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Monthly Cooking Thread - May 2022

Posted on 05/01/2022 1:12:22 PM PDT by Jamestown1630

I bought some new gadgets and products recently. I think the most interesting was the ‘Sushi Bazooka’. There are lots of these available, but they all work along the same lines and make it much easier to fill and roll Maki Sushi, California Roll, etc. It doesn’t always come out as perfect on the first try as some videos make it look, but with a little practice it’s great. 'How Daily' shows how it works:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe8GsJ3M4F0

I was introduced to this type of sushi by a Korean friend who calls it ‘Kimbap’. She made it with imitation crab (but the little 'salad' shrimps might be better for those who don’t like ‘Krab’), cucumber, pickled daikon, and strips of cooked egg (mix eggs as for scrambled eggs, spread a thin layer in a frying pan, and cook quickly so that when it’s done it’s like a big tortilla that you can cut into strips.)

And you must have the sear-your-mouth horseradish condiment, ‘Wasabi’, to go with it. The pickled ginger usually sold with Sushi is also very good, and in recent years I’ve found both the horseradish and the ginger in the Asian sections of many American supermarkets.

In a local health food store I found an unusual cracker. The century-old Inés Rosales company in Spain makes several types of these and they appear to be available in two sizes. They’re different from the crackers we’re used to – softer, and sort of halfway between a biscuit and a cracker, with unique textures and flavors, some savory and others sweet. These are available from lots of vendors online, and while they’re more expensive they’re worth it, especially for entertaining. Since they are softer, if you are going to serve them as an hors d’oeuvre, it would probably be best to wait until the last minute to apply any spread or topping that’s very ‘wet’.

We bought a Ninja air fryer last month, and so far we’ve tried two things in it – Brussels sprouts and steak. Neither turned out very well, but we’re assured that it takes some tweaking and practice to figure out, so I’ll have to do a progress report later. (One thing I really want to try in it is frozen onion rings, but for some reason our stores that usually have them - as well as French fries - have none. I’m not sure why – that kind of thing is usually out-of-stock around Super Bowl time, but normally available. This is the only extended shortage I’ve noticed since early in Covid when we couldn’t buy toilet paper, chlorine bleach or hand sanitizer.)

There’s a restaurant in Austin, Texas called ‘El Arroyo’ that is very popular for its Tex-Mex food, but most famous there and elsewhere for the ‘readerboard’ signs it displays outside. They do a different saying every day, many humorous, some mildly philosophical or even very sober. Over the past couple of years, they've gotten a lot of sign-mileage out of Covid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDJhbvQnaFE

-JT


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: crackers; gadgets; sushi
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To: Jamestown1630

You had me at Sushi! Wish we had a decent Sushi Bar out here in the sticks.

Maybe I’ll open one? LOL!


61 posted on 05/02/2022 7:22:37 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: sweetiepiezer

That’s a good resource, thanks.


62 posted on 05/02/2022 7:48:40 AM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: mylife

Well, that’s funny. That’s exactly what I planned on making today. I think it was originally posted here by someone and was originally a King Arthur recipe. (I’ll use pecans):

Whole Grain Cranberry Muffins

1 1/2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
3/4 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1/4 cup buttermilk powder or nonfat dry milk
2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1 tablespoon orange zest (finely grated orange peel)
2 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil or melted butter

Glaze
2 tablespoons orange juice
3 tablespoons sugar
*For a sweeter muffin, substitute 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries.

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients, then stir in the cranberries and nuts. Whisk together the orange zest, eggs, milk, and oil or melted butter. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until blended; don’t beat, or your muffins will be tough! Fill 12 greased muffin cups or paper liners about 3/4 full.

Bake the muffins in a preheated 350°F oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until they’re golden brown. Remove them from the oven, leave them in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a rack.

In a small saucepan or the microwave, stir together the glaze ingredients. Bring just to a boil, to dissolve the sugar. Dip the tops of the warm muffins into the glaze.

Yield: 12 muffins.


63 posted on 05/02/2022 7:52:43 AM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: Jamestown1630

very tasty


64 posted on 05/02/2022 8:17:28 AM PDT by mylife (It looks just like a telefunken U47... (===)
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To: Jamestown1630

use the craisins


65 posted on 05/02/2022 8:21:04 AM PDT by mylife (It looks just like a telefunken U47... (===)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

We have a great little hole-in-the-wall at a mall here, a family operation. Every order is made on the spot.

My problem with it is that it’s almost never good the next day, so it pretty much has to be eaten the same day it’s made. I’ve been trying to think of techniques to over come that, like slightly damp paper towels over the layers in an airtight container, etc.


66 posted on 05/02/2022 9:00:07 AM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: Jamestown1630

I never have leftovers when it comes to Sushi. ;)


67 posted on 05/02/2022 9:54:38 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Neither do I, but I was thinking of occasions when I’ve thought of making lots for a potluck or party. I guess you just get up real early...


68 posted on 05/02/2022 10:00:22 AM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: mylife

I have fresh ones from Christmas in the deep freeze. I always buy lots just for muffins.


69 posted on 05/02/2022 10:01:33 AM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: who_would_fardels_bear

Cut into the fat edges before you cook it so it won’t curl up, or you could use a press, but that might cause sweating at first. We eat our steak medium rare, and I get the pan really hot, sear one side for about 2 minutes, flip it and sear the other side, then cover it and turn it off for a couple of minutes. Juices then collect, but both sides are a nice dark brown, and the pan juice can be poured over the steak, or saved to make gravy for another dish.


70 posted on 05/02/2022 10:15:06 AM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: Flaming Conservative

Thanks!


71 posted on 05/02/2022 11:26:10 AM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear (This is not a tagline.)
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To: who_would_fardels_bear

You’re welcome.


72 posted on 05/02/2022 11:49:48 AM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: FreedomPoster

Nutella in Italy tastes so much better.
I looked up the lidl’s website and there are none near me.


73 posted on 05/02/2022 12:57:18 PM PDT by Trillian
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To: HartleyMBaldwin

The trick to not having the whites stick to the shells is to use older eggs. A few days makes a lot of difference. I boil mine, pour the water off, shake it around a little to break the shells, and then pour cold water over them. The shells come off nicely.


74 posted on 05/02/2022 1:12:30 PM PDT by Library Lady
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To: Library Lady

Yes, I generally hold eggs in the fridge for 2-3 weeks before boiling them.


75 posted on 05/02/2022 1:15:40 PM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: cherry

Do not over fill the Pullman


76 posted on 05/02/2022 1:25:18 PM PDT by ptsal (Vote R.E.D. >>>Remove Every Democrat ***)
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To: Library Lady

I’ve read that another trick, if you want the yolks centered for deviled eggs, is to turn the carton on its side overnight before you boil them. I haven’t remembered to try it out, though.


77 posted on 05/02/2022 1:30:13 PM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: Jamestown1630

El Arroyo is indeed pretty good stuff.


78 posted on 05/02/2022 6:35:21 PM PDT by Professional Engineer (Looks like I'll have to buy the White Album again.)
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To: Professional Engineer

Do you mean their signs, or their food?
(I’ve looked at the menu, and it looks pretty good!)


79 posted on 05/02/2022 7:54:24 PM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: FreedomPoster

The beef short ribs were so tough they were inedible and i cooked them 72 hours. The pork chops were no different than a sear and slow bake; ditto the steak. Do you have a favorite cookbook> Which foods are your favorites?


80 posted on 05/02/2022 9:02:54 PM PDT by Hiskid (Jesus is Lord)
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