Recently Consumed

I think I've mentioned that things have been pretty busy recently. After our trip to Seattle, I took only Christmas Day, New Year's, and one Sunday off. This means, either eat out (I even worked almost a full day when we did the 30th Street stumble), or make simple things at home....because, well, I'm kinda fried on certain days. Which means that if I do cook, I just want it to be a simple prep and go......

On the Sunday I took off, I was a smoking/grilling fool. I actually bought a six-and-a-half pound turkey breast, brined it and smoked it.

It took a good long time and I thought it was going to be dry as heck, but man, it turned out really well with just doing an overnight brine in water, kosher salt, brown sugar, and some of my rib rub. I used my standard poultry rub on it, mopped it with apple juice, finished with a combo apple juice and agave syrup.

We actually finished the whole darn thing in a week!

I also smoked some sausages I bought, tomatoes (yummy), potatoes, chicken liver for Da' Boyz.....you name it, I just made sure to use every single bit of those coals up.

Strangely, the Missus's favorite thing was to mix cubed smoked turkey with avocado, extra virgin olive oil, Maldon smoked and sea salt, black pepper, some cayenne and smoked paprika. She could just eat the stuff by itself or on a salad. I tried it one night.....you can tell it's mine since the Missus doesn't eat bread at home.....or even out these days.

I used the turkey in dishes that actually looked like breakfast........like this pseudo hash using the smoked potatoes, Kale and Chard form our yard...and eggs of course.

Sometimes it seems that doing these hash-scramble type dishes for dinner really works out well. 

Having everything on hand makes things easy and I'm pretty fast at prep. To the right is a smoked merguez, smoked tomato, smoked potatoes, and onion scramble.

One thing I have missed, is not being to stop by Catalina Offshore. But finally, this Saturday, the Missus requested some fish....so I went to Catalina before heading off to work.

Oh, do you notice the Missus's current favorite veg? Right now, She's wanting Romanesco at least once a week. Coated with sea salt and olive oil and grilled with a drizzle of lemon juice. Stir fried....whatever. It's all about this broccoli that costs a mint. Well, at least we're eating our vegetables, right?

So tell me.....

What have you been eating?

Comments

[kat]

curry, lots of curry

[Kirk]

Sounds perfect for the weather you're having Kat!

[jack]

Being a lab rat, i've been experimenting with cooking sous vide, well, everything! I haven't been disappointed yet.

[Lynnea]

smoked potatoes? that sounds like the most amazing, delicious thing ever! yum! =)

[Kirk]

Hey Jack - The Missus gave me approval to get an immersion cooker...but I didn't think I'd be using it much.

Hi Lynnea - Oh man are those good. Especially cooked a second time...either deep fried, or smashed and seared in duck or bacon fat!

[jack]

Hi Kirk, I'm using a water bath circulator from work that I fixed and cleaned up. Otherwise, I'm not sure I would have bought one. It has been fun though playing with cooking different meats.

[buddha]

Kirk,

Since I am at a loss in finding any duck at all that is decent in a restaurant can you suggest a place that I can buy a whole duck?

[Kirk]

Sounds like a nice project Jack.

Hey Jeff - When I make such dishes at home I get poultry from Mary's

http://www.maryschickens.com/

Which Whole Foods and Bristol Farms has. I have the poultry guy order me a fresh whole duck.....which has never been frozen.
So I can make stuff like this:

http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2013/11/duckin-around.html

http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2014/06/why-duck-fat-rules.html

Not cheap, but that duck is really good. I also have them order me legs for my confit

http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2014/07/duck-confit.html