canoodling around

Oh  !  More dough, this time the noodle. Once you get hang of making dough for noodles, it’s hard to let go, back to the dried variety, that is if your not cooking for a crowd.

A beef soup base was the groundwork for the noodle. Simple dry  noodles won’t suffice.

Again I wont bore you with the recipe, this could go in a stew direction also  just thicken up the broth, yep add sour cream and milk or straight cream for a goulash finish.

I keep it as a broth , a bit lighter.

Since a small amount of noodle just grabbed the rolling pin. Dinner for two.

start with the basics

ok it’s the instant pot again, the searing setting give automatic temperature control

plate the meat when done

wilt up the veggies

add some stock

add back the meat

add some hot water supplied by the kuerig, seal up the reactor vessel and give it high pressure for a couple of minutes, this does the carrot effortlessly. Get on the with noodle.

over to the processor with the semolina and a yolk and i bit of water and a dribble of oil is also good.

Bzzzzzzzzzzz..Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Bzzzzzzzzzzzzz,, done

give the dough a break

let dry a bit after rolling

you can use a pizza cutter, nice and steady !

ready for the boiling water bath !

won’t take more than a couple of minutes

Flotation achieved, done

A big drainy scooper

plate up the noodle, top with the beef mixture, I think it only took a few minutes under pressure for the broth mixture, parsley, back to the computer…hmmm..    where the bread. OH we have the noodle no need for bread.  HA ! maybe bread and butter for dessert !

Braised boneless pork ribs with barley and mung beans

A tasty meal, brown the pork ribs throughly in oil, add sliced white onion, grated turmeric root, several small fresh  tomato and ground pepper(s) a pinch of curry  spices. Also added some oregano, and thyme.

When everything is fragrant, and the onion wilted, add hot stock to the pan, simmer covered. Add additional hot stock during the process if necessary. Just before the pork is tender, again,  bring up the level of the liquid, add the barley and mung bean (a dried packaged mix), cover simmer 10 minutes, move from the flame, keep covered for about 10 more minutes. Serve. The barley tender, the mung bean firm.

What was left in the pan after serving………

soups

Several drafts to publish of previous cooking fall under the category of soup so here they are in one posting. A vegetable fresh soup is similar in prep to a salad. Even with the hot weather it seems that a bowl of soup has a cooling effect.

Veggie broth with porcupine meatballs

The porcupine meatballs was from a recipe originally with a sweet tomato sauce.

Not too many ingredients in the meatballs let the flavor of the meat be present.

• 1 lb. meat (I used pork for this recipe).
• 3/4 cup jasmine rice
• 1 egg
• 3 green onion minced
• 1 tsp. fresh garlic
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp celery seed
• 1/2 tsp. coriander seeds

Minced up the meat and additives in a food processor, I gave the rice a quick buzz to break into smaller pieces. Jasmine rice not available. The minced meatball mix  was refrigerated as I prepare some vegetable broth.

Using a scooper, it’s easy to make the meatballs.

Broth to the simmer, with the meatballs till cooked

Plate up hot broth, meatballs, thin cut veggies and noodle.

Minced chicken soup

 

Another recipe using rice flour noodle

Chicken Gizzard Soup

Whats good with soup, my daughters recipe for Zaatar Twists, just use puff pastry

Chicken livers in mushroom port sauce

Chicken, beef , lamb and pork the main choices for meat when shopping with sometimes other choices, like duck etc. Organ meat usually is not the main choice but this recipe and that fact that the market had chicken livers available made it happen. The livers can be prepared in a variety of ways here sautéed.

Prepped up and ready to go , this meal only takes about 10 minutes to prepare.

you’ll need

• 1 lb chicken livers
• 1 tbl olive oil
• 2 tbl unsalted butter
• 3/4 each salt and freshly ground pepper

The livers featured in the recipe From Jacque Pepin are mostly large like they came from a butcher, those I have are not as large, smaller pieces and are purchased in a container from the market.

With the olive oil and the butter saute the livers with the salt and pepper about 1 minute per side….( The prep of cutting the livers in half and removing the sinews really didn’t apply for the livers I had.)…. Remove from pan and set aside.

now to the pan add….

• 2 cups diced mushrooms (I used reconstituted dried mushrooms; porcini)
• 1/3 cup chopped shllots
• 1/3 cup coursley cut scallions
• 1 tbl chopped garlic

cook over high heat (this can vary with the power of you burner on your stove and the pan you are using, if i follow most recipes times on high heat the contents will be burned) for about 3 minutes.

now add…..

• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/3 cup port wine (I used melomel mead which is usually the only type of wine product I have)
• 1/3 cup stock, chicken or what ever

bring to a boil for about 1 and 1/2 minutes add:

• 2 tbl ketchup

mix it in well

return the liver to the skillet and bring back to the boil then serve.

serve

Serve with some prepared rice, noodle would also be a good accompaniment.

If you like a gravy type meaty dish, this is very savory considering the amount of liver is only one lb the mushrooms add a considerable amount of flavor. Another container of livers in the fridge for a re PETE  since they were marked down in price for a quick sale (not a big seller in the market ! I guess). But sometimes you would also pay qute a bit if you want the high quality type mushrooms.

Serves 4 for lunch type dinner.

 

DAL, two recipes

Dal, lentils and beans all in the same catagory, recipes abound and as probably you have researched, the more research yeilds that the recipe usually was what the cook has on hand especially as to the spicing of the dish. Here’s one from the Bob’s Red Mill bag of Dal followed by the Milk Street recipe for Turkish Red Lentil Soup.

New Delhi Dal

 

I utilized curry powder in place of the tumeric. Some ground cloves sufficed for the 12 whole cloved required. (have to order some cloves)

Boiling the beans, alot of water! these beans will soak up quite a bit of liquid. This is 1/2 the recipe.

most dal recipes require an addition to be added to the beans once cooked

mash them and then add the oil spice mixture

Basicallly I ate these alone to get a taste for the beans, they would make a good spread for chips or an addition to rice.

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A Turkish Red Lentil Soup with Aleppo Pepper

 Turkish Red Lentil Soup

from 177 milk street.com

Are we ready ? I used the Bob’s Red Mill orange/yellow dal.

the sweating of the onions

Add the garlic for about 30 seconds, to the onions, then add the rest of the ingriedents, minus the water (broth), lentils and rice. cook up for about a minute.

 

……..in go the beans, rice and water

a lively simmer, cook covered about 30 minutes, the rice will break down somewhat adding to the texture, I cooked leaving the beans at the aldenti stage.

I skipped the addition of the Aleppo pepper since I didn’t want to search it out at this time , I added a bit of finely chopped dried pepper that are sitting on the windows sill drying out from green to a shrivled red, some moderate heat in the background.

Even though there is a lot of paprikia, which I though would be overpowering, the balance is delicious and the beans have a pasta like texture. The tomato paste smooths it out. My best use of the dal so far. No mint or lemon wedges served. 

Peasant’s plate

Some black eyed peas prepared from the previous day.

Bacon, onion, garlic, brocolli , mushrooms. 

Prepare and combine with flour, oil, butter, stock, milk.

Heat through adding grated cheese along the way.

Season as required.

Pork Fried Rice

Easter dinner (yet to be posted), left us with leftovers, one of the advantages of hosting dinner is that when cooking a meal that you don’t often have , you allow for extra, both for giving out “take out ” containers to guests and having leftovers available during the week.

Diced pork from a crown roast was sauteed to brown and reserved. Add one cup of rice to a heavy skillet along with a bit of oil and shallots. Stir to coat rice and cook shallot slightly.

With heat at high, add 2 cups broth, stock or whatever to skillet. Let the mixture boil uncovered about 5 minutes till most of the broth dissipates. Sprinkle soy sauce over rice mixture till your satisfied with the taste and color. I add a bit of dried red pepper flakes here.

Depending with the type of rice continue cooking over low heat a few more minutes or shut the flame down and cover. Go do something else for about 15 minutes.

I just put the diced pork on a plate and plated the rice over it.

Perhaps if i wasn’t so hungry I would have added some celery and onions.
Served with a White House Honey Porter
https://peabodypico.wordpress.com/2016/03/27/64-white-house-honey-porter/

Hearty tomato sauce with chili beans

From December 8th
Utilizing what’s in the kitchen.

pork neck pieces*
flour
salt
pepper

oil, bacon fat etc.
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very fine dice the following so they incorporate into the sauce.
A food processor for this.
onion
celery
carrot
garlic
(green peppers would be a good addition)
*******************************************************************************
1 tomato paste, small can
tomato sauce, 14 1/2 oz can
whole peeled tomato, 14 1/2 oz can, break up with hand
stock, (turkey, or other) as necessary
Italian seasonings lightly
hot pepper flakes, to taste
wine, strong red, to taste
*******************************************************************************
red beans, in this recipe I used dry red beans.
*******************************************************************************
Flour the pork neck pieces with seasoned flour and brown on all sides.
Remove the neck pieces and add finely chopped onion, celery, carrot, and garlic,
Sautee till wilted and soft. Add the rest of the ingredients less the beans, and return the neck bones to the sauce.
Simmer over very low heat and watch for scorching ,if necessary use a heat deflector, till most of the meat falls from the neck bones.
A very thick and hearty sauce at this point,  it rises and slowly,and  large bubbles are emitted from the sauce, watch out for hot splashes, cover.

(or thin with stock to avoid the lava like eruptions.)

Fish the neck bones from the sauce and reserve for a chef’s meal. (with bread). There will still be some tasty meat left on the bones.

Adjust the sauce viscosity and taste as necessary. Best cooled and refrigerated at this point.

Mason jars or containers from take out are good for this.

This sauce can be used as a base at this point for other recipes, pasta, rice, pizza  etc.

The pork from the bones adds much flavor.

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Soak overnight (dry) red beans in water and boil the next day.
Alternatively use canned beans

Mix the beans with the sauce, season  and thin as necessary.

garnish with cheese and onion

 

pork neck pieces* found these at the store, inexpensive and loaded with flavor.
Didn’t have an idea at the time of purchase what to do with them.
Decided they would add a nice flavor to a tomato base sauce.

Potatoes with onions and sage

This morning browsing the web with a cup of coffee, now time for some chow.

Lately, I have been cooking with an electric skillet, a basic one that we’ve had for years.

A recipe free dish I cooked this afternoon.

a one pan (skillet) side dish , or entree depending on your appetite.

Fry some sliced potato (2medium) slices in oil or butter of choice

Flip to brown on both sides

Add sliced onions

Sauté several minutes
Add some stock and a touch of soy sauce.

Add a slight amount of Garlic infused olive oil.

Mix up about 3/4 cup , or by eye, milk and tablespoon flour.
Add to the simmering fry pan, till bubbly and thickened.

Reduce heat to warm, till the mixture in heated through.

Garnish with fresh ( if possible) sage .

Served  with a cup of coffee.

so what else goes on a typical Sunday morning?

make some simple syrup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

proof yeast for bread.

This recipe I kneaded by hand for more than 5 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

placed in covered crock to rise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

into the oven covered to bake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

updating desktop machine.

probably too many computers

make ………………..?

 

BTW XP is still supported.

 

 

 

have to do some real physical labor to offset sedentary life style to

verify my home ownership and social status to the naysayers.

do to a generous friend , an Ipad and Macbook made this posting possible, learning curve for the Apple system. I am thankful.

 

Bulgar wheat and (left over) lamb

What do do with leftover lamb ?
As an addition to serve with meat, bulgar wheat is an alternative to potatoes, pasta , or rice and is easily cooked.
Sauté garlic in a small amount of oil, olive, butter , vegetable etc in a suitable sized saucepan.

just a few seconds to release the fragrance then add he bulgar wheat , 1 cup.

let the bulgar sauté several minutes till toasty then add the broth, or stock or water about 2 cups.

bring to a boil and then cover and simmer 20 minutes. Turn off heat, add the cubed cooked lamb recover and let stand about 15 minutes.
Serve

no additional seasonings was used as the flavor of the stock and garlic is sufficient.