Cook Something You Have Never Made and Report Back

[Deleted]

What do ya think guys? How about a "cook something you have never made and report back with the results? That would be cool? And, it would be fun to hear your successes and failures. How often do any of you really stretch out of your comfort zone to try something new?

[chiver78]

I'm game.

I'm probably more adventurous than the average cook. unless it will kill me (seafood) or I know there is an ingredient I absolutely detest and can pick out the taste most of the time (anything in the mustard family) I will try anything at least once.

so.....what's your first kitchen adventure?

[Opti]

Sept 10, 2012 21:32:42 GMT -5 @shooby said:

What do ya think guys? How about a "cook something you have never made and report back with the results? That would be cool? And, it would be fun to hear your successes and failures. How often do any of you really stretch out of your comfort zone to try something new?

Actually more than you'd think given I'm in my 50s. I tried Julia Child's way of making French Toast two years ago. I caramelized onions for the first time sometime in the last year and got great suggestions on what to do in my next attempt.

I have to get up the energy to roast my fennel with whatever will remain of my baby carrots soon. Oh and I am lately tweaking or creating versions of cookie recipes so I have dessert. I will report that I think using a can of pumpkin that had an expiration date of 2009 that seemed to still smell good might have been a bad idea. I *think* has caused extra digestive issues but I'm also going through other crap which affects that like erratic periods, so .

I am one of those weirdos who thinks while you are alive you should continue to grow and evolve so I'll be experimenting at least until someone permanently takes over all my cooking needs like my Mom in an assisted type living type place. ;D

(I hope to follow Dad's lead who I've been told by many I am more like than my Mom. He's still living on his own with all his faculties intact ... and he doesn't even own a school .... hahah yeah.)

[Loopdilou]

I've always wanted to try to make a souffle.

[Deleted]

Well gang, let's do it! It might take a few days for me to get a recipe and get the time, but i will and report back! Set your bookmarks!!

[Deleted]

BTW, chiver what do you think about possibly uploading a pic of the creation? Would that be OK or something you don't want done? I don't know how pics affect the boards or anything like that. Nothing personal of course, just a pic of the created food.

[chiver78]

well, as long as people don't go crazy posting pics of every step in the recipe we should be okay. if y'all keep it to a single pic, go for it!

[mmhmm]

My mother likes lamb. My father didn't. Daddy cooked, so mother never got lamb. I'm thinking about making an Irish stew and some Irish soda bread. Not sure I'll eat the stew, but I think it might be something she'd enjoy. If I decide to make it, I'll let y'all know.

[chiver78]

yum, Irish soda bread! if you find a recipe that works, can you puhleeze share it? I used to bring that stuff home buried in my luggage when I was working there. I have yet to find soda bread over here that's as good as it was over there.

[mmhmm]

I'll be glad to share, chiver. I, too, adore Irish soda bread and have been looking for a recipe that is representative of the real thing!

[swamp]

I Made zucchini fritters last weekend. They were very tasty but super filing.

[Apple]

Do c.rackers count? I want to make cheez-it type cr.ackers, but haven't done it yet. I've baked and cooked, but never attempted any kind of cra.cker (I think I've only pulled out the rolling pin half a dozen times, three of those times were to make applesauce cinnamon Christmas Ornaments).

ETA: because I forgot crac.ker is a bad word

[Deleted]

Of course crackers count! I never made crackers. Back in the day, i was watching Martha Stewart one day and she was making homemade Saltine crackers. I thought that was over the top nuts and no way i would ever do that so i quit watching her after that! I had enough trouble making a PBJ, i didn't need any more guilt heaped on me for not making my own saltines. Well, now i am game.

[Apple]

These are the ones I want to make...

www.agoldenafternoon.com/food/junkfood-remade-cheese-its/

[chiver78]

that looks like a lot of fun, apple. I might try that myself

[Apple]

I don't have any sharp cheddar at home, but I do have a block of colby jack that has gotten really sharp (I buy blocks of cheese and bury it in the back of the fridge for a year or more... Stays good, but gets sharp. Works perfect since I tend to like it more sharp than the medium that is always on sale, but not the sharp you'd buy in the store.

[Apple]

I made the crack.ers, they came out really good. The first sheet full was a little thick, the second sheet full got a little dark on the bottom. They were still good I think I need to look into getting a silicon cookie sheet, or else bake them at a little lower heat (my oven acts weird sometimes, I just have to adjust things).

[Deleted]

Cool! How about snapping a pic and posting it? I would love to see how they turned out.

[Loopdilou]

I still haven't gotten around to a souffle.. maybe this week.

[Apple]

Sept 17, 2012 0:33:34 GMT -5 @shooby said:

Cool! How about snapping a pic and posting it? I would love to see how they turned out.

I have a picture, it's just such a pain in the ass to post one I'll have too wait til I am home on the laptop. I was too tired last night.

[frep]

I made jello!!

[Opti]

The roasted fennel went OK, but since I need to roast it and eat later it wasn't as good from the fridge as it probably was straight out of the oven. The other thing I noticed is I need to be careful of the small sliced bits that want to brown or blacken before the majority is caramelized. Hopefully I'll try it again sometime soon.

[Deleted]

I made potato chips. They turned out great. I just fried them in a skillet in veggie oil. But, i wonder to crisp them really without getting them too brown? How do the chip makers do that? Lays are nice and crisp yellow.

[Deleted]

I need to make some good Hoagie sauce. When i was a kid, a local pizza shop made hoagies with a really good sauce. I searched the internet and really can't find anything.

[Deleted]

Lays uses corn oil, so I am not sure if that makes a difference.

I am not sure what kind of sauce you are talking about. Red sauce? Some kind of flavored mayo? Spiced oil?

[mmhmm]

I found a couple of recipes for hoagie sauce on Yummly, shoobs. Don't know if either is what you're seeking, but they might be worth a gander.

www.yummly.com/recipe/Lenoxville-General-Store-Hoagie-Sauce-_italian-Sandwich-Dressing-Recipezaar

www.yummly.com/recipe/Sub_Hoagie-Sauce-Diana-Style-Food_com-88380

[Deleted]

I did some round steak in the pressure cooker tonight and it turned out great. A good way to get a lot of mileage out of a cheaper cut of meat. I served it with noodles and gravy.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I tried making my own flour tortillas last Saturday. Did not go well. I got something that resembled naan bread and fell apart as soon as I tried to move it from the skillet to the plate.

I looked it up online and turns out for flour tortillas you have to roll the tar oot of them so the gluten breaks down and they retain their shape.

I am debating on trying it again. According to all the recipes I found I have to roll each sucker for close to 10 minutes and I got a toddler at home who isn't going to sit around as I spend 10 minutes rolling out each individual tortilla.

They are alot easier to buy that is for sure.

I am considering making my own corn tortillas though. That's A LOT easier.

[Apple]

Wow, I wanted to try home-made tortillas too, but maybe not

I wonder if GF flour would work, but I'm too cheap to try

[swamp]

Last night I made macaroni and tomatoes. My gramma used to make it all the time. Super simple, but I've never thought about doing it.

I canned tomatoes from the garden, used a quart with a half pound of macaroni.