Archive for November 2020
What to serve with smoked duck?">What to serve with smoked duck?
A tangy slaw Reading More May Cause Envy...
Read moreRepurposing Ghost Pepper Chips">Repurposing Ghost Pepper Chips
I have this bag of paqui ghost pepper chips (basically tortilla chips covered in ghost pepper flavour). I LOVE spicy but this is CRAZY hot...I can basically only eat one chip and then I am crying for milk. I don't know what to do with them (I can't eat them...
Read moreStrategy for encrusted filets for crowd">Strategy for encrusted filets for crowd
I've been making filets from a partial tenderloin for 2 and they've been coming out great. I cut the portions off into around 2" thick steaks. I sear them in cast iron on each side and then cook them on a rack on a sheet pan until up...
Read moreDecember 2020 Cookbook of the Month NOMINATIONS">December 2020 Cookbook of the Month NOMINATIONS
This most exceptional of years is drawing to a close, but there’s still one more month of collective cooking to consider in 2020, so it’s time to collect December COTM nominations. Anyone may nominate and the COTM community loves to have new people join us. Please nominate with the intention of...
Read moreChristmas and Holiday Baking 2020">Christmas and Holiday Baking 2020
I just fired up my yearly spreadsheet for Christmas cookie planning. I'm living in suburbia these days so I have way more room to bake, but ironically, less occasion to bake because I have far less social interaction. Does that mean I will personally eat most of my many hundreds...
Read moreHomemade vanilla - white/yellow film and floaties">Homemade vanilla - white/yellow film and floaties
I have never made homemade vanilla before, so am not really sure what to expect. About 3 weeks ago I divided up 2 oz of Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans in 1.5 L of Tower vodka in 4 bottles. Now, there's floating bits (like stringy particulates) and a yellowish-white film clinging...
Read moreFresh Turkey for Thanksgiving - How Long in Frig?">Fresh Turkey for Thanksgiving - How Long in Frig?
I went to Whole Foods today (Nov 11). They have fresh whole turkeys. But they are dated "Sell of Freeze by Nov 30". This is almost 19 days. How can this be? When I googled this, many sites say not to keep it in the frig for more than a...
Read moreIdeas for a "weather dependent" Thanksgiving 2020?">Ideas for a "weather dependent" Thanksgiving 2020?
Hi hounders! 2020 has thrown a curveball to everything, even my normal Thanksgiving routine. I was hoping to pick your genius brains about a dilemma that social gathering during coronavirus has presented. My in-laws decided that they would be comfortable getting together to celebrate Thanksgiving but only if it could be...
Read moreBaking with colonial Gingerbread Molds??">Baking with colonial Gingerbread Molds??
I picked these molds up from an estate sale down the street - mostly because I really liked the look of them. From what I can tell they are replicas of colonial-era gingerbread molds. Possibly stupid question, but what, if anything, am I supposed to do with them?...
Read moreItalian Cookbook Recs for a novice teenage son?">Italian Cookbook Recs for a novice teenage son?
My 13 year old is starting to get into cooking (yay!) and thus far it has pretty much been cooking staples that don't really use a recipe in our house (tacos, spaghetti with meat sauce, breakfast) or scouring Tik Tok for ridiculous recipes that sound fun (but are generally more...
Read moreAbout Me
I love food. Unfortunately, I can't cook worth a damn. I've been known to even burn water.
When I watch chefs and good cooks on tv, I'm so envious of their skills. This blog is the closest I get to cooking, other than the microwave ;)
Try not to drool!
John, New Englander turned Cali dude