Cooking with "This Will Make It Taste Good", by Vivian Howard

[Smithy]

6 hours ago, Anna N said:

At some point I suspect I will find myself making LGD. But I’m not rushing. I am not a fan of green olives and even mint really only calls to me in mint sauce.  I need to live closer to one of you who have made it so I could sneak just a taste!

 

FWIW castelvetrano olives don't taste like what you might expect. They're green ripe olives, not green unripe olives unless my memory fails me. (If I'm misremembering, somebody please correct me.)) Very different flavor profile.

 

I'm especially irked because I DO like mint, but neglected to collect any before it froze hard. Our herbs are done for the year, except some very hardy sage and rosemary.

 

Now it's MY turn to damn you all. I don't need more cookbooks either, but will probably be pulling the trigger on this one soon.

Edited October 29, 2020 by Smithy
Corrected hardy 'mint' to 'rosemary'. Duh. (log)

[Shelby]

9 minutes ago, Smithy said:

castelvetrano olives don't taste like what you might expect.

Totally right.  Very very mild...a slight hint of sweet, very slight.

 

Edited to say make sure you get the pitted ones...

Edited October 29, 2020 by Shelby (log)

[Shelby]

While I was at the store getting the mint etc. to make LGD I noticed a big bunch of beautiful endive.  I was surprised to see it.  To my knowledge I've never eaten it.  For sure I've never had it braised.  So, to go with last nights meal, I braised some in butter and lemon juice (and salt, of course).  Then plated it up with dollops of LGD.  Oh my, it was good.  Highly recommend.

 

[rotuts]

@Shelby 

 

How is the LGD working out for you ?

 

I can't quite imagine the flavor(u)r profile ...

 

as you said it was not minty

 

and Im not sure Ive ever had those olives

[Shelby]

2 minutes ago, rotuts said:

@Shelby 

 

How is the LGD working out for you ?

 

I can't quite imagine the flavor(u)r profile ...

 

as you said it was not minty

 

and Im not sure Ive ever had those olives

It's delicious.  I literally ate it from the jar with a spoon yesterday.  It tastes bright, fresh, like a very very light pesto in a way only no basil taste (of course).  I get no mint taste at all, it just adds a note of fresh...that's the only way I can think to describe it.  I highly highly recommend making this.  

[teonzo]

23 minutes ago, Shelby said:

Then plated it up with dollops of LGD.  Oh my, it was good.  Highly recommend.

 

The big question is: did you prepare some night sandwiches for Ronnie?

 

 

 

Teo

 

[SLB]

23 hours ago, Smithy said:

Now it's MY turn to damn you all. I don't need more cookbooks either, but will probably be pulling the trigger on this one soon.

 

Same, same.  Trying to find one to put in the donation pile, since I'm out of real estate for cookbooks.  

[Smithy]

1 minute ago, SLB said:

 

Same, same.  Trying to find one to put in the donation pile, since I'm out of real estate for cookbooks.  

 

I compromised and bought the Kindle version. I'm in a position where compact is better anyway, although less satisfying.

[blue_dolphin]

I think I had a bite of sauerkraut from a can once as a child.  I saw no reason to try it again but Vivian convinced me so I picked up a cabbage from the farmers market yesterday and decided to start some of the Can-Do Kraut.  

The recipe calls for an English cucumber.  I used a regular one.  Not sure if that will be bad.

 

The recipe also calls for 1 head of cabbage but does not specify a weight.  Most other recipes I see specify the amount of salt by weight of cabbage. Maybe it's forgiving.

The recipe also says it will fill one 2-quart jar or two 1-quart jar.  My cabbage weighed ~ 2 lbs.  As you can see, I got 1 full jar and about 1/4 of another.  

I could get another cabbage and make more or transfer that to a smaller jar but I think I'll just toss it and see what happens with the one jar. 

I also don't have any place that stays a consistent temperature so it may not work anyway.  

We'll see. 

[SLB]

From the looks of it, you might be able to shove that little bit in . . . 

[blue_dolphin]

5 minutes ago, SLB said:

From the looks of it, you might be able to shove that little bit in . . . 

 

I tried!  There's a 1" thick glass weight in there and it's pretty much level with the top of the jar.

If I find something thinner to use as a weight, I might get a little more in.  

[Jacksoup]

I got my copy yesterday and have just started to read thru it.  I volunteered as a poll worker for the next 4 days, so I won’t be cooking anything until next week.  LGD sounds really good.

[kayb]

My copy's in. Have barely dipped into it. LGD on the agenda soon.

 

[gfweb]

On 10/29/2020 at 11:31 AM, Anna N said:

At some point I suspect I will find myself making LGD. But I’m not rushing. I am not a fan of green olives and even mint really only calls to me in mint sauce.  I need to live closer to one of you who have made it so I could sneak just a taste!

Indeed. Mint and olives are low on my list

[gfweb]

14 hours ago, Shelby said:

While I was at the store getting the mint etc. to make LGD I noticed a big bunch of beautiful endive.  I was surprised to see it.  To my knowledge I've never eaten it.  For sure I've never had it braised.  So, to go with last nights meal, I braised some in butter and lemon juice (and salt, of course).  Then plated it up with dollops of LGD.  Oh my, it was good.  Highly recommend.

 

Braise it even more till its nice and brown. Gets nutty and sweet.

[Smithy]

On 10/30/2020 at 6:33 AM, Shelby said:

While I was at the store getting the mint etc. to make LGD I noticed a big bunch of beautiful endive.  I was surprised to see it.  To my knowledge I've never eaten it.  For sure I've never had it braised.  So, to go with last nights meal, I braised some in butter and lemon juice (and salt, of course).  Then plated it up with dollops of LGD.  Oh my, it was good.  Highly recommend.

 

 

How ironic. Doesn't she say specifically in the opening that if you're looking for things to do with endive you should look in another book? 😄

 

I'm really enjoying her writing style. Thought I'd done all the grocery shopping for a week or two, but since my Other Half has rationalized the need for Halloween candy there's a trip again today.  Which means I can get a cuke for kraut and the ingredients for LGD!

[Anna N]

4 minutes ago, Smithy said:

How ironic. Doesn't she say specifically in the opening that if you're looking for things to do with endive you should look in another book? 😄

Had to go and verify this. What can I say. It’s just the way I am. My conclusion is that Shelby can make even Vivian Howard rethink her cooking philosophy. Although to be fair to Vivian I think she was using endive as shorthand for poncy food - endive, white asparagus and guinea hen. Endive braised until it caramelizes doesn’t need much help. But perhaps Shelby has proved me wrong. Whatever, it looks delicious.

[Shelby]

12 minutes ago, Smithy said:

you should look in another book? 😄

yes!  That's what I thought was so funny.  I don't remember ever coming across endive in the store before....it's like it was meant to be lol.

[Smithy]

@Anna N, I totally agree about Shelby's cookery! I just thought it comical, and hadn't gotten Shelby's joke earlier since I hadn't started the book when I saw her post. I agree that endive was shorthand for obscure (or poncy- love that word although my spell checker doesn't) ingredients. If VH happens to be following along on this topic I'm sure she'll be impressed. 

[Shelby]

20 minutes ago, Smithy said:

@Anna N, I totally agree about Shelby's cookery! I just thought it comical, and hadn't gotten Shelby's joke earlier since I hadn't started the book when I saw her post. I agree that endive was shorthand for obscure (or poncy- love that word although my spell checker doesn't) ingredients. If VH happens to be following along on this topic I'm sure she'll be impressed. 

I've added poncy to the list of words I need to incorporate daily.

[heidih]

I agree with the longer braise on endive. As to fancy - it is in every chain market here incl Kroger. It was the ubiquitous casual entertaining pass-around while standing done as endive cups a while back - like this https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/endive-cups-with-blue-cheese-celery-and-croutons?verso=true I've requeeted it from library but may spring while my free Prime lasts. LGD calls.

[blue_dolphin]

2 hours ago, heidih said:

LGD calls

You can find that one and most of the recipes that use it via Amazon's "Look Inside" feature. 

 

Today's lunch, featuring LGD, was the Tuna Salad Snack Crackers on p 26

This was really good, assuming you are a tuna eater. If not, consider salmon or sardines.  You can put it in the avocado or a tomato or on a plate as a salad.

I consider onion a must with tuna salad and didn't think the 2 shallots in LGD were going to do the job. I fully expected to go back and add more but this was just fine.

 

I also mixed up a half batch of the LGD Goes Ranch dip/dressing and thought it tasted pretty fabulous when I licked the spoon.  Looking forward to trying that later on. 

 

[curls]

@blue_dolphin the tuna salad recipe is one that I had earmarked. Your version look just as gorgeous as the one in the cookbook.

 

I was going to make LGD with the olives I have but all this talk about Castelvetrano olives has me curious. They are on the shopping list and now I have to get them before I make LGD. 😏

[Shelby]

27 minutes ago, curls said:

@blue_dolphin the tuna salad recipe is one that I had earmarked. Your version look just as gorgeous as the one in the cookbook.

 

I was going to make LGD with the olives I have but all this talk about Castelvetrano olives has me curious. They are on the shopping list and now I have to get them before I make LGD. 😏

I think you're wise to get the Castelvetrao olives...they are very different from Spanish olives.

[Anna N]

7 minutes ago, Shelby said:

I think you're wise to get the Castelvetrao olives...they are very different from Spanish olives.

And yet…

”My plan for this book was only to offer recipes with ingredients I could find in my local Walmart. Not out of love for Walmart, but because I want you to be empowered by these recipes, not discouraged by what you can’t find because of where you live.”

(Can you imagine any other chef saying somethings so revolutionary?) So she does give you some options for LGD. But like you I would hold off for the castelvetrano olives.