What's cookin', good lookin'? Part II

[seela]

That's so creative! How did you get the light there?

Now I feel like baking a cake, too.

 

[seela]

Salmon a few ways.
Smoked reindeer quiche and salad.
Some kind dessert with blueberry mousse.

I haven't decided what exactly I'll make for dessert, but I just made blueberry mousse so I'm going to use that. Ah, there's still time to figure it out. Guests won't be here for another 3 hours.

 

[Dardesstra]

That's so creative! How did you get the light there?

Now I feel like baking a cake, too.

I used a little battery power "candle" from a Dollartree for the light. I stacked the coffee can cake one on top of the other, iced that (for stability) and placed th light on the top. Next I built the sides up around the light, added mini marshmallows skewered on toothpicks for supports and the dome top. Unfortunately I forgot to leave a way to turn the light off, so it stayed on until the cake got eaten...

Blueberry mousse sounds delicious!

 

[seela]

I used a little battery power "candle" from a Dollartree for the light. I stacked the coffee can cake one on top of the other, iced that (for stability) and placed th light on the top. Next I built the sides up around the light, added mini marshmallows skewered on toothpicks for supports and the dome top. Unfortunately I forgot to leave a way to turn the light off, so it stayed on until the cake got eaten...

Blueberry mousse sounds delicious!

That's really clever, even more so if it was all done without mulling it over for weeks beforehand.

I ended up making a Swiss roll filled with the mousse. Before serving I rolled the log in blueberry powder, then cut slices out of it. I used the slices as a base of sorts, piped dollops of lemon curd and whipped cream on top and decorated it with sugar pearls, a sprinkle of blueberry powder and sango sprouts.

The sango sprouts may sound like an odd addition, but the leaves have a beautiful shape and a nice deep color and it added a lovely sharp tang into the mix. Also it was the only garnish I had at hand, because I hadn't exactly planned the dessert. But it worked really well.

 

[Acktion]

A trio of beef patties topped with some collard greens, monterey jack, cheddar, queso quesadilla, and asadro beaten into some egg on a bed of brioche seasoned with salt, pepper, onion, garlic, and paprika.

Not my best presentation work, but it's 0630, and as Robin Willams said, "What does the 0 stand for? Oh, my God, it's early!"

 

[seela]

Tonight it'll be perch, carrots and kale.

 

[twister947]

A friend remarked that the gravy had a whang to it; I knew exactly what she meant. Or, thought I did, until I tried to define it. Been hearing it all my life, and to paraphrase Justice Stewart, I know it when I taste it. But words fail me.

So I did what any right thinking soul would do: I Googled it. Almost nothing. Oxford and Webster don't recognize it. Urban Dictionary gives it sideways mention, but that's all.

Whang. Gracie will know.

 

[twister947]

Whang didn't provide much of a rabbit hole, but I did find this little gem, which may provide a clue to Cookie's aversion to cabbage.
https://time.com/4060038/bad-slaw-my-southern-journey/

 

[gracie920101]

A friend remarked that the gravy had a whang to it; I knew exactly what she meant. Or, thought I did, until I tried to define it. Been hearing it all my life, and to paraphrase Justice Stewart, I know it when I taste it. But words fail me.

So I did what any right thinking soul would do: I Googled it. Almost nothing. Oxford and Webster don't recognize it. Urban Dictionary gives it sideways mention, but that's all.

Whang. Gracie will know.

Yep.
Funny taste. Sometimes sharp. If it's bubbly, spit it out.

Apologies for falling off the face of the earth. Sudden and unexpected change in hours (doubled) and I'm exhausted every night when I make it home. #nolifeoutsideofwork

 

[seela]

We had a little Christmas get-together with friends yesterday and decided to go Finnish all the way when it came to food.

Smoked reindeer and black trumpet mushroom mousse over a cracker made with various seeds and topped with pickled red onion.

Moose butt, roasted beets, Jerusalem artichoke puree, wild mushroom salad and four kinds of sauces, because we couldn't decide what we wanted to make. (Lingonberry jelly, rowanberry jelly, horseradish cream and red wine reduction sauce)

Individual cloudberry cheesecakes topped with smashed cloudberries.

/Edit: Now with (not awesome) pics!

And now I'm making jelly candies to give people as Christmas gifts along with some other random goodies. I'm making lingonberry, blackcurrant and apple jellies, at least. Might make some blueberry jellies later, but that'll have to wait a little, because I'm out of space for the candies to harden and dry.

 

[littlebirdjoy]

We had a little Christmas get-together with friends yesterday and decided to go Finnish all the way when it came to food.

Smoked reindeer and black trumpet mushroom mousse over a cracker made with various seeds and topped with pickled red onion.

Moose butt, roasted beets, Jerusalem artichoke puree, wild mushroom salad and four kinds of sauces, because we couldn't decide what we wanted to make. (Lingonberry jelly, rowanberry jelly, horseradish cream and red wine reduction sauce)

Individual cloudberry cheesecakes topped with smashed cloudberries.

/Edit: Now with (not awesome) pics!

And now I'm making jelly candies to give people as Christmas gifts along with some other random goodies. I'm making lingonberry, blackcurrant and apple jellies, at least. Might make some blueberry jellies later, but that'll have to wait a little, because I'm out of space for the candies to harden and dry.

Escuse me while I abscond with the candies. they sound fantastic!

I made a lovely roasted chicken and vegetables meal tonight with fresh lemon chicken soup. Definitely a crowd pleaser with the kiddo.

 

[gracie920101]

Unbelievable that you make your own hard candies.

What do cloudberries taste like?

 

[seela]

Unbelievable that you make your own hard candies.

What do cloudberries taste like?

They're not hard candies, but the outer layer needs to dry thoroughly and develop a layer so that the sugar doesn't melt when they're rolled in it for the finishing touches.

But I've been thinking about making candy canes, too, which definitely counts as hard candy. I'm dangerously low on time, though, so it might have to wait until next year.

Cloudberries don't really taste like anything else! It's a pretty tropical flavor that combines raspberry, cranberry and kiwifruit, at least. I absolutely love them fresh when the tartness really comes through, but they're so expensive to buy fresh this far south, because they don't travel well at all. They make an excellent jam too.

 

[TANSTAAFL58]

We had a little Christmas get-together with friends yesterday and decided to go Finnish all the way when it came to food.

Smoked reindeer and black trumpet mushroom mousse over a cracker made with various seeds and topped with pickled red onion.

Moose butt, roasted beets, Jerusalem artichoke puree, wild mushroom salad and four kinds of sauces, because we couldn't decide what we wanted to make. (Lingonberry jelly, rowanberry jelly, horseradish cream and red wine reduction sauce)

Individual cloudberry cheesecakes topped with smashed cloudberries.

/Edit: Now with (not awesome) pics!

And now I'm making jelly candies to give people as Christmas gifts along with some other random goodies. I'm making lingonberry, blackcurrant and apple jellies, at least. Might make some blueberry jellies later, but that'll have to wait a little, because I'm out of space for the candies to harden and dry.

...you had me at "moose butt".

 

[twister947]

I've heard caribou are delicious, but Rudolph???

 

[twister947]

seela, that's the second time you've used the phrase "this far south". So strange to my ears!
Dave @35n.

 

[TANSTAAFL58]

I've heard caribou are delicious, but Rudolph???

Reindeer are semi-domesticated caribou

Tan @ 45N lol

 

[blu_caprice]

Spaghetti carbonara. This is one of the few times I didn't overcook the sauce. Good omen? Hmm....

 

[seela]

...you had me at "moose butt".

It's one of the better butts, don't you think?

I've heard caribou are delicious, but Rudolph???

The shiny nose makes Rudolph extra tasty! (PS. I also eat horsies.)

seela, that's the second time you've used the phrase "this far south". So strange to my ears!
Dave @35n.

Reindeer are semi-domesticated caribou

Tan @ 45N lol

Relativity and whatnot.

Seela @60N

 

[seela]

I'm currently heading up north to spend the holidays with my family. There will be a stupid amount of cooking happening soon!

It'll start with baking cookies today.

I don't particularly like eating cookies, but I've grown to really like baking them.

 

[seela]

Cake day today.

And I also made noodle salad with leftover rotisserie chicken.

 

[seela]

Beef koftas in curry with naan.

 

[seela]

Roasted broccolini and cauliflower with hummus, roasted chickpeas and a soft boiled egg.

 

[Selene_godess]

Veggie stir fry on a bed of cauliflower rice..... delish!!

 

[gracie920101]

Roasted rutabaga, parsnips, and zucchini. Oh! so good but rutabagas are already gone from the stores. *pouts*

The veggie soup wasn't bad either.