20% Senior Discount on Seafood

Got my Tuesdays-only 20% senior discount at Coastal Seafoods. They have the freshest seafood: most of their business is wholesale to restaurants and supermarkets.

Categorized as Cook

Minnesota, Full-Throttle

Tonight, we go full-throttle Minnesotan: I’m making green bean hotdish topped with Tater Tots. OK, Spud Puppies, same thing. I’m going a little upmarket: no Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup, no French’s fried onions, and the green beans are fresh.

Categorized as Cook

Buying Locally

Bought locally. This Saturday farmers market near our home lets us stock up with local produce we’ll enjoy much of the week.

Categorized as Cook

Smooth Sauces Every Time

Here’s two techniques I often use to create guaranteed lump-free sauces. In both cases, the secret is to get rid of water. I wish I had known these methods in my early cooking days. Roux Butter contains water; water and flour form lumps. When creating a roux, I don’t add the flour until the butter stops… Continue reading Smooth Sauces Every Time

Buying Local

Cycled through a neighborhood of locally owned shops. Picked up some veggies at a small, old-fashioned co-op.

Categorized as Cook

Pork Carnitas

I’m cooking pork carnitas my favorite way: 1. Place Boston butt in pot; 2. Cover with cold water; 3. Simmer, lid on, 45 minutes; 4. Simmer, lid off, until all water is gone (several hours); 5. Fry the fall-apart pork in its own fat. The flavor is intense.

Categorized as Cook

Thighs on Display

Minnesota Vikings fans walked past a naked-dancing-couple sculpture while I walked home with two chicken thighs from Whole Foods in my backpack.

Categorized as Arts, Cook

Cooking for Family

Spent much of the day converting these ingredients into scalloped potatoes and braised celery to take to a family gathering. The biggest task was de-stringing four bunches of celery.

Fresh Pasta

Stocked up on fresh pasta at the Mill City Farmers Market.

Categorized as Cook