Category Archives: Cooking

Here you’ll find everything about cooking that isn’t actually a recipe. Tips, techniques, gripes, whatever.

Thanksgiving leftovers…

We’re down to the stems and seeds on our Thanksgiving leftovers, as you may have guessed by our Turkey Soup post yesterday. Today we’re having a satisfying Turkey Bowl.  Start with a base of dry stuffing cooked separate from the … Continue reading

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Time to defrost that Thanksgiving turkey!

It’s Monday before Thankgiving… do you know where your Thanksgiving turkey is? if still in the freezer, drag it out stat! You’ve got 2 days if you’re going to brine it, 2 1/2 days otherwise, so not a minute to … Continue reading

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Recipe: Tea-Smoked Chicken

Tea-Smoked Chicken is moist, flavorful and far cheaper than tea-smoked duck. And we proved you can make it in an average kitchen without setting off a fire alarm. Choose a fat, juicy bird so you’ll be well rewarded for your … Continue reading

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Let’s make a tea-smoked chicken!

I’ve long wanted to make a tea-smoked duck at home, though decided early on it would be smart to start with tea-smoked chicken because of the cost factor. I am tempted by the birds hanging in the window when I … Continue reading

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Time to make the Election Cake

In the early days of the free republic, elections were a celebratory occasion. Voters would travel long distances by horse, wagon or on foot to their polling places and linger to have a festive meal, quite possibly involving strong liquor, … Continue reading

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Is MSG good or bad?

Is msg (monosodium glutamate) good or bad? Lots of discussion on this topic. There was a restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen that would say good. They specialized in dishes featuring MSG (including a soup which had it dissolved in hot water … Continue reading

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Foraging sumac

Sumac is an important ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking. And foraging sumac in the wild is not that hard if you live an area where the bushes with their opposing branches and bright red “horns” grow wild. For our recent … Continue reading

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Shish Kabob hacks

Shish kabob by definition is sort of a hack, yes? You take random pieces of meat and veggies, marinate them in some way, then arrange on a stick and grill so the flavors meld. Our prep is pretty traditional with … Continue reading

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Recipe: Pickled Strawberries

Pickled strawberries are a good way to extend the season’s bounty. They’ll last longer in the fridge and can be used in salads or as a component of a charcuterie plate. This balanced version is not overly sweet or sour … Continue reading

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Taste test: house brand Worcestershire sauce

The Lea & Perrins brand is synonymous with Worcestershire sauce, right? But what if a supermarket house brand is just as good at a fraction of the price? Time for a house brand Worcestershire sauce taste test! According to Wikipedia, … Continue reading

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