C – Sometimes I wonder “Why hasn’t this been made much?” when looking for a recipe online. Braising a whole chicken was one of them. We found a few but not too many. Most weren’t rated or not rated well. We figured out the reason quickly. Jim had the first … Continue reading
C — It’s one of my favorite desserts. Pumpkin pie with a little freshly whipped cream. Yummy! My mom used to buy grocery-store pies, but the massed produced ones are never that great. So, when she suggested that we start making them from “scratch,” I was all over it. Of … Continue reading
J — Truffle oil on potatoes. Wow! Thanksgiving dinner just stepped up a notch or two. When I was growing up, Thanksgiving mashed potatoes consisted of instant potatoes served with butter. I never really liked potatoes. And, I had no idea potatoes could be anything different. I believe I am … Continue reading
J – We can’t agree on chicken stock, of all things! At least not until now. Personally, I think it’s a stylistic thing. But, perhaps, it’s really a mindfulness thing. For me, how simple could it be: buy chicken stock when you need it. Try to shop for price. That’s … Continue reading
C — EEEEEK!!! I have been dreading this day. Apple pie day. As I mentioned to you in previous posts, I have never made a good pie crust. I have been cursed. I can’t seem to make a good pie crust even if my life depended on it. I just … Continue reading
C — I’ve never liked applesauce. It’s one of those things that has a mushy texture and is overly sweet when you buy it from the grocery store. I never thought I would make applesauce either. But Jim said it was needed for dinner. We were having pork and he … Continue reading
J — Gastrique. What an unfortunate name for such a wonderful sauce style. I discovered gastrique a few years ago in a recipe for Thyme Encrusted Salmon with Blackberry Gastrique, which we have done here. I never knew anything about that style of combining the acidity of vinegar and wine … Continue reading
C — Lately, I have been craving Korean food. I’m not sure why. I just am. Love the stuff. But, for some strange reason I just haven’t been in the mood to go out to a restaurant. Of course, I just love to cook. It’s funny that most of the … Continue reading
C — What is braising?! A few years ago, I didn’t know what braising was. I had no clue, but I was dying to know. Jim was so excited to receive a braising pan for his birthday. He couldn’t wait to start braising. I thought it was some super special … Continue reading
C — Jim bought mixed greens and there was a little surprise in it. A tomatillo somehow snuck in … somehow. It became a really expensive tomatillo at $5.00 a pound. Regular price for tomatillos is $1.00 a pound. I wasn’t too happy. I thought I would make the best … Continue reading