Sometimes you need a quick snack. One of my favourites is Microwave Nachos. Continue reading Microwave Nachos, a Quick Snack
Monthly Archives: January 2014
Pecan Honey Barbecued Chicken, MMMM Good
Sometimes you just need a smokey, gooey barbecued chicken. This was one of those times. Continue reading Pecan Honey Barbecued Chicken, MMMM Good
Instyle Silicone Grip Thermal Glove
I have always found oven mitts clumsy. I saw this glove at Home Hardware and decided to give it a try. It cost me about $15 and I have used it for 3 months now.
The Verdict
It is definitely better than an oven mitt for manipulating tools and working with trays in my smoker and barbecue. It does give some protection from hot liquids but I wouldn’t want to spill boiling water over it while I was wearing it but I wouldn’t want to do that with an oven mitt either.
The silicon strips give it a good grip and I haven’t had any problem holding even heavy trays.
I like this glove.
The Old Fat Guy
Double Baked Idaho® Potato With Low Fat Yogurt and Crispy Onions
I love baked potatoes with butter, sour cream, chives and bacon bits. Sadly, they have enough fat to grease a sumo wrestler.
I also love double stuffed potatoes made with egg yolks, butter, cheese and seasonings. They too are just slightly less unhealthy than illicit drugs. Continue reading Double Baked Idaho® Potato With Low Fat Yogurt and Crispy Onions
Haaka Beef, First Attempt, Not There Yet
There is a restaurant in Vancouver, BC, Canada called the Chili Pepper House. It is a small restaurant that serves Haaka food. Hakka is from a race of people from south Asia. The food has influences from China and India.
The Chili Pepper House makes incredible dishes using fresh ingredients and I love their food and go there every chance I get. Unfortunately, I don’t get to Vancouver as often as I like. So, if
I want Hakka food, I will have to learn to make my own.
This is my first attempt at imitating this cuisine. I have put it together using the seasonings I tasted in the food but it will not be authentic Hakka food, just my pale comparison.
The ingredients I used were:
• 1 1/2 pounds beef sliced thinly
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 cup onions cut to half slices
• 1/2 cup sweet peppers
• 1/2 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 cups sliced vegetables (I used snow peas, green beans and carrots)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• oil for stir frying
I begin stir fries by getting all the ingredients out in advance.
I mixed the soy sauce and water and dissolved the cornstarch in the mixture. Set aside. I fried the beef in batches to lightly brown, adding oil as needed.
Remove the beef from the wok. Add oil if necessary and stir fry the onions and green beans until hot. Add the coriander, cumin and chili powder. Stir fry for 1 minute or until the spices are aromatic.
Add the beef and vegetables and stir fry until the vegetables are bright and hot. Stir the cornstarch and liquid mixture and add to the beef and vegetables. Stir until sauce thickens and serve.
The Verdict
I hit the spices mixture ok. However, Hakka food is big and bold. I definitely didn’t add enough of them. In my next effort I will double the spices. She Who Must Be Obeyed also said there wasn’t enough sauce. I will increase the liquids and cornstarch by 50% next time.
This tasted good but I wouldn’t recommend making it until I get the seasonings closer.
The experiment continues!
The Old Fat Guy
Another Batch of Linda’s Biscuits
It is time for another batch of Linda’s Sourdough Biscuits. I did them with all white flour this time.
You will be seeing this a lot on my blog. Great biscuits. I even bought some jam to go on them today. I did make strawberry jam this spring but I gave a couple of jars away and I am now out.
The Old Fat Guy
Grilled Loin Chops, Country Style, Meal In A Hurry
I have been doing some renovations and have been busy with my duties in a local club. Therefore, there was little time for dinner.
I had some country style loin chops in the freezer. Continue reading Grilled Loin Chops, Country Style, Meal In A Hurry
Sourdough Bread, Instructables’ Site
I saw a recipe posted on the Instructables’ site that promised real sourdough bread. The sourdough taste, the chewy texture, and the crispy crunch. The whole deal. I had to try it. So, I got Sourdough Sam out and went to work. Continue reading Sourdough Bread, Instructables’ Site
French Toast, When Was the Last Time You Had It
There are those dishes that are easy and we love but we just don’t seem to get around to. French toast is one of those for me. Whip up an egg, a tablespoon of milk and a dash of salt. Soak some bread, cook it over medium heat and you have a great tasty breakfast.
When was the last time you made French toast? Is it time?
The Old Fat Guy
Grilled Cheese and Andouille Sandwich, Why Settle?
Time for a quick lunch? You could have a grilled cheese sandwich but why settle? With just a little extra effort, slice some Andouille or other meat (salami, pepperoni, ham) and add it to your sandwich. This was made with French bread, butter on the outside, mayo, process cheese and Andouille in the filling. Continue reading Grilled Cheese and Andouille Sandwich, Why Settle?