Automass, a day in Chicago…
Last weekend, I headed down to the Chicago area with My sister-in-law and two of Our friends for the second round of AutoMass. It was a car show, slash drift event, with a row of food trucks on the side. A proper recipe for an enjoyable day. Having not really planned the trip, We assembled ‘the crew’ for the weekend and hit the road, quite late. It had been two years since I made it out to see some drifting. I’m really glad I got to attend..
Love at First Spite
This has not been a good year in the garden for Me.. Most of the food stuffs I planted, did not take very well. Unlike last year, we didn’t work any compost or peat moss into the raised beds. I think that, in combination with the nearly two month delay in the arrival of spring, immediately followed by several weeks of extreme heat, really set things back. The carrots and parsnips have been puny and pathetic. The peas and beans have grown in a rather lack-lustre manor and the peppers, bak choi, spinach and tomatoes have been a joke. Even My citrus trees suffered from the odd weather. I started putting them Outside once the temps at night seemed to stop going below 55 degrees. Only to have My older keifer lime and younger blood orange bitten by frost. Happily, both have bounced back very well. Unlike the apple tree, which openned most of it’s flowers in a beautiful display, on a day temps dippped into the 30s. Needless to say, at least 75% of the pottential bounty promptly died off. With such slim pickings, the squirrels, who usually get most the apples, have taken nearly all of them.
I planted two varities of tomatoes for 2012, a cherry type called Gardener’s Delight and Cherokee Purple, which is often compared to Brandywine, but with a more robust flavor. Both were started in planters, indoors, late in the winter as usual. Then, spring didn’t bother showing up and they started dying. So I planted another round and waited for the weather to start warming, but it didn’t. Seven weeks after the ‘normal’ planting time, and 5 weeks after starting the second round of tomatoes, I finally put some in the ground. I should have just sewn in seeds, but I planted the best looking of the seedlings I had growing, even though they were stunted from being in tiny starter planters for 5 weeks. After 2 weeks showing no signs of change, both varieties started growing! The first flowers did not appear until the end of June. Both plants grew to about 2 feet, kicked out about half a dozen flowers and are yeilding 3 to 6 tomatoes. They have stopped growing taller and aren’t really flowering. It’s sad… Last Year I grew a pair of Hybrid Zebra Cherry Tomatoes, which are a cross of green and red zebra stripe cherry tomatoes. They grew taller than Me, delivering 1200ish amazingly yummy little morsels. Needless to say, I am quite disappointed in this year’s crop. Then, the very day I was going to pick My three Cherokee Purples, some hateful little critter stole two of them! Leaving them, partially eaten, on the ground nearby. So My crop is a solitary, scarred tomato that grew to only half the size of a usual C. P.
And so, in the twilight hours of the last day in July, I partook in the suprizingly delicious little thing. I’m not really a tomato person.. I grow them, mostly, cause they are good for You. But this thing was really good! I however, did it no justice. With My stomach growling, I broke out some tortillas, cheese, spinach and some ‘pulled bbq chicken’ from a plastic tub. It was pretty good, for a 4am food excursion. While eating it, I just couldn’t help but feel like I should have made something, well, better.. I wasted the best tomato I’ve ever tasted, the single fruit of My months long labor, on a bit of pre-packaged, over sugar’ed, microwaved, remnants of meat. At least I ate some of the tomato and snapped a couple pictures before constructing dinner. If things go better next year and they give more bounty and viable seeds, I’ll grow these Cherokee Purple Tomatoes forever!
Saint Paul Flavor
Here in the Twin Cities, there are many restaurants for foodies and hungry people to choose from. In My neighborhood, there are several notable establishments, along with tons of others, lining the milage of University Avenue. This five mile strip of ‘Uni’ has been home to two fine Saint Paul traditions.. Until a few years ago, University was THE cruising place for car enthusiasts of all denominations. A decades long hot spot, with crowds on any given friday or saturday numbering in the five figures. Naturally, those people needed to eat, so there has been no shortage of the other of University’s defining features… Family restaurants!
For many of My friends, Tay Ho is the place to go. Providing the right combination of tasty food, nicely sized portions and reasonable prices. They have risen to be one of the best places in Saint Paul for family dining and for those who simply wish to perform acts of sheer gluttony, without paying a ton. Sadly, all of the food establishments along University have been hurting. Starting around the turn of the century, the city started ‘aggressively discouraging’ the cruising crowd from using the traditional strip as their gathering point. Then, two years ago and ongoing today, from the U of M campus, to the State Capitol grounds, the city started to install a light rail line. The cruising scene has scattered and effectively died. Leaving restaurants hanging, struggling to get more people coming through their doors. Only to be discouraged by the fact that University is ripped up and under construction for a total of three or four years. It’s been rough for most of the small businesses along University. Both of My favorite food spots have closed down, for good.
So, when a friend asked Me to take some pictures of food for Her favorite restaurant, I was happy to jump on it. Clearly, I’ve taken pictures of food before, but not food cooked by someone else. So it was a rather fun experiment for Me. I’ve long been a fan of Vietnamese food. To have so many dishes placed on a table before Me, one after another, round after round, was a wonderful experience. The cooking at Tay Ho is handled by a father and son duo, with other family members filling in where they’re needed. There was no money involved on this endeavor, the food was the payment. I didn’t set up any lights, just placed things on a table about 5 feet from the solitary window in a back room of the restaurant and started taking pictures of everything that came before Me. It’s obvious why so many people in frogtown flock to this place. The people in the kitchen here, care about the food they prepare and it shows. Next time I want a large bowl of soup, I know where I’m going!
Marinated Pork with Peas
This is a particularly versatile flavor combination. Over the years, I have used it on cuts of pork from ribs, to tenderloin. I have also used it for marinating whole chickens prior to smoking them, as well as chicken stir fries and with veggie and shrimp dishes. It’s always a hit! The bitter punch of the time tested ginger/lemongrass match up, balanced by savory, salty and sweet elements, creates a lovely experience which is sure to satisfy the taste buds of all who consume it. Having done no research, I just assume this marinade was devised in China. It is pretty close to many common ‘bbq’ and ‘Sweet and Sour’ pork recipes found in south-east asia. I’m listing it as a stir-fry recipe, but the marinade is suited to nearly any cooking method one may choose. Eat this recipe with rice, or try serving it over a baked potato! Serves 4.
Supplies Needed: Large Ziplock bag or Bowl for marinating, Wok or Large Fry Pan, Knife and Cutting Board
Ingredients:
1.5 pounds of pork tenderloin, or de-boned chops, sliced into thin strips
1 large onion, chopped to Your liking
Half a bag or more of frozen sugar snap peas
3 tbsp of fresh ginger root, minced
2 tbsp of garlic, minced
6 inches or so of fresh lemongrass, at least half an inch thick, cut into 2 or 3 pieces
4 tbsp of cooking sherry
2-3 tbsp of soy sauce
1-2 tbsp ketchup
2 tbsp of sugar
1 tbsp mild chili pepper powder
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Prep and Cooking:
Mix all but the peas and onion together in a resealable bag, or large mixing bowl. Let it sit for at least 20 minutes, allowing it to marinate over night will deliver the best flavor. Heat Your pan on high and put ALL the ingredients in. Stir fry until the meat and onion are cooked and the liquids thicken up into a sauce. Remove from heat, discard the lemongrass chunks and serve.
Notes:
Don’t worry if You can’t get high enough heat to thicken the sauce in the time it takes for the other ingredients to cook. Just soak it up with some rice or bread, or remove everything else from the pan and cook the sauce til it’s thickened then mix everything back together.
Hot chili sauce is a great replacement for ketchup in this recipe too.
More Than Enough!?!?
I have been collecting blades of many varieties for years now. Mostly, they all sit packed away in storage, doing nothing in the dark. Occasionally they need to be cleaned off and oiled up, to help prevent corrosion, which is what I did today.. It’s been a while since I pulled out this many swords at once, so naturally I had to take some pictures!
Don’t ask Me why I have so many blades. Our species went several millenia relying primarily on the sword, spear and bow to survive in this world. Most of the time these tools were passed down through several generations of families, tribes, or, in many cases, to the foes who vanquished the original owners. A well cared for blade can last for thousands of years.. Admittedly however, some of mine probably won’t last more than a hundred years. Those being the ‘claymore’ and broad sword near the middle of the above picture. While most of My Japanese style swords are made of high’ish quality materials, those two swords are made of stainless and 440 grade steels respectively. Which is certainly the reason they costed Me less than half the price of My cheapest katana.
Many people will say that such items are simply not needed in todays world, or that no one needs to own something designed solely for destroying flesh and bone. Those people have probably never held a sword! There is an indescribable feeling that one can become consumed with, simply by holding such a tool in Your hands. Feeling the weight of it and observing the craftsmanship conjures a primal feeling that I’ve only encountered by two other meens in this world. Firslty, being chased by an aggressive animal, such as a dog.. Yes, I am comparing posession of large bladed weaponry to that which is most encountered now a days by mail carriers! The knowledge that if You don’t escape very rapidly, Your life may very well be over..!! The other thing that I’ve found delivers this ‘primal’ feeling is eating meat off the bone. The hunter/gatherers that spawned our varied cultures would know exactly what I’m talkig about! They had to wander out, stalk and slay the beasts that we now raise in warehouses. Unlike You, or I, who just wander to a store and hand over some worthless paper or plastic in exchange for said meat, Our ancestors’ lives were almost entirely consumed by creating, maintaining and using the tools needed to stay alive. Modern hunters will readily relay stories of heartbreak over that deer they didn’t kill. Maybe it would’ve fed their children for month or two! They will also tell You of the heartwarmng joy They experience when they do bag that buck. The elation felt by all humans, before a hundred or so Years ago. The notion that: I GET TO CONTINUE TO EXIST!
If the ancients took up the attitude of Our politicians and the anti-weapon movement, We quite simply, would not exist. They would have starved to extinction in a cave, knowing that if they stepped outside, the lions, tigers and bears would have done as they pleased with them. So, when, not if, but when the social bonds that hold us together, buckle and break and You’ve got no tools to defend Your family, or to bring home food, there is a wild beast down the street, carrying a gun and You may very well become their prey. It’s called natural selection! By forgetting the lessons of our ancestors, casting away the methods used to get our species to this point and blindly proclaiming that tools such as the sword, are somehow a bain on our society. We have lost the sustainable life style that put us here. I understand this, hunters understand this, traditional farmers do too, as do the gansters and thugs that live across the street
Most of us hope that such a time never comes, but if it does, I still don’t have enough armaments to supply My family, friends and neighbors.. Do You? If You do, do You have the skills and knowledge to utilise the tools You have? Here is an even scary’er question for You: Who in Your area does and are they on ‘Your side’? If the peace loving, intelligent people are also the un-armed, lacking the knowledge of stalking prey, where to dig wells and the splendor of crop rotation, what kind of future are We gonna have really? Damn, I need to buy more swords. Maybe I should take a cue from those gangsters and start buying guns..??
Andor’s Grilled Chicken
Another of My easy and fast grilling recipes! Works just as well with Chicken thighs, drumsticks, breasts, or lower quarters… A solid staple in My non-winter cooking arsenal. Serve it up with things like: buttered greens and corn bread, or fries and green beans, even a veggie quesadilla.. Serves 3-6 people.
Supplies Needed: A Grill and a Baking Sheet for seasoning and transport.
Ingredients:
6 Chicken Thighs
3 tbsp of a Mild Chili Pepper Powder
2 tbsp of Garlic Powder
2 tbsp of dried Thyme Leaves
1 tbsp of dried Terragon flakes
1 tsp of Rosemary Powder OR 8 to 12 leaves – chopped into small pieces
1 tsp of Ground Cumin
1 tsp of Salt
1 or more cups of BBQ Sauce
freshly ground Pepper to taste.
Prep and Cooking:
Spread Everything except the BBQ Sauce evenly over all sides of the Chicken.
Grill, covered, under INDIRECT HEAT for 20-30 minutes, flipping the Chicken at the half way point. Once the meat is almost fully cooked, spread BBQ Sauce on liberally, grill 5 more minutes. Flip the Chicken over and sauce the other side, grill, covered, for another couple minutes until the sauce has thickened up. Making sure You’ve fully cooked the Chicken, remove from the grill and serve.
Notes: Grilling times will vary…
I prefer Ken Davis brand BBQ Sauce, from here in Minnesota! It matches up well with My spice combinations.. My alternate is Sweet Baby Ray’s brand, which I beleive is from Illinois. Both tout the northern Midwest, thick, tomato base style.
Bacon, Spinach and Shrimp
I’ve been told, several times, that this is the best thing I have ever cooked.. . A couple of weeks ago, I had some friends over for some bbq chicken and fried rice. One of which hit Me up the next day, thanking Me for serving some “yummy stuff,” which inspired Her to want to make “some bomb @$# food, like that bacon, shrimp, spinach thing You use to do.” So here We are, one of an endless stream of recipes that I had completely forgotten. Having made something like it twice in the time since this conversation, I find Myself wondering how such a recipe could have fallen out of the regular rotation. Why am I not eating this all the time!?
This is in fact, pretty much the same flavor arrangement as ‘Manated Pork with Peas,’ which can be found by scrolling down through this blog. Less the pork and onion, adding bacon, spinach and shrimp! I told You it’s versatile! Although, many ingredient changes, also require a change in cooking method.. I must also point out, that I never measure when seasoning things. To Me, cooking something slightly different, every time You cook it, is a huge part of the joy and fun in that which We call food. Thus, all quantities listed in My recipes are guesstimations, but should provide a solid starting point.. Please do leave some commentary should You give this one a try.
Supplies Needed: A wok or large fry pan, cutting board and knife/you can get by with just a mincer, also a small sauce pan, like You would boil a single pack of ramen in…
Ingredients:
1 pound of shrimps, steamed or boiled lightly
one third of a pound of bacon, sliced or chopped however You like
a bag of spinach, at least enough to make salad for 4 people
Half a bag of frozen sugar snap peas, thawed
4 tbsp of fresh ginger root, minced
2 tbsp of garlic, minced
6 inches or so of fresh lemongrass, at least half an inch thick, cut into 2 or 3 pieces
1/4 cup of cooking sherry
1-2 tbsp of soy sauce
2-3 tbsp of ketcup(optional, but it adds a lot)
1 or so tbsp of sugar, just enough to take the edge off the sour/bitter ingrdients
1 tsp mild chili pepper powder
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Prep and Cooking:
Over low to medium heat, mix all but the peas, bacon, spinach and shrimp in the small sauce pot, stirring as often as possible, until it has thickened into a nice sauce. Remove from heat, toss the chunks of lemongrass and keep stirring until You are ready to add it to the rest of the ingredients. At the same time You begin cooking the sauce, fry the bacon on medium heat in a wok or sizable skillet, remove from the pan once cooked to Your liking. Then, toss the sugar snap peas and a fist-full of spinach into the bacon grease, stirring constantly, adding the spinach one fist-full at a time. Keep it up until You’ve used about three quarters of the spinach and remove from the pan. This should only take 30 seconds to a minute. Turn the burner to high heat and toss the shrimps into the remaining bacon grease, fry for 20 to 30 seconds, depending on size. Remove from the pan and turn off the burner, add the bacon and cooked veggies back into the pan, mixing vigorously. Now You can also add the sauce and remaining spinach, or plate the food and distribute them between each serving. Time to eat!
Notes:
The key to this dish is to privide spinach, in three textures, fully cooked, partially cooked and raw. Hence the process of adding it a bit at a time. Hoisin sauce was not part of the origianl recipe, srirachi works quite well as a replacement. I almost always make this with a nice spicy kick!
You can also mince the lemongrass, but it MUST be broken down very finely. You can also buy lemongrass in frozen, pre-minced form as well as puree’d in a tube. I would use 2 or so tablespons of such options instead of a fresh stalk.
To cook this all in one pan, start by frying the bacon and shrimp, as described above. Remove them and start making the sauce. Once it’s almost thickened up, add the peas and commense the spinach application process. Mix everything back into the pan and You are done.. You’ll have to have thawed the peas for this method, or the sauce will be runny, which is fine by Me. This is the lazy method, the flavors become more of a blur, but it’s still damn good.
July 9, 2013 ***UPDATE ***
Last night I made a variation of this recipe with bak choi instead of peas and spinach. It was delicious. I made the sauce in one pan and stir fried everything else in another, while the sauce thickened. The bak choi stems were a really nice texture and the light flavor helped temper the powerful chunky sauce. I simply fried them in the bacon grease and added the green, leafy parts and some green onions once the stems were just starting to soften. A truely great dinner.
Andor’s Version of Pad Thai
I use to cook this a ton, but it’s been a while. Since Ryan moved to California I’ve had no requests for it! It’s not a traditional Pad Thai since I don’t use Tamarind and such. My cooking methods may or may not vary from traditional versions. Any Meat works, I tend to use Chicken, or Shrimp when I can afford it. I tried to list alternate items that I use as well. Serves 4 to 6.
Supplies Needed:
A wok or high sided frying pan, a cereal bowl for mixing and a large bowl to soak the noodles. Knife and cutting board.
Ingredients:
1 package or 1.5 to 2.5 lbs – of Meat finely chopped to 1/4th of an inch thick or less
1 – 14 or 16oz package of Rice Noodles
1 cup – Sprouts OR a large Onion(chopped to sprout size)
1/3rd lb. – Bacon(sliced into 1/3rd to 1/2 inch pieces)
3 – Eggs
1/4 cup – crushed Peanuts
1/4 cup – Fish Sauce
1/4 cup – Sugar
2 tblsp – Rice Vinegar
1 tblsp – Soy Sauce
Half a Lemon
4 – large cloves of Garlic, diced
1 tblsp – Chili Pepper Powder for flavor not heat(chili powder blends work ok too)
1 tblsp – crushed Cayenne or Spicy Pepper
Black Pepper to taste.
Prep and Cooking:
First, soak the noodles in warm water. I use HOT water from the kitchen sink. It should take 20-30 minutes of soaking to get the noodles to the right texture. You don’t want them fully cooked, just a bit under done, since they’ll get finished in the frying pan. If You’ve never prepared Rice Noodles before, I’d suggest You ask someone who has about the right texture, or You can be like Me and simply use trial and error! It’s EXTREMELY EASY to overdo these noodles. Then they get soggy and turn to a ricey paste…
While that’s soaking, Mix the Fish Sauce, Rice Vinegar and Sugar in a bowl. If You are NOT using fresh lemon/lime, add 2 tblsp of the bottled juice to the mixture and don’t add more when it’s mentioned later in the recipe. Let the mixture sit for now, You’ll have to stir it again before You use it…
Next, fry the Bacon over medium heat til it’s almost done. If You hate bacon grease, drain the extra out of the pan at this time, I tend to leave it. Turn the burner to medium high or high heat. Add Meat, Soy Sauce, 1 spoonful of the Fish Sauce mixture and 1/4th of the Garlic. If using regular Onions, add them once the Meat is half cooked. Cook til the Meat is done and remove it all from the pan. Throw the rest of the Garlic and the Under Cooked Rice Noodles in the pan with the Fish Sauce Mixture and everything else but the Eggs. Stir fry until the liquid is soaked into the noodles. Reduce heat to medium or medium high. Push off to one side of the pan, scramble the Eggs, add Sprouts, put Meat and Bacon back in, squeeze in the Lemon for all the juice it’ll give You. Mix it all up and You’re done!
Hope You Enjoy!
Notes: If You opt not to use bacon, You should use 2-3 tblsp of cooking oil instead. — If the noodles don’t get fully cooked and there’s no liquid left in the bottom of the pan, add water while it’s still frying. One spoonful at a time or You may turn it into mush! – Medium heat is for those who move slow or don’t keep the things in the pan moving. High heat is only for those who can keep whatever is in the pan in nearly constant motion! The heat will affect the taste a bit, since the Sugar will caramelize differently.
Things I’ve also used in this dish: Shredded or finely chopped Carrots, Sugar Snap Peas, Snow Peas, and Green Onions. Obviously You should experiment with Your own favorite things! Please let Me know if something You try works wonderfully!!
Beef Fajitas
A staple in Mexican-American cooking! This Fajita makes for one tasty meal. Despite first appearances, it’s very easy to prepare as well! Traditionally served with Sour Cream and Avocados. Can be made in as little as 45 minutes. Serves 4-6 people.
Supplies Needed:
A Frying Pan or Skillet, Large Mixing Bowl, Knife and Cutting Board.
Ingredients:
1 and a half pounds of Beef Skirt Steak(or another tender Steak) – cut into strips
1 Bell Pepper – de-seeded and sliced into strips
3 Garlic Cloves – minced
the juice of half a Lime
1 tsp of Chipotle or Mild Chili Pepper Powder
1/2 tsp of Paprika
1/2 tsp of Ground Cumin
2 tblsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to Your own taste
12 Flour Tortillas
and possibly a little Cooking Oil
Pico de Gallo Salsa Ingredients:
6-8 ripe Tomatoes – diced
3 Scallions – diced
4-6 Radishes – diced
1 or 2 Serrano or Jalapeno Peppers – de-seeded and minced
3 or 4 tblsp of fresh Cilantro – diced
adding Cumin, Salt, and Pepper to Your liking
Prep and Cooking:
Combine the Beef, Garlic, Lime Juice, Chili/Chilipotle Powder, Paprika, Cumin, and Olive Oil in a Mixing Bowl. Salt and Pepper to Taste. MIX WELL. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes. As with most meat marinades, covered in the fridge overnight is best.
To make the Pico de Gallo Salsa, put the diced Tomatoes in a bowl with the Scallions, Serrano/Jalapeno, Radishes, and Cilantro. Using Salt, Pepper, and Cumin to Your liking. Set the Salsa aside for now.
Heat the Tortillas in a LIGHTLY Oiled non-stick fry pan, one or 2 at a time. Covering with foil as You go to keep them warm and pliable.
Stir fry the Bell Pepper strips til done, then set aside.
Stir fry the Beef and marinade with a bit of cooking oil until the meat is browned and cooked through.
At this time You can add everything together on plates to serve, OR just put it all out on a table so everyone can ‘build their own’ fajitas…
NOTES:
If using Avocados, they are to be pitted, sliced and then tossed in Lime Juice(good use for the other half of the Lime not called for in this recipe, use 1-2 Avocados).
Onions also work well! I’d do them with the Bell Peppers..
Some people just put Tortillas in the micro-wave… One at a time, or they’ll stick to each other. High heat for 10-30 seconds, depending on Your microwave… This method may also make them a little tough around the edges if You over do it.
Mom’s Fried Green Beans
Based on the deep-fried green beans found in many Chinese restaurants, My Mom devised Her own version that’s easier to make at home. Which, since it’s not deep-fried, is a much healthier proposition as well. These beans are simply delicious! I can eat an entire batch of them as a meal!
Supplies Needed: A Large, high sided, nonstick(or well seasoned) Fry Pan that has a close fitting cover.
Ingredients:
2 lbs of fresh Green Beans – ends trimmed and washed
1/4 cup of thick Teriyaki Sauce OR Hoisin Sauce
4 large Cloves of Garlic – minced
1 tblsp of Lemon Pepper
2 tblsp Peanut/Canola/Veggie Oil
half a cup or so of Water
Salt and Pepper to taste.
Prep and Cooking:
On high heat, put the clean Beans, a bit of the Oil, and the Water in a Pan(You may need to add more Water depending on the size of the Beans). Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-high heat until the beans are ‘al dente.’ Uncover, pour off any extra water and turn to high heat. Add the Garlic and Teriyaki Sauce, with Salt and Pepper to Your liking. Stir Fry it to mix the Sauce around. Continue cooking, tossing frequently, until the Sauce caramelizes and the Beans begin to brown. Serve immediately.
Cajun Spiced Chicken Stir-Fry
Many people tend to think stir-frying is just an asian thing. This, however, is simply not true. This particular recipe is My most recent stir-fry developement! A very basic flavor combination that goes well with most vegetables, pictured here with carrots, onions and broccoli, served on toasted whole grain bread. Albeit untried, I do beleive this would go well with pork or beef, amongst other things. Paired with rice, bread, or noodles, this recipe serves 2 ravenous teenagers, or 4 people.
Supplies Needed: A Wok or large, high sided Fry Pan, Knife and Cutting Board, Large Bowl, or Sealing Bag for marinating.
Ingredients:
1.5 lbs. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs, sliced a quarter inch thick or thinner
2 Large Carrots, chopped into thin pieces
1 Onion, Chopped up too..
Half of a Bag of Frozen Chopped Broccoli, thawed
4 Tbsp – Cooking Sherry
2 Tbsp – Worcestershire Sauce
2 or 3 Tbsp – Cajun Spice Blend
1 Tbsp – Minced Garlic(2 large cloves)
2 or 3 Tbsp – Pure Honey
Salt and Pepper to taste
Bacon Grease or Cookig Oil as needed
Prep and Cooking:
Mix the sherry, worcestershire, half the cajun spice and half a tablespoon or so of salt into a large zip-lock bag and drop the chopped up Chicken into it. Mix that up and let it marinate for 20+ minutes. Now is a good time to chop Your vegetables! Heat Your wok at medium-high heat, grease the pan and start stir-fying the chopped carrots with half the garlic, after the carrots start to soften a little, add the onion and broccoli, continue frying until the ingredients are cooked to Your liking. Remove them from the pan and set aside. Add the chicken and all the contents of the marinade to the fry pan, also adding the rest of the garlic and any additional salt and pepper You want. Turn Your burner to high heat and stir-fry until the chicken is cooked through and the liquids start thickening, then add the last tablespoon of the cajun spice, pour the veggies back into the pan, drizzle the honey over the top, turn off Your burner and mix it all together. Plate and serve!
Note: The amount of sherry listed is for the lower end stuff found in most big box grocery stores here in North America. If using a quality sherry from a winery or liquor store, try using half the amount stated.
Lavender Lace Mini Roses
I got this little shrub last year. Having read it grows to only 8 to 12 inches in height and bearing ‘nickel sized’ flowers. So far, it’s grown to about 18 inches and the beautiful blooms are between one and one and a half inches wide. Certainly smaller than most rose varieties.. It may not be exactly what I was Looking for, but it’s conjuring new blooms constantly, with 3 to 10 blossoming at a time. What a lovely little plant!
Honey Garlic Chicken
A very simple classic! Highly adaptable to suit almost any pallet. Takes about an hour and a half for prep and cooking. Often garnished with Chives or Parsley and served with a Spinach Salad or Mashed Potatoes and Green Peas. Serves 2-3.
Cooking Supplies Needed: Roasting Pan, or a large baking sheet with sides at least half an inch tall. Mincer Or Knife and Cutting Board.
Ingredients:
12 or so Chicken drumsticks or 6-8 thighs, 6 large cloves of Garlic – minced, 8 tblsp Honey, half a tblsp of Rosemary(5-10 needles/leaves) – minced, Salt to taste.
Prep and Cooking:
Mix the Rosemary and Garlic and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, Salt the Chicken to Your liking and rub the Garlic and Rosemary mixture all over it. Let it sit for another 15-30 minutes(in the fridge if it’s really hot).
Lay the Chicken out in a Roasting Pan big enough to allow all the Chicken to lay flat. Also making sure the Garlic is spread out on top. Roast at 400 degrees in the oven for about 20 minutes. Once that’s done, pull the pan out and drain any excess liquids, NOT the Garlic tho! Pour the Honey over the Chicken, coating as evenly as possible. Roast for another 20 minutes, OR until the Chicken is a nice crisp glossy brown. Plate and serve.
Notes:
You may require more Honey, don’t feel bad, just do it! Works very well with the following: pepper, chives, parsley, lemon pepper, chili powder, cajun spice, fresh ginger, or freshly shaved lemon/lime/orange peel, aka zest..
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