azureus

I live north of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, (pop. 125,000) and south of Brookings, SD (pop. 28,000). I've purchased pomegranate molasses and Spanish smoked paprika at the TJ Maxx store in Sioux Falls, but not anywhere else. The Hy-Vee grocery chain that we have here in the mid-West carries creme fraiche, cheap sherry vinegar, domestically-produced pancetta and slab bacon. Sioux Falls also has many small Mexican markets and a few Asian/international markets, so miso is available, and Mexican crema probably is as well. The Super Wal-Mart in Brookings carries offal and pig parts, though I haven't seen cheeks or skin. There are many local meat lockers in the area, and two butchers in Sioux Falls that offer various cuts of meat and locally-produced sausages and cured meats. April

Killing your own food isn't necessarily more humane for the animals involved. Killing an animal cleanly takes skill, and that comes with practice--on living, feeling creatures. The first chickens that I butchered probably suffered more due to my inexperience. Eating what you kill is respectful, but it doesn't mitigate any pain the animal may experience. So, the case can be made for leaving the actual killing to experts. More importantly, it's just as respectful to not waste your food, no matter where it came from or how it was killed. April

Um, yeah--pumpkin pie for breakfast yesterday; I think I'll eat the last piece this morning. April

What about radishes? Or would those be too spicy? April

my grandparents were from the Tyrol and I remember this from my childhood in the late 40's...I have done many of the dishes she made from memory but I forgot about this one,,,Thanks!!! ← You're welcome! How similar is the recipe to what you recall? You should share some of your recipes. . . April

Artichokes and cardoons belong to the genus Cynara. They are probably descended from the same wild thistle. The plants look similar in any event, and that may be reflected by the similar Italian names. I'm assuming that the artichoke stalks that divina is referring to are the thick midribs of each leaf. These are the parts of cardoons that are eaten. The genus Salvia contains many different species of plants. Here in the U.S., Salvias grown for ornamental uses are generally called "salvias". Salvia officinalis is the plant used in cooking, and is usually referred to as "sage" or "common garden sage". I make wild interpretations of the squash recipe all the time. I have mixed in any of the following: cubed carrots (last week it was purple carrots), parsnips, turnips, sweet potatoes, radishes and beetroot. The carrots stay firmer than the squash, while the sweet potatoes get very soft when baked. I have no explanation for why I've never used potatoes. April

One of my favorite ways to serve polenta is with Goulash di Manzo. It's a Northern Italian dish with heavy Eastern European influences. It's become comfort food for me in the wintertime. April

I think that prepping the squash ahead of time sounds like a great idea. I think I'll try it out myself. It does require a sturdy chef's knife and a strong arm to peel and cut up the squash, so you should give Franco time to recover. April

I've been making Provençal Pumpkin Gratin for several years with your type of pumpkin. I could swear that I originally got the recipe here on eGullet, but I can't seem to find it. There is a mention of this dish here: Provencal Pumpkin Gratin The recipe is simple: 2lbs squash, peeled and diced 8 garlic cloves, minced (use fewer cloves if you want more of the squash flavor) 1/2c minced parsely salt and pepper, to taste 4T flour 1/3c olive oil Toss the squash together with the garlic, parsley and flour until the cubes are coated. Oil a gratin dish and fill with the squash. Drizzle with more olive oil. Bake at 325F for 2 to 2-1/2 hours, until the squash is soft and has a nice brown crust. It's one of my favorite dishes. April

Try freezing the greens. Even the most fibrous stems become soft after a freeze/thaw cycle. This is how I process garden greens to feed to my poultry. April

"German-style" potato salad is popular in my family. Lots of celery, onion, and bacon mixed with potatoes in a slightly sweet vinegar sauce. The "family" recipe is really from a fondue book published in 1969, but it's still good. April

I save just a few feathers to look at, as I'm not sure what to do with all of them. My first attempt to pluck a goose ranks as one of the worst culinary experiences of my life. I can't believe anyone ever has the patience to pluck a goose for roasting. More on topic, in my dim memory, I recall reading a website about hanging fowl. The purpose of hanging was to tenderize older, tougher birds and to develop a gamey or "high" flavor in the meat. The guy who had the website was from somewhere in Great Britain, I think. He butchered his own birds and aged them for quite a long time--on the order of a couple weeks. He would snap their necks and hang them whole (with innards and feathers intact). The birds were hung by their feet in an area that was just above freezing. He stressed that the carcasses should be uncut, because any cuts or wounds would be a point of entry for bacteria, which would lead to rot. I don't recall what he had to say about the bacteria already in the gut. . . I haven't tried this. I just stew my old, tough birds. April

This is what I do with my chickens (and turkeys and guineas), except that I dry-pluck them. The feathers come out nearly as easily as for a scalded bird,as long as you work quickly and start with the big wing feathers. If you wait too long, those feathers are impossible to pull without a dunking in hot water. April

Oooh! That brings to mind a recipe out of Martha Stewart's magazine years ago: Ginger syrup and seltzer poured over a scoop each of vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet. It's a drinkable orange dreamsicle. April

I haven't been (yet), but Roslyn, SD is home to the International Vinegar Museum I saw a lady wearing a t-shirt advertising the place while I was at the grocery store last week. It's not too far from me. I really should take a road trip some day. April