The Kitchen: all things delicious and disastrous

I've never tried vegan pizza (as diner or cook) but the Passover pizza turned out ... surprisingly well. It's not good food, but it's probably about the best I could do within the constraints.

edited 17th Apr '14 3:40:12 PM by HersheleOstropoler

Sorry! I meant to post kitchen pics and then totally forgot. If anyone is still interested: [1] Thats one half of the kitchen. the other half is much the same, except it's got a fridge and sink.

Tonight I pan seared thin cut steak that was liberally rubbed in salt pepper and paprika. I used a generous amount of oil so no sticking and good coverage. Then I put those steaks into sourdough hoagie rolls and added fresh tomatoes, dill pickles, cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce. The unhealthiest, bestest dinner EVER.

Wow that is beautiful! Very stylish and you lookso happy too! Yeah!

You and the kitchen both look gorgeous.

As above, amen. And I'm totally not jealous of the amount of space you've got for the kitchen; my apartment's kitchen is tiny, and storage is tight for the fact that two of three people here cook.

As it is, I've learned to depend on frying pan and toaster oven. Newfound appreciation for the toaster oven's ability to turn out delicious open-faced toasted sandwiches of refried beans, sliced Spam, and toasted Munster cheese, on rye bread.

Thanks all! :) I'm super happy with it.

Really it's amazing what a good kitchen will inspire. I made a big batch of clarified chicken stock, wine-braised beef short ribs (with sauteed daikon and carrots) and 3 dozen cookies all within 3 hours. So nice~

I brought home some sharp cheddar from work today and it just inspired a "sharp cheddar cheese" Charleston in my kitchen.

I also tried a bit of pickled pigs foot. It reminded me of souse and I would probably try it again.

The broccoli rabe seeds sprouted and I will be experimenting with that soon I hope.

Using leftover dark chocolate fudge buttercream frosting as a dip for pieces of dried pineapple is almost certainly not healthy, but they taste exceedingly nummy when you do that.

Especially with a glass of -cold- milk.

edited 23rd Apr '14 8:45:16 PM by Madrugada

Simnel cake and a mug of tea... (with half an apostle on the cake, because there's no way in hell I can managed a slice with a whole one in one go — sodding massive apostles, these).

What an elevenses.

edited 24th Apr '14 3:26:07 AM by Euodiachloris

...Theology aside, what's an Apostle?

A ball of marzipan on top of the cake. There should be 11 on a cake. (Judas is not included. For some reason.)

From the pictures of the Simnel cake, and the recipe, I'd wager the "apostles" are the 11 balls of marzipan decorating the edge of the cake. Could be wrong, though.

Oh, good, I wasn't wrong.

My puppy supplement was a success!

I chopped venison, chicken, some peas, and a bit of lentils and then set it to simmer on the stove with chicken broth and water. When everything was soft, I threw it in my blender and gave it a slushy consistency.

I then used this with her normal kibble gently, just enough to add some flavor and test if it wouldn't upset her stomach.

Not only did she approve, she has been eating better and in more feesible quantities, so I know the food is more filling now.

Vasquez is growing fast too. She's coming out stocky and pretty muscular. Her mom had a braid chest and strong shoulders. So I want to make sure she stays strong.

A dog that doesn't approve of venison needs to be taken to the vet, in my experience. It's like noting when a dog turns down sausage: either that is the world's worst sausage... or somebody isn't well.

Seems you've got yourself a relatively pulse-happy doggie. ^_^ That really broadens your sneaky range to widen her diet.

Im thrilled! I talked with her vet and he said as she gets bigger I can add carrots and brown rice

My girlfriend found a "copycat recipe" for Cheesecake Factory 's carbonara.

The first warning sign should have been the conspicuous absence of egg.

We ended up giving up on the sauce and just making a cheese sauce. If that really is how Cheesecake Factory makes carbonara, wild Kaley Cuocos could not get me in there.

In other news, I've decided to rescue my cast iron pan, following these instructions. To strip the other pan I might wait until winter and put it in my parents' fireplace.

edited 29th Apr '14 5:34:36 PM by HersheleOstropoler

Today I'm going to try and make a sort of stew I remember my mother making once or twice. It can't be that hard can it?

(tune in later tonight, when the kitchen will no doubt be on fire).

Yay fire!

I've been loving my new kitchen. Today i made bison meatballs and sketti. I need to get some mason jars for stock.

I'm making gummy candy tonight. Normally I do it completely sugar free, but I'm experimenting with some new flavors so I am adding just a bit to taste and will go from there.

This is also my first 24 hours without a diet Pepsi, so I have lemon water in the fridge and am drinking it like the cure.

Another thing I discovered, make pink lemonade without sugar and cut up a granny smith apple instead. Float the slices and enjoy.

I love tart things so that was wonderful for me. Even Aprilla liked it!

I need to get steel wool to get all the gunk and rust off the cast iron. It's sitting there oxidizing until I have the time and money to do so, but presumably the steel wool will take care of that too. I'll reseason immediately after that.

Oh yeah, speaking of cleaning things. I've got all these luvverly new stainless steel appliances. I've heard rave reviews about Barkeepers friend. Anyone have experience? How do I clean this stuff? Also, the top of my oven is not stainless steel, its the shiny black metal they use nowadays, and my 409 kitchen cleanser is doing diddly to clean it. There are a few burnt water stains. What do i do with that? any ideas?

I've been using Barkeeper's Friend all my life. Love it. No idea about the other thing.

Got myself a bread making device. Tried it today, eagerly awaiting results

Bar Keeper's Friend sounds like a euphemism for a baseball bat or something.