- Joined
- Feb 17, 2017
- Messages
- 6,810
- Reaction score
- 61,759
My daughter once worked at Chang's. She was a combo server/bartender. At one point they were short on managers and pulled her in. She was given basically a recipe book of ingredients for every dish they served.I mentioned upthread that we had takeout from Chang's a week or so ago and were very disappointed with our order. We haven't dined in at P.F. Chang's since before the pandemic and probably wouldn't go again based on the poor quality of our takeout. The place is always packed with long waits, even with reservations. I rarely ordered an entree from Chang's as I enjoy their dim sum and appetizer choices. The chicken lettuce wraps have been a favorite, but I miss the seared ahi tuna salad that they no longer offer in our area.
Is extra "soup" the red sauce in the picture? Just wondering...I was working in a Detroit suburb Friday so I took the opportunity to order Buddy’s pizza. I always order extra soup will have some to take home. You can reheat it in the oven and it tastes wonderful.
No, Detroit pizza is baked with the cheese directly on the dough and the sauce is ladled on top of the cheese. This keeps the crust from getting soggy.Is extra "soup" the red sauce in the picture? Just wondering...
Ratatouille is my all-time favorite vegetable dish. My mom made it frequently in the late summer/early fall with the bounty from my dad's garden. Michigan produce is trickling in slowly this season, but I hope to make ratatouille several times in the next couple of months. DH and I enjoy bowls of ratatouille with shaved Parm and a crusty loaf of French bread: The quintessential autumn meal! I've made a baked version, as well, but we prefer a looser presentation that is more like a stew or thick soup.My garden is producing well, and I am planning to make ratatouille again tonight. Ratatouille is one of my favorite foods, and I will make it a few more times while the eggplant, squash, garlic, and basil last.
This is one of my favorite ratatouille recipes, but sometimes I make a recipe that is cooked on the stove and is more like stew than a layered baked dish.
I would definitely use flank steak rather than skirt steak. Flank is a lower quality cut of beef vs a ribeye or filet. Well done would be tougher to chew. I don’t like rare steak either but the cheaper cut of beef, the less it should be cooked. Warming it in the microwave cooked it a bit more also. That has to be factored in when first preparing it.Payroll, I appreciate you taking the time to provide photos of all the lovely dishes you make. That flank steak recipe has my attention.
Does it turn out tender enough that it would still be edible if I cooked it well done? I just have never been able to eat rare cooked beef. I even eat my beef tenderloin steak well done, lol.
Ratatouille is also one of my very favorite dishes. My mom used to make it as a stir fry with diced chicken, served over rice. I haven't made it in years.Ratatouille is my all-time favorite vegetable dish. My mom made it frequently in the late summer/early fall with the bounty from my dad's garden. Michigan produce is trickling in slowly this season, but I hope to make ratatouille several times in the next couple of months. DH and I enjoy bowls of ratatouille with shaved Parm and a crusty loaf of French bread: The quintessential autumn meal! I've made a baked version, as well, but we prefer a looser presentation that is more like a stew or thick soup.
I've always heard that sprinkling tough pieces of meat with baking soda as a tenderizer works well. I think it's called 'velveting'.Payroll, I appreciate you taking the time to provide photos of all the lovely dishes you make. That flank steak recipe has my attention.
Does it turn out tender enough that it would still be edible if I cooked it well done? I just have never been able to eat rare cooked beef. I even eat my beef tenderloin steak well done, lol.
I've always heard that sprinkling tough pieces of meat with baking soda as a tenderizer works well. I think it's called 'velveting'.
Never have tried it myself though, has anyone tried this?
I always use a bit of cornstarch when I marinade beef for a stirfry I do. It also helps the soy sauce and other things I put in the marinade stick to the meat better.Also done with corn starch. Chinese technique.
![]()
Velveting Is the Chinese Technique That Takes Stir-Fries to the Next Level
Tender, juicy meat! Clingy, glossy sauce!www.bonappetit.com
I’ve been thinking of making either Curry chicken salad, or this hot chicken salad from the recipe below. I’ve made the hot chicken salad before, but the recipe was slightly different.DH made his monthly trek to Costco yesterday, so we'll have rotisserie chicken meals for the next few days. Last month, I made Chicken Paprikash and a huge chicken salad. Tonight we're having Chicken Divan but haven't decided on another meal yet - maybe Chicken & Dumplings. Costco trips tend to coincide with my Perrier consumption. DH gets three cases each visit, and when I'm down to the last two or three bottles, it's time for a Costco runThey didn't have Perrier yesterday, so I'll be sipping Pellegrino this month. I've been hooked on Perrier for decades!
This week's Weekend Rewards at Nino's is 20% off all fresh produce. We'll load up a shopping cart sometime over the weekend. Michigan corn has arrived, and we'll be enjoying it several times a week until it's gone. I've been yearning for grilled fruit and will get peaches, plums, and nectarines that are awesome when the halves are topped with butter and brown sugar or honey. Nice side dish with pork or ham or served with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
I love reading all your food stories and the photos that some share. This thread was a blessing during the throes of the pandemic, but it continues to be a highlight of my days.