Food and Recipes while under Coronavirus quarantine #8

[BetteDavisEyes]

I hope Boars Head fresh liver sausage comes back to local stores. I don't eat it often, but every so often I get a craving for liverwurst, mostly during the winter. I tried Kowalski brand and didn't care for it at all - gritty texture and too garlicky. Boars Head liverwurst is smooth and cream, almost like a mouse in texture and is not overly garlicky.

LOL! The Boars Head liverwurst is smooth and CREAMY with texture like MOUSSE.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I just bought another one to take to a friend’s house for dinner.

DH went to Costco on Friday and took a picture of the Polenta & Roasted Vegetable entree. There was a huge display, and the dish is featured this week with a discount. I'm sure it will make an appearance on many Thanksgiving tables for the holiday. I'm sure I'd enjoy it but can't handle that much dairy.

This trip DH got sockeye salmon, several tins of David's Butter Pecan Meltaway cookies, several boxes of Godiva chocolates, hummus, cranberry cinnamon goat cheese log (you recommended this last year), chicken & Swiss pinwheel sandwiches, pumpkin cheesecake, Perrier, Kleenex, wine. I had considered accompanying him but was glad that I didn't when he said it was very crowded and that it was frustrating that products weren't where they usually are. The goat cheese log, for example, wasn't in the cheese aisle but was being demoed in another area of the store. This was likely the last Costco trip of the year.

 

[anneg]

LOL! The Boars Head liverwurst is smooth and CREAMY with texture like MOUSSE.

I thought that was what you meant!

 

[Auntie Cipation]

overly garlicky

Does. Not. Compute.

 

[snooptroop88]

Two days!! Two days away, the turkey breast is thawing. Tomorrow's dry brine. I have the pecan pie already made (Pioneer Woman recipe with substituted xtra thick graham cracker crust, turned out great). Succotash is made to meld the flavors. Collard greens in the crockpot. Tomorrow's the bacon w/brussels and pasta salad. Last day is slide the turkey in, get the dressing mixed, get the banger meatballs going for an app and do the spinach salad. Do the mash, do the mac n cheese (maybe) definitely do the turkey Yorkshire puddings, dying to try that. Get the pearl onions (that I can get for sure) and try for the creamed spinach (not sure if I'm gonna get that made). And in the meantime, worry about those bacon bits I consumed today before I realized I was supposed to refrigerate them. I don't get them that often, I had no idea you were supposed to refrigerate them and they were lurking out there by themselves on the counter for hours. Hopefully, all the sodium, not a problem. If not, you'll know I'm in the hospital, LOL...

 

[PayrollNerd]

Food prep so far today was gluten free waffles made with oat milk. My oldest is sensitive to dairy. I froze 4 of them so she can pop them in the air fryer.

I peeled the carrots but probably won’t cook them. We’ll just snack on them. I cubed rutabaga and sweet potatoes. We have broccolini but only she eats it.

I made a chocolate cream pie with oat milk and used a gluten free graham cracker crust. We have Cool Whip & chocolate jimmies for the topping. I’m curious how it will taste. I’ve made it with flax milk before and it was good.

Since my youngest isn’t here, we will add ham to the green beans. Maybe some red potatoes too. I’ll put it all in the crockpot.

We still have spiral sliced ham left. We are roasting a whole chicken with bay leaves and an orange in the middle. We will eat for days!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Happy Thanksgiving to Websleuths' foodies! I just finished cleaning up the kitchen after doing the necessary food prep for our Thanksgiving-for-two dinner. I'm glad that we didn't plan on having guests because DH is still recovering from a nearly month-long bout of bronchitis. He went back to the doctor on Tuesday and got an injection this time along with a script for a stronger antibiotic. Definitely not Covid (two negative tests) but seems like it could be "walking pneumonia" which I've had in the past following a bout of bronchitis.

I made cranberry/apple sauce last Sunday and baked two loaves of pumpkin bread yesterday. We're having a 3# turkey breast with Nino's prepared stuffing and Brussels sprouts with bacon and pomegranate seeds. I doctored the stuffing with chopped walnuts, pomegranate seeds, and turkey stock so it doesn't dry out in the oven. DH will cook bacon and toss the Brussels sprouts in the bacon drippings before finishing them in the oven. Veggies will be garnished with chopped bacon and pomegranate seeds. I will season the 3# turkey breast with salt and pepper then baste it with Kerrygold garlic/herb butter, white wine, and turkey stock while it roasts for an hour. I will make gravy with the drippings, along with fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme, turkey stock and white wine. DH got a bottle of a lovely Pinot Noir to accompany our Thanksgiving dinner. Just because it's just the two of us doesn't mean dinner can't be festive There will be plenty of leftovers for the next few days, after which I plan to make turkey noodle soup.

Whatever your plans this holiday weekend, have a wonderful time with family and friends. Be safe and be well.

 

[killarney rose]

we just returned from our friends and family thanksgiving. The food was great and so was the company. We had smoked Turkey and a ham too. Dressing and cranberry sauce, chicken and dumplings, Mac n cheese, potato salad, deviled eggs, sweet potato casserole, turnip greens, field peas, rolls and cornbread. For dessert there was pumpkin pie, pecan pie and Italian cream cake. Later this evening, I’ll be having a turkey sandwich.

 

[snooptroop88]

we just returned from our friends and family thanksgiving. The food was great and so was the company. We had smoked Turkey and a ham too. Dressing and cranberry sauce, chicken and dumplings, Mac n cheese, potato salad, deviled eggs, sweet potato casserole, turnip greens, field peas, rolls and cornbread. For dessert there was pumpkin pie, pecan pie and Italian cream cake. Later this evening, I’ll be having a turkey sandwich.

Turkey AND ham!! LOL, swoon!!

 

[snooptroop88]

Well, a lot of stuff didn't get made (yet), but generally, just went super well. I didn't do the apps, but ONLY because I actually forged ahead w/cooking the bird ahead of time. We improvised on the apps and did the collard greens with a ham steak (like small portions as an app). There was so much made by the time we ate, I still have to make the mac n cheese, the creamed spinach, and the pearled onions, but that's ok, pretty much everything else was done. The gravy was awesome this year w/the cheat, I combined a canned beef gravy with the turkey gravy packet from Jennie O and added rosemary, thyme, and a splash of Worcestershire. It was like KFC knock off gravy, I'm like awesome.

I basted the breast in chicken broth, that was one moist bird, BUT the downside was the skin. NOT crispy. I thought about making turkey cracklins, I've done it w/salmon, it's awesome. But I was so tired by then I'm like... forget it, LOL.

The Yorkshire puddings were the absolute bomb, seriously. I used what I could get of the turkey grease mixed in w/vegetable oil as a base. OH MAN, I love Yorkshire pudding. Seriously, I'm doing Yorkshires at Christmas & New Year's, too. They're soooo good. This batch really puffed up. I swear, I was so happy with the Yorkshires, I'd have sat there and just ate the Yorkshires alone and I'd have been fine, LOL.

 

[Grouse]

Well, a lot of stuff didn't get made (yet), but generally, just went super well. I didn't do the apps, but ONLY because I actually forged ahead w/cooking the bird ahead of time. We improvised on the apps and did the collard greens with a ham steak (like small portions as an app). There was so much made by the time we ate, I still have to make the mac n cheese, the creamed spinach, and the pearled onions, but that's ok, pretty much everything else was done. The gravy was awesome this year w/the cheat, I combined a canned beef gravy with the turkey gravy packet from Jennie O and added rosemary, thyme, and a splash of Worcestershire. It was like KFC knock off gravy, I'm like awesome.

I basted the breast in chicken broth, that was one moist bird, BUT the downside was the skin. NOT crispy. I thought about making turkey cracklins, I've done it w/salmon, it's awesome. But I was so tired by then I'm like... forget it, LOL.

The Yorkshire puddings were the absolute bomb, seriously. I used what I could get of the turkey grease mixed in w/vegetable oil as a base. OH MAN, I love Yorkshire pudding. Seriously, I'm doing Yorkshires at Christmas & New Year's, too. They're soooo good. This batch really puffed up. I swear, I was so happy with the Yorkshires, I'd have sat there and just ate the Yorkshires alone and I'd have been fine, LOL.

Sounds great! I'm no stranger to Yorkshire puddings but can I ask what are these turkey ones you mention? Is it about using fat from the turkey instead of oil in the tin or is turkey meat involved?

 

[snooptroop88]

Sounds great! I'm no stranger to Yorkshire puddings but can I ask what are these turkey ones you mention? Is it about using fat from the turkey instead of oil in the tin or is turkey meat involved?

Just used as much as I could of the drippings from the turkey pan and mixed that with veg oil. AND I never even got the sizzle on this, I just used really hot drippings & veg oil mix (put it in the oven in a separate little ramekin in blazing hot oven), pulled it, spooned a little into each muffin slot in the muffin pan and room temp batter poured over, and they puffed up awesome. Was delighted, lol. Relieved after no sizzle.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Our feast for the two of us (my oldest) was delicious.

We roasted a 5lb chicken with an blood orange, orange juice and bay leaves inside. On the outside I spread melted butter and used Trader Joes Green Goddess seasoning.

Gluten Free Squash Casserole was amazing and it is gone! We bought the ingredients for another one.

Green beans with ham and red potatoes was good. Altho I wasn't really in the mood for them. I should have made another green veggie.

Mashed sweet potatoes and broccolini for my daughter. I made roasted rutabagas for me & had canned cranberry sauce.

Our desserts were GF chocolate cream pie and cooked apples.

We're almost out of leftover side dishes so tonight we made gluten free mac n cheese. We went to the little farm stand near me that nearly was destroyed during the hurricane. So many volunteers came out to help them and we wanted to help support them. We found fresh collard greens that we'll make with leftover ham. I found small beets that I'll roast.

This morning I made egg cups with bacon and cheese. I used 10 large eggs, maybe 6 slices of cooked bacon chopped up and probably a cup of colby jack cheese. They puffed up in the oven then sunk down as a they cooled. They turned out really good. I had always used turkey sausage in the past. Sometimes we add spinach and tomato.

I'll upload photos shortly. We have Neeko this weekend. I never want to give him back!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Our Thanksgiving-for-two feast was awesome - everything was delicious! We ate leftovers on Friday and yesterday. All that's left is cranberry sauce and enough turkey for a pot of soup that I'll make today. Soup will have chopped carrots, celery, onion, garlic, turkey stock, fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme, turkey, and orzo.

It has turned quite cold here in recent days with temps in the 30s during the day, 20s overnight, with wind chills in the teens. We've had a couple bursts of snow that stays on grassy areas and roofs. Boulevard entrance to our sub was decorated/lit in mid-November when we put up our outdoor evergreen swags and a holiday "drop-in" in the urn on the front porch. Several homes in the 'hood have holiday light displays.

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving weekend. If you're traveling today, be safe.

 

[IceIce9]

We enjoyed a vintage 1920’s meal with authentic recipes from that decade.

30 friends and family members, each assigned a vintage recipe to bring. Mine was Parsnip Purée.

Appetizers included pear and potato soup, caramelized onion tartlets, and champagne cocktails.

First course was radicchio walnut salad, sausage pastries, and mushroom pastries.

Our main courses were a glazed ham cooked in apple cider, marinated kale salad, glazed carrots, and herb cranberry crusted salmon.

Desserts included Charlotte Russe, gingerbread cake, and several others.

We all dressed in outfits from the 1920’s.

Photos attached parsnip purée, salmon, Charlotte Russe, and my feathered headband.

 

[PayrollNerd]

We walked around the Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market (60 deg) this morning. It was 50 deg at sunrise. We found a few booths with gluten free foods. My daughter bought a mocha cinnamon roll which she said tasted great.

The booth with GF breads had really good looking items. We bought a loaf of bread. Minutes later, that entire booth was sold out. The guys said he sold 18 loaves of the bread we picked. He had all kinds of other GF things available too.

I bought 3 big pretzels (3/$12) that are not gluten free and 2 little cups of cheese dip. They had 6 flavors so I picked Salt, Four Cheese and Parmesan Herb (I think that was what it was called). They had a bacon cheese flavor. I can’t remember the other two. The herb was had a bit too much of something that was spicy. But I dipped it in cheese sauce and ate the entire thing! I put the other two in the freezer.

Farmers’ Market – Lakewood Ranch

The Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch is home to more than 100 curated vendors of the region's best food and flavors, located at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch.

lakewoodranch.com

 

[whiterhino]

Omg it all looks amazing and delicious! Wow that is a lot of work but yum I bet it was good. Hope you all had a great holiday time, our Thanksgiving was last month but I would do it again no problem

 

[PayrollNerd]

Lasagna Day today. I made 2 with ground turkey and 2 vegetarian. I baked one turkey dish for us. The other one went in the freezer for the people who cleaned up my yard after the hurricane. They are my daughter’s friends who live 45 min south of me. The husband is allergic to beef. The wife and the other lady are gluten free.

The 2 vegetarian are for Kiddo when she returns from vet school next week. We will bake one the day she returns and take it to our friends who are housing her. She has to get her vaccines before she can be around me.

Yesterday I made a double batch of GF chocolate chip cookie dough. I put 2 dishes in the freezer. I’ll send one of those to each house. We have a dish of dough in the fridge too.

A few days ago I made GF mini loaves. Banana with mini chocolate chips and pumpkin. Most of them went in the freezer. So I have those to send too.

 

[IceIce9]

With all the bad news about restaurant closings and food recalls, here is some positive news.

Chi-Chi’s Mexican Restaurant Chain Returns After 20 Years

It’s returning in 2025 thanks to a deal involving the son of the founder.

www.today.com

After all locations closed 30 years ago, Chi-Chi’s restaurants are making a comeback.

Chi-Chi’s was the restaurant where my friends and I would meet when I was in college, and celebrated special occasions when my kids were little.

Also, driving to Chi-Chi’s was a rite of passage when my friends and I turned 16 and got our driver’s licenses. When I was a teen my family lived in a smaller town that didn’t have a Chi-Chi’s so we would drive to Dayton, Ohio to Chi-Chi’s to celebrate.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Chi-Chi’s Mexican restaurants to return after 20-year hiatus. Will they be in Michigan?

Twenty years after closing its restaurants, the Mexican restaurant chain Chi-Chi's announced plans to return in 2025.

www.clickondetroit.com

I remember Chi Chi's and was there a few times. There was another Mexican restaurant, Casa Lupita, that was closer to our home, and we liked it better than Chi Chi's. When both closed, we started going to Mexican Village - not so close to home but good food and service and well worth the 25-minute drive.