very unexpected canned variety, we liked it a lot. If you can’t find fresh, and aren’t up for the complicated project of making your own, this may somewhat assuage your addiction if you can find it somewhere nearby. Open up, transfer to a glass container, and chill well.

(My husband doesn't think it's 'hot and spicy' enough - but maybe it can be doctored to personal taste ;-)

******************************************

I recently had a birthday, and got some very nice presents. One of them was a Taiyaki iron.

Taiyaki is a popular little fish-shaped Japanese waffle-like cake, usually stuffed with sweetened red bean paste – but often also stuffed with custard, chocolate, Nutella or fruit preserves. It’s a popular street food in Japan, and you can buy little irons for making them, for home use. I haven’t tried it yet, and I’ve read that they don’t work real well on an electric stovetop, though some say they’ve managed it. (If the electric stove doesn’t work, I’ve got one of those little butane- burning ‘hot plates’ to try – watch this space.)

http://chefiso.com/p/taiyaki-recipe/

**********************************************

I’ve always loved Gordon Lightfoot’s music – he’s a poet-singer in a very old tradition of storytellers. I’ve especially liked his song, ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’.

But I realized the other day that I didn’t really know much about the Edmund Fitzgerald and her story; so I found this – the 45th anniversary of her sinking was just a few weeks ago - and this is a very moving video. (I got almost to the end, thinking that YouTube at least had the good grace to not interrupt certain types of vids with commercial ads; but alas…)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5i_XMqdULM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vST6hVRj2A

Millions of men – and women – all over the world brave the dangers of the seas to ensure the economies, food needs, and defense of their respective countries and communities. Even in the modern world of steel ships and boats and high technology, it takes a lot of grit to do a job like that.

-JT


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Food; History; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: edmundfitzgerald; kimchi; taiyaki
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-127 next last
To: vis a vis

If all you want to do is coat the pretzel sticks, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work to just melt the chips in a double boiler and dip the stick into that.

I’ve never been a great fan of this nor made it, but hopefully someone will have a good recipe.


101 posted on 12/23/2020 4:51:52 PM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 97 | View Replies]

To: Liz; All
“There are only 10 minutes in the life of a pear when it is perfect to eat,” Ralph Waldo Emerson once quipped.


102 posted on 12/23/2020 5:42:30 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 88 | View Replies]

To: Liz

Thanks for the tag tip! I’ve missed a few pings this month, obviously!


103 posted on 12/23/2020 5:45:26 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

I found the trick w/ avocados is buying only those that are slightly soft.......so when you get them home, they’re “almost” ready to use.

Not so with those finicky pears.


104 posted on 12/23/2020 9:26:45 PM PST by Liz ( Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 102 | View Replies]

To: Liz; All

I would eat more pears if they weren’t so darn DIFFICULT to gauge.

I use a service called ‘Imperfect Foods’ where you get ‘ugly produce’ that wouldn’t sell other wise. They have MONSTER carrots that go to the mule, and I’ve been using them for about a year now, so I know what’s good to order and what is a waste of money. For example - I got pears that went strait from rock-hard to mush; no in-between! Not crazy about their TINY avocados, and their celery hasn’t been very impressive; limp!

Anyone that wants to look into using this service, let me know. I can give you a referral and I win a free Grapefruit or something, LOL!

http://www.imperfectfoods.com

I think they are up to serving 25-30 states so far. The company is based out of CA but your food will be shipped locally. Mine comes out of Chicago to SW Wisconsin. Cost is $45 minimum order plus shipping of $8 or so, but you can also get grains and meats, organics and CHOCOLATE. Their boneless, skinless chicken breasts and boneless porch chops are really good! It saves me a trip to the grocery store each month.


105 posted on 12/24/2020 8:34:46 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 104 | View Replies]

To: Jamestown1630; Liz; All

106 posted on 12/24/2020 10:30:18 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 105 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin; Jamestown1630
A delectable fudge-like treat just made for Christmas.

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies / makes 48 cookies

Ing 1 ½ cups flour ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder ½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar
¼ tsp ea salt, baking powder, baking soda 1 egg 1 ½ tsp vanilla
48 undrained maraschino cherries (10-ounce jar) Icing: 6 oz real semi/choc/chips (not imitation) ½ cup sweetened condensed milk

METHOD combine flour and cocoa; set aside. Elec/mixer butter on med 30 sec to soften. Add sugar, salt, baking powder,
baking soda. Beat well. Add egg and vanilla. Beat well. Gradually beat in flour/cocoa mixture.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place on ungreased baking sheet. Press down center of each ball with thumb.
Drain maraschino cherries, reserving juice. Place a cherry in the center of each cookie.
Icing: combine chocolate and sweetened condensed milk; heat til melted. Stir in 4 tsp cherry juice.

Spoon teaspoon frosting over each cherry on unbaked cookie, spreading to cover cherry.
(Frosting may be thinned with additional cherry juice, if necessary.) Bake 350 deg 10 minutes til done. Cool on wire rack.

CHEF Cover and store at room temp up to 2 days.

107 posted on 12/24/2020 11:59:10 AM PST by Liz ( Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 106 | View Replies]

To: All

108 posted on 12/24/2020 12:03:01 PM PST by Liz ( Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 107 | View Replies]

To: Liz

Oh man, I did NOT need to know about this recipe...LOL

Thank you very much, I will have to try it.


109 posted on 12/24/2020 12:55:33 PM PST by vis a vis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies]

To: Jamestown1630

You would think so but the chocolate never wants to stick.


110 posted on 12/24/2020 12:58:58 PM PST by vis a vis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 101 | View Replies]

To: vis a vis

This pretzel confection is beyond addictive......


111 posted on 12/24/2020 1:29:29 PM PST by Liz ( Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 109 | View Replies]

To: Liz

My Grandma used to make those. They are SO good! :)


112 posted on 12/24/2020 1:34:50 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 107 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

And you never had the recipe?


113 posted on 12/24/2020 1:38:03 PM PST by Liz ( Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 112 | View Replies]

To: Jamestown1630

Same as with octopus: you have to drive over it with a car before cooking.


114 posted on 12/24/2020 1:43:58 PM PST by firebrand ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Liz

Saw a meme on Facebook of a marijuana sprig coated with batter and fried.

The caption is “When the South legalizes marijuana.”


115 posted on 12/24/2020 1:51:12 PM PST by firebrand ( Wish I knew how to transfer those things.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: kiryandil

🤤


116 posted on 12/24/2020 2:02:22 PM PST by vis a vis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 100 | View Replies]

To: firebrand

Sounds like marijuana tempura.


117 posted on 12/24/2020 2:03:38 PM PST by Liz ( Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 115 | View Replies]

To: firebrand

Sounds like marijuana tempura.


118 posted on 12/24/2020 2:03:38 PM PST by Liz ( Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 115 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin
...And there is always, ALWAYS cheese in the house! :)

Wisconsin...say no more. ;>)

The FIL of my dads partner was raised in Wisconsin and every year made the trip to visit with SIL and grandaughter. And always brought several long blocks of aged Cheddar. Mom and dad received one or two every year. These blocks filled the fridge shelf front to back. One block went to our church, rest split up between neighbors. In suburban Maryland we had cheese for years.

The FIL was an interesting man, made grandfather style clocks from bicycle gears and chains, steel angle iron and anything else that struck his fancy. Clatter and sparks were key attributes, nothing like Swiss cuckoo clocks. The Smithsonian took two for an exhibit ....kind of an Americana Rube Goldberg thing. Also made black powder cannons for the grand kids and neighbors. Well loved by all as he continued making stuff well into his 80s.

119 posted on 12/24/2020 2:12:52 PM PST by Covenantor (We are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who can not govern. " Chesterton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Liz

It is!


120 posted on 12/24/2020 2:24:11 PM PST by firebrand ( Wish I knew how to transfer those things.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 118 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-127 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson