Cooking Recipes and Food Discussion

[BearBio]

With gas and food prices going through the roof ("But inflation is down"......) and fixed incomes, we've been trying to maximize meals. This week, we had venison & bison fajitas, followed bean tostadas, and tonight chimichangas (note the use of leftovers?). Tomorrow will be home-made tamales (vegan for my niece!) Saved 3-4 tortillas for chilaquiles (which is a favorite of my wife!) Really easy, just layer sauce, cheese, onions, meat (can be chorizo, chicken, beef, pork, or whatever), and tortillas. Top with an egg (optional). This batch had no meat and I sprinkled a little dried green onion on top. Heat in microwave about 3 minutes on high (so cheese melts!)

Used home-canned sauce (enchilada, stewed tomatoes, & a couple soup spoons of a chipotle hot sauce).

 

[Hilldweller]

I also do much the same after parboiling chicken. I leave out the veggies, so they are crisper when I finish up the meal and I store the stock in flat Tupperware. I also save the skins (I have a vacuum sealer) to make "cracklins" as a garnish.

Good idea ! I’ve been tossing the skin to avoid the salt. (I’ll salt as needed later)

I’m gonna try that next time.

Oh, and I love our vacuum sealer. For delicate things like cracklings that I don’t want to crush I use the “ball jar” attachment. Then I can leave them on the counter so I don’t forget ‘em.

 

[BearBio]

Good idea ! I’ve been tossing the skin to avoid the salt. (I’ll salt as needed later)

I’m gonna try that next time.

Oh, and I love our vacuum sealer. For delicate things like cracklings that I don’t want to crush I use the “ball jar” attachment. Then I can leave them on the counter so I don’t forget ‘em.

I freeze the skins before I fry them. Then fry them when I need them. LOVE the vacuum sealer. I'll thaw meat or poultry, season, vacuum seal and refrigerate for a day or two.

 

[Hilldweller]

I freeze the skins before I fry them. Then fry them when I need them. LOVE the vacuum sealer. I'll thaw meat or poultry, season, vacuum seal and refrigerate for a day or two.

Nice tip!

 

[BearBio]

Chile Colorado tonight! Chunks of tri-tip, simmered all day with onions and poblano peppers in a thick (semi-)spicy red sauce!

 

[Hilldweller]

Yea babe !
We might have to have a cook-off ! I make a pretty mean Chili Colorado as well !

Combo of dried and fresh peppers (Poblano, Anaheim, etc) (dried ones are soaked and use it all in the sauce) & a 3 lb chuck roast. It’s definitely an all day’er.

‘Course it’s always better on subsequent days. Easy meals from the freezer!

 

[BearBio]

Yea babe !
We might have to have a cook-off ! I make a pretty mean Chili Colorado as well !

Combo of dried and fresh peppers (Poblano, Anaheim, etc) (dried ones are soaked and use it all in the sauce) & a 3 lb chuck roast. It’s definitely an all day’er.

‘Course it’s always better on subsequent days. Easy meals from the freezer!

When and where, Pilgrim?

Mine is basically Guallilo, poblano, Chile Negro & Chipotle peppers. Misc. Spices.

My friend Travis from the "Rez" called about 3:30 and said he was stopping by "in a couple of hours" ( "Indian Time"!!) on his way to Vancouver, B.C. for his daughter's B'Day party. Got here with "Jr." about 8:30 and they saved us the trouble of keeping the leftovers. We also killed the first watermelon of the season! Stayed over=having sausages and English muffins for breakfast and sending them on their way with full bellies and a little extra gas money!

 

[VancMike]

Don't need to know how to make Chile Colorado...just need to know who does....

 

[BearBio]

Patty melts tonite with some of that delicious seeded rye bread from Heirloom Bakery in East Wenatchee (Can I say that, Alan??)

Tree rats or squirrels raided some of our blackberries. I'm gonna make some "safe" rat poison: Peanut butter, oats,peanuts & baking soda. Mix well, form balls and roll in sesame seeds. Place up high! Won't hurt dogs (makes them throw up a little) or birds. Baking powder forms CO2 in the rat's stomach and they don't have the ability to throw up! Shouldn't harm the song birds (I don't really care about the starlings!) as they can vomit!

 

[VancMike]

(rats) don't have the ability to throw up!

I did not know that...

 

[BearBio]

(rats) don't have the ability to throw up!

I did not know that...

Why would you?? I only learned it in a mammalogy class in grad school= just one of those weird discussions while sitting in a bar between classes with my prof. You know: "Who would win between a crocodile and a bull gorilla?"!

 

[VancMike]

And I will use that little bit of knowledge to secure a free drink.....

 

[CoyoteHunter]

There are several Utube videos of using Baking soda mixed with various products for getting them rats, also a muffin mix will work.

 

[Hilldweller]

Patty melts tonite with some of that delicious seeded rye bread from Heirloom Bakery in East Wenatchee (Can I say that, Alan??)

Tree rats or squirrels raided some of our blackberries. I'm gonna make some "safe" rat poison: Peanut butter, oats,peanuts & baking soda. Mix well, form balls and roll in sesame seeds. Place up high! Won't hurt dogs (makes them throw up a little) or birds. Baking powder forms CO2 in the rat's stomach and they don't have the ability to throw up! Shouldn't harm the song birds (I don't really care about the starlings!) as they can vomit!

The renowned lawyer “Rat Batard” ** was seen in court yesterday afternoon filing both a restraining order and a class action suit against you. Keep an eye out for a process server knocking on your door soon……..

**Cant use bad language but you get the drift….

 

[BearBio]

And I will use that little bit of knowledge to secure a free drink.....

I vote for the bull gorilla!!

 

[BearBio]

Tonight for your dining pleasure: Baked maple-brown sugar glazed Columbia River Chinook salmon (courtesy of Mrs. Van Stralen) (I am having ahi tuna crusted with sesame seeds, since I don't care for salmon), accompanied with warm apple salad, and a sesame kohl slau!

Edit: Herb roasted potatoes from our garden!

 

[Sam Case]

My recipe for cold-smoking fish (salmon, tuna, halibut)):

A "dry" rub from 1 part sea salt (non-iodized) and 2 parts brown sugar or "raw" sugar and just enough water to make a paste. Liberal coat both parts and refrigerate overnight. Remove and pat dry. Let cure (to form a "crust") for at least 2 hours. I cold smoke using Traeger's pellets (hickory for salmon and alder or mesquite for tuna and halibut; cherry for all three). Get pellets started in a smoker tube (see pic below. I use a couple of 12"). I use two or three. I also use a BBQ. Smoke 2-3-4 hours until a crust forms. I finish by 1/2 hour or so in the oven @ 350 F.

Try a small batch first. You may want to reduce the amount of salt.

View attachment 51

Halibut doesnt get to dry? Lots of fish-halibut, salmon and I am going on a tuna trip on Saturday.

 

[VancMike]

Sad about not relishing salmon, but oh well.

I've made a study. "Chinook" salmon exist in the Columbia River for its entirety, including Canada, and then south through Oregon and California. "King" salmon start at about Chehalis/Centralia on the west side and extend up into Canada and Alaska.

Same fish, of course. Just depends.....

 

[BearBio]

Sad about not relishing salmon, but oh well.

I've made a study. "Chinook" salmon exist in the Columbia River for its entirety, including Canada, and then south through Oregon and California. "King" salmon start at about Chehalis/Centralia on the west side and extend up into Canada and Alaska.

Same fish, of course. Just depends.....

To-MAY-to, to-MAH-to!!!! One reason for using scientific nomenclature. Do you know how many flowers worldwide are called "sunflowers"? Or how many birds are called "blue" birds???? I don't!!

"Oncorhynchus tshawytscha" to me as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with US FWS.

Sorry! Just got a report from cardiology and my aortic valve is fine, so I'm feeling my oats this AM!!

 

[VancMike]

Good for you and your heart. Of course, "eating Pacific salmon provides a rich supply of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, high-quality protein, potassium, and vitamins B12 and D. This combination helps lower blood pressure, reduce chronic inflammation, support brain function, and maintain muscle mass..." (Cleveland Clinic).
But you already knew that.

 

[BearBio]

Good for you and your heart. Of course, "eating Pacific salmon provides a rich supply of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, high-quality protein, potassium, and vitamins B12 and D. This combination helps lower blood pressure, reduce chronic inflammation, support brain function, and maintain muscle mass..." (Cleveland Clinic).
But you already knew that.

Oh, I smoke my salmon and make a dynamite salmon dip. Smoke tuna, etc. I do have to admit I snuck a couple of bites of hers I cooked with maple/brown sugar glaze!