Mystery Thread

[17th Angel]

LOL! The cheeky music....

[Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine]

I did another one of my infamous "experiments" with tuna salad.

I didn't have one of usual ingredients (pickle relish) but I had some grapes and some apples, so I chopped an apple and some of the grapes, adding a bit of garam masala (a Punjabi-style curry powder) to the mixture.

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine

[juantoo3]

Originally Posted by Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine

I did another one of my infamous "experiments" with tuna salad.

I didn't have one of usual ingredients (pickle relish) but I had some grapes and some apples, so I chopped an apple and some of the grapes, adding a bit of garam masala (a Punjabi-style curry powder) to the mixture.

Sounds good!

Seattlegal mentioned a short time back about cherries and salmon. So I made a mess of my own...it needs some serious help.

I like the idea of keeping some canned salmon (and mackeral) around for "just-in-case" because it is cheap and stores well, but other than the usual fold in the mayo and slap on bread, hold yer nose and eat I'm not sure what to do with the stuff.

I was feeling adventurous...

I put down a bed of frozen mixed veggies in a casserole dish, laid out two cans of salmon, topped with canned sliced mushrooms and a can of cherry pie filling. Mistake number one, I used the broil setting on the oven.

I only cooked for ten minutes (thank goodness), but the pie filling scortched. After removing the scortched part though, it really wasn't all that bad, but I think I would put a bed of cooked rice next time, and bake instead of broil.

Any suggestions how to improve? Particularly what herbs/spices? And does anybody have a clue what to do with mackeral?

Signed,

Totally inept in the kitchen.

[Faithfulservant]

not sure about the pie crust.. but marinating salmon in teriyaki sauce (low sodium) is delicious.

[seattlegal]

You don't have to have the salmon and cherries in the same dish, j23. However, if you want to try it that way, I would suggest a simple salad of baby greens, salmon, fresh or dried cherries, maybe some green onion, and salt and pepper.

Pasta salad with salmon is also good, especially with hard-boiled eggs.

You can also have salmon salad on cucumber slices and/or crackers, or use salmon salad for a filling for hard-boiled eggs. (Use the egg yolks for something else.)

Faithfulservant is correct: teriyaki salmon is delicious. (It's my favorite.)

[Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine]

Another way (if one has fresh salmon steaks or fillets) is to cook them on a cedar plank specially cut for cooking on (I believe that this is done in the Pacific northwest, but I could be wrong.) Just slap the fish onto the plank, put it in the oven (or perhaps on the grill, but I'm not sure about this) and cook the fish until done. Little to no adornments added. *shrug*

There might be some information online about this, though with "everything you need to know" (I can't afford fresh salmon or the planks to try this myself. )

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine

[Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine]

Another one of my "experiments" (too bad IL isn't around to chew me out for not setting one aside to taste):

Make two batches of Rice Krisipies treats, one plain rice cereal and strawberry-flavored marshmallows, the other chocolate-flavor rice cereal and plain marshmallows. Pat half of the chocolate mixture in the pan, then pat the strawberry flavored mixture on top of that, finishing it off with the rest of the chocolate mixture. Cut it a bit smaller due to the thickness.

I guess it would taste like chocolate dipped strawberries.

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine

[Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine]

Another of my "infamous experiments": fill a softened flour tortilla with either thinly sliced apples dusted with apple pie spices or apple pie filling, roll up like a burrito and brush with softened butter. Cook like a(n) enchilada/burrito, then drizzle with caramel sauce (or melted caramels).

Serve with a scoop of ice cream or frozen yogurt if desired.

I know. *heads for the Mope Corner, :kitty: in tow*

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine

[Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine]

Welcome to my "Infamous Experiments" portion of this thread.

Today's experiment begins with chocolate chocolate chip cookies. Add chocolate lentils (M&Ms are a rather famous brand of them here in the US) to the dough, mixing well. Bake as per instructions in the original recipe, then, after they're baked and cooled, either frost with chocolate icing or drizzle with melted chocolate/chocolate syrup.

As you can see, definitely not for those who can't/won't have chocolate.

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine

[juantoo3]

Sounds yummy for those not predisposed to diabetes...

OK, I've got a question for the more adventurous chefs among us...what does one do with kudzu "air potatoes?" I have heard the usual "oh they eat them over in china" routine, but my wife is from china and while she does eat quite a few things I wrinkle my nose at, when I showed her air potatoes she looked at me like I was insane. Since these things are a scourge in my backyard and I have to collect them anyway, what can I do with them (besides chuck in the trash)?

[seattlegal]

Originally Posted by juantoo3

Sounds yummy for those not predisposed to diabetes...

OK, I've got a question for the more adventurous chefs among us...what does one do with kudzu "air potatoes?" I have heard the usual "oh they eat them over in china" routine, but my wife is from china and while she does eat quite a few things I wrinkle my nose at, when I showed her air potatoes she looked at me like I was insane. Since these things are a scourge in my backyard and I have to collect them anyway, what can I do with them (besides chuck in the trash)?

Is it kudzu (Pueraria lobata) or air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera)?
Does it get purple flowers (kudzu) or not (air potato)? You can make some really good jelly from kudzu flowers, but the roots are like Hawaiian poi. If the vine is air potato, get rid of it--unless you want to make birth control pills out of them....

[juantoo3]

OK, thanks for the warning! From the pics it looks like Dioscorea bulbifera, and the wiki:

"It is important to note that uncultivated forms, such as those found growing wild in Florida can be poisonous. These varieties contain the steroid, diosgenin, which is a principal material used in the manufacture of a number of synthetic steroidal hormones, such as those used in hormonal contraception.[1] Air potato has been used as a folk remedy to treat conjunctivitis, diarrhea and dysentery, among other ailments.[2]"

So it's probably a good thing I've been hesitant about giving them a try...so much for old wives' tales and locals' advice. I'll chalk it up to the perils and pitfalls of wild edible gormandizing.

[Tao_Equus]

I do not know if any of you have ever tried the malt whisky "Ardbeg", well if you have you will know its one of the 'smokiest' whiskies on the market. I had a small party last Sunday and I was the only Scot and had promised my guests to change their low opinion of Scottish food. I made 4 different dishes from traditionally Scottish ingredients. One of them was venison and black pudding meatballs in a blackberry and whisky sauce. I had 3 kinds of whisky in the house and chose to use the Ardbeg. It was the right choice!!

The other 3 dishes were Smoked haddock and saffron tartlets, haggis stuffed pasta in a pepper sauce and wild cherry ice cream.


tao

[juantoo3]

Yummmmmm....tartlets, as long as they are over 18!

Oooops, I'm married, not supposed to think like that...

[Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine]

A quick warm drink (for those of us who are dealing with colder temperatures, "requires" an automatic drip coffee maker):

Place 2 measures of either green tea or decaffeinated black tea and 1 measure of peppermint herbal tea in the lined basket of the coffeemaker and add a full carafe of water. Let brew. When it has finished, add sweetener and/or lemon to taste (I use honey as sweetener.)

It might work iced during hot weather. *shrug*

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine