Food and Recipes while under Coronavirus quarantine #4

[anneg]

We are on holiday, a week at the coast. Today we visited our favourite local deli here and spent far too much on treaty bits. Their brownie of the day is maple pecan, so we’re having that with their clotted cream ice cream for dessert tonight . Dinner is casserole made with local sausages, veg and chestnuts. Slight experiment on my part but it smells good in the oven. Prosecco chilling for the hot tub later!

How delightful! I like maple pecan anything but have never had a maple pecan brownie. Although, maybe this is similar--I make a maple pecan shortbread dessert using the recipe below.

Maple Pecan Shortbread Squares

Real maple syrup flavors the sticky pecan topping of these delicious shortbread squares.

www.allrecipes.com

Maple Pecan Shortbread Squares

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup softened butter

1 egg

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

3 tablespoons pure maple syrup

1/2 cup chopped pecans


Directions

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Combine the flour and 1/3 cup brown sugar in a mixer. Mix in the softened butter until a dough has formed. Press into an ungreased 8x8-inch baking dish, and prick with a fork.

Bake the shortbread in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. While the shortbread is baking, beat the egg in a mixing bowl along with 1/3 cup brown sugar, maple syrup, and pecans. Pour the pecan mixture over the hot crust, and return to the oven. Continue baking until firmed, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, and immediately run a knife around the edges to prevent sticking. Cool completely, then cut into 1-inch squares to serve.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

How cooking food and gathering for feasts made us human

If you're cooking or eating a special dinner this week, you have something in common with our ancient human ancestors.

apnews.com

or just showing up to feast, you’re part of a long human history — one that’s older than our own species.

Some scientists estimate our early human cousins may have been using fire to cook their food almost 2 million years ago, long before sapiens showed up.

And a recent study found what could be the earliest known evidence of this rudimentary cooking: the leftovers of a roasted carp dinner from 780,000 years ago.

Cooking food marked more than just a lifestyle change for our ancestors. It helped fuel our evolution, give us bigger brains — and later down the line, would become the centerpiece of the feasting rituals that brought communities together...

 

[killarney rose]

Our neighbor is from upstate New York. Last year she brought us some maple syrup purchased from an Amish farmer. That tasted nothing like the artificially flavored stuff we buy here commercially. It was so good. Didn’t have the strong maple flavor to it. It was mild and delicious.

 

[IceIce9]

Our neighbor is from upstate New York. Last year she brought us some maple syrup purchased from an Amish farmer. That tasted nothing like the artificially flavored stuff we buy here commercially. It was so good. Didn’t have the strong maple flavor to it. It was mild and delicious.

We always use local maple syrup, in recipes as well as on pancakes, waffles, and oatmeal.

One of my pet peeves is when restaurants claim “maple syrup” on the menu and then serve some artificial maple flavored pancake syrup. I would expect this at IHOP but most of the more expensive restaurants where we have had breakfast serve the fake maple syrup.

Often it doesn’t help to ask the server if it is real maple syrup because they aren’t aware of the difference.

If you look at the ingredients of maple flavored syrup it is usually high fructose corn syrup, water, imitation maple flavor, and a long list of artificial ingredients.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

CDC: Don’t wash your raw Thanksgiving turkey, you could make your family sick

The CDC is reminding you ahead of Thanksgiving -- don’t wash your turkey. You grandmother was wrong to teach you this. We’re sorry.

www.clickondetroit.com

The CDC is reminding you ahead of Thanksgiving -- don’t wash your turkey. You grandmother was wrong to teach you this. We’re sorry.

Turkey and its juice can be contaminated with germs that can make you and your family sick. For example, turkey can contain Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter, and other germs.

The CDC said: “Federal food safety advice has recommended against washing turkey or chicken since 2005, but some habits are hard to break. A 2020 survey* found that 78% of participants reported washing or rinsing turkey before cooking. Old recipes and family cooking traditions may tempt you to keep this practice going, but it can make you and your family sick. Poultry juices can spread in the kitchen and contaminate other foods, utensils, and countertops.”...

 

[ilovewings]

CDC: Don’t wash your raw Thanksgiving turkey, you could make your family sick

The CDC is reminding you ahead of Thanksgiving -- don’t wash your turkey. You grandmother was wrong to teach you this. We’re sorry.

www.clickondetroit.com

The CDC is reminding you ahead of Thanksgiving -- don’t wash your turkey. You grandmother was wrong to teach you this. We’re sorry.

Turkey and its juice can be contaminated with germs that can make you and your family sick. For example, turkey can contain Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter, and other germs.

The CDC said: “Federal food safety advice has recommended against washing turkey or chicken since 2005, but some habits are hard to break. A 2020 survey* found that 78% of participants reported washing or rinsing turkey before cooking. Old recipes and family cooking traditions may tempt you to keep this practice going, but it can make you and your family sick. Poultry juices can spread in the kitchen and contaminate other foods, utensils, and countertops.”...

I'm sorry CDC I cannot imagine eating a turkey without rinsing it. We have never gotten sick and don't expect to. When I wash chicken I am very careful not to contaminate anything else but rinsing a turkey is a little different. What I do is wash down the faucet, sink etc after rinsing the turkey.

 

[anneg]

We always use local maple syrup, in recipes as well as on pancakes, waffles, and oatmeal.

One of my pet peeves is when restaurants claim “maple syrup” on the menu and then serve some artificial maple flavored pancake syrup. I would expect this at IHOP but most of the more expensive restaurants where we have had breakfast serve the fake maple syrup.

Often it doesn’t help to ask the server if it is real maple syrup because they aren’t aware of the difference.

If you look at the ingredients of maple flavored syrup it is usually high fructose corn syrup, water, imitation maple flavor, and a long list of artificial ingredients.

We get our maple syrup from Vermont, where our son lives. It's wonderful!

 

[ilovewings]

This is the reverse of our issue, squirrels keep robbing our bird feeders. We have tried squirrel-proof bird feeders and they always manage to get into them and steal all the bird food.

Squirrel Baffles Really Do Work

Squirrel Baffles must be in the right place! Not the baffle part-that's easy, feeder placement itself determines effectiveness. Seeing squirrels? You've failed!

www.thebirdhousechick.com

Don't know what kind of bird feeder you have but a baffle has protected our feeder for years. Every now and then a very smart squirrel has figured out how to get on the feeder but most don't.

 

[IceIce9]

CDC: Don’t wash your raw Thanksgiving turkey, you could make your family sick

The CDC is reminding you ahead of Thanksgiving -- don’t wash your turkey. You grandmother was wrong to teach you this. We’re sorry.

www.clickondetroit.com

The CDC is reminding you ahead of Thanksgiving -- don’t wash your turkey. You grandmother was wrong to teach you this. We’re sorry.

Turkey and its juice can be contaminated with germs that can make you and your family sick. For example, turkey can contain Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter, and other germs.

The CDC said: “Federal food safety advice has recommended against washing turkey or chicken since 2005, but some habits are hard to break. A 2020 survey* found that 78% of participants reported washing or rinsing turkey before cooking. Old recipes and family cooking traditions may tempt you to keep this practice going, but it can make you and your family sick. Poultry juices can spread in the kitchen and contaminate other foods, utensils, and countertops.”...

I always rinse my turkeys, all you have to do is wash your sink, utensils, and the counter if it has come into contact with poultry juices.

And CDC, if you want to talk about ”family cooking traditions” my grandmother and great aunts are the very people who taught me to clean up well after rinsing the turkey.

When I read the CDC warning I think, seriously there are cooks who don’t clean up after rinsing the bird?

 

[killarney rose]

I grew up watching every piece of meat that was cooked(except bacon and sausage) get washed.
on the rare occasions that I cut up chicken in the sink, all the utensils used and the sink get bleached.

 

[ilovewings]

I always rinse my turkeys, all you have to do is wash your sink, utensils, and the counter if it has come into contact with poultry juices.

And CDC, if you want to talk about ”family cooking traditions” my grandmother and great aunts are the very people who taught me to clean up well after rinsing the turkey.

When I read the CDC warning I think, seriously there are cooks who don’t clean up after rinsing the bird?

When I think of not rinsing poultry before I cook it, well, it kinda makes me sick to think about it- it is gross

 

[RusselSprout]

I'm contemplating getting an air fryer as every man and his dog seems to be raving about them at the moment. Does anyone have one and would you recommend?

 

[PayrollNerd]

I'd challenge the CDC to come test my kitchen sanitation! Our kitchen is sanitized from top to bottom in between so many foods due to allergies. Clorox wipes on everything and that is after I've already used Dawn dish liquid and hot water. Fresh cutting board, fresh utensils, fresh dish towel, etc.

I go thru a lot of paper towels and after every package of meat, the dish towel even gets tossed in the laundry. My girls used to think I was a nut for having so many. Then I taught them food safety and how to cook. Now they get it.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Let the food prep begin! Lima beans in the crockpot. 12 hours on low so they’ll be done in the morning. Once it cools and I clean up, I can do fresh green beans.

You can do 2-3 hours on high, then turn on low if you need them done sooner.

 

[elliefant]

I'm contemplating getting an air fryer as every man and his dog seems to be raving about them at the moment. Does anyone have one and would you recommend?

I’ve asked myself the same thing. So I recently bought this simple inexpensive one by InstantPot in case I didn’t get on with it

https://media.4rgos.it/i/Argos/2998361_R_Z001A?w=268&h=268&qlt=50&fmt=webp

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2998361?clickSR=slp:term:air%20fryer:5:64:1

I have made kebabs (marinated chunks of chicken, red onion, peppers, mushrooms) plus chicken Kyiv, Brussels sprouts and cubed potatoes so far. All of those items worked well. I need to experiment with timings some more as it cooks so quickly, but I am impressed with it and pleased I bought it. The one I bought is not too bulky for storage, and I like the simplicity of just one function and just 2 dials (temp and time) as there is less than can break down.

I have only tried those few foods but based on my limited usage I would recommend it for the speed, results, and because my smart meter likes it.

 

[ilovewings]

I’ve asked myself the same thing. So I recently bought this simple inexpensive one by InstantPot in case I didn’t get on with it

https://media.4rgos.it/i/Argos/2998361_R_Z001A?w=268&h=268&qlt=50&fmt=webp

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2998361?clickSR=slp:term:air%20fryer:5:64:1

I have made kebabs (marinated chunks of chicken, red onion, peppers, mushrooms) plus chicken Kyiv, Brussels sprouts and cubed potatoes so far. All of those items worked well. I need to experiment with timings some more as it cooks so quickly, but I am impressed with it and pleased I bought it. The one I bought is not too bulky for storage, and I like the simplicity of just one function and just 2 dials (temp and time) as there is less than can break down.

I have only tried those few foods but based on my limited usage I would recommend it for the speed, results, and because my smart meter likes it.

I have had no luck with the air fryer so I put it in the basement LOL----

 

[PayrollNerd]

Let the food prep begin! Lima beans in the crockpot. 12 hours on low so they’ll be done in the morning. Once it cools and I clean up, I can do fresh green beans.

You can do 2-3 hours on high, then turn on low if you need them done sooner.

Update! I did them from 9pm to 6am and they were done. I think the 12 hours I mentioned was for the bigger bag of baby Lima beans. They’re in a glass dish so easy to pop in the microwave or oven when it’s time to reheat them.

 

[IceIce9]

I have had no luck with the air fryer so I put it in the basement LOL----

I have one of the tall, roundish air fryers that I bought several years ago. It does a good job on smaller amounts of French fries, tater tots, veggie “chicken” nuggets, etc.

Often, though, I want to cook larger amounts of fries, etc. so I end up using a sheet pan in the oven.

It would be great for someone who often cooks for one.

Two of my friends have the toaster-oven style of air fryer. They both use it every day, probably several times a day. That model is more useful than the air fryer I have.

 

[ilovewings]

I have one of the tall, roundish air fryers that I bought several years ago. It does a good job on smaller amounts of French fries, tater tots, veggie “chicken” nuggets, etc.

Often, though, I want to cook larger amounts of fries, etc. so I end up using a sheet pan in the oven.

It would be great for someone who often cooks for one.

Two of my friends have the toaster-oven style of air fryer. They both use it every day, probably several times a day. That model is more useful than the air fryer I have.

I think the toaster oven style is probably a better type of air fryer. It would just take up too much space on our counter top.
When I did use the air fryer I did use it for wings and fries but then I tried to make fried chicken, which is why I bought it in the first place. That was a total disaster! I decided to just do the wings and fries in the oven.

 

[IceIce9]

I think the toaster oven style is probably a better type of air fryer. It would just take up too much space on our counter top.
When I did use the air fryer I did use it for wings and fries but then I tried to make fried chicken, which is why I bought it in the first place. That was a total disaster! I decided to just do the wings and fries in the oven.

I think the toaster oven style is better too. But I don’t want to give up that much counter space. The model I have fits on a shelf in my pantry and I can just get it out when I need it.

I used mine this morning, I had seen a tip to make donuts in the air fryer rather than deep fried. I don’t deep fry anything, so I tried air frying donuts and they were just ok. Probably wouldn’t make them again. If I want to make a breakfast treat I would rather make homemade cinnamon rolls in the oven.