Jump to content
  • Welcome to the eG Forums, a service of the eGullet Society for Culinary Arts & Letters. The Society is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of the culinary arts. These advertising-free forums are provided free of charge through donations from Society members. Anyone may read the forums, but to post you must create a free account.

Gotten any fun stuff lately?


Kim Shook

Recommended Posts

Well, I think these are fun. My pepper grinders have been looking decidedly shabby for a while, so I finally succumbed and ordered these online. Three x 100 gram capacity.

 

grinders.thumb.jpg.01a4adf272d9b01baa79e9d4866808a6.jpg

 

Why three?

 

Well, obviously I need one for black pepper and one  for white pepper (Chinese cuisine  almosts always defaults to white). Then I need a third for my desk. Bad habit, I know, but I often snack at the computer and often want a liberal dusting of black pepper on my whatever but I'm loathe to move a grinder from its alloted position in the kitchen prep area.  So, a second black pepper grinder was required.

 

All I need now are the peppers to fill the other two - they are on the way.

  • Like 10

...your dancing child with his Chinese suit.

 

The Kitchen Scale Manifesto

Link to comment
Share on other sites

27 minutes ago, liuzhou said:

Well, I think these are fun. My pepper grinders have been looking decidedly shabby for a while, so I finally succumbed and ordered these online. Three x 100 gram capacity.

 

grinders.thumb.jpg.01a4adf272d9b01baa79e9d4866808a6.jpg

 

Why three?

 

Well, obviously I need one for black pepper and one  for white pepper (Chinese cuisine  almosts always defaults to white). Then I need a third for my desk. Bad habit, I know, but I often snack at the computer and often want a liberal dusting of black pepper on my whatever but I'm loathe to move a grinder from its alloted position in the kitchen prep area.  So, a second black pepper grinder was required.

 

All I need now are the peppers to fill the other two - they are on the way.

 

I have two pepper mills:  one for black and one for white.  Neither lives at the computer.  Bad enough having salt in the keyboard.

 

 

  • Like 1
  • Haha 4

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 hours ago, liuzhou said:

Well, I think these are fun. My pepper grinders have been looking decidedly shabby for a while, so I finally succumbed and ordered these online. Three x 100 gram capacity.

 

grinders.thumb.jpg.01a4adf272d9b01baa79e9d4866808a6.jpg

 

Why three?

 

Well, obviously I need one for black pepper and one  for white pepper (Chinese cuisine  almosts always defaults to white). Then I need a third for my desk. Bad habit, I know, but I often snack at the computer and often want a liberal dusting of black pepper on my whatever but I'm loathe to move a grinder from its alloted position in the kitchen prep area.  So, a second black pepper grinder was required.

 

All I need now are the peppers to fill the other two - they are on the way.

 

Elsewhere on the internet there was a discussion about white pepper where the claim was that white pepper oxidizes after grinding and develops that distinctive flavour I associate with Chinese cooking. I believe that the person said white pepper was usually sold ground in the Chinese grocery stores (forget if that was in China or elsewhere). I did buy a white pepper grinder, if only for western cooking where it is about colour more than a different flavour from black. But I haven't bothered to buy ground white pepper to compare.

 

What do you do with Sichuan pepper? Grind or use whole? 

It's almost never bad to feed someone.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, haresfur said:

I believe that the person said white pepper was usually sold ground in the Chinese grocery stores (forget if that was in China or elsewhere).

 

Er, no. It is almost alway sold unground.

 

I use whole Sichuan peppercorns, but I'm lucky in that I get them fresh.

Edited by liuzhou (log)
  • Like 4

...your dancing child with his Chinese suit.

 

The Kitchen Scale Manifesto

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Having read and re-read the copper cookware topic on here I'd been lusting after a Falk saucier for some time.  Father Christmas was kind enough to bring me one of their 18cm versions a couple of weeks ago - it's really lived up to everything I hoped it would be.  Such great quality, really nice balance and feel, it's heavy but not TOO heavy and, most importantly, it cooks like a dream.  

 

So far we've tried sauce reductions (very good - rapid, even, controllable), a bernaise over direct flame (excellent) and a couple of times my favourite variety of scrambled eggs - the French ones from Keller's Masterclass videos. Previously I've been doing these in a larger all-clad saucier which has been fine but I'm much happier with them in the Falk. 

 

IMG_5537.thumb.JPG.54db8aa16f2d3ccdfb396320e12088a3.JPG

 

IMG_5538.thumb.JPG.d2ddf97ae9cf61e53795060433520d0b.JPG

 

Whisked, chinois-ed eggs into a cold pan with some cubes of butter, over a nice low heat.

 

 

IMG_5539.thumb.JPG.b347b8af473b419758f3d7ad246a07c6.JPG

 

The evenness of the heat from the copper is great, makes it very easy to get a perfect consistency without overcooking.

  • Like 14
Link to comment
Share on other sites

D85CA2A5-6BC3-4CC2-A965-62E9D49457AA.thumb.jpeg.56197d9dfd9b487e96466301377b69af.jpeg

 

Go ahead. Laugh. I can take it.

  • Like 4
  • Thanks 1
  • Haha 9

Anna Nielsen aka "Anna N"

...I just let people know about something I made for supper that they might enjoy, too. That's all it is. (Nigel Slater)

"Cooking is about doing the best with what you have . . . and succeeding." John Thorne

Our 2012 (Kerry Beal and me) Blog

My 2004 eG Blog

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Anna N

 

you have inspired me .

 

I looked @ MarketBasket a week or so ago

 

re SPAM.   Id like to try to do something 

 

experimenting w it .  it was $ 3.59 or so 

 

I moved on   , its not going anywhere 

 

that slicing is just what Id like.

 

Id place a few Slab-ettes  in ice https://thegeeks.click/browse.php?c9=1&incldead=0&dur=0&search=&nonboolean=1water 

 

to remove  excess salt , but keep that delicious fat Firm !

 

then pat dry , and fiddle with.

 

thank you

 

a P.S.:  @Anna N  if you then turn the slabs

 

90 degrees :  Julienne ?

Edited by rotuts (log)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, rotuts said:

@Anna N

 

you have inspired me .

 

I looked @ MarketBasket a week or so ago

 

re SPAM.   Id like to try to do something 

 

experimenting w it .  it was $ 3.59 or so 

 

I moved on   , its not going anywhere 

 

that slicing is just what Id like.

 

Id place a few Slab-ettes  in ice https://thegeeks.click/browse.php?c9=1&incldead=0&dur=0&search=&nonboolean=1water 

 

to remove  excess salt , but keep that delicious fat Firm !

 

then pat dry , and fiddle with.

 

thank you

 

a P.S.:  @Anna N  if you then turn the slabs

 

90 degrees :  Julienne ?

Yup. 

  • Like 1

Anna Nielsen aka "Anna N"

...I just let people know about something I made for supper that they might enjoy, too. That's all it is. (Nigel Slater)

"Cooking is about doing the best with what you have . . . and succeeding." John Thorne

Our 2012 (Kerry Beal and me) Blog

My 2004 eG Blog

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

This could easily go into the Hot Sauce topic, but since I don't plan to open it soon I'll post it here.

 

20230126_153619.jpg

 

I discovered Mazavaroo when visiting my best friends in South Africa, and until recently thought it was a South African chili paste. It turns out to be Mauritian, but the South Africans are quite good at adopting cuisines from other cultures. My friends were back in Capetown over Christmas, and were good enough to pick up a jar of this for me from the place where I first tried it. I've found many recipes for it, so when I'm in a position to open and test it I'll also want to be in a position to try making it. South Africa is a bit too far to jaunt for more.

  • Like 5

Nancy Smith, aka "Smithy"
HosteG Forumsnsmith@egstaff.org

Follow us on social media! Facebook; instagram.com/egulletx; twitter.com/egullet

"Every day should be filled with something delicious, because life is too short not to spoil yourself. " -- Ling (with permission)
"There comes a time in every project when you have to shoot the engineer and start production." -- author unknown

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Smithy said:

It turns out to be Mauritian,

Oh wow. Brings to mind that no matter how many cuisines we think we know there are still others to discover!

  • Like 4

Anna Nielsen aka "Anna N"

...I just let people know about something I made for supper that they might enjoy, too. That's all it is. (Nigel Slater)

"Cooking is about doing the best with what you have . . . and succeeding." John Thorne

Our 2012 (Kerry Beal and me) Blog

My 2004 eG Blog

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...
On 2/26/2022 at 3:26 PM, Kim Shook said:

I can't remember who recommended these Gripstic things:

IMG_8315.thumb.jpg.e85017820031f6fd9fcab8bfae7b638f.jpg

but I'm besotted with them.  We are big (pun intended) chip/snack people.  We just went through our giant 64-quart tub of chip bags and tossed all the stale ones - and we still have at least a dozen in-use bags left.  These sticks are so much better than the chip clips I've been using.  They've passed the ultimate test - I'm tempted to buy a set for everyone for Xmas this year! 😄

 

This afternoon I took delivery of a set of GripStic bag clips.  I could be stupid and don't know how to use them, but at the moment I am profoundly disappointed.  Not to mention I now have a bag of smashed up broken corn chips.

 

  • Sad 2

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They work for me - fold bag and slid the gripstix thingie between the fold - think of a "U' and pokie thing goes between the  arms of the U - easier to do than explain - there must be a video

 

p

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

 

This afternoon I took delivery of a set of GripStic bag clips.  I could be stupid and don't know how to use them, but at the moment I am profoundly disappointed.  Not to mention I now have a bag of smashed up broken corn chips.

 

Have you watched the video on their website: 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Couldn't live without them! 
 

Edited  to add they are super great in the freezer for vegetables, shrimp, dumplings etc.

Edited by Anna N
To add information. (log)
  • Like 2

Anna Nielsen aka "Anna N"

...I just let people know about something I made for supper that they might enjoy, too. That's all it is. (Nigel Slater)

"Cooking is about doing the best with what you have . . . and succeeding." John Thorne

Our 2012 (Kerry Beal and me) Blog

My 2004 eG Blog

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, Anna N said:

Couldn't live without them! 
 

Edited  to add they are super great in the freezer for vegetables, shrimp, dumplings etc.

 

I wanted to like the GripStics, I really did.  Employing all my strength I couldn't get this one on any further than an inch or so.

 

GripStic06032023.jpg

 

 

GripStics are going back.  Another brand of clips are on their way from amazon.

 

 

 

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

I wanted to like the GripStics, I really did.  Employing all my strength I couldn't get this one on any further than an inch or so.

I suspect that all such gadgets have their limits. 

  • Like 2

Anna Nielsen aka "Anna N"

...I just let people know about something I made for supper that they might enjoy, too. That's all it is. (Nigel Slater)

"Cooking is about doing the best with what you have . . . and succeeding." John Thorne

Our 2012 (Kerry Beal and me) Blog

My 2004 eG Blog

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 minutes ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

 

I wanted to like the GripStics, I really did.  Employing all my strength I couldn't get this one on any further than an inch or so.

 

GripStic06032023.jpg

 

 

GripStics are going back.  Another brand of clips are on their way from amazon.

 

 

 

Some bags are more challenging than others with them. 

  • Like 1
  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Kerry Beal said:

Some bags are more challenging than others with them. 

 

I bought the GripStic clips specifically for that bag of Xochitl corn chips.  For most bags I use clips I get from King Arthur.

 

  • Haha 1
  • Sad 1

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

29 minutes ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

 

I bought the GripStic clips specifically for that bag of Xochitl corn chips.  For most bags I use clips I get from King Arthur.

 

Gitta share that I just tuck the bag into a large plastic zip lock. Re-use those. Squeeze the air out - golden.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

24 minutes ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

 

I bought the GripStic clips specifically for that bag of Xochitl corn chips.  For most bags I use clips I get from King Arthur.

 

Not to make light of your GripStic failure but I’m entertained at the notion of purchasing an accessory for a single bag of chips as I consider any bag of chips to be a single serving. I rarely buy them for that reason. Not allowed in the house. 

I do love my GripStics for any plastic bag, even zip top bags that no longer zip properly. 

  • Like 3
  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

 

I bought the GripStic clips specifically for that bag of Xochitl corn chips.  For most bags I use clips I get from King Arthur.

 

I use binder clips for chip bags and other bags without zip tops. That should work for your Xochitl corn chips. The GripStics are nice for sealing the large end of pastry bags.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...