HungryChris

Wayne, Would you mind talking about what your process was? I kind of expect to see more gochugaru in there, but don't pretend to be anything other than a person who likes...ok, loves kimchi. I have been looking for some nice Napa for a while now, myself. HC

Crispin was the driest I tried. The local hard cider from Clydes Cider Mill, with the catchy name "blackout" is dry too, but not carbonated, but then again, you have the answer to that.

For a while, I tried to find a hard cider I could enjoy. In my area, most places don't sell single hard ciders, which is pretty much why I stopped buying it. After my first Redds Wicked Apple, I used the other 5 cans as smoked rib mop, just hated the stuff. It was like a cheap cocktail made in a juice box. Crispin, an import, was my favorite based on what little research I did. HC

Thanks for the Crepes, First day of spring indeed, winter storm alerts and all. Most folks buy salt for the walkways and so on, here is how I decided to prep for the storm: HC Oh and I almost forgot. I took three empty growlers to the local craft brewery to be filled with one of my favorite APAs too, just to play it safe.

Today was the day I was hoping to see the first signs of lettuce or Brussels sprouts plants emerging. This may be a total do-over. Oh, well, hope springs eternal and nothing ventured.... HC

Chargrilled oysters (with hot dipping bread), stuffed littleneck clams with chorizo stuffing and grilled asparagus. HC

In a quart jar, 1 level TBS Kosher salt (the large crystals) 3 cloves of peeled garlic, about 2 tsp dill weed, crushed red pepper flakes if you like a little heat, a bay leaf or two and sometimes yellow mustard seed. I cut the asparagus to remove woody stems, blanch quickly in boiling water and rinse under cold water. Pack them in the jar with the sliced onions. fill 3/4 full with white vinegar, top off with tap water and shake to dissolve the salt. Refrigerate for a few days and you are there. HC

Little neck clams and the last of leftover jerk chicken. HC

Refrigerator pickled red onions and blanched asparagus for salad and sandwich fixings. HC .

Simple salads and spaghetti with meat sauce last night. After weeks of nice weather, we had to climb back onto the firewood train the last few nights as temperatures dropped into the low twenties. HC

Only recently, I think.https://www.aldi.ie/en/about-aldi/information/credit-card-in-store/

Scrapple. Deb is off to watch her grandson so I make quick work of what's left of the evidence. What scrapple?

.....OK, Just take a seat and relax on the sofa for a bit. Now let's start with your childhood....how would you say that went, on whole..... I am guessing that you are just not fond of tomato juice or that you are a tomato juice purist? HC

I guess I kind of agree. Like a good salad, if you made it yourself, you know you don't have to put your glasses on to eat it. HC

What is wrong with you people? No bloody marys ? Do you just live too close to the pole or is there some other issue?

Anna N, kimchi tartar sauce is my go-to tartar sauce for a while now. I take a few forkfuls of drained kimchi and dice it into relish size, add a bit of diced sweet onion and mix in mayo to the rough consistency I like, adding kimchi juice as needed. It just gives a little spicy kick. I have yet to try a kimchi bloody mary, but it is inevitable, you?

Fried calamari. Point Judith squid from McQuades Market in Westerly, RI., about 20 minutes from home. Deb and I both love fried calamari and some of the best comes from local waters. Here is a little photo trail of how it all happens. First, the meal (left over potato salad): Next the source. As you can see, this is not a big ticket meal, but can be as good as fried scallops: This stuff, as good as it is, is dirt cheap here, which always gets my attention. To my mind, cleaning it yourself insures that you get it as fresh as can be. I buy 1 1/2 pounds of squid and after it's cleaned, I end up with 3/4 pound, which is just about perfect for two. Frankly, cleaning squid is a PIA at best, but worth the effort. Here it is cleaned and cut into rings: Simply do the "shake and bake" thing in a plastic bag of seasoned flour and fry at 375 F a quarter pound at a time in peanut oil and pop each batch into a draining tray in a warm oven until they are all done. Serve with "Shelby" fries. I like kimchi tarter sauce, but tonight, Deb opted for marinara sauce. HC

It tastes fine to me. I think the mayo and half & half are both under $2.00, The blue cheese is $2.99 and their crackers and chips are on a par with TJ's but much cheaper.

I don't think that a coincidence. There are several other items much like that.

We have an Aldi's nearby and a Trader Joe's about 30 minutes away and visit each on a regular basis. I was first introduced to the deposit for the carriage in Italy (at the Coop) and loved the idea at once. No people on the payroll rounding up carts and no carts left all over the parking lot. I wish more stores adopted it here, but I digress. There are several items at both locations that we get regularly. Baby back ribs and grapefruit when they go on sale at Aldi's. The items on the left are some regular things from Aldi for the price and on the right are things from TJ's that we buy for the quality.

Happy St. Patty's day. HC

I just couldn't agree more! HC

My jerk chicken is not photogenic and lacked the oddly addictive heat of the real thing. The jalapeno peppers just didn't measure up, but the flavor was pretty good. Nothing close to Patricia's Beach Bar on Tortola or Cuzzin's in St. Thomas, but still not bad. HC

What wood do you use for smoking pork what wood for chicken, if you smoke chicken? Hickory is the easiest to come by here and is fine for pork IMO, but a bit too harsh for chicken. I use hickory for salmon, but would like to try alder and a few others if I could find some. HC

Deb tried this popcorn last season and raved about it. Apparently it was a seasonal item as the next time we tried to get more, it was gone. I just returned from my twice a month trip to TJ's today. I sent her a cell phone shot of it and her only response was "OMG, it's back! Get Several!!" HC