randyhusted's Profile
How many pages should a menu be?
In the 80's it seemed like every restaurant I went to had a "book" for a menu, 10 pages was not uncommon. Now, it seems like most places have a few pages. In your opinion, how many pages is the correct amount? In my findings I think that most restaurants could keep there menu down to 1 - 2 pages pretty easy. Thanks for your input.
Best Restaurant web sites?
Possibly the worst website I've seen. It took so long to load that I almost fell asleep.
Looking for ideas for a sauce for my spinach/walnut/porcini ravioli
Try a sage cream sauce or a simple sage compound butter would be very easy.
For the butter I would take some good quality butter at room temp, mix in some rubbed sage, salt and pepper and cool it in a thin log shape. To serve over ravioli just slice off a thin piece and place on top of the warm ravioli. Very easy for a dinner party since you don't have to worry about keeping the sauce hot and it will also let the flavors of your rav's shine. Happy cooking.
Duck rillettes
Roasted Duck will work, it won't be quite as good, but it should work. I take it you have plenty of rendered fat to cover the shredded duck with. Happy cooking.
Pumpkin recipes anyone?
awesome idea, I'll save it for next year, thanks!
p.s. I didn't even know you could do brittle in the microwave
Pumpkin recipes anyone?
made it the old fashioned way and it was awesome, so I made another batch, but took it a little to far and burned it. The grit cakes were also very good. Thanks.
Pumpkin recipes anyone?
With all your help, here's the menu for the party tomorrow. Thank you.
Pumpkin & Pork Toquitos
Pumpkin Bread Croque Monsieur
Pumpkin Grit Cakes with Cajun Shrimp
Bacon Wrapped Pumpkin Bites
Pumpkin Latkes with Smoked Salmon and Thyme Creme Fraiche
Pumpkin Hummus with Pumkin Chips
Pumpkin Spiced Cookies
Pumkin Seed and Milk Chocolate Truffles
Pumpkin Seed Brittle
Pumkin Creme Brule
And of Course...Lots of Pumpkin Beer
Turn a coconut flan into ice-cream? your advice
I don't think the ice cream would work since the eggs are already cooked and would not mix with the added milk.
Try cutting it into cubes, dredging it in cornstarch, deep fry or pan fry on all sides until golden, toss in powdered sugar. Serve with caramelized bananas.
A Savory Bread Pudding with seafood????
Roasted Garlic, caramelized onions, tasso, corn, shrimp, and cornbread pudding. mmmmmm
need enchilada advice
chayote squash, sliced and grilled for extra flavor, black beans, hominy and corn. Substitute pumpkin seeds for the cashew in your mole recipe for a nice change
Homemade Granola
I like to add all sorts of grains to my granola. Flaxseed, oats, bran, wheatgerm, lots of dried fruit, a little maple syrup and sometimes chocolate. Most recipes call for oil but I omit that. Without the added fat your granola will most likely not hold together very much, unless you add melted chocolate. happy cooking.
Raspberry cupcake recipe
Make whatever white cake recipe you like, but replace 1/2 cup of water or milk with 1/2 cup of raspberry purree (use less or more, depending on how strong a flavor you would like.
Recipe for Hot Pepper Jelly and Hot sauce
I make pepper jelly at work and don't use any pectin. It depends on the type of pepper you have as to how many to use and how spicy you want it, but here is my recipe, adding a little apple pectin would most likely help it as it sometimes crystalizes...
bring to a boil 1 gallon water
4 pounds sugar
add
2 habanero peppers, 3 jalapeno peppers, and 1 bell pepper
Boil slowly for 2-4 hours until desired consistency. To test consistency, take a spoonfull and place in the fridge for 5 minutes. Happy Cooking!
Why would you need more than a 6 qt. stock pot?
6 Qt would be ok most of the time, but when chicken, pork, or other meats go on sale, I like to stock up and usually end up using my 12 Qt. I got mine pretty cheap, 5 bucks at a garage sale for the set (4, 6, 8, 10, 12 Qt). When they're not in use, they all stack conveniently in my linen closet.
Why would you need more than a 6 qt. stock pot?
I use mine for canning, making large amounts of sauce, anything that might splatter, pulled pork, braising. And since my large pots are cheap ones I usually use 2 at a time, putting a little water in the bottom and making a double boiler so that my sauces and what nots don't burn. Happy cooking!
Ice cream cake, cupcake form? Please help!
Yes, it is that simple. Dont' just cool the cupcakes, freeze them. Also make sure to use a "airy" cupcake as a dense one will freeze too hard to eat. I usually cut away most of the cupcake so there is only a thin layer of cake around the ice cream. For the ice cream; let it warm a little so you can handle it, dump it onto a sheet pan and smooth it out. Refreeze and then cut out your shapes. Happy cooking!
Pumpkin recipes anyone?
So I guess what I'm really looking for are hors d'oeuvres. Please keep posting the great ideas. Thank you for your time and happy cooking!
Pumpkin recipes anyone?
I'm having a party in late october and will be serving some pumpkin goodies. I know I could google it and find some ok recipes, but the people here seem to have much better taste than that of google and the likes. Last year I served, pumpkin ravioli, curried pumpkin hummus with pita, pumkin seed crusted brie, and pumpkin cheesecake. Any other ideas out there? Thanks! Happy cooking!
Plastic cake decorating bags--need help
If you still have time...Go to a Michaels craft store. They sell Wilton parchment cone bags (100 for around $6). I like to use these because they are so much cheaper than the others. Don't cut as much off the tip as you want to. Cut a little and test it. Once you get the hole right, you can line it up with the other bags and cut away. Good luck. Sounds like a blast. you have a lucky daughter.
Kiwano Fruit - what to do with it
I just got a couple Kiwano Fruits. I'm going to make some salsa with it, any other suggestions. Unique or simple, bring it on. Happy cooking!
One green banana
Try slicing them about 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick and fry them in oil at about 225 degrees until they are caramelized, toss with a little sugar and dry on paper towels. I do this and put them on salads, very yummy. Happy cooking.
Indoor Grills
Don't waste your money. Unless you have a professional hood vent your house will fill with smoke. Why don't you want an outdoor grill?
Cleaning rust off graniteware
sand them down, wash, and use as normal. After canning season is over, rub a little vegetable oil or petroleum jelly on the spots where it rusted ( or the whole thing as I do). You shouldn't have any rust next year.
Lodge outdoor grill - covered in rust - salvageable?
Sand it down until the rust is gone. Paint the grill with high temp paint made for grills. If the grate is not high quality, replace it. If it's sturdy, sand it the same, wash it off, heat to about 250 to get rid of any moisture, let it cool, then rub it with veg. oil. When you plan on storing your grill for a long period of time, it's allways a good idea to lube it down with a little oil. This should prevent rust. Happy cooking!
How long can I keep Ceviche?
How long will my Ceviche last if kept in the refrigerater? I used very fresh fish and produce, only out for 2 hours at a party. Thanks.
Caterers Offering/Not Offering Free Tasting
I have worked at many restaraunts and banquet facilities. You should absolutely be allowed to have a tasting! Not just for hors d'oeuvres, but for every course. Some places might charge you for this, but most of the time it is included in your wedding package, after all they are going to rip you off at the wedding.
Too Much Basil
Make some pesto and freeze it in Ice cream trays, once frozen put it into a ziploc bag and you can have pesto all winter.
MAKE SOME MONEY!!! If you have any small "nice" restaurants in town, take some to them. Even at peek season, most restaurants are paying about $15-$20 a pound from their supplier. Put one pound, including the branches, into a bag and take it in. See if you can get $10 or a free lunch.
Will I really use a grill basket/"wok"?
I don't use a grill pan or skewers...Just toss the veg in whatever seasoning you like, get your grill smokin, and toss them on.
This might take a little more time than a grill basket, but since vegetables cook in different time incriments your better off being able to take off what is done and leaving the rest for a minute.
Happy Cooking!
Best Cheap Beer
I'm back to what I was drinking when I was a teenager....Pabst Blue Ribbon. I had been on Sierra Nevada for a few years, that along with Guiness will allways be my top picks (for commercial beer anyway). I'm getting PBR for 6.49 a 12 in the Charlotte area, while I can't find Sierra for less than 15 a 12!
