Today is National Fig Newton Day (and no, they do not have anything to do with Sir Isaac Newton, but are named after the Massachusetts town where they were first produced). I am not a particular fan of the cookie but as a Baby Boomer have a real fondness for the 1970's commercial campaign where … Continue reading National Fig Newton Day
Recipe
National Oysters Rockefeller Day
As I have said previously on this blog, there seems to be a National Day for nearly everything and today's version is Oysters Rockefeller. This dish was famously created by Antionne's restaurant in New Orleans in the late 1800's. It was named as so rich it was fit for a Rockefeller but that was before … Continue reading National Oysters Rockefeller Day
Homemade Breakfast Sausage
Woke up this morning and decided to make my own breakfast sausage. So an unplanned post. I started with Alton Brown's recipe on the Food Network website. You can find it here: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/breakfast-sausage-recipe-2103185 As you can see it is basically a some pork shoulder and fatback ground together with spices. I played with the spices … Continue reading Homemade Breakfast Sausage
Welcome to 2019 and National Bloody Mary Day!
May you have a bright and cheery new year and a prosperous 2019. We decided to eliminate our alcohol intake this holiday, but if you celebrated too heartily last night take solace in the dog that bit you during National Bloody Mary Day. Recipe below. You're welcome. I'll be quiet now. As always you can … Continue reading Welcome to 2019 and National Bloody Mary Day!
Review – two of my Christmas gifts!
Well children, did you get what you wanted for Christmas? I got two pretty cool gifts that I really liked. Of course they were food related! Two different attachments for my KitchenAid mixer. These workhorse machines have a port on the front that permits handy tools to use the power of the mixer. The first … Continue reading Review – two of my Christmas gifts!
National French Toast Day
Today is National French Toast Day. I like every carb breakfast option from waffles to pancakes. But French Toast holds a special allure. Based on that basic building block of bread if made correctly it is warm, creamy and satisfying. There are many creative ways to create it but at its heart it is simply … Continue reading National French Toast Day
National Scrapple Day – for me that means Goetta!
Today is National Scrapple Day. Scrapple came to be when butchering communities sold off the valuable cuts of an animal and used the remaining parts with a filler like flour and cornmeal and added spices. After letting the mixture solidify, they sliced it and fried it to create a nutritious and filling and delicious meal. … Continue reading National Scrapple Day – for me that means Goetta!
Special November Month Recipe
November is National Banana Pudding Lovers Month. It is also National Peanut Butter Lovers Month. I wondered if I could find a recipe to combine the two and I did! You can find the original post for Peanut Butter Banana Pudding by Elizabeth Heiskell at the Today Show website here. https://www.today.com/recipes/peanut-butter-banana-pudding-recipe-t108088 Have a delicious November! … Continue reading Special November Month Recipe
National FlufferNutter Sandwich Day
Today is National FlufferNutter Day, the silliest name for a sandwich and a delicious lunch. But only because it has marshmallow creme. That is the secret. Marshmallow Creme. I could eat it all day and add a bit of peanut butter on white bread. Delicious. Do you have fond FlufferNutter memories and did your mom … Continue reading National FlufferNutter Sandwich Day
National Taco Day
Today is National Taco Day and many cultures have appropriated the form to transform the humble Mexican staple into their own signature flavor. Recently the New York Times Food Section showcased a new version: The BLT Taco, so I had to give it a try. I went the simple route lining the tortilla with mayonnaise, … Continue reading National Taco Day
Franken-Ribs achieved
I call them Franken-Ribs because they take several complex operations to come to life. I live in a small New York City apartment and so do not have a deck, a yard, a grill, or a place to install a standard smoker. Under these limitations I decided to play with how I could make the … Continue reading Franken-Ribs achieved
My mom’s pig roast celebration
Important note for all vegans, vegetarians and those of a similar mind. Please leave this blog post immediately. Come back tomorrow for fun stuff but you will really hate this and I don't want to upset you. Please. Also for all you young people or sheltered people or people who do not know and do … Continue reading My mom’s pig roast celebration
National Welsh Rarebit Day
Today is National Welsh Rarebit Day and I have a quibble. This is cheese on bread. How does this equate into a cuisine favorite? Cheese on bread. Brilliant. Shouldn't something like this have at least three ingredients? Bread with cheese on it. How was it invented? Did a Welshman take a continental trip and misunderstand … Continue reading National Welsh Rarebit Day
National Toasted Marshmallow Day
Today is National Toasted Marshmallow Day. I suppose it is fitting as we come to the end of the summer camping season. Some people prefer to use Toasted Marshmallows as only a component in something else like S'mores. Me? I'm a purist and love Toasted Marshmallows for their own sake. Their own perfectly melty, crusty, … Continue reading National Toasted Marshmallow Day
Watch Me Make My Sausage Gravy
Yesterday you saw me making Sourdough Buttermilk Biscuits, today I'll demonstrate and provide my personal recipe for Sausage Gravy to go with it. Start with a good size pan or pot and melt a couple of tablespoons of reserved bacon grease (or your favorite lipid). Sweat a large onion that has been medium chopped in … Continue reading Watch Me Make My Sausage Gravy
Watch me make Sourdough Buttermilk Biscuits
I love me some biscuits and sausage gravy. Today I'll show you how to make Sourdough Buttermilk Biscuits and tomorrow will show you how to make my own version of Sausage Gravy. Hope you enjoy. Put 1 cup sourdough starter, 1 cup buttermilk and 1 egg (all at room temperature) in a bowl. Blend together … Continue reading Watch me make Sourdough Buttermilk Biscuits
National Fried Chicken Day
I do like fried chicken. If you travel to New York you should try DIRTY BIRD on 14th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. They have some of the best chicken in these parts. But now I have finally made some at home to rival it. I have never made fried chicken that was perfect … Continue reading National Fried Chicken Day
Sourdough Baguettes
Recently tried the King Arthur Flour recipe for Sourdough Baguettes. You can find a video of the process below and the original recipe here: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/sourdough-baguettes-recipe I used the half measure to make three French style baguettes. In a large bowl combine 1 cup sourdough starter, just shy 3/4 cup lukewarm water and 1 1/2 cups … Continue reading Sourdough Baguettes
National Waffle Iron Day
Today is National Waffle Iron Day. Waffle Irons date back to the 14th Century and the Belgians are happy about that. Still, those early models were held over the open fire so I was happy in 1918 when electric waffle irons were introduced. It was a great relief to my tired arms. Today, I generally … Continue reading National Waffle Iron Day
National Martini Day
Let's be very clear. Martinis should be made from gin only. I agree with Winston Churchill when he said that the closest he wants Vermouth to his Martini is to look at it longingly across the room. Also it should also be served with olives, preferably stuffed with anchovies to give it that salty pungency. … Continue reading National Martini Day
National Corn on the Cob Day
Today is National Corn on the Cob Day, the way God intended you to eat it, not creamed or mixed in succotash. One of my favorite memories is our family visits to the Ohio State Fair when I was young. Demolition Derby is a really cool concept when your age is in single digits. I … Continue reading National Corn on the Cob Day
Franken-Ribs, the kitchen tale
I know I promised another review but circumstances require I put that off and relate a cooking adventure. You see, I like to play with my food. I recently became aware of a kitchen toy, I mean tool, called a stovetop smoker. My mind immediately turned to pork ribs, a category I have never been … Continue reading Franken-Ribs, the kitchen tale
National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
Nothing beats a nice buttermilk biscuit. Perfect for honey or jam. Lovely for a breakfast sandwich with an egg and sausage. Absolutely necessary for a base with sausage gravy. Or heavenly just as a platform for butter. There is little else that I make that requires buttermilk so I seldom bought it. Until I discovered … Continue reading National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
Are Swedish Meatballs really Turkish?
Great article in the New York Times this morning revealing that the famous Swedish Meatballs come from a recipe originating in Turkey (Ottoman Empire) back in the early 18th Century. Turkey crowed and Sweden swooned but the article included a recipe. You can find it here... https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/02/world/europe/swedish-meatballs-turkey.html?module=WatchingPortal®ion=c-column-middle-span-region&pgType=Homepage&action=click&mediaId=thumb_square&state=standard&contentPlacement=3&version=internal&contentCollection=www.nytimes.com&contentId=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2018%2F05%2F02%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Fswedish-meatballs-turkey.html&eventName=Watching-article-click So, of course I had to try it. … Continue reading Are Swedish Meatballs really Turkish?
National Garlic Day
Today is National Garlic Day. Boy do I love garlic. Two hints, one I learned in the last year, the other a long time ago. This year I learned to make garlic chips. Thinly slice (there is a great device for this, much like a mini mandolin) the garlic cloves. Heat a shallow layer (but … Continue reading National Garlic Day
