kayb

Bunch of enablers. Still holding out.

Ain't gonna do it. Ain't gonna DO it. Though Mini-Pies is tempting me. But it would require mini-tart pans, which I do not have and do not plan to need.

@Nicolai -- I would break a fast with you and your friends ANYTIME! That looks marvelous! I am attempting to recreate what was possibly the best pasta salad I've ever had (for lunch, by a commercial catering company; surely I can get close). Reports later.

I had, yesterday, some of the brisket from Aldi I'd pulled from the freezer, rubbed down with pastrami rub, and smoked last weekend. It was a little disappointing...gristly and a lot of fat on the slices I cut...but had a good flavor. With some Jarlsberg Swiss and some honey spicy mustard to dip. No bread. Some pickles on the side.

The absolute best shrimp and grits I ever ate in the world are at Mr. B's Bistro on Royal in NOLA. The recipe is here. At the restaurant, they call the sauce "red-eye gravy." It is NOT red-eye gravy. It is, however, wonderful. I have been known to serve it with ratatouille for a dinner party.

Yes, the appetite's back. Pear and blue cheese Dutch baby, topped with Greek yogurt and honey.

I toss cubes in a mixture of honey and miso, and roast. I also like the par-cooking in the microwave, sliced thin, and then using to roll up around a cheese or meat filling, like manicotti. Then cover with marinara sauce and bake.

My appetite seems to have returned, for which I'm grateful. I actually ate three meals today. Small ones, but meals. I still want bland, so dinner was potatoes in cheese sauce, with leftover smoked sausages from last Monday. With lima beans, followed by salted caramel gelato. Hit the spot. Unphotogenic, so no photos.

A week, max.

I'm en route back. Should hit normal by midweek.

Dog. Gramercy Tavern. Japanese Soul Cooking. Country Inns and B&Bs. I'm swearing off.

I'm somewhat ashamed of my garden; the grass and weed crop is about the best one out there, though everything else is growing luxuriantly as well. Between the incessant rain and being sick, I've not gotten out into it to weed or to stick the pole beans. Perhaps one day when I get that done.... I do have baby tomatoes.

Only way to effectively eat crawfish is from a paper tray, leaning over a newspaper-covered picnic table. Snap the little critters in half behind the head, getting your thumbnail under the first pair of legs to break them, too. Bite the tail meat gently and drag it out of the shell. Then suck the tomalley out of the head, and toss the remains. Take a swig of beer, and repeat.

Prednisone has completely taken away my appetite. I'll cook again...someday, I guess.

@rarerollingobject, your cakes are such works of art. Not to mention the flavors I can only imagine.

Such lovely meals. I wish I had an appetite.

For pastrami, I cure for a week, then steam in the IP for 30 minutes for a fairly small piece of brisket. You wouldn't need that long on ribs, I wouldn't think. Depend on how old the deer was, and whether it was wild or farmed.

Never thought about curing, but one of my favorites is to smoke and then steam, a la pastrami, in the Instant Pot. Would be good to cure/corn first, though.

Good thought. Too hot here for Scotch, though.

Oooohhh. Enchiladas. Another one for the list of "to make."

A nap. It was wonderful.

Well, so much for clean eating. I have been down with a sinus infection/sore throat for two days, and when I'm sick, I revert to junk food. My diet has included: Dry Cheerios (I was out of milk) Nacho cheese flavor Doritos (only a few; they're as nasty as I remember. My kid loves 'em, though. Ruffles potato chips and onion dip Taco Bell a Wendy's stuffed baked potato Kroger Private Selection butter chicken spring rolls (these things are awesome) A frozen single-serve pizza I unearthed from the freezer. I did make a pilgrimage to the grocery today (Kroger Clicklist is awesome, btw, when you don't feel up to traipsing through the store), and had some fresh watermelon chunks for a pre-dinner snack. Going to make up some fruit salad for dinner. If I feel up to it tomorrow I'll make some buns and make pork loin sliders from the pork loin I smoked last weekend. Also found a recipe for a ham spread that calls for ground ham, crushed pineapple, cream cheese, green onion, and assorted seasonings. Thought that sounded interesting. May have to try it. I'm about in the notion to get back in the kitchen.

You're killing g me. I want Indian SO badly...and since out local place closed, I have to go to Memphis.

I have done well at Cutleryandmore.com, shopping off their clearance section. Currently, I'm using a 12-piece place setting of Lenox that I got for something under $80.

I keep nuts of all kinds in the freezer. I use them in granola, and a great deal in holiday cooking and baking. Always good to have a handful of toasted nuts to throw on salads, etc.