HungryChris

I have been looking for a good source of guanciale, which I believe is this same pork jowl, but is not smoked, but rather cured like pancetta. I first had it in a few dishes of various pastas Amatriciana that were suddenly everywhere on menus in Italy, I believe in tribute to the town that had been recently ravaged by earthquakes just prior to our last visit, and loved it. It is much more tender than pancetta and I think that pasta carbonara would greatly benefit by it's use in place of pancetta as well. Amazon has some, but with mixed reviews. HC

Fried shrimp po-boys, dressed. HC

It is the local slang for sopressata. Quite a few pizza places in this area have "soupy" pizza on their menus. HC

Cheese omelet, with sautéed zucchini and homemade soupy that Deb gets from one of the truck shop customers. The missing salsa situation was corrected later in the game. HC

Salisbury steak is a passion of mine and a seemingly never ending quest to get to the college cafeteria dinner level. Success in this quest has eluded me for years, yet, every so often, I launch a renewed effort. Last night was such an endeavor. This one, though somewhat admirable, has yet to arrive at the promised land. It is an effort that, unlike the mystery meat croquet, will continue, until I get it right. The secret seems to lie in just the right combination of French onion soup, Worcestershire sauce and powdered mustard. My original plan was to cook all four and serve them in a dish at the table, hence the pot holder there. The size of them, however, thwarted me into cooking just two, but the pot holder remains in the picture just to add to my pain. HC

The clam beds are closed due to recent heavy rain, so it will be a while for these again. Used up the last of them last night with garlic, some olive oil we brought back from Italy, wine, herbs and garlic bread. HC

I wanted to make an omelet for breakfast, but needed a new nonstick pan. By the time I returned, it was time for lunch. HC

Chicken liver pate and a ripe pear. HC

The first ones I ever got came from eBay as well. Shortly after that transaction, I got a little yellow card telling me there was a package to be picked up at the post office. I took the card to work with me the next day and stopped in on the way home. I handed the nice lady my yellow card and after a brief moment, her overall demeanor changed, as she almost snapped at me, saying "Oh, we delivered that package!!" When I got home, I saw that delivery had consisted of someone driving up the driveway and throwing the box onto the middle of the front lawn, a considerable distance from the drive. The box had quite a few "ventilation" holes punched in it and apparently, the folks at the post office did not approve of the effect that had on their work space. HC

I don't see any kimchi in that haul. HC

We had St. Patty's Day in April tonight. HC

Grilled uncured beer brat with chili, cheese and onion. HC

Scrapple with fresh salsa and some exceptionally good Campari tomatoes with black truffle sea salt we got in a little spice shop in Temecula, CA, a while back. HC

Chili, last night. I got to use up leftover stuffed peppers & sauce, and leftover steak. Winner, winner, chili dinner! HC

This cold and rainy morning called for something special and that means fried zucchini to me. HC

Stop & Shop and Deb conspired to another steak night, which I do admit to enjoying. (Stop & Shop by it's sale flyer, and Deb, for noticing it.) HC

Actually these are from Deb's daughters. Ours are a few days out. HC

The three S's. Scrambled, scrapple and salsa. HC

Fried zucchini and chicken liver pate on toast with a virgin bloody Caesar (I still have a few items on my checklist, today, like getting my empty beer growlers filled). One must have one's priorities! HC

Shredded beef and refried bean burritos with picco de gallo and salsa. These were steamed in the IPot for 6 minutes, QR. HC

Made a small batch of CLP topped with chive butter this morning, using Jacques Pepin's recipe. HC

Scratched my take-out sushi itch today and felt pretty good about it. HC

Ramps I have been checking my ramp beds every morning for two weeks and nothing. Yesterday morning was different! HC

Low tide was about noon yesterday and the clam beds were open. There was a stiff breeze which made it seem cold, but this dinner, last night, made it all seem worthwhile. HC

I went clamming again today. I managed to "rake" in a little over 3 1/2 dozen, but had to leave because my hands got totally numb from the cold water. HC