Food and Recipes while under Coronavirus quarantine #5

[PayrollNerd]

With regard to food safety or questionable appearance/smell of any food, I've always adhered to the adage "When in doubt, throw it out". If any food doesn't look or smell right, I toss it. I don't like to waste food, but I also don't want to take chances with food that just doesn't look or smell right. JMO

I checked in with the youngest and she doesn't want the malanga either. I looked up recipes and nothing is even remotely appealing. I'm going to sit them at the curb. My neighborhood is wonderfully diverse with many cultures. I bet someone will pick them up. Yesterday was trash day and I sat a huge watermelon out there. It was gone quickly.

Now I need to go plant those 2 mint plants they gave me. No earthly idea what I'll use them for as I hate mint. But, maybe someone will come along at some point and take them off my hands.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I checked in with the youngest and she doesn't want the malanga either. I looked up recipes and nothing is even remotely appealing. I'm going to sit them at the curb. My neighborhood is wonderfully diverse with many cultures. I bet someone will pick them up. Yesterday was trash day and I sat a huge watermelon out there. It was gone quickly.

Now I need to go plant those 2 mint plants they gave me. No earthly idea what I'll use them for as I hate mint. But, maybe someone will come along at some point and take them off my hands.

The mint might come in handy for someone planning a Kentucky Derby gathering. Mint is a must-have in the traditional Julep

Derby At Home | Kentucky Derby

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[Auntie Cipation]

@PayrollNerd I'm pretty sure mint is helpful as an insect repellent. Just be sure to plant it only in pots as it spreads invasively!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

DH is having lunch today with a former colleague. They are meeting at Red Coat Tavern in Royal Oak. We've never been there, but the restaurant has been said to have the best burgers in metro-Detroit. If he likes it, maybe DH and I will go together sometime soon. Redcoat Tavern - Home of the Redcoat Burger

April 25, and it is only in the 40s with snow showers!

 

[PayrollNerd]

I got the two mint plants in pots on the lanai and the sun comes in on that side. I'll see how they do and if it's too much sun, I can put them on the lanai table where it's shadier.

My garden is winding down. My radishes were a bust. I think I needed to water them more frequently. They were in a clay pot.

My Brussels sprouts have Harlequin bugs so they got a good dose of Insecticidal Soap last week to kill the live ones. Then a good dose of Neem Oil on Friday and today. They are adorable! Can you see the lady bug? I found a red one on the biggest plant and an orange one crawling in the dirt when I was watering.

I'm not sure my broccoli will flower and produce before it gets too hot. My Celebrity Tomato is yellowing and I know it's not over-watered. I'm the one watering it, not Mother Nature. I put Neem Oil on it too just in case it's a bug. Maybe it needs copper fungicide. Not sure, need to research it more.

 

[PayrollNerd]

@PayrollNerd I'm pretty sure mint is helpful as an insect repellent. Just be sure to plant it only in pots as it spreads invasively!

That's what my kiddo said last night that they may repel mosquitos. That seems like an excellent reason to keep them!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

That's what my kiddo said last night that they may repel mosquitos. That seems like an excellent reason to keep them!

I've tried to grow various herbs outdoors during the warm season here. Japanese beetles chewed the sweeter varieties like basil and mint, as well as geranium leaves, so I gave up trying to keep herbs.

 

[PayrollNerd]

DH is having lunch today with a former colleague. They are meeting at Red Coat Tavern in Royal Oak. We've never been there, but the restaurant has been said to have the best burgers in metro-Detroit. If he likes it, maybe DH and I will go together sometime soon. Redcoat Tavern - Home of the Redcoat Burger

April 25, and it is only in the 40s with snow showers!

The beer menu is longer than the food menu! LOL!

 

[Tbone144]

With regard to food safety or questionable appearance/smell of any food, I've always adhered to the adage "When in doubt, throw it out". If any food doesn't look or smell right, I toss it. I don't like to waste food, but I also don't want to take chances with food that just doesn't look or smell right. JMO

We always joke about what’s the cost of the food I’m about to toss vs the cost of my deductible if I get sick. Usually that thought lets me part with things easier. Usually after a couple of days (okay sometimes up to a week) I give it to the chickens. Let them turn it into eggs. The freeze dryer does let me save lots of things as long as it’s not spoiled.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

In between appointments today. I had my annual visit with the nephrologist this morning (no problems), and DH and I have our semi-annual dental hygiene visits this afternoon. We stopped at Nino's following my visit with Dr. R to get a few groceries. We're doing California BLTs tonight and pork chops with German potato salad tomorrow. I haven't made hot German potato salad for quite a while and thought of making it with our Easter ham but made navy bean soup instead. Dinner and/or takeout on Saturday or Sunday. Thinking ahead to next weekend, we got tortillas, peppers, onion, enchilada sauce, and Monterey Jack for shrimp enchiladas on Cinco de Mayo. Forgot limes, but we've got plenty of time to pick some up. Nino's didn't have Devon cream, but we probably get that next week along with fresh scones for Coronation Day. I'm still thinking about making the aforementioned royal quiche that we'll have for dinner on Saturday while we watch the Kentucky Derby. I think it will pair nicely with mint juleps

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

The beer menu is longer than the food menu! LOL!

DH was not overly impressed with Red Tavern and doesn't think I'd like the noisy bar vibe. He had the plain house burger and deemed the meat cooked perfectly medium rare and nicely seasoned, but the bottom bun was soggy, and there was too much of their special mayo-based sauce. His friend had a greasy-looking ham and cheese sandwich, and they shared an a la carte order of fries. DH had a single bottle of Labatt's while his friend had two vodka and tonics. The prices are higher than those on the menu posted above. A plain burger is $16 with basic tomato, lettuce, their sauce on a regular sesame bun. Upcharge for extras, and sides. DH did report that Red Tavern has a substantial wine list. I couldn't drink a beer to save my life!

 

[PayrollNerd]

Today was another produce pick up and I just happened to have a friend with me. They gave me so much that I sent her home with 3 big paper bags nearly full. She has 3 grandsons 8-13 so it will get eaten that's for sure. She took the malanga - the Cuban potato things and the 8 bell peppers too.

The head of cabbage must have been 12" across. I'd never seen one so big. Lots of lettuces and salad mixes, plantains, bananas, bell peppers, zucchini, scallions, mushrooms, etc. The quart of strawberries was pretty bad but I managed to save a small dish of them.

The unusual item this time was a Veggie Spaghetti made of rutabaga noodles. I bet kiddo will eat it. I made rutabaga fries back in Dec and got her to eat them.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

My apologies for calling the restaurant Red Tavern (twice) in my post above. It is Red Coat Tavern.

Just finished prepping potatoes, celery, and onion for hot German Potato Salad. Cook potatoes in salted water until fork tender. Will put bacon on a sheet pan with rack instead of frying. Saved drippings from same process last night for our BLTs and will add more. Cook the onion and celery in bacon drippings then add vinegar and a little sugar. Add potatoes, salt, pepper, and parsley. Make sure potatoes are well-coated, then add crumbled bacon. Perfect accompaniment for grilled rib pork chops.

 

[killarney rose]

We had our first visit of the season to our local produce farm this morning. We got peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, new potatoes, lettuce and a pint of sweet tomato relish. Tonight we will feast on produce from the freezer from last summer. field peas with the relish, creamed Sweet corn, new potatoes, sliced tomatoes, fried cornbread from meal that our friend grew and had stone ground, and for dessert, peach cobbler.

 

[PayrollNerd]

We had our first visit of the season to our local produce farm this morning. We got peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, new potatoes, lettuce and a pint of sweet tomato relish. Tonight we will feast on produce from the freezer from last summer. field peas with the relish, creamed Sweet corn, new potatoes, sliced tomatoes, fried cornbread from meal that our friend grew and had stone ground, and for dessert, peach cobbler.

We’re going to Lido Beach for the sunset. Maybe I should swing by and get a To Go plate? LOL!!!!

My friend is picking up Club Sandwiches from Metro Diner for us.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Ok here’s my review of the Toll House Espresso chips. I made the traditional Toll House Cookie recipe with butter flavored Crisco instead of butter. They hold up better and don’t burn on the bottom.

Anyway, I added 1 cup milk chocolate chips and 1 cup espresso chips. Baked them at 350 until light golden brown, maybe 10 min?

The espresso chips are strong. Good thing I didn’t use all espresso chips. Not sure I’d buy them again. But they could be tasty in a pan of brownies. I put about 1/3 of the cookie dough in the freezer.

My aunt said she’s going to put some espresso chips in her hot chocolate. Maybe I will try that too.

 

[iamshadow21]

Ok here’s my review of the Toll House Espresso chips. I made the traditional Toll House Cookie recipe with butter flavored Crisco instead of butter. They hold up better and don’t burn on the bottom.

Anyway, I added 1 cup milk chocolate chips and 1 cup espresso chips. Baked them at 350 until light golden brown, maybe 10 min?

The espresso chips are strong. Good thing I didn’t use all espresso chips. Not sure I’d buy them again. But they could be tasty in a pan of brownies. I put about 1/3 of the cookie dough in the freezer.

My aunt said she’s going to put some espresso chips in her hot chocolate. Maybe I will try that too.

Espresso chips sound amazing. I wonder if I can get any shipped to Australia. Do you know what brand they were?

 

[PayrollNerd]

Espresso chips sound amazing. I wonder if I can get any shipped to Australia. Do you know what brand they were?

They’re the Toll House brand.

 

[iamshadow21]

They’re the Toll House brand.

Nope, can't get them online. Only places that stock them sell bulk, for ridiculous amounts of money. Oh well. Next time I visit our local import candy shop, I'll see if they have them in the tiny baking section.

 

[IceIce9]

Espresso chips sound amazing. I wonder if I can get any shipped to Australia. Do you know what brand they were?

When I visited friends in Bulgaria, I wanted to bake my chocolate chip cookies for them. I always use Ghirardelli milk chocolate and dark chocolate chips in my cookies. We went to a couple of smaller grocery stores to get ingredients but they didn’t have chocolate chips of any brand.

We went to the large supermarket in Varna but still no chocolate chips. I tried to describe what I was looking for but no one there had ever heard of chocolate chips.

I ended up buying some good quality chocolate bars and chopping them up to make cookies. My friends had a little party and everyone who attended was really amazed with the cookies.

I was instructed to bring a suitcase full of chocolate chips the next time I visit the Bulgarian friends.