Profile

Cook Book n Bead

Just a home cook trying to learn more about good food and cooking it.

  • Location: Layton, Utah
  • Favorite foods: Pizza, Pasta, Ice Cream, Tex-Mex, Chinese, Salty snacks, etc etc, etc. and that is why I need to exercise more.

Nutrition Counts - where to find?

@magturd - Thanks! I forgot about the USDA, d'oh! I will check out your other suggestions also.

Favorite Kitchen/Food Smell...

Sauteing (sp?) onions, roasting chicken, baking cake or brownies, fresh cut peaches, baked bread, fresh salsa, and a nice roast slow cooking in the oven.

Chicken Cordon Bleu-

I make mine somewhat bland and boring due to my SO chronic disease. but these might help

1) link to a thread in Talk: http://www.seriouseats.com/talk/2010/02/chicken-cordon-bleu-1.html?ref=search

2) link to a recipe that the folks here did in the Cook the Book segment http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/08/chicken-cordon-bleu-recipe.html?ref=search

And I would totally sub some proscuitto for the ham for a different flavor. good luck

Ask a Critic - Link not working

Yes - working fine. Thanks!

Your Experience of Time While Cooking

@Lorenzo - :) LOL! My kitchen time is great and wonderful unless nasty things like dishes, curious dogs, or hungry roomies intercede on my time. Otherwise my time goes way too fast but when done I've been cooking forever. Weird space time continuem (sp?) happening in my home.

What's with ice water after eating ice cream?

I also love ice water after ice cream. But I often want a glass of really cold milk too while/after eating ice cream.

Can you share a easy and quick dinner recipe?

@IndyGal - love How to Cook Without a Book and is a great reference when I'm stumped for dinner ideas. Didn't realize she had Meatless Meals version - will have to get that one. I also second the grilled cheese & salad ideas. Pick up a rotisserie chicken at your local grocery store and you have chicken for multiple meal options - tacos, salads, wraps, pasta, etc.

Anyone have any food or cooking debates/arguments lately?

Not cooking, but a debate about cleaning crops up in our home. Nice, expensive knives, non-stick pans, & wooden spoons are to be hand washed. Yes I know it takes more time and it does not make sense to you but it does to me and as I am the cook in the house - please do not stick my $80.00 chef knife in the dishwasher.

Know of any baking contests?

I'd suggest checking out products websites'. For example - King Arthur Flour, Pillsbury, C&H Sugar, etc they often have contests for recipes using their ingredients. Also the people over at Taste of Home are always looking for submissions for their magazine and website. Good luck on the job search & the baking front!

Raw avocado

I've heard you can place it in a paper bag overnight on the counter and that should speed the ripening process.

Vegetarian: Hearty Winter Minestrone with Chili Oil, Lemon Zest and Parmesan

I agree and try every Saturday to catch some shows on PBS from Jacques and Julia to Lidia or even Rick Bayless. I miss informative food TV, it has been taken over by food entertainment TV. Thanks for the recipe also - hope to add it to this weekends menu.

Bake the Book: Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook

Grandma's chocolate "wacky cake"

Deli Meat alternative recipies

I frequently use leftover deli meats in Ham Fried Rice (or whatever other meat I have.) And I often will make a bechamel sauce, add some diced ham or turkey, some cheese and pour over noodles. For those who are trying to get more veggies add some broccoli, spinach, or what ever tickles the taste buds. Enjoy1

Food Humor On Sitcoms

Love Raising Hope! Also love food humor in sitcoms just can remember any good examples right now.

Why did I even bother asking?

I say bring the veggie tray with the dip and an extra dish. I always tell my family that I wanted to try a new recipe/idea I saw online and needed some tasters willing to give feedback. How can your family deny a request for some help, mine can't. I know you mentioned that they avoid the veggie tray but the fact that the hostess ask specifically for yours because it was well done she may be trying to get the guests to eat more healthy options using small steps - or I could just be optimistic ;-)

Indian cuisine novice - suggestions please

Thank you all for your suggestions - I will try them all. I feel a little more confident to put my toe in the water of Indian cuisine.

I was too lazy

......to pull some chicken tortilla soup out of the freezer for lunch and had to resort to a hotdog & bag of chips for lunch. Please pass the rum.

Kitchen Tricks: Squeeze Bottles with Built-in Recipes

Excellent idea! some tricks I use include using a mason/Ball jar for mixing marinades, using a squeeze bottle for drizzling melted chocolate or other sauces on desserts, using my microplane (sp?) for garlic and using a small spatula to mix condiments etc - always works better than a spoon or whisk for honey mustard, fry sauce, aioli, etc.

Cook the Book: 'Guy Fieri Food'

Toss up between my chicken tortilla soup or chicken cordon bleu with honey mustard cream sauce.

Goodbye, Dumpling

I was very sad to hear of the passing of Dumpling. Thank you for sharing his wonderful character with us over the last year or so. I will miss your pictures & stories of him. My heart and thoughts are with you, your wife, and the rest of the serious eats team,

Shopping list...do you stick to it ???

I stick to the list in that I get everything on it but add things as the mood strikes and it falls within the budget amount.

PBS "Create" Channel - new or just recent in my area?

I also recently found this station after the switch to digital and an upgrade to a new TV. Here in Utah it broadcasts on 11-3. I enjoy it a lot, especially since I do not subscribe to any cable channels. (no FN, cooking, TLC, HGTV for me)


Queso Dip

I suggest starting with Kenji's aweseom cheese sauce and adding some cooked and drained chorizo, sauteed onions, bell peppers, jalepeno etc.

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/09/cheese-sauce-for-cheese-fries-and-nachos.html

A pound of ground beef. What would you make?

Lettuce cups, Cheap Man's stroganoff (what we call it in our house) or I second kmgagne's idea of Taco Salad

Cook the Book: 'A Bird in the Oven and Then Some'

rinse and dry the bird, remove giblets, etc
generously salt & pepper (kosher & freshly ground)
2-3 T butter under skin of breast
no trussing (lazy)
1/2 onion & 1/2 lemon placed in cavities
placed in oval dutch oven
400 deg oven for an hour

delicious and simple. But looking for some new ideas - this cook the book series will definately be bookmarked. Thanks!

Nutrition Counts - where to find?

Due to a recent medical diagnosis I find myself needing to drastically limit my carb intake. I have begun with trying to eliminate some of the empty carbs found in sodas, pre-made/processed food. But I would like to eliminate/reduce more in my food I make at home. Do you have any suggestions for a reputable website for nutrition info? I'm finding it hard to locate a place that shows me the carbs in a cup of rice, veggies, etc. I find lots showing the nutritional info of fully prepped meals at restaurants, etc. but I think I am going about the search wrong. Thanks in advance.

Ask a Critic - Link not working

I can not click through to the article from Ask a Critic re: a meal before a Nets game & the British restaurant options. Running Windows 7 & Firefox. It gives me a Page not Found (404) error. Clicked on two other stories and they work fine.

Indian cuisine novice - suggestions please

I am a complete novice when it comes to certain international cuisine offerings and I am trying to be a little more adventurous in my meals. I am hoping to explore the Indian cuisine area but was unsure of a way to test out the tastes without jumping in head first. Any suggestions for experiencing some tasty Indian cuisine for a novice at home cook?

I will warn you, I am not a fan (especially my stomach) of food that is spicy hot.

Thanks

Turkey & brining question

My employer is kind enough every year to provide each employee a turkey for the thanksgiving holiday. I cook it every year and have always had good results but I am looking for great results and with all the talk over the last few years of brining I was going to give it a try this year. But I read somewhere that one should not brine a pre-frozen turkey, that there is already a mild brine solution on the bird. What are your guys thoughts on brining a pre-frozen, commercial processed bird.

Thanks!

Suggestions Wanted - Open House/Baby Shower

I have a bit of a conundrum and knew my fellow serious eaters might have some suggestions for me. I am hosting an open house baby shower for my Sis-in-law in a few weeks. The food plan must be revised as it has turned from an intimate 20 people to a group of possibly 70+. I am looking at the number of people, food prices, and my budget and crying. I need some suggestions for lower cost/high yield food. One friend suggested pasta salad, strawberry lemonade, and cookies. Any other ideas?

Invites have already gone out with a note that light refreshments would be served so I can't not offer some nibbles.

Thanks!

Where to Eat - Jackson, MS

My brother will be attending some training at the base in Jackson, Mississippi and I know the Serious Eats community could help me/him out with some recommendations:

Likes: BBQ, variety, chicken, some seafood

Thanks!

Dutch Oven Recipes Needed

I am going camping in a couple weeks and was looking for some recipes to cook in my dutch oven but when I do a search for recipes I get ones for a LeCruset/Oven type. I need ones for a dutch oven with charcoal briquettes. Any suggestions/Ideas

Thanks