Susan627's Profile
Venison jerky - safe to send to Afghanistan?
Hi Gina. I did send jerky. As I recall I used the food-saver on it but it didn't create an air-tight seal as the jerky poked through. I got a little leery of sending stuff once the warm weather started and I don't think I sent any after May or so and then started again in the fall. Packages didn't take that long to get there but if he was out on patrol when the package arrived, it could be a 3 week turn-around, minimum. I sent homemade granola bars which he reported just lumped together (no matter how carefully I packed them) and also cookies that people made didn't fare too well, even though they were packed carefully. In the end, I found just buying his favorite pre-packaged stuff was the easiest and survived the shipping the best. God bless your husband and you and please thank him for his service.
Rotisserie Chicken - want to make it at home - don't have rotisserie
Second the "sticky chicken". I love that you stick it in the oven and forget it for so long! It is very tasty.
Arugula -- please share your favorite uses.
I love this stuff, too! I know it sounds weird, but I use it as a bed under pasta and then top with pasta sauce. It probably wouldn't work with a more delicate sauce, but for my basic, hearty meat sauce, it works. Keeps me from eating quite so much pasta and adds some good greens!
Cooking from SLOW COOKER Cookbooks
Rella, I have the "deluxe" slow cooker which has a cast-aluminum, non-stick insert. I don't know if it is anodized. You can cook on top of the stove or broil in it. It is my third or fourth slow cooker and I have found it heats the most evenly/steadily of all the ones I have owned. It was not cheap but I got a very good deal so I went for it and have used it a lot.
Cooking from SLOW COOKER Cookbooks
I have made this recipe twice that was (I guess) developed for an All-Clad slow cooker. I recently got an All-Clad but the first time used a regular slow-cooker. Both times, it was great! "Gourmet Pork and Beans" - http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/braised-maple-bourbon-pork-with-beans.html
I also made the Beef Stroganoff from the Slow Cooker Revolution cookbook, mentioned above. It was a big hit!
How to make granola that doesn't go stale quickly
I do not add any oil or fat to my recipe and use pretty much the same proportions of oats to sweetener as you do. I do bake it @ 325 for about 40 minutes though. If it is crispy/crunchy than maybe it doesn't go stale as fast? I have never had a problem with staleness, and have had some around for a very long time!
Wolferman's
Well I'll be brave and say I acutally LIKE Wolferman's. I also like Bay's, especially the whole grain. Last year I ordered some (I usually receive them as a gift). There was a big problem with the delivery and order fulfillment. This year I received as a gift again- the person who sent them to me had several orders placed with them since October. None were delivered before Christmas and most not until 2012! Their customer service department is non-existent! It was a huge mess. I don't see how they stay in business, for a company that exists mainly on mail-orders. There are a lot of other businesses out there that would like to sell you their product!
U.S. MILITARY
The USO at the Norfolk airport is serving free Thanksgiving dinner to service members. You may want to call and make sure they haven't run out of food! Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for your service to our country.
Baking with candy corn; ideas?
You can definitely bake them!
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/candy-corn-and-chocolate-chip-cookies
I have made this many times. Satisfies all the salty/sweet/tart taste buds! (candy corn bark)
http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/candy-corn-pretzel-bark-00000000042318/index.html
Southern Sweet Tea-Brined Turkey - Anyone Tried It?
I just made a chicken recipe last night where you basically brined chicken breasts in sweet tea. I thought it tasted pretty good - there was just a very vague sweetness.
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/oven-fried-chicken-breasts#
Lipton's Noodle Soup noodles, what kind are they?
Barilla makes a product called "cut spaghetti". I love it in chicken soup.
http://www.barillaus.com/Products/66/cut-spaghetti.aspx
Home in a hurricane, what are you cooking?
I have a 3 year old GE gas cooktop. It works when there is no power. I'm counting on it big time!
Good seafood market in Norfolk/Virginia Beach?
Stoney's Produce stand on First Colonial Road across from the hospital in VB has the BEST crabmeat I have found locally. Their supplier brings it up from NC on Thursdays and they have it until Monday, as I understand. I only buy jumbo lump, on special occasions, but wow, is it fabulous! I understand the scallops, clams and shrimp are also good but haven't tried them myself (can't get past the crab). You can pick up some fresh produce for your dinner there, and some of their homemade rolls - one stop shopping!
Low Country (Seafood) Boil
When I boil shrimp, I use 12oz. beer and 12 oz. water for 1 pound of shrimp, so basically 1:1 if that helps any!
fun, interesting, seasonal jams for a bake sale
I just got some Strawberry-black peppercorn jam from Whole Foods, which they were serving on top of brie. It was a delicious combination. When I got home and read the label, I saw it also contained cranberries and lemon juice.
Help with Arugula
My basic arugula salad consists of arugula, some sort of fresh fruit, nuts, dried fruit and cheese with a fruited balsamic vinegar vinaigrette. Last night I used fresh blackberries, a few dried cranberries, almonds and a little brie. I eat this once or twice a week. I love arugula!
Lemon Simple Syrup Question
Simple syrup keeps for-ev-er in the fridge! Always nice to have on hand to add in cocktails, or to ice tea or you could make lemonade.
great iced coffee
Tried this recently with cold-brewed coffee and it was good.
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/vietnamese-style-iced-coffee
French Press-Pros/Cons
It makes fabulous cold-brewed coffee! Getting warmer now here in the south so I have switched to iced coffee. I could not believe the difference the first time I made it with a FP. This winter I was into making cafe-au-lait. The FP made a great cup of coffee that wasn't too bitter but didn't lose it's taste in all that milk. Thinking about coffee now, I can't wait to get up in the morning!
Chili - with fruit???
I recently made a chili that had pork (chunks) and apple in it. It was the second time I made it and after that I decided I wasn't too wild about the combination of apple and tomato. Just my opinion.
Mussels - What Is The Proper Eating Etiquette?
I was a little apprehensive about this at firs,t but I use a whole mussel that has both halves still attached as a "pincher" to pull the meat out of the other mussels. Not sure if Emily Post would approve but it definitely works!
Venison Meatloaf
I have used this recipe of Alton Brown's so many times I can't count! When it comes to the cooking, I put it on cake racks, over cookie sheets, and put it on my oven's lowest setting for about 4 hours, rotating the pans halfway. I do not crack the oven door. I also marinate over night.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/jerky-recipe/index.html
Girl Scout Cookies. What to do with them.
Thin Mint Brownies? I think these look good!
http://foodlibrarian.blogspot.com/2010/03/girl-scout-thin-mint-brownies.html
pulled pork in oven; possible to create bark?
I have had good luck with Sara Foster's recipe for slow cooked pulled pork. You get some nice crunchy bits and the flavors used in the cooking liquid are very good. Note: the first recipe is for the pulled pork, the second for the "Q Shack" rub. (the Q Shack is a bbq place in Durham, NC)
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001585200
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001585201
Dressing for fruit salad?
Poppy-seed dressing is pretty popular in the south. I would only do a homemade one though. It's good on a salad with romaine, strawberries and avocado, too!
Asian store in the Chesapeake or Va Beach area....
Have you tried Fresh World in VB off Lynnhaven Pkwy?
*October 2010 COTM: BAREFOOT CONTESSA COOKBOOK - Dinner and Vegetables
Another thumbs up on the squash. If that was all I had for dinner last night, I would have been happy! I did cut back on the butter a little.
